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Are We In Danger Of Losing Our Own British Humour, Now That We Live In A Multi-Racial Country.

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anotheoldgit | 10:18 Sun 05th Apr 2015 | News
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/bbc/11516021/BBC-Director-General-has-to-sign-off-jokes.html

/// “The old git’s view, the long view, would be that we’ve got more squeamish and worried about causing offence,” ///

Do they mean us??????? :0)

http://www.bafta.org/whats-on/the-trouble-with-free-speech

/// Join a panel of industry experts across different television genres to discuss the key issues at stake. Our panel will offer insight into the practical editorial decisions made when they approach their craft, revealing what you need to know as a programme maker so you can make informed decisions. ///

/// Chair: Samira Ahmed, Journalist & Broadcaster ///
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Good try but this doesn't really have anything to do with multi-culturalism.

The BBC is more fearful of a scandal such as the Jonathan Ross / Russel Brand he toring of an old man. They are fearful that the politicians will leap onto any scandal to cut BBC funding citing slipping standards.

It is a shame because producing comedy by committee does not work.
he toring, gromit?

que?
oh come on mushie
clearly not a cross word solver ?

torturing would fit - tormenting perhaps
BUT
there is a missing 'c' and it was "hectoring"

honestly you dont have to hit the "yeah wha ? yeah" button as soon as ....


IN terms of free speech - I always listen to AOG when he pleads for freedom of speech for Aryans, and crypto-Nazis to express their views along with everyone else

and I agree !

( It all started with the Public Order Act 1936 which was specifically aimed at Oswald Mosley, clearly an 'unfair' law and has been downhill since then )
"Are We In Danger Of Losing Our Own British Humour, Now That We Live In A Multi-Racial Country?"

No, it would appear not, as evidenced by the past decade of critical and commercial comedy hits from the BBC, such as 'Nighty Night', 'The Thick of It', 'Extras' and 'Life's Too Short'.

In fact, you could argue that comedy is now is way more edgy than it ever has been in the past 30 years.

Whilst the BBC still broadcasts inoffensive material such as 'Miranda', it also shows the popular 'American Dad' and 'Family Guy', both of which are stuffed to the gills with racist, sexist and homophobic jokes and both are hugely popular (because they are, or at least WERE) extremely funny shows.

I don't see anything in the Telegraph report to suggest that this issue is anything to do with race...I suspect, as Gromit has mentioned, that the Beeb is particularly sensitive after 'Sachsgate', where the BBC came under pressure to drop Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross after that infamous broadcast on Radio Two.

So I don't think the question is specifically to do with living in a multi-racial country, more to do with the fact that social media amplifies the voices of complainants ten-fold.

The term 'twitter storm' didn't exist ten years ago - but Sachsgate is a prime example of why the BBC needs to be careful.
just needed to check, PP, that "he toring" wasn't new age slang for some nefarious practice, and not knowing same is just soooooo old fashioned

(for instance, i have only just found out what "tearing off a new one" is......)
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Gromit

/// Good try but this doesn't really have anything to do with multi-culturalism. ///

Never said it did Gromit, in fact I never even mentioned multi-culturalism.
To return to the headline question - No.
AOG

Although you might have a point about broadcasters having to be careful.

I'm reminded of this particular story of a newspaper trying (and failing horribly) to manufacture a storm of protest over a tv comedy show:

http://themediablog.typepad.com/the-media-blog/2013/01/daily-mail-big-fat-quiz-of-the-year.html

Perhaps this is indicative of then pressures programme-makers are under?
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SP1814

/// I don't see anything in the Telegraph report to suggest that this issue is anything to do with race.. ///

Not directly of course but if you read the BAFTA link, which the Telegraph used for their report, one now has to be more aware that one doesn't cause offence than in a pre-multiracial UK.
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sp1814

Amazing, in short of me not using the Daily Mail as a link to this report, you search so as to be able to come up with one.

Priceless.
//I'm reminded of this particular story of a newspaper trying (and failing horribly) to manufacture a storm of protest over a tv comedy show: //

no, there wasn't a storm of protest over that programme. but it wasn't funny either.

maybe i have an old fashioned attitude - maybe someone can explain to me why repeated use of the "c" word is supposed to be hysterically funny?

AOG

I've read the BAFTA link three times now and cannot see why you're referring to a pre multi-racial Britain.

Broadcasters are aware of a whole host of subjects which might cause offence.

The report in the Telegraph specifically refers to the Andrew Sachs case:

"Sussman, who appeared in a panel discussed for the Bafta Guru series of industry events, said he had joined the BBC following the Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand scandal, which saw a flood of complaints about their verbal abuse of veteran actor Andrew Sachs."

So, in answer to your question, I don't think we are losing 'our own British humour, not that we liv in a multi-racial country', but that's not what this report is saying anyway.

Have a look at my link from The Media Blog - I think it's true that broadcasters have to be wary of media storms, but what is true today is that outrage and offence has been democratised, so that programme-makers need to be sensitive to the feelings of many different groups (including the elderly) for fear of censure.

It's not all about race.
mushroom25

It's because comedy is hugely subjective, more so than say, horror or drama - comedy speaks to different people in a completely different way.
But if there were a DAILY MAIL link
then at least I would know it is the unvarnished truth
"c***! c***! c***! c***!"

doubtless many would be ROFLMAO at this point.

i'm just stuck in the bewilderness. i can't see the joke. why is it so funny?
AOG

You wrote:

Amazing, in short of me not using the Daily Mail as a link to this report, you search so as to be able to come up with one.

Priceless.


It's an example of what is under discussion - the way that tv broadcasters are under pressure to 'walk the comedy tightrope'.

The reason why Big Fat Quiz of the Year and the Russell Brand/Jonathan Ross 'Sachsgate' incident are pertinent is that they show what can happen when certain people decide that comedy is offensive, and equally what can sometimes happen when something that on the face of it is HUGELY offensive, fails to get traction.
No...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yRMNoWeIY0
mushroom25

What you have written isn't funny, but when Malcolm Tucker used the word in 'The Thick of It', it made me laugh, but I think it was one of those laughs produced by shock.

It has to do with context and delivery, however, I completely understand what you mean - simply relying on shock tactics doesn't make good comedy.
Swearing makes me laugh. It can make or break a joke. Pointless swearing is, well, pointless.
mushroom25's post may not be funny in itself but it works well as a description of the panel of judges on The X Factor.

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