Is Provocation An Excuse? john.philpin.com
@JohnPhilpin Jimmy Carr ends one of his standup shows with a bit based on Lenny Bruce's observation that it is the audience that informs comedians when they have gone too far. Carr then proceeds to tell increasingly offensive jokes to see where the audience draws the line.
My first thought was that Chris Rock got some new information about crossing that line.
My second was that nobody in that audience would hesistate to put that scene into a movie.
Still haven't come to a conclusion.
@cliffordbeshers @JohnPhilpin I haven't watched the 'slap clip' but heard about it on the news. My question is: how is it in any way funny to remark on a person's appearance? When I was a kid 'mother-in-law' jokes were considered funny. We have since moved on from that terrible place. Making fun of (a woman's) appearance is unacceptable. How to respond is another matter. Boos from the whole audience would have been a good idea.
@Miraz A few years ago I made a decision tree for people who were still having trouble with this idea. <img src="https://jabel.blog/uploads/2022/6cb396b850.jpg" />
@Miraz Indeed. In this case, the audience wasn't pre-sensitized the way Will Smith was. Alopecia is a very stressful condition for the average person; for an a-lister it must be amplified. If Chris Rock knew about the alopecia, it was definitely in poor taste; if he didn't know and was just making fun of a fashion choice, then it seems lazy.
I will add that I like Smith's movie "Collateral Beauty". He plays a man so stricken by grief that he cannot function. The look on his face climbing the stage is precisely the look he has in that movie. I don't think that's a coincidence. And I think Hollywood being shocked by emotions running high at the Oscar's is more than a little disingenious.
@cliffordbeshers Chris Rock knew ... or lives under a rock (no pun intended) ... hence his back peddaling with GI Jane - as for the cultural awareness of Hollywood ... who came onto the stage when they played Toto's 'Africa' ? // @miraz
@JohnPhilpin Well, I stopped watching anything but clips years ago, so I don't know. But I'd much more easily accept that Chris Rock was mean than clueless.
@jabel nice. Reminds me of the 4 gates:
are these words true?
are they necessary?
are they beneficial?
are they kind?
