Frankie Boyle

[Thedelldays]

I read and hear that he is getting stick for some of his jokes. More so the ones about those with downes syndrome.

 

I saw him Thursday night and thought he was brilliant. He was far more unforgiving towards maddie mccann, the English, the Scottish than he was to those with the syndrome.

 

PC gun mad

[TopGun]

I read and hear that he is getting stick for some of his jokes. More so the ones about those with downes syndrome.

 

I saw him Thursday night and thought he was brilliant. He was far more unforgiving towards maddie mccann, the English, the Scottish than he was to those with the syndrome.

 

PC gun mad

 

Boyle has said it was the worst moment of his career.

 

He started telling bad spastic jokes about Downs kids and then asked a woman in the front row why she was talking with her feller. She said he was entitled to say his stuff but she has a child with Downs.

 

I have a friend who has a young daughter with Downs and the daughter will need help all her life. My friend did not know her daughter was Downs when pregnant but 90% of pregnant women who are advised during pregnancy abort. Only about 600 Downs children are born in the UK each year because of this.

 

My friend's young daughter is a really happy young kid because she is lovingly supported.

 

I also flew up from Soton to Manchester on Monday with a Downs adult. He was just so beautifully harmless, innocent and trusting. Everyone loved him and helped him.

 

Boyle is an absolute fool for his ignorance and crassness and I hope he has learned a very valuable lesson. I'd like to see him do some public reparations with Downs people.

[INFLUENCED.COM]

Boyle is an absolute fool for his ignorance.

 

Could the same not be levelled at these people, they have stated they went because they liked him on Mock The Week, if i'm not wrong, week on week he was close to the knuckle and that being very reason why he no longer apppears on the show.

Did they laugh at his other jokes ? was that ok because it was nothing they felt personally offended by due to their individual situation ? This smacks of double standards and don't believe he should apologise.

[TopGun]

Could the same not be levelled at these people, they have stated they went because they liked him on Mock The Week, if i'm not wrong, week on week he was close to the knuckle and that being very reason why he no longer apppears on the show.

Did they laugh at his other jokes ? was that ok because it was nothing they felt personally offended by due to their individual situation ? This smacks of double standards and don't believe he should apologise.

 

Great, pick on the spastics...

 

That is not what he was doing on Mock the Week!

[for_heaven's_Saint]

I don't think you're allowed to call people spastics anymore!

[Hatch]

Moaning about Frankie Boyle after going to see him live, knowing full well the type of humour he does, is like going swimming and then complaining afterwards that you got wet.

[saint lard]

Spastics.....what great terminology.

I hoped that had gone out with the dark ages.

[Thedelldays]

This is the question. Where is the line? Boyle is easily one of the most offensive comedians out there. People must live it hence why his tour is a sell out with extra dates put on

 

Buy where is the line. Who decides.. What makes it wrong to take the Mick out of one group but ok to do so to others

 

IMO, you don't go to a Boyle gig and then get offended

[Pancake]

Replace the joke with one about Asian or Black people. Now ask, would you be defending him with such vigor?

[Baj]

Replace the joke with one about Asian or Black people. Now ask, would you be defending him with such vigor?

Yes, because if you went to a roy chubby brown gig you would look just as stupid if you complained about his racist jokes.

[Thedelldays]

Replace the joke with one about Asian or Black people. Now ask, would you be defending him with such vigor?

yes..because it is a joke..I know it is..most people know it is..

he took the mick royally out of the english...was that OK..?

[EastleighSoulBoy]

Boyle has said it was the worst moment of his career.

 

He started telling bad spastic jokes about Downs kids and then asked a woman in the front row why she was talking with her feller. She said he was entitled to say his stuff but she has a child with Downs.

 

I have a friend who has a young daughter with Downs and the daughter will need help all her life. My friend did not know her daughter was Downs when pregnant but 90% of pregnant women who are advised during pregnancy abort. Only about 600 Downs children are born in the UK each year because of this.

 

My friend's young daughter is a really happy young kid because she is lovingly supported.

 

I also flew up from Soton to Manchester on Monday with a Downs adult. He was just so beautifully harmless, innocent and trusting. Everyone loved him and helped him.

 

Boyle is an absolute fool for his ignorance and crassness and I hope he has learned a very valuable lesson. I'd like to see him do some public reparations with Downs people.

 

Well said sir. So often we, in general now, make off the cuff comments without thinking about them. Maybe that might be forgiveable but to construct jokes, while thinking coldly about the reaction, is wrong.

[dronskisaint]

Moaning about Frankie Boyle after going to see him live, knowing full well the type of humour he does, is like going swimming and then complaining afterwards that you got wet.

 

+1

 

You know what you're getting when you book ffs. This has nothing to do with the 'target'...he's a comedian who pushes boundaries & will cross them frequently. It seems that there are people go along to be offended & then talk to the press about it!

 

The recently publicised joke about Rebecca Adlington was a case in point...she hadn't even seen the show but someone took it upon themselves to get offended on her behalf...& the observation that caused the 'offence?

He compared her look to the image you get when you look in the back of a spoon. To me that's witty & original & I laughed at the time without a hint of feeling guilty for doing so.

 

If you don't like boundary pushing humour, if you're easily offended just don't go...it's not difficult.:confused:

[Thedelldays]

the worst of the "do-gooders" getting offended was when jimmy carr made ajoke about squaddies making up the UK para-olympic team in 2012..

 

ffs

[Huntingdon]

You can't joke about anything these days without somebody feeling offended.

 

It's this pathetic PC mindset which is driving the BNP's rise

[Badger]

I don't think you're allowed to call people spastics anymore!

 

Spastics.....what great terminology.

I hoped that had gone out with the dark ages.

 

Apart from referees and linesmen of course !

[Badger]

You can't joke about anything these days without somebody feeling offended.

 

It's this pathetic PC mindset which is driving the BNP's rise

 

Don't forget Billy Connolly's observation that the only group you can safely take the p!ss out of are the white,heterosexual,males.

 

All other groups are protected species.

[benjii]

The issue of what is acceptable in comedy and the lady's offence, in this case, are separate IMO.

 

The lady, I'm sure, was genuinely offended. She is a massive hypocrite, however. In her defence I think this has been blown up by the media - she was on 5Live on Friday. Apparently she originally just put something on Twitter to tell her mates about the show and then the media got in touch and it all snowballed....

[bridge too far]

I'm probably in the minority here but I just don't think it's FUNNY to joke about people because they're 'different'.

 

Whether it's a 'different' colour, sexuality, mental or physical competence, religion .....

 

I think there are plenty of things to be laughed at. Difference and disability don't feature as far as I'm concerned. I'd find it hard to be comfortable with myself if I offended someone by joking at their 'difference'.

[JackFrost]

I find Boyle refreshingly non PC but just wish he wouldn't go over the top, like with this.

 

I understand Boyle is quitting stand up very soon, I think he knows he'd probably be banned from TV in 5-10 years if he did continue

[hamster]

Is he related to Susan?

 

Anyway, isn't FB ginger? Perhaps his line in offensive jokes is his way of hitting back at the years of torment??

[Thedelldays]

Is he related to Susan?

 

Anyway, isn't FB ginger? Perhaps his line in offensive jokes is his way of hitting back at the years of torment??

thing is..I saw his show thursday night and he took the mick out of everyone...ginger, disabled, english, scottish, BBC, welsh, fat people, footballers,

 

why is one group different from others..you know what you are going to get with boyle...

[hamster]

Although I personally don't find certain comedy genres funny, I axcccept that others do.

 

Is offence something that is given or something that is taken?

[Smirking_Saint]

Replace the joke with one about Asian or Black people. Now ask, would you be defending him with such vigor?

 

Yes

 

People go to watch Frankie Boyle because of his particular brand of comedy. Everyone knows he is close to the knuckle and more often than not will go over the boundries.

 

I think it is pathetic people jumping on their high horse about things like this, it is like the original Radio 2 Ross/Brand debate when only a handfull of complaints were recieved and then it blew up into 50 odd thousand for people jumping on the band wagon.

 

These kind of people get on my tits, if you don't like it, don't watch/listen etc Don't go and f*cking preach to everyone else for god sake. There is a lot that i don't like on TV and a lot of comediens i don't like, i don't watch them, easy isn't it.

[Jillyanne]

Yes

 

People go to watch Frankie Boyle because of his particular brand of comedy. Everyone knows he is close to the knuckle and more often than not will go over the boundries.

 

I think it is pathetic people jumping on their high horse about things like this, it is like the original Radio 2 Ross/Brand debate when only a handfull of complaints were recieved and then it blew up into 50 odd thousand for people jumping on the band wagon.

 

These kind of people get on my tits, if you don't like it, don't watch/listen etc Don't go and f*cking preach to everyone else for god sake. There is a lot that i don't like on TV and a lot of comediens i don't like, i don't watch them, easy isn't it.

 

[sadoldgit]

Yes

 

People go to watch Frankie Boyle because of his particular brand of comedy. Everyone knows he is close to the knuckle and more often than not will go over the boundries.

 

I think it is pathetic people jumping on their high horse about things like this, it is like the original Radio 2 Ross/Brand debate when only a handfull of complaints were recieved and then it blew up into 50 odd thousand for people jumping on the band wagon.

 

These kind of people get on my tits, if you don't like it, don't watch/listen etc Don't go and f*cking preach to everyone else for god sake. There is a lot that i don't like on TV and a lot of comediens i don't like, i don't watch them, easy isn't it.

 

So people can't complain and express their disgust when others go too far? I didn't complain about the Ross/Brand debacle but with daughters of my own found it sickening. I use to help with a Downs child a few years back and can imagine why people get upset when someone goes out to get a cheap laugh at their expense.

 

So you know what to expect from people like him, does that make it okay?

[bridge too far]

Yes

 

People go to watch Frankie Boyle because of his particular brand of comedy. Everyone knows he is close to the knuckle and more often than not will go over the boundries.

 

I think it is pathetic people jumping on their high horse about things like this, it is like the original Radio 2 Ross/Brand debate when only a handfull of complaints were recieved and then it blew up into 50 odd thousand for people jumping on the band wagon.

 

These kind of people get on my tits, if you don't like it, don't watch/listen etc Don't go and f*cking preach to everyone else for god sake. There is a lot that i don't like on TV and a lot of comediens i don't like, i don't watch them, easy isn't it.

 

If people don't voice their concerns about his brand of 'humour' (sic) then he and his ilk will think they've got away with it / it's acceptable.

 

The line in the sand will then be redrawn.

[St Landrew]

Don't be surprised when people raise objections to where it is ok, and where it is not ok, to joke. It is those very boundaries that some stand-up comedians kick against, and it is where their humour lies. If nobody complained there would be no boundaries, and everything would be carte blanche. Even the odd topic that might deeply offend people on here.

 

So while you blithely dismiss others for being touchy or PC, spare a thought that one day it might be you, or yours, who is deeply offended.

[Smirking_Saint]

So people can't complain and express their disgust when others go too far? I didn't complain about the Ross/Brand debacle but with daughters of my own found it sickening. I use to help with a Downs child a few years back and can imagine why people get upset when someone goes out to get a cheap laugh at their expense.

 

So you know what to expect from people like him, does that make it okay?

 

You know what to expect, if you don't like it don't pay attention to it, don't tell me i shouldn't be watching him, it is grade A snobbery at it's finest.

 

Christ, it is what it is comedy, jokes, to be taken as such. If you are not thick skin enough stay at home. There are disabled people in my life, and yeah at times you think that it is a bit harsh but none of it is meant to be vindictive.

 

If people don't voice their concerns about his brand of 'humour' (sic) then he and his ilk will think they've got away with it / it's acceptable.

 

The line in the sand will then be redrawn.

 

Get away with what though ?? Life is about opinions, i would never stuff mine down someone elses throat and TBF if i don't like something someone else does i don't turn around and say, "you shouldn't be watching that"

 

Everyone to their own and everyone is different, the PC brigade is well and truelly getting out of hand these days.

[Smirking_Saint]

Don't be surprised when people raise objections to where it is ok, and where it is not ok, to joke. It is those very boundaries that some stand-up comedians kick against, and it is where their humour lies. If nobody complained there would be no boundaries, and everything would be carte blanche. Even the odd topic that might deeply offend people on here.

 

So while you blithely dismiss others for being touchy or PC, spare a thought that one day it might be you, or yours, who is deeply offended.

 

TBF

 

If a comedien starts on a subject that i don't agree with i am sure i won't get all upitty about it, boundries or no boundries it is comedy and should be taken as such.

 

Hatch hit the nail on the head earlier, and if i really didn't like something i would just not go again.

[bridge too far]

You know what to expect, if you don't like it don't pay attention to it, don't tell me i shouldn't be watching him, it is grade A snobbery at it's finest.

 

Christ, it is what it is comedy, jokes, to be taken as such. If you are not thick skin enough stay at home. There are disabled people in my life, and yeah at times you think that it is a bit harsh but none of it is meant to be vindictive.

 

 

 

Get away with what though ?? Life is about opinions, i would never stuff mine down someone elses throat and TBF if i don't like something someone else does i don't turn around and say, "you shouldn't be watching that"

 

Everyone to their own and everyone is different, the PC brigade is well and truelly getting out of hand these days.

 

I wouldn't want censorship of any description - I don't support that.

 

I'd just hope people were sensitive and caring enough to avoid this sort of humour.

 

I wouldn't go to watch him but what you do is your business, of course.

 

It won't stop me voicing my concerns, however.

[saintkiptanui]

I'm probably in the minority here but I just don't think it's FUNNY to joke about people because they're 'different'.

 

Whether it's a 'different' colour, sexuality, mental or physical competence, religion .....

 

I think there are plenty of things to be laughed at. Difference and disability don't feature as far as I'm concerned. I'd find it hard to be comfortable with myself if I offended someone by joking at their 'difference'.

Am I bad for calling Robsk carrot top??? I think you need to lighten up a bit.

[bridge too far]

Am I bad for calling Robsk carrot top??? I think you need to lighten up a bit.

 

No I don't - I'm just telling you what I think.

 

The humour I like is observational and (no doubt I'll be shot down in flames) intellectual.

 

I just don't find the idea of laughing at people's disabilities and disadvantages the slightest bit amusing.

 

But hey ho - I'm comfortable with myself and that's all that matters to me. You think what you like and I'll do the same.

[saintkiptanui]

No I don't - I'm just telling you what I think.

 

The humour I like is observational and (no doubt I'll be shot down in flames) intellectual.

 

I just don't find the idea of laughing at people's disabilities and disadvantages the slightest bit amusing.

 

But hey ho - I'm comfortable with myself and that's all that matters to me. You think what you like and I'll do the same.

 

I often get called peahead, I don't mind this. If I met you and I discovered you had a bunnion and I called you 6 toes would you cry/mind??

[bridge too far]

I often get called peahead, I don't mind this. If I met you and I discovered you had a bunnion and I called you 6 toes would you cry/mind??

 

Not in the slightest. I was often called 'four eyes' at school because I wore glases then.

 

However, there's a big difference. You and I can answer back. A lot of folk who are the butt of this 'humour' can't.

 

I wouldn't call you peahead because I don't like insulting people. You can call me what the hell you like if you're happy to do that.

[miserableoldgit]

I'm probably in the minority here but I just don't think it's FUNNY to joke about people because they're 'different'.

 

Whether it's a 'different' colour, sexuality, mental or physical competence, religion .....

 

I think there are plenty of things to be laughed at. Difference and disability don't feature as far as I'm concerned. I'd find it hard to be comfortable with myself if I offended someone by joking at their 'difference'.

Where do you draw the line though? Women are "different" to men. Should men not tell jokes about women and vice-versa? Is it wrong to tell jokes about, for example, Portsmouth fans, Essex girls, Jedward etc? Virtually every joke is at someones expense. Surely it depend on your definition of "offensive". I don`t find any particular problems with Irish, Scots, Welsh, French or Australian type jokes, and am not offended when people tell jokes about the English. This is humour for goodness sake. Providing that there is no "nastiness" in the joke, what is the problem

[saintkiptanui]

Not in the slightest. I was often called 'four eyes' at school because I wore glases then.

 

However, there's a big difference. You and I can answer back. A lot of folk who are the butt of this 'humour' can't.

 

I wouldn't call you peahead because I don't like insulting people. You can call me what the hell you like if you're happy to do that.

 

Thanks four eyes 6 toes.

[St Landrew]

Intelligent humour challenges the stereotype. The problem some people have with Frankie Boyle's humour is that it often reinforces the stereotype. That's not clever. However, I have found Frankie Boyle very funny and unfunny at different times. He's quite hit or miss.

But as an example that I'm not treading some constant middle line here of avoiding bad taste, I love it when Hugh Dennis takes the stereotyical p!ss out of the royal family with his voiceovers of video clips featuring them. I make no apologies for that, and I don't care whether they are offended or not. It makes me laugh out loud.

 

EDIT: Here's a good 'un: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zqv_eHszKcQ

Edited 11 April, 2010 by St Landrew

[bridge too far]

Where do you draw the line though? Women are "different" to men. Should men not tell jokes about women and vice-versa? Is it wrong to tell jokes about, for example, Portsmouth fans, Essex girls, Jedward etc? Virtually every joke is at someones expense. Surely it depend on your definition of "offensive". I don`t find any particular problems with Irish, Scots, Welsh, French or Australian type jokes, and am not offended when people tell jokes about the English. This is humour for goodness sake. Providing that there is no "nastiness" in the joke, what is the problem

 

In the context of the OP, this is exactly the point. Offensiveness is nastiness IMO.

 

Look, it's a free world. If people can derive amusement for laughing at a disability (in the widest sense) of others, so be it. But they'd do well to have a thought for the sensitivities of the people they're laughing at.

[saintkiptanui]

The way you say "look" when you start a sentence reminds me of Shimon cowell.

[miserableoldgit]

Intelligent humour challenges the stereotype. The problem some people have with Frankie Boyle's humour is that it often reinforces the stereotype. That's not clever. However, I have found Frankie Boyle very funny and unfunny at different times. He's quite hit or miss.

But as an example that I'm not treading some constant middle line here of avoiding bad taste, I love it when Hugh Dennis takes the stereotyical p!ss out of the royal family with his voiceovers of video clips featuring them. I make no apologies for that, and I don't care whether they are offended or not. It makes me laugh out loud.

 

EDIT: Here's a good 'un: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zqv_eHszKcQ

To a degree isn`t that the point? I saw Frankie Boyle last year and found him extremely funny. I left my sense of delicacy at the front door because I knew what to expect. I personally like "clever" comedy, with plays on words/language (Milton Jones, Stewart Francis etc) but I can sometimes find "offensive" funny as well. As I said on an earlier post, it is comedy/humour, NOT serious racist, sexist, homophobic or whatever -ist or -ic comment you wish to name.

[miserableoldgit]

The way you say "look" when you start a sentence reminds me of Shimon cowell.

Try listening to Australians being interviewed if you want to hear that a lot!

[bridge too far]

Let me throw this into the arena for discussion.

 

Sometimes people find jokes about other people's disabilities funny because they actually have low self-esteem and it makes them feel better to laugh, in a tribal sort of way, at people who have worse problems than they do. It makes them feel superior.

 

Now this is for debate and I'm not saying I agree or disagree with it. It's just a proposition I find quite interesting.

 

It's a BIT like the most homophobic men actually being closet homosexuals.

[bridge too far]

Try listening to Australians being interviewed if you want to hear that a lot!

 

Yes, and South Africans. I don't know why I said it - not something I usually say 8-[

[IamLeGod]

People seem to be getting at this lady unfairly.

 

i don't think she went running to the press, more the other way round. As has been mentioned the tour was a sell-out, and so there were most likely a lot of people and press people in the venue witnessing what happened. It was a significant part of the show, as im sure anyone who was there will vividly remember the unfolding of these events.

 

She didn't go to the press moaning. and even what she said to the press wasn't that moaning. She said she was a fan of his (hence her being there) and enjoyed his dry, close to the bone style. However, (understandably) having a daughter with down syndrome she was offeneded by people making jokes about them.

 

Personally I don't have much sympathy for the bloke. He's a vile, unfunny unintelligent comic who uses shock as a tool to compensate for a lack of ability to actually construct a clever joke. Unfortunately this seems to be a trait amongst certain comedians. I have no problem with dry humour if there is a point to it. But having attemptd to watch one of his DVD's I had to turn it off after 15 mins.

 

He is ghastly simply for the sake of being ghastly. What is the point? I don't really buy that as a defence or get out clause, "I'm always horrible, if you don't like it shut up." Clearly he is a big man mocking those that are incapable of defending themselves or mocking back, and unfortunately in this case they most likely wouldn't even understand.

 

Hats off Mr. Boyle, well done to you.

[saintkiptanui]

Let me throw this into the arena for discussion.

 

Sometimes people find jokes about other people's disabilities funny because they actually have low self-esteem and it makes them feel better to laugh, in a tribal sort of way, at people who have worse problems than they do. It makes them feel superior.

 

Now this is for debate and I'm not saying I agree or disagree with it. It's just a proposition I find quite interesting.

 

It's a BIT like the most homophobic men actually being closet homosexuals.

Look, I don't mind gays as long as they keep there mucky paws off my arse.

[miserableoldgit]

Let me throw this into the arena for discussion.

 

Sometimes people find jokes about other people's disabilities funny because they actually have low self-esteem and it makes them feel better to laugh, in a tribal sort of way, at people who have worse problems than they do. It makes them feel superior.

 

Now this is for debate and I'm not saying I agree or disagree with it. It's just a proposition I find quite interesting.

 

It's a BIT like the most homophobic men actually being closet homosexuals.

Rightly or wrongly it has always been a British trait (and strangely something that I admire) to make jokes/fun in adversity. For example, I remember jokes appearing within hours of 9/11. Good taste? No, obviously, but it`s what we do and what we have always done. It may be in bad taste but very rarely is it done to be deliberately nasty.

[Guest Dark Sotonic Mills]

Rightly or wrongly it has always been a British trait (and strangely something that I admire) to make jokes/fun in adversity. For example, I remember jokes appearing within hours of 9/11. Good taste? No, obviously, but it`s what we do and what we have always done. It may be in bad taste but very rarely is it done to be deliberately nasty.

 

I am sure that Bernard Manning's "jokes" were purely and simply because he was a vile racist who hated anyone of a different colour.

 

I am unsure of Royston Vasey's humour as well.

[bridge too far]

I think you're right to an extent MOG. I think we employ SELF-deprecating humour in times of adversity.

 

I'll quite happily laugh at myself when things aren't going well.

 

And picking up on your point about laughing at Portsmouth - yes I do (and I live with one so the banter is rife in our house). But they CHOOSE to be skates. People with Downs Syndrome or who are black or gay or physically or mentally disabled don't have a choice.

[saintkiptanui]

I think you're right to an extent MOG. I think we employ SELF-deprecating humour in times of adversity.

 

I'll quite happily laugh at myself when things aren't going well.

 

And picking up on your point about laughing at Portsmouth - yes I do (and I live with one so the banter is rife in our house). But they CHOOSE to be skates. People with Downs Syndrome or who are black or gay or physically or mentally disabled don't have a choice.

Your husband didn't have a choice, he was born with webbed feet.