[Update] Ofcom raps Channel 4 over Frankie Boyle's Harvey Price 'joke'

[Osem]

I spent this morning watching a nativity play put on by some of the children at our youngest's special school. These children have severe physical and/or mental disabilities and to see them rise to the challenge and do their best was truly moving. Frankie Boyle ought to spend a little time with some of the young people whose disabilities he chooses to ridicule in pursuit of fame. Autistic children at least have an excuse for their sometimes odd or unpalatable behaviour. What excuse does Boyle have for being a thoroughly offensive moron?

[iFrankie]

Most comedians say things they regret later on, remember when Alan Carr dedicated an award to Karen Matthews.

Ofcom will probably reply saying its freedom of speech ect.

[danielf]

It's repeated on C4 right now in case anyone's interested.

Originally Posted by Osem

I spent this morning watching a nativity play put on by some of the children at our youngest's special school. These children have severe physical and/or mental disabilities and to see them rise to the challenge and do their best was truly moving. Frankie Boyle ought to spend a little time with some of the young people whose disabilities he chooses to ridicule in pursuit of fame. Autistic children at least have an excuse for their sometimes odd or unpalatable behaviour. What excuse does Boyle have for being a thoroughly offensive moron?

(and I found Frankie Boyle very funny on MTW)

Originally Posted by Hugh

(and I found Frankie Boyle very funny on MTW)

Well most of the time I did as well, though once or twice he made me wince..

[Derek]

Originally Posted by Osem

What excuse does Boyle have for being a thoroughly offensive moron?

It gets him viewers? (And ticket, DVD) sales.

Whilst a fan of him the show isn't particularly funny. The sketches are a bit lame and the stand up sections are lifted straight from his standup act. In a theatre as part of an ongoing stream of thought it was hilarious, on TV it just seemed a bit desperate.

Originally Posted by punky

Ribaldry is dead in this country. Unfortunately it is now restricted to countries that respect the right to free speech.

We have to base what we say around Jordan's/Clare Balding's feelings now. It's rather sad.

Nothing to do with free speech. He hasn't been reported to the police, he has been reported to Ofcom. You do not, and have never had, the right to broadcast whatever you choose. Same goes with other countries, they all have standards and watchdogs to abide by.

So I don't think it's sad to take into account the feelings of someone whose disabled child your about to mock. While offense alone is not reason enough not to make a joke you should take it into account. As much as I dislike Katie Price she is still a human being, and so is her child regardless of a mental disability. Using him as a gag is a low most comedians would not sink too.

This brings me to be problem with Boyle. He is a shock 'comedian'. Someone who goes out of this way to offend because that is his what his career is based on. Shock. "He can't say that, can he?" type of comedian. It's not brave to push the boundaries of taste in the way he does.

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by punky

Ribaldry is dead in this country. Unfortunately it is now restricted to countries that respect the right to free speech.

We have to base what we say around Jordan's/Clare Balding's feelings now. It's rather sad.

If people heard the Aristocrats joke performed by anyone in the last 15 years they'd just explode with Daily-Mail-esque rage.

Ask yourself. How would you feel if someone made fun of you and your disabled son on primetime national TV?

I like Frankie Boyle, but in this case he did go too far, and Katie had every right to do what she did.

As for free speech, we've never had free speech in this country. No country has. It's always had limitations. We do, however, have fewer restrictions on speech than a lot of countries. Including, apparently, the US.

Originally Posted by Ignitionnet

Freedom of speech should always trump peoples' sense of offense.

Really?Even to making racist jokes?

[Gary L]

Originally Posted by Maggy J

Really?Even to making racist jokes?

Ah, the magical word racist that makes everyone gasp in horror and look for the culprit and the police when it's mentioned

I grew up hearing racist and all other kinds of jokes. I personally find them funny and don't take offence by anything that is meant as a joke.

they only stopped being funny when we went all PC and hugging each other.

now we just talk and do sex all day and night. even the kids get to see it. we haven't decided yet whether there's no turning back or whether we can frown at it

Originally Posted by Gary L

I grew up hearing racist and all other kinds of jokes. I personally find them funny and don't take offence by anything that is meant as a joke.

And that explains *so* much of the "thinking" behind your posts on here.

[Gary L]

Yeh, I suppose I'm broad minded. though I don't think I've expressed it so much as you imply though?

On the contrary, the statement you made earlier today suggests to me that you're a narrow-minded racist bigot who thinks anything goes just so long as you get a laugh out of it.

[Ignitionnet]

Originally Posted by Maggy J

Really?Even to making racist jokes?

Yes. It's only past experience and transgressions that are the reason race is such an issue. In modern Britain it should be considered no more of a taboo than any other subject.

Nothing should be any more 'off limits' than anything else in a tolerant and open society. That it is speaks volumes for how abysmally we fail at being tolerant and open - people needing to tread on eggshells to avoid other people taking offence on behalf of third parties.

People who hold serious racist views should be treated with amusement and disdain, they aren't worth getting offended over.

[Gary L]

Originally Posted by Chris

On the contrary, the statement you made earlier today suggests to me that you're a narrow-minded racist bigot who thinks anything goes just so long as you get a laugh out of it.

Oh. well what you say suggests to me that you're one of those people that accuse someone of being racist just because they admit that jokes are funny. you may find something offensive or un-funny and expect anyone who doesn't feel the same to be the same as you.

if they don't we call them bad words whilst shouting and pointing our finger so everyone sees who you disagree with so we may pelt them with lose change in our pockets.

I'd like to add that I also laugh at dirty jokes as well as Irish, Scottish and dippy blonde ones.
the only ones I draw the line at is ones about elephants. if I hear anyone making a joke about elephants I report them to the RSPCA.