Daniel Tosh, however, keeps things silly. He keeps the tone jocular. Tosh wants to inhabit the persona of the likable ne'er-do-well who's your coolest friend. So, when he says "rape jokes are always funny", he's not playing the part of a horrible human being who would think rape jokes are always funny -- he's showing us that the cool, likable guy at the party probably thinks rape is funny... and okay. There's nothing in his tone, writing or presentation that says, "Rape jokes are funny because jokes are funny. Rape itself is wrong."

This is why the Daniel Tosh incident "crossed the line" for so many people. It's not that comics can't cross lines. Comics should say whatever they want. If Tosh honestly thinks rape is funny... well, that's his opinion. That's his worldview. What's disturbing is that this is a worldview that is violent and that lacks empathy. What's even more disturbing is that he's not some unknown comic presenting an unpopular opinion. He's one of the most popular and beloved comic acts in the country. Which means that a huge percentage of our country thinks rape jokes are funny, but not because they admire Jeselnik's wordplay or Silverman's irony or Mulaney's empathetic juxtaposition. They think rape jokes are funny because they think the act of physically hurting and sexually dominating a woman against her will is funny.

And it's not. They're not laughing at a joke. They're laughing at the concept of rape. Rape is disturbing and horrible.

...........

Again, Tosh wants to be liked. He wants to be popular, and so we circle back to the fact that the problem isn't Daniel Tosh. The problem is that our society is still a rape culture where a large percentage of people think that rape's OK and that a girl in a short skirt is asking for it and that it's funny to assault someone. Not for the sake of satire, but for one person's amusement over another person's real life victimization.

I smell a bit....

I don't think anyone here gets away with saying (posting) that to any female board member....maybe to IMU though.

There is not a damned thing wrong with people who are bull shitters.

There is not a damned thing wrong with people who are bull shitters.

Apparently, this chick had no problem with the gay and racist jokes.

That said, saying a rape comment directly to a woman is pretty dumb.

It's more fun to be a victim

There will never be an effective vaccine. I'll never get one anyway.

I remember board members here specifically had a problem with child rape jokes when the Sandusky case first broke, but I haven't heard as many protests since when I've seen "poor humor" attempted here though so I was just trying to gauge what topics should be off limits always here, in a bar among friends, and by a comic, in the opinions of board members.

When I was seven, I could kick my height.

I have MANY years of experience in trying to appreciate steaming piles of dogshit.

There is not a damned thing wrong with people who are bull shitters.

If someone tells a joke about the positive qualities of Hitler(which the comic did when I was there) does it mean that a large percentage of people think it's ok to kill Jews?

If you hate Laurence, then don't listen - don't comment. When he co-hosts the B&B show, take that day off ... listen to an old podcast of a Bernstein solo show and jerk off all day.

At least he didnt call her the n word like Michael Richards did.

There is not a damned thing wrong with people who are bull shitters.

It's more fun to be a victim

There will never be an effective vaccine. I'll never get one anyway.

I am not a legal expert, how many times do I have to say it?

And Tosh sucks.

There is not a damned thing wrong with people who are bull shitters.

And Tosh sucks.

I am not a legal expert, how many times do I have to say it?

Do you have a mixed-religion crowd attending?

OK, I was going to save this for my grandma's funeral but here goes...A priest and a rabbi are playing golf. As they approach the 18th green the priest says, "after we are done, do you want to go screw some alter boys?" The rabbi responds, "out of what?"

It is essential to the role of the artist (and yes, a comedian is an artist) to provoke a reaction. The art may not always work well but I would sooner live with petty offenses than live with unproduced art due to the chilling of creativity.

Think about the art student who masturbated with spoiled spaghetti-o's to the applause of her audience. Her art sucked but maybe she will produce something worthwhile in the future, so fap away.

Don't be fooled by the topic, this is a censorship discussion.

Tosh sucks by the way.

Hecklers are the worst. They should be taken out back and shot. Nobody wants to hear someone else talk during someone's performance.

And Tosh sucks.

I've never understood hecklers.

If you hate Laurence, then don't listen - don't comment. When he co-hosts the B&B show, take that day off ... listen to an old podcast of a Bernstein solo show and jerk off all day.

rpb is wrong. Phil McCracken is useful.

RPB is right. You suck.