The 'women aren't funny' myth

Triceratops Ballet · 01-01-2019 7:31pm

Silentcorner wrote:

You, and you are not on your own...are conveniently ignoring the professional world of comedy to fit a deluded narrative...good luck with it...facts don't care about feelings or opinions for that matter!

Silentcorner wrote:

You are deciding to ignore the audience that each year pay to see comedy acts (using their subjective humour)...you are ignoring those comedy audiences because they do not agree with you....you are not in a position to decide what comedy audiences should like, nor am I, I am not deluded enough to even think my opinion matters...facts don't care about my feelings or opinions.

Silentcorner wrote:

You find women hilarious...you are in the minority.

You can't even continue to support your own flawed logic and so you're lashing out trying to paint me with some narrative you've dreamed up for me. I agree that facts don't care about feelings or opinions.
It's not a factual statement to say the highest earning comic is the funniest. It's just not.
I don't care if people individually don't find women funny, or if they don't find Irish people funny, or if they don't find *insert ethnicity here funny. I have a problem when people say it's unilaterally true that x means you're not funny and then try tell me that apples are equal to oranges to prove it. But in another similar example apples are just apples.

I never said I find women hilarious either, I named some funny women, I could name some funny men too if it would make you feel better.

Silentcorner · 01-01-2019 7:35pm

LLMMLL wrote: »

Do you not remember bringing up Brendan grace as an example.of.high ticket sales but not being the funniest?

Why are you ignoring his ticket sales?

FFS!!!!

My opinion on Brenda Grace, or Michael McIntyre doesn't matter....its my opinion...my opinion is subjective...we all agree on that.

When it comes to their success on the other hand, their success cannot be denied...

When comparing the genders, men sell more than women by some considerable distance...that cannot be ignored.

You are ignoring the amount of tickets female comedians sell (this is discussion about which gender sells the most/which gender can legitimately claim to be funnier) and you are berating me about individual comedians in an attempt to pour scorn on my argument....

Silentcorner · 01-01-2019 7:38pm

Triceratops Ballet wrote: »

You can't even continue to support your own flawed logic and so you're lashing out trying to paint me with some narrative you've dreamed up for me. I agree that facts don't care about feelings or opinions.
It's not a factual statement to say the highest earning comic is the funniest. It's just not.
I don't care if people individually don't find women funny, or if they don't find Irish people funny, or if they don't find *insert ethnicity here funny. I have a problem when people say it's unilaterally true that x means you're not funny and then try tell me that apples are equal to oranges to prove it. But in another similar example apples are just apples.

I never said I find women hilarious either, I named some funny women, I could name some funny men too if it would make you feel better.

That is just hyperbole from top to bottom...you are getting bogged down in your personal opinion and ignoring the reality.

I'll bet there are Colchester FC fans who think their football club is the best club in the world in their opinion...don't make it so!

LLMMLL · 01-01-2019 7:48pm

Silentcorner wrote: »

LLMMLL wrote: »

Do you not remember bringing up Brendan grace as an example.of.high ticket sales but not being the funniest?

Why are you ignoring his ticket sales?

FFS!!!!

My opinion on Brenda Grace, or Michael McIntyre doesn't matter....its my opinion...my opinion is subjective...we all agree on that.

When it comes to their success on the other hand, their success cannot be denied...

When comparing the genders, men sell more than women by some considerable distance...that cannot be ignored.

You are ignoring the amount of tickets female comedians sell (this is discussion about which gender sells the most/which gender can legitimately claim to be funnier) and you are berating me about individual comedians in an attempt to pour scorn on my argument....

I agree their success cannot be denied.

I imagine it's true that men outsell women. I'm not ignoring that. That proves that men outsell women. It doesn't prove that men are funnier than women. That's a nonsense leap.

I'm berating (?) You about individual comedians because you've yet to show why an individual selling well doesn't make them funnier but a gender selling well does.

Until you even attempt to address that I'll continue to.pour scorn on your scornful argument.

Triceratops Ballet · 01-01-2019 7:49pm

Silentcorner wrote:

I'll bet there are Colchester FC fans who think their football club is the best club in the world in their opinion...don't make it so!

But the Man U fans who think their team is the best are right cos they sell the most tickets?

Silentcorner · 01-01-2019 8:17pm

LLMMLL wrote: »

I agree their success cannot be denied.

I imagine it's true that men outsell women. I'm not ignoring that. That proves that men outsell women. It doesn't prove that men are funnier than women. That's a nonsense leap.

I'm berating (?) You about individual comedians because you've yet to show why an individual selling well doesn't make them funnier but a gender selling well does.

Until you even attempt to address that I'll continue to.pour scorn on your scornful argument.

No...there is no need to imagine anything...male comedians outsell female comedians in huge numbers...not narrowly, in huge numbers...which does make them funnier...

You haven't made a coherent argument beyond expressing your personal opinion, that women are just as or nearly funny as men...

I haven't expressed an opinion either way about an individual comedian because this discussion is about two genders...not hundreds of different comedians or my opinions on each individual comedian.

I am using a metric, that is widespread in any sporting or creative industry to ascertain my opinion on professional comedy...you are dismissing that metric because you do not like what it reveals...and you are persistently trying to drag me down a rabbit hole to avoid looking at the facts and basing your argument on a personal opinion...

Germans have no sense of humour...or a dour one at least...I've yet to hear a German throw a hissy fit whenever that is expressed!

Silentcorner · 01-01-2019 8:18pm

Triceratops Ballet wrote: »

But the Man U fans who think their team is the best are right cos they sell the most tickets?

Well I'd imagine a Man Utd supporter would direct you to the trophy cabinet!

Franz Von Peppercorn · 01-01-2019 8:24pm

LLMMLL wrote: »

And it doesn't deal with the major flaw you keep avoiding. By your line of reasoning the best selling comedian is the funniest, not just the most popular but also the funniest. Do you agree that that's the case?

That’s exactly the argument he was debunking. We can’t say much about the best football team in the premiership but we can about male vs female football.

Triceratops Ballet · 01-01-2019 8:32pm

Silentcorner wrote:

Well I'd imagine a Man Utd supporter would direct you to the trophy cabinet!

But that's not what you said earlier!

Silentcorner wrote:

I've no idea what you are on about there...I'll put it to you another way...Man Utd will probably sell more tickets to their games this year than any other club in the Premiership.... but it doesn't make them better than every other club...just more popular....but when you compare the ticket sales to football matches between the Mens Premier League and the womens premier league they are worlds apart...therefore, mens football is better/more popular than womens football....it is then not a giant leap to suggest men are better footballers.

Also if they are the best they would be good regardless of ticket sales no?

Silentcorner · 01-01-2019 8:42pm

Triceratops Ballet wrote: »

But that's not what you said earlier!

Also if they are the best they would be good regardless of ticket sales no?

Christ!!!

They are clearly not at their best right now...it is not an infinite position...but they are still hugely popular.

The size of the stadium dictates the amount of tickets the club can sell...

The trophy cabinet is a reflection of their past success, which could or couldn't legitimise the argument....you really don't get the professional world...sport, comedy or anything else i bet!

Silentcorner · 01-01-2019 9:05pm

boombang wrote: »

I took that to be a pertinent joke.

I think this is an interesting question. It might not be possible to explore once the Una Mullahy bots arrive.

I know funny women, but do agree that on average men seem to make better comedians than women. If I go full doubter on it I sometimes wonder do I think that because I'm a man or that men generally have set the narrative in almost all aspects of life for centuries in a way that's hard to step back from. Then I listen to some terrrible women-only comedy special, cringe think that they're just not funny.

Ahhhh now I get it...the maths and science deniers!!

Triceratops Ballet · 01-01-2019 9:48pm

Silentcorner wrote:

They are clearly not at their best right now...it is not an infinite position...but they are still hugely popular.

Exactly so their popularity isn't indicative of how good they are or aren't at any given time, all it indicates is how popular they are. You have said this yourself. Brendan Grace sold a lot of tickets but is not the best comedian of his time, those are your words not mine. It baffles me that you can't apply the same logic in the same way to other comedians or scenarios. That's how logic works. If it's sound, it will apply equally and unconditionally no matter what scenario you have.

Silentcorner · 01-01-2019 10:00pm

Triceratops Ballet wrote: »

Exactly so their popularity isn't indicative of how good they are or aren't at any given time, all it indicates is how popular they are. You have said this yourself. Brendan Grace sold a lot of tickets but is not the best comedian of his time, those are your words not mine. It baffles me that you can't apply the same logic in the same way to other comedians or scenarios. That's how logic works. If it's sound, it will apply equally and unconditionally no matter what scenario you have.

I'd say you struggle with logic to be fair...and basic understanding on how the professional/commercial/real world operates.

You are basing your opinion on your personal taste.
I am not...which is why my opinion on who (as opposed to what gender I find funnier) doesn't matter.

I am basing my personal opinion on the fact that men sell, way way more tickets to comedy shows...which we all agree on....you are ignoring the facts I am not.

This kind of reminds me of the time John McEnroe had to explain himself in an outrage storm for suggesting that Sarena Williams was the best female tennis player of all time, and not the best tennis player of all time.

Is Maths, reason and logic that difficult!

Wilberto · 01-01-2019 10:12pm

Hunky Monster wrote: »

I’d have held the opinion most of my life that women aren’t funny, went to a comedy show a couple of years ago and Nina Conte absolutely stole the show, she’s the woman who uses puppets and ventriloquism in her comedy, it shouldn’t work but it does, she was fantastic.

I went to see her in the Opera House and thought she was fantastic. I mean, I knew who she was anyway (which is I I booked tickets (obvs)), but yeah she's excellent as well.

Triceratops Ballet · 01-01-2019 10:20pm

Silentcorner wrote:

You are basing your opinion on your personal taste. I am not...which is why my opinion on who (as opposed to what gender I find funnier) doesn't matter.

I'm not talking about my opinion at all as I've said many times you're free to think what you want about female comedians. I don't care that you think women aren't funny. That's a non issue really.
The problem is that you say one thing and then say something that contradicts it, and talk to me about not understanding? Hilarious!

Silentcorner wrote:

This kind of reminds me of the time John McEnroe had to explain himself in an outrage storm for suggesting that Sarena Williams was the best female tennis player of all time, and not the best tennis player of all time.

What has that got to do with anything?

Tell me something is Brendan Grace a great comedian?

Day Lewin · 01-01-2019 10:22pm

Loving Nina Conti, very expert.
Sarah Millican, too.
And Jennifer Saunders.
Lots and lots...

Silentcorner · 01-01-2019 10:34pm

Triceratops Ballet wrote: »

I'm not talking about my opinion at all as I've said many times you're free to think what you want about female comedians. I don't care that you think women aren't funny. That's a non issue really.
The problem is that you say one thing and then say something that contradicts it, and talk to me about not understanding? Hilarious!

What has that got to do with anything?

Tell me something is Brendan Grace a great comedian?

This thread.....is about the women aren't funny myth....not what comedian I find funny...do you understand the difference?

Do you accept that male comedians earn way more money than female comedians...largely but not only because of ticket sales.

Do you think that that earnings difference between the genders is because of the patriarchy or because women are just not cutting it on the professional circuit? (with some exceptions I accept)

Why in gods name would my personal opinion on Brendan Grace or any other successful comedian matter...it is a PERSONAL OPINION...the only way to gauge what comedians can be rightly considered (for a variety of reasons) the funniest/most popular/most successful is what they earn, in particular from ticket sales because venues are not yet subjected to quotas, which most TV stations and comedy clubs are or do.

I am not saying anything contradictory....stop repeating that....you are completely incorrect...you are struggling with my reasoning because it doesn't suit or match your precious personal opinion.

Triceratops Ballet · 01-01-2019 10:50pm

Silentcorner wrote:

Do you accept that male comedians earn way more money than female comedians...largely but not only because of ticket sales.

Silentcorner wrote:

I am not saying anything contradictory....stop repeating that....you are completely incorrect...you are struggling with my reasoning because it doesn't suit or match your precious personal opinion.

Silentcorner wrote:

Why in gods name would my personal opinion on Brendan Grace or any other successful comedian matter...it is a PERSONAL OPINION...the only way to gauge what comedians can be rightly considered (for a variety of reasons) the funniest/most popular/most successful is what they earn, in particular from ticket sales because venues are not yet subjected to quotas, which most TV stations and comedy clubs are or do.

Silentcorner wrote:

Do you accept that male comedians earn way more money than female comedians...largely but not only because of ticket sales.

Silentcorner wrote:

Do you think that that earnings difference between the genders is because of the patriarchy or because women are just not cutting it on the professional circuit? (with some exceptions I accept)

Silentcorner wrote:

Why in gods name would my personal opinion on Brendan Grace or any other successful comedian matter...it is a PERSONAL OPINION...the only way to gauge what comedians can be rightly considered (for a variety of reasons) the funniest/most popular/most successful is what they earn, in particular from ticket sales because venues are not yet subjected to quotas, which most TV stations and comedy clubs are or do.

Silentcorner wrote:

Do you accept that male comedians earn way more money than female comedians...largely but not only because of ticket sales.

Silentcorner wrote:

Do you think that that earnings difference between the genders is because of the patriarchy or because women are just not cutting it on the professional circuit? (with some exceptions I accept)

Silentcorner wrote:

Why in gods name would my personal opinion on Brendan Grace or any other successful comedian matter...it is a PERSONAL OPINION...the only way to gauge what comedians can be rightly considered (for a variety of reasons) the funniest/most popular/most successful is what they earn, in particular from ticket sales because venues are not yet subjected to quotas, which most TV stations and comedy clubs are or do.

Silentcorner wrote:

I am not saying anything contradictory....stop repeating that....you are completely incorrect...you are struggling with my reasoning because it doesn't suit or match your precious personal opinion.

Silentcorner wrote:

This thread.....is about the women aren't funny myth....not what comedian I find funny...do you understand the difference?

Silentcorner wrote:

Do you accept that male comedians earn way more money than female comedians...largely but not only because of ticket sales.

Silentcorner wrote:

Do you think that that earnings difference between the genders is because of the patriarchy or because women are just not cutting it on the professional circuit? (with some exceptions I accept)

Silentcorner wrote:

Why in gods name would my personal opinion on Brendan Grace or any other successful comedian matter...it is a PERSONAL OPINION...the only way to gauge what comedians can be rightly considered (for a variety of reasons) the funniest/most popular/most successful is what they earn, in particular from ticket sales because venues are not yet subjected to quotas, which most TV stations and comedy clubs are or do.

Silentcorner wrote:

This thread.....is about the women aren't funny myth....not what comedian I find funny...do you understand the difference?

Silentcorner wrote:

Do you accept that male comedians earn way more money than female comedians...largely but not only because of ticket sales.

Silentcorner wrote:

Do you think that that earnings difference between the genders is because of the patriarchy or because women are just not cutting it on the professional circuit? (with some exceptions I accept)

Silentcorner wrote:

Why in gods name would my personal opinion on Brendan Grace or any other successful comedian matter...it is a PERSONAL OPINION...the only way to gauge what comedians can be rightly considered (for a variety of reasons) the funniest/most popular/most successful is what they earn, in particular from ticket sales because venues are not yet subjected to quotas, which most TV stations and comedy clubs are or do.

Silentcorner wrote:

This thread.....is about the women aren't funny myth....not what comedian I find funny...do you understand the difference?

Silentcorner wrote:

Do you accept that male comedians earn way more money than female comedians...largely but not only because of ticket sales.

Silentcorner wrote:

Do you think that that earnings difference between the genders is because of the patriarchy or because women are just not cutting it on the professional circuit? (with some exceptions I accept)

Silentcorner wrote:

Why in gods name would my personal opinion on Brendan Grace or any other successful comedian matter...it is a PERSONAL OPINION...the only way to gauge what comedians can be rightly considered (for a variety of reasons) the funniest/most popular/most successful is what they earn, in particular from ticket sales because venues are not yet subjected to quotas, which most TV stations and comedy clubs are or do.

Silentcorner wrote:

I am not saying anything contradictory....stop repeating that....you are completely incorrect...you are struggling with my reasoning because it doesn't suit or match your precious personal opinion.

Since you aren't following i'll break it down for you.

You proposed that ticket sales was an adequate measure that men are funnier than women.

Fine. But by that logic, it means that the comedian (or football team or musician) who sells the most tickets must be the best.
I am saying that's a flawed method of judging quality because if that is the gauge you're using it means someone like Michael McIntyre or Peter Kay is the greatest comedian of our times (a fact I and many other posters in the thread believe to be untrue)
Ticket sales are not an indication of how funny someone is only of how well they can sell tickets.
Just like how if one direction can outsell the beatles it doesn't mean they're better than the beatles

Silentcorner · 01-01-2019 11:01pm

Triceratops Ballet wrote: »

Since you aren't following i'll break it down for you.

You proposed that ticket sales was an adequate measure that men are funnier than women.

Fine. But by that logic, it means that the comedian (or football team or musician) who sells the most tickets must be the best.
I am saying that's a flawed method of judging quality because if that is the gauge you're using it means someone like Michael McIntyre or Peter Kay is the greatest comedian of our times (a fact I and many other posters in the thread believe to be untrue)
Ticket sales are not an indication of how funny someone is only of how well they can sell tickets.
Just like how if one direction can outsell the beatles it doesn't mean they're better than the beatles

Come out of the clouds you m##on!

Triceratops Ballet · 01-01-2019 11:06pm

Silentcorner wrote:

Come out of the clouds you m##on!

Yeah fling names when you've got nothing else!

It's true! The person who sells the most, tickets or albums or whatever isn't necessarily the funniest or the most talented or the best in any field, they're just the most famous, fame is not a measure of talent.

I can only break it down so much if you don't want to see it you won't. Good luck to you!

0cp71eyxkb94qf · 01-01-2019 11:11pm

People will defend women to the hilt for no reason other than they're women. I have yet to come across a good female comedian. Does that imply that I am sexist? No it doesn't.

Silentcorner · 01-01-2019 11:15pm

Triceratops Ballet wrote: »

Yeah fling names when you've got nothing else!

It's true! The person who sells the most, tickets or albums or whatever isn't necessarily the funniest or the most talented or the best in any field, they're just the most famous, fame is not a measure of talent.

I can only break it down so much if you don't want to see it you won't. Good luck to you!

I can't do any more...your personal taste in individual comedians is not relevant to a thread about the women aren't funny myth....the market, where people exercise freedom of choice is way more relevant than your pitiful personal opinion...or mine for that matter...the market is telling us which gender is more successful...full stop.

If you want to start a thread about the state of comedy audiences then by all means do...

ligerdub · 01-01-2019 11:20pm

The hypothesis of "women aren't funny" is a fairly open to interpretation line.

Does it mean they aren't as funny as men, aren't as funny as men and they are hardwired to be that way, can be funny but not as a profession, can be funny for a profession but won't be as present in the higher quality end of the comedy circuit, generally aren't or just aren't funny at all, full stop? Which is it?

I won't write off the possibility of women being funny, I have only one criteria when it comes to comedy or humour, does it make me laugh? It doesn't matter where you're from, gay or straight, black, white, Chinese, man or woman. It doesn't even necessarily matter if it's deeply offensive or not, if it's clever in delivery then all sorts of material can work, such is the skill of properly funny people.

When it comes to results though, being quite familiar with many forms of comedy, I know many women I'd consider funny to some degree, but I don't know a single professional comedian who has given me a proper knee slapping laugh. Better yet, find me a single woman comedian who has people rolling around the place, keeling over with genuine laughter. There are practically none. The likes of Sarah Millican show glimpses of laughs, but they aren't high-end, mediocre warm up acts at best. As for Luisa Omielan, Sarah Parris, Tina Fey, Amy Schumer, Hannah Gatsby, absolute dog**** comedians. When they can't get a laugh they go to smut or the false profound, neither of which are funny.

There seems to be a trend of this miserable female comedian with some sort of political message (the Amy Schumer school of comedy). The latest of which is Fern Brady. Watching her set was a joyless experience, this is supposed to be entertainment, give me a ****ing joke not some diatribe about how it's sad that Northern Ireland has no abortion rights. She's from Scotland, the country that gave the world Billy Connolly, Frankie Boyle, Kevin Bridges, what a comedown.

As an example of quality comedy, look no further than the current Helen Lovejoy meltdown du jour, Mr Louis CK. His new recorded material has created all sort of ripples among the self-appointed global censors and permanently offended. What these arseholes fail to mention is that the show is absolutely gold. It has several moments of tears in eyes level of laughter. I guess his material (and I'll stick to the material thanks) won't appeal to the joyless target market who lap up Amy Schumer in the 3 arena, but people with a genuine sense of humour will more than likely prefer it to the pretenders.

Find me something that makes me laugh like that then we'll talk. Not bull**** thought provoking or faux profound, I have no interest in failed comedians turned social commentators like Jarlath Regan and Hannah Gatsby. Give me the funny or **** off!

Silentcorner · 01-01-2019 11:48pm

Hannah Gadsby is a threat to comedy.

Look at what the critics say https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hannah_Gadsby ....100% on Rotten Tomatoes...the best comedy show ever..."she has turned comedy on its head".

It is this self indulgent bulls##t that gets to me. Comedy is a vital art form in any society.

Make people laugh or get off the stage. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEPsqFLhHBc

Dyr · 01-01-2019 11:57pm

Triceratops Ballet wrote: »

Fine. But by that logic, it means that the blah blah blah

By that logic it doesn't, an accurate generalization is not undermined just because you then try to then apply it to specific and different scenario.

That's not logical but I have a feeling you know that and are just trying to collapse the scrum.

givyjoe · 02-01-2019 12:04am

Whatever about women comedians not being funny, there are some absolute fun burglars in this thread. :eek:

LLMMLL · 02-01-2019 12:42am

ligerdub wrote: »

The hypothesis of "women aren't funny" is a fairly open to interpretation line.

Does it mean they aren't as funny as men, aren't as funny as men and they are hardwired to be that way, can be funny but not as a profession, can be funny for a profession but won't be as present in the higher quality end of the comedy circuit, generally aren't or just aren't funny at all, full stop? Which is it?

I won't write off the possibility of women being funny, I have only one criteria when it comes to comedy or humour, does it make me laugh? It doesn't matter where you're from, gay or straight, black, white, Chinese, man or woman. It doesn't even necessarily matter if it's deeply offensive or not, if it's clever in delivery then all sorts of material can work, such is the skill of properly funny people.

When it comes to results though, being quite familiar with many forms of comedy, I know many women I'd consider funny to some degree, but I don't know a single professional comedian who has given me a proper knee slapping laugh. Better yet, find me a single woman comedian who has people rolling around the place, keeling over with genuine laughter. There are practically none. The likes of Sarah Millican show glimpses of laughs, but they aren't high-end, mediocre warm up acts at best. As for Luisa Omielan, Sarah Parris, Tina Fey, Amy Schumer, Hannah Gatsby, absolute dog**** comedians. When they can't get a laugh they go to smut or the false profound, neither of which are funny.

There seems to be a trend of this miserable female comedian with some sort of political message (the Amy Schumer school of comedy). The latest of which is Fern Brady. Watching her set was a joyless experience, this is supposed to be entertainment, give me a ****ing joke not some diatribe about how it's sad that Northern Ireland has no abortion rights. She's from Scotland, the country that gave the world Billy Connolly, Frankie Boyle, Kevin Bridges, what a comedown.

As an example of quality comedy, look no further than the current Helen Lovejoy meltdown du jour, Mr Louis CK. His new recorded material has created all sort of ripples among the self-appointed global censors and permanently offended. What these arseholes fail to mention is that the show is absolutely gold. It has several moments of tears in eyes level of laughter. I guess his material (and I'll stick to the material thanks) won't appeal to the joyless target market who lap up Amy Schumer in the 3 arena, but people with a genuine sense of humour will more than likely prefer it to the pretenders.

Find me something that makes me laugh like that then we'll talk. Not bull**** thought provoking or faux profound, I have no interest in failed comedians turned social commentators like Jarlath Regan and Hannah Gatsby. Give me the funny or **** off!

The thing is, Amy Schumer has dabbled in politics (more activism really) as a side thing. Her standup is almost completely not political or right on. Her show has the odd bit of political commentary but still just the odd sketch.

You have to wonder if you're looking at a pretty non political female comedian and all you see is political stuff, are you being even vaguely objective?

Silentcorner · 02-01-2019 12:51am

LLMMLL wrote: »

The thing is, Amy Schumer has dabbled in politics (more activism really) as a side thing. Her standup is almost completely not political or right on. Her show has the odd bit of political commentary but still just the odd sketch.

You have to wonder if you're looking at a pretty non political female comedian and all you see is political stuff, are you being even vaguely objective?

You just don't get it...laughter is involuntary...it is why the art form is so hard.

I was at a comedy festival once, where an comedian I was familiar with was performing as compare...I despised this individual (as an act I might add) and went with the intention, of sitting in a position where he could see me, not laughing!! I couldn't understand how anyone thought this guy was funny!

The fu##er had me in stitches!

That is why he was a professional comedian, and still is!

ligerdub · 02-01-2019 12:57am

LLMMLL wrote:

You have to wonder if you're looking at a pretty non political female comedian and all you see is political stuff, are you being even vaguely objective?

Hmmmmm, didn't she shame some of her audience members not so long ago due to their political beliefs? People who paid to see her show and she openly opens the floor to the masses to put scorn on them.

Pretty objective amigo.

Day Lewin · 02-01-2019 6:44am

Keith Tiny Treason wrote: »

People will defend women to the hilt for no reason other than they're women. I have yet to come across a good female comedian. Does that imply that I am sexist? No it doesn't.

No, it implies that you are not very discerning, maybe not even very humorous.

DeadHand · 02-01-2019 8:22am

Men are generally funnier than women in a personal sense. This is reflected in the comprehensive male dominance of all forms of comedy entertainment, despite the increasing ideologically driven tokenism to alter this reality.

I’ve always felt that this imbalance originates from the different ways males and females interact among themselves and with each other: males and females being intrinsically different. Men are funnier out of necessity.

Growing up, there is a good deal more physicality in the way boys interact and a far more proximate threat of physical violence therein. Humour is a key tool in deterring violence and defusing tense situations. Hence, by necessity, many boys develop a sharp wit as a survival mechanism.

Later, when boys start to become interested in girls, the onus is generally on them to impress the targets of their affections. Humour is a key means of doing this, being a sure way to many peoples’ hearts. Girls need to jump through fewer hoops in a performative sense to attract a desirable partner. Looking good and being comparatively sane is generally enough for a young woman to attract a young man; men need more strings to their social bow to maximize their prospects and hence often develop a strong sense of humour out of necessity.

Finally, men are generally more competitive than women. From an early age, they are more likely to compete among themselves to be the funniest. This petty competition, which will often continue into adulthood, further hones their comedic skills.

Obviously, I can only generalize and offer a subjective opinion. Some individuals smash the moulds I just set out and that’s great too. I base my opinion on growing up with, working, socializing and living with men and women throughout my life. I’m not arguing that it makes men superior or that women can’t be funny, just an attempt the make sense of a norm most of us will confirm we have observed, if we are honest and untainted ideologically.

facehugger99 · 02-01-2019 9:08am

Women are generally less funny than men.

Which doesn’t mean that there’s no such thing as a funny woman.

Day Lewin · 02-01-2019 3:09pm

facehugger99 wrote: »

Women are generally less funny than men.

Which doesn’t mean that there’s no such thing as a funny woman.

Ya know, (quite apart from comedians) I don't agree.

I know so many women that are hilarious in conversation: not so many men.

Could it be that each sex feels freer to be "funny" among their own gender and a bit more guarded when among the opposite sex?

Franz Von Peppercorn · 02-01-2019 3:24pm

Day Lewin wrote: »

Ya know, (quite apart from comedians) I don't agree.

I know so many women that are hilarious in conversation: not so many men.

Could it be that each sex feels freer to be "funny" among their own gender and a bit more guarded when among the opposite sex?

In mixed situations men also tend to be funnier. Of course we can’t really talk about what women do when they get together if we are not female.

LLMMLL · 02-01-2019 4:09pm

ligerdub wrote: »

LLMMLL wrote:

You have to wonder if you're looking at a pretty non political female comedian and all you see is political stuff, are you being even vaguely objective?

Hmmmmm, didn't she shame some of her audience members not so long ago due to their political beliefs? People who paid to see her show and she openly opens the floor to the masses to put scorn on them.

Pretty objective amigo.

It's pretty clear you're completely unfamiliar with her work if you think one viral story about one routine involving one political element to her show overrides her years of no political stuff.

Just do a random YouTube search for one of her appearances and I can pretty much guarantee there'll be zero mention of politics.

Dyr · 02-01-2019 4:34pm

Franz Von Peppercorn wrote: »

In mixed situations men also tend to be funnier. Of course we can’t really talk about what women do when they get together if we are not female.

If a tree falls in the woods...

Day Lewin · 02-01-2019 4:50pm

Franz Von Peppercorn wrote: »

In mixed situations men also tend to be funnier. Of course we can’t really talk about what women do when they get together if we are not female.

Disagree here too: men in a mixed group who think they're being funny are inexpressibly tedious, and only get laughs from other men.

So maybe the sexes have a different sense of humour, which would explain a lot about this thread.

Dyr · 02-01-2019 4:55pm

Day Lewin wrote: »

Disagree here too: men in a mixed group who think they're being funny are inexpressibly tedious, and only get laughs from other men.

So maybe the sexes have a different sense of humour, which would explain a lot about this thread.

I doubt that, men seem to have an evolutionary imperative to make women laugh, it might be linked to another evolutionary imperative they have regarding women

LLMMLL · 02-01-2019 5:57pm

Bambi wrote: »

Day Lewin wrote: »

Disagree here too: men in a mixed group who think they're being funny are inexpressibly tedious, and only get laughs from other men.

So maybe the sexes have a different sense of humour, which would explain a lot about this thread.

I doubt that, men seem to have an evolutionary imperative to make women laugh, it might be linked to another evolutionary imperative they have regarding women

I don't know why this evolutionary argument is constantly trotted out. Most men will start using humour in their all male social groups long before they get close to impressing a woman.

Kidchameleon · 02-01-2019 9:38pm

So what IS the reason for such a huge disparity of ticket sales between male and female comedians if its not down to men being funnier than women?

0cp71eyxkb94qf · 02-01-2019 10:55pm

Kidchameleon wrote: »

So what IS the reason for such a huge disparity of ticket sales between male and female comedians if its not down to men being funnier than women?

Probably sexism. That's usually the answer.

Yer Da sells Avon · 03-01-2019 6:22pm

Kidchameleon wrote: »

So what IS the reason for such a huge disparity of ticket sales between male and female comedians if its not down to men being funnier than women?

If we're using pure numbers as a way of deciding what is and isn't funny, then Brendan O'Carroll is one of the funniest comedy writers working today. Peter Kay can sell out a 20,000-seat arena faster than almost any other stand-up, only to fill the hour-and-a-bit with the very same jokes that he was telling in the last century. Jimmy Carr can fill Vicar Street and spend 90 minutes delivering jokes that were written by other people.

I don't really understand why some people feel the need to argue so vociferously that men are funnier than women - especially when 'funny' is a concept that differs wildly from person to person.

Silentcorner · 03-01-2019 7:06pm

Yer Da sells Avon wrote: »

If we're using pure numbers as a way of deciding what is and isn't funny, then Brendan O'Carroll is one of the funniest comedy writers working today. Peter Kay can sell out a 20,000-seat arena faster than almost any other stand-up, only to fill the hour-and-a-bit with the very same jokes that he was telling in the last century. Jimmy Carr can fill Vicar Street and spend 90 minutes delivering jokes that were written by other people.

I don't really understand why some people feel the need to argue so vociferously that men are funnier than women - especially when 'funny' is a concept that differs wildly from person to person.

It's probably because there are a lot of people who seem to believe that women are as funny as men....without a shred of any kind of evidence....when all metrics would suggest different...without quotas, we wouldn't be subjected to the banal woke comedy currently being shoved down our throat!!!

(I do apologise...The hannah gadsby set has clearly gotten to me...I can't take any more of that nonsense...someone has to make a stand before Amy Huberman gets a similar special in the 3 Arena!!!)

Kidchameleon · 03-01-2019 7:08pm

Yer Da sells Avon wrote: »

If we're using pure numbers as a way of deciding what is and isn't funny, then Brendan O'Carroll is one of the funniest comedy writers working today. Peter Kay can sell out a 20,000-seat arena faster than almost any other stand-up, only to fill the hour-and-a-bit with the very same jokes that he was telling in the last century. Jimmy Carr can fill Vicar Street and spend 90 minutes delivering jokes that were written by other people.

I don't really understand why some people feel the need to argue so vociferously that men are funnier than women - especially when 'funny' is a concept that differs wildly from person to person.

I'm not saying one gender is funnier than the other but I am curious, why do male comedians sell (way) more tickets than female comedians? What is the actual reason for the huge disparity?

Yer Da sells Avon · 03-01-2019 8:57pm

Kidchameleon wrote: »

I'm not saying one gender is funnier than the other but I am curious, why do male comedians sell (way) more tickets than female comedians? What is the actual reason for the huge disparity?

Mrs Brown's Boys is commercially (way) more successful than Father Ted. Such disparities exist for lots of reasons.

Kidchameleon · 03-01-2019 9:51pm

Yer Da sells Avon wrote: »

Mrs Brown's Boys is commercially (way) more successful than Father Ted. Such disparities exist for lots of reasons.

Both of those shows are written, directed, produced and starred in by men so its not an analogous situation to male comedians v female comedians. I am not saying men are funnier than women, I'm trying to find out why male comedians are far more popular than female comedians

Yer Da sells Avon · 03-01-2019 10:10pm

Kidchameleon wrote: »

Both of those shows are written, directed, produced and starred in by men so its not an analogous situation to male comedians v female comedians. I am not saying men are funnier than women, I'm trying to find out why male comedians are far more popular than female comedians

And I'm explaining to you that popularity is not necessarily the result of superiority. There have always been far more male comedians than female ones. Therefore, it's statistically more likely that the most commercially successful ones will be male.

Silentcorner · 03-01-2019 10:27pm

Yer Da sells Avon wrote: »

And I'm explaining to you that popularity is not necessarily the result of superiority. There have always been far more male comedians than female ones. Therefore, it's statistically more likely that the most commercially successful ones will be male.

For a very good reason...they are more successful.

There are way more men who attempt to succeed in comedy also, but they just don't connect with the audience and flame out...it's the same across a lot of the creative industries.

Yer Da sells Avon · 03-01-2019 11:02pm

Silentcorner wrote: »

For a very good reason...they are more successful.

There are lots of reasons why comedy was traditionally a male-dominated area.

Silentcorner · 03-01-2019 11:29pm

Yer Da sells Avon wrote: »

There are lots of reasons why comedy was traditionally a male-dominated area.

The reasons are now even more obvious!

The 'women aren't funny' myth

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