But I couldn't let this one pass.
Daniel Tosh, the so-called 'comedian' that I fully admit I hadn't really known of or paid any attention until this week, got called out at one of his shows for saying rape jokes are funny.
For the record, they're not.
He responded by making what have has been interpreted by some as a not-so-veiled threat and by others as a joke. I'm kind of in the threat camp on this one.
After I called out to him, Tosh paused for a moment. Then, he says, “Wouldn’t it be funny if that girl got raped by like, 5 guys right now? Like right now? What if a bunch of guys just raped her…”I've laughed at some pretty wrong and fucked up stuff in my time, and this didn't even make me giggle a bit. Not even in that "omigod-i-so-shouldn't-be-laughing-at-this-I'm-a-bad-person-and-obviously-going-to-hell" way.
So as it happens, this girls post has gone viral and a bunch of people have called Tosh an asshole, and a bunch of people have come to his defence, claiming free speech etc etc.
People, I cannot stress this enough.
Criticism is not Censorship.
Saying "Don't be an asshole," is not Censorship.
Saying "This thing you said, it's shitty and hurts people" is not Censorship.
Criticism is not Censorship.
Saying "I'm not coming to your performances or watching your show any more, you rape-apologizing, unfunny assbag." is not censorship.
Telling sponsors and advertisers "Hey, I'm going to stop using your services or buying your products if you keep giving money to this rape-apologizing, unfunny assbag," is not censorship.
Bringing attention to the actions of an unfunny, rape-apologizing assbags through various medium and suggesting that "Hey, maybe supporting unfunny rape-apologizing assbags is bullshit really fucking hurtful and erases victims and perpetuates a culture where rape is normalized and acceptable and seen as a joke," is not censorship.
Criticism is not Censorship.
To the best of my knowledge, no one is advocating jailing, deporting or otherwise sanctioning Daniel Tosh. Governing bodies have not stepped in and taken away his show. If I'm wrong, then yes, that is censorship.
But the same people who are saying that we are taking away Daniel Tosh's right to
Huh. I'm surprised you haven't get any comments on this yet.
ReplyDeleteI had never heard of Daniel Tosh until a couple summers ago when I saw one of my nephews watching his show. At the time, thee was this bit that had a viral video of some kid who was having a tantrum because his mom had cut him off from WoW. The finale featured him trying to stick remote up his butt.
I thought Tosh's humor was designed to cater to pre-pubescent males—whether physically or mentally.
"You're censoring me!" Is just what a twelve year old boy would say, and that's just the sort of guy who might think a rape joke was funny.
To his histrionics, I would say, "When a mouse squeaks, a lion yawns."
Cheers,
Rick
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ReplyDelete(here via Feministe)
ReplyDeleteThanks for this! I found that all the people going around yelling BUT BUT FREE SPEECH generally did not understand what free speech means or how it works.