General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsFor the 'humour challenged' and hyper-PC types out there, Professor Maher is here to help.
The Humor Code: Deconstructing the Science of Funny-Level 101
Professor Bill Maher guides us step by step through the process of creating or 'setting up' the funny, and then breaks it down or deconstructs it. For beginner and intermediate level students of laughter.
http://www.wired.com/2011/07/international-humor-conference/
In Wired magazines May 2011 issue, Joel Warner detailed Colorado professor Peter McGraws attempt to scientifically explain what exactly makes things funny. Since the story made clear that McGraw had a lot to learn about comedy in the real world an in-person attempt to get Louis C.K. to sign on to his theory devolved into an incoherent question about the comedians penis size McGraw and Warner are teaming up to explore the science of comedy around the world.
Their occasional Wired.com column, The Humor Code, will chronicle their adventures, their scientific experiments and the unintentional comedy they encounter along the way.
Starry Messenger
(32,342 posts)He just came off as petulant, imo.
Logical
(22,457 posts)Response to Logical (Reply #3)
Post removed
treestar
(82,383 posts)If he'd known the guy was a Muslim, he might not have done that.
It's funny how our preconceived notions come in. I was thinking how cute Zayn is, and it never occurred to me he would be a muslim, I.e, it just was out of consideration what religion he is, and he looks so totally American, and the America I grew up in was pretty much without Muslims.
Just shows how you can be caught in your own prejudices. Bill, like me, was, because it just never occurred to him that a kid that looked like that might be a Muslim. His looks are like Donny Osmond's or any other cute teen heartthrob of the past 50 years. And thus the Tsarnaev look a like thing looked like only that on the surface, and he didn't even consider the issue of well maybe I should look into more about Zayn as he might be a Muslim and thus my joke will get taken as though I am blaming Zayn for acts of a particular terrorist who happens to be a Muslim.
Surya Gayatri
(15,445 posts)And, Zayn is absolutely gorgeous. (I could be his grandmother, but I know beauty when I see it!)
seabeyond
(110,159 posts)reinforcing the mens giggle'd stereotypical insult women that effect us for a life time, in all manners of life, including laws enforced and passed.
so.
no.
Surya Gayatri
(15,445 posts)Kinda funny, IMHO.
But then,
'les goûts et les couleurs, ça ne se discute pas'.
tastes and favorite colors, can't argue with them.
Logical
(22,457 posts)seabeyond
(110,159 posts)Logical
(22,457 posts)Paladin
(28,243 posts)If I want to be preached to about being a dumb liberal, I'll get into Mike Huckabee's site. And by the way: Bill Maher needs to go fuck himself.
Logical
(22,457 posts)Paladin
(28,243 posts)Congrats, you've attained Maher's level of entertainment value.
Logical
(22,457 posts)Paladin
(28,243 posts)Logical
(22,457 posts)Paladin
(28,243 posts)Surya Gayatri
(15,445 posts)Paladin
(28,243 posts)Surya Gayatri
(15,445 posts)dsc
(52,147 posts)He simultaniously gives himself credit for doing due diligence (correcting the misspelled name) but then blames ignorance for the fact he compared what likely is the only Muslim boy band member in the Western world to a Muslim terrorist. So which is it, did he do his due diligence or did he not?
Surya Gayatri
(15,445 posts)not a university lecture or doctoral thesis.
dsc
(52,147 posts)the fact is a comedian who is at best so anti religion that he has become confused with being anti muslim finds the one and only muslim in a boy band to compare to the marathon bomber and then pleads ignorance after patting himself on the back for fact checking.
Surya Gayatri
(15,445 posts)Inkfreak
(1,695 posts)I like Maher, he makes me laugh. That said, if someone said "he's an ass" I would totally understand. There's really no need for outrage. Just ignore the his show & move on.
Surya Gayatri
(15,445 posts)There's always need for outrage, somewhere, sometime, by someone.
Which kind of proves the 'deconstructing humour' thesis mentioned below the video.
seabeyond
(110,159 posts)else using freedom of speech should just be quiet, say nothing, or will be labeled some extreme like.... outrage.
seabeyond
(110,159 posts)and he means to insult. everyone knows that, he admits that, his fans are aware. it is all about insulting people. i do not find some of it funny. i am then accused of being humor challenged.
you do not see a problem with that?
Surya Gayatri
(15,445 posts)Surya Gayatri
(15,445 posts)seabeyond
(110,159 posts)k. he is an ass. not outraged and i do not watch the show.
Inkfreak
(1,695 posts)I don't think he's harmful or anything. Just a comic. I suppose outrage was the wrong word. I do think it's a lot of coverage for a rather innocuous joke.
Orsino
(37,428 posts)He may also be pretty funny, and may still share some of my values.
Let's not pretend that he's all one thing and not any other thing, or that people turned way off by his bigotry are somehow inapable of getting humor.
Our participation is not required. He has a lot of fans even after losing some.
Inkfreak
(1,695 posts)seabeyond
(110,159 posts)call him on some of his supposed "jokes". i like the man. have agreed with oh... about 50% of the shit he says, and about 50% is a fail for me.
surely... i am allowed.
agree with you.
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)nt
seabeyond
(110,159 posts)my son and i watch a lot of comedians together and spend a lot of time with comedy channels on car with long trips. i love comedy. and some does not float my boat. as i said elsewhere. i like maher. i like about 50% of what he says. i disagree with a percentage, and i think he is a misogynist ass.
seabeyond
(110,159 posts)treat carlin as god, i did tell son his pov is white middle aged male. he is still funny, he is good and clever and witty, and not always right on.
colbert is a hoot and some of colbert and stewart are sexist, but as a whole i love both.
the dude that is comedian and does stand up that is on park and recreation, ..... indian?, is funny as hell.
the other on the show, the meat eating dude? i was really disappointed cause there was so much... dick dick dick, pussy pussy, dick dick pussy dick dick dick.
otherwise, he is funny.
anyway, i listen to lots.