Ricky Gervais - right or wrong to use that word? : Mon Jan 23, 2012 8:45 pm  

The Daily Mail wrote: TV watchdog Ofcom has rejected complaints that comedian Ricky Gervais's use of the word 'mong' during a stand-up show was offensive. The Office star and controversial comedian claimed that Britain's Got Talent singer Susan Boyle looked like a 'mong' during his 'Science' live show on Channel 4 last year. During a tirade about the Scots singer in October, Gervais said: 'She would not be where she is today if it wasn’t for the fact that she looked like such a f*****g mong.' Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... z1kJbixFiW Personally I think that the Daily Mail and Mencap (they've also complained about this) have got the complete wrong end of the stick. Both organisations are sensationalising a single word out of a whole dialogue of words. I could really understand if Ricky went out of his way to torment the person involved but he hasn't. The way I see it is that The Daily Mail and Mencap seem to be going out of they way to torment Ricky. Hopefully both Mencap and The Daily Mail get their comeuppance one day for misrepresenting what gets said to suit their own vested interests. There's a clear line between genuine discrimination and comedy. Ricky didn't cross that line in my eyes. I'm just grateful that we've got a strong comedian who uses comedy to really show up very vile organisations. He put it perfectly for me when he explained why the Daily Mail doesn't like him to someone asking on twitter 'I'm a rich, famous, new money, cocky, educated, unapologetic, liberal, atheist with a platform?'. Keep up the good work Ricky!

The Daily Mail wrote: TV watchdog Ofcom has rejected complaints that comedian Ricky Gervais's use of the word 'mong' during a stand-up show was offensive. The Office star and controversial comedian claimed that Britain's Got Talent singer Susan Boyle looked like a 'mong' during his 'Science' live show on Channel 4 last year. During a tirade about the Scots singer in October, Gervais said: 'She would not be where she is today if it wasn’t for the fact that she looked like such a f*****g mong.' Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... z1kJbixFiW Personally I think that the Daily Mail and Mencap (they've also complained about this) have got the complete wrong end of the stick. Both organisations are sensationalising a single word out of a whole dialogue of words. I could really understand if Ricky went out of his way to torment the person involved but he hasn't. The way I see it is that The Daily Mail and Mencap seem to be going out of they way to torment Ricky. Hopefully both Mencap and The Daily Mail get their comeuppance one day for misrepresenting what gets said to suit their own vested interests. There's a clear line between genuine discrimination and comedy. Ricky didn't cross that line in my eyes. I'm just grateful that we've got a strong comedian who uses comedy to really show up very vile organisations. He put it perfectly for me when he explained why the Daily Mail doesn't like him to someone asking on twitter 'I'm a rich, famous, new money, cocky, educated, unapologetic, liberal, atheist with a platform?'. Keep up the good work Ricky!

Re: Ricky Gervais - right or wrong to use that word? : Mon Jan 23, 2012 9:32 pm  

Personally I hope it harms his career.

He's made a whole series of programmes and films playing one person - himself - and that one person isn't particularly funny.
It's not often I agree with the Wail, but yes I do think he was out of order.

Re: Ricky Gervais - right or wrong to use that word? : Mon Jan 23, 2012 9:42 pm  

Unless the words "one day aspires to become a" appear in the middle, then "Ricky Jervais" and "comedian" should never appear in the same sentence

Re: Ricky Gervais - right or wrong to use that word? : Mon Jan 23, 2012 10:51 pm  

I think he actually gets away with murder in the world of the Politikally Korrekt where people are told what they can say and how they're meant to think and behave. So good on him in some ways. He says a lot of things that if you or I said, we'd get in trouble. Imagine saying I got Schindler's List as I thought it was a porno. What would people think of me at work? But him? Everyone laughs. It's amazing the psychology of people when they are told to expect "funny".

I'll put my hand up and admit that when someone says something really stupid I still put my tongue into my bottom lip and do a "Joey".

Re: Ricky Gervais - right or wrong to use that word? : Mon Jan 23, 2012 11:07 pm  

Can't believe people actually go on the Daily Mail website to get their news, utter gutter press, yet the 'articles' always end up on here!

Why do people insist on taking offence on other peoples behalf ? Seriously go into a pub and talk about Susan Boyle and you will hear much worse. FWIW I reckon the point he's making is right, albeit in a way that might offend some, people can't say anything without there being some bloody enquiry or overreaction. Shame on whoever reads the Mail, in fact I've just been on the link and there is a story at the top about two Harry Potter actors who don't speak a lot... wtf is this? Trash.

Re: Ricky Gervais - right or wrong to use that word? : Mon Jan 23, 2012 11:13 pm  

Scooter Nik wrote:

Personally I hope it harms his career.
He's made a whole series of programmes and films playing one person - himself - and that one person isn't particularly funny.
It's not often I agree with the Wail, but yes I do think he was out of order.

Why?

Re: Ricky Gervais - right or wrong to use that word? : Mon Jan 23, 2012 11:37 pm  

TFC wrote:

Why do people insist on taking offence on other peoples behalf ? Seriously go into a pub and talk about Susan Boyle and you will hear much worse. FWIW I reckon the point he's making is right, albeit in a way that might offend some, people can't say anything without there being some bloody enquiry or overreaction. Shame on whoever reads the Mail, in fact I've just been on the link and there is a story at the top about two Harry Potter actors who don't speak a lot... wtf is this? Trash.

Politikal Korrektness is why. But yeah, I agree about what members of the general public might say. Who on earth has the right to tell us how to react to anything?


There is an irony there though by you saying:
people can't say anything without there being some bloody enquiry or overreaction.

yet you go on to tell us how bad people are and they should feel shame because they read a newspaper:
Shame on whoever reads the Mail

Everyone clearly has some sort of overreaction. Even to something like a newspaper.

Re: Ricky Gervais - right or wrong to use that word? : Tue Jan 24, 2012 1:17 am  

Rooster Booster wrote:

Politikal Korrektness is why. But yeah, I agree about what members of the general public might say. Who on earth has the right to tell us how to react to anything?


There is an irony there though by you saying:
people can't say anything without there being some bloody enquiry or overreaction.

yet you go on to tell us how bad people are and they should feel shame because they read a newspaper:
Shame on whoever reads the Mail

Everyone clearly has some sort of overreaction. Even to something like a newspaper.

Point taken, this is generally an aspect of my personality I am actively trying to curb! I hate to think I judge people and usually feel quite guilty for coming across as snobbish when it comes to other peoples tastes, It just makes my blood boil that people actually care about these people, when there are people dying on the streets. Of course people may like the escapism of this celebrity media circus that is constantly shoved in our faces from any angle possible. Like I said I am trying to 'get over it' or whatever but every now and then I get quite annoyed by this sort of thing being commonplace in society, although I am probably in the minority, could cut this long story short and just say 'Keep your opinions to yourself' however that would just be boring especially on the internet! Might sound daft, but hey ho.

Re: Ricky Gervais - right or wrong to use that word? : Tue Jan 24, 2012 1:23 am  

The talentless always seek to be "non politically correct" to generate humour, Jeremy Clarkson, Frankie Boyle and Ricky Gervais all fit that category. They remind me of the irritating posh toffs I knew at uni that would sit at the back of the bus into town roaring with laughter at their rape jokes.

Re: Ricky Gervais - right or wrong to use that word? : Tue Jan 24, 2012 1:41 am  

If you find a comedian funny or not is one thing but groups kicking up a stink about something a comedian says is a bit pathetic in my eyes.

It's their job in some respects to offend.