I'm am very interested in what you guys have to say about this. What do you think about rape jokes and phrases like "that test just raped me"?

NeuroticIntrovert · 2012-11-20T01:03:18+00:00

I don't like rape jokes, or phrases like "that test just raped me."

I don't think such jokes cause or condone rape, but I do think they're insensitive.

I was in an abusive relationship with a woman, and have had multiple girlfriends who smacked me on the arm when they didn't like something I said. I'm more sensitive to it now, and I cringe when I see this sort of thing played for laughs on TV.

Given that I feel that way as a result of my experience, I think its fair for rape victims to feel that way about rape jokes. I therefore think it's a bad idea to say, make such jokes loudly, in public.

If a comedian wants to do it, I'm okay with that. Those who don't want to hear rape jokes shouldn't go see Daniel Tosh; those who don't want to hear jokes about child abuse shouldn't go see Russell Peters; those who don't want to hear jokes about women hitting their husbands shouldn't watch Everybody Loves Raymond (sorry, I don't know any stand-up comedians who do this). But jokes about relatively common traumatic experiences shouldn't be tossed about in a way that can hit a victim unexpectedly.

themountaingoat · 2012-11-20T00:58:47+00:00

[permanently deleted]

hardwarequestions · 2012-11-20T01:06:48+00:00

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=b48_1305790944

hardwarequestions · 2012-11-20T00:58:12+00:00

i think they're crass, but perfectly acceptable and to be expected. people often overemphasize the action of something to highlight an aspect of it. i'm equally unbothered by phrases like "that test just killed me", "that comedian just owned my ass", and in context of about to be in trouble "i'm gonna be fucked/i'm so fucked/i'm fucked". they're all the same thing and completely innocent expressions.

Drainedsoul · 2012-11-20T01:05:34+00:00

So it offends you, who cares?

A lot of things offend a lot of people. That's something for your friends and people who care about you to concern themselves with, not the public-at-large.

2012-11-20T01:11:10+00:00

I prefer to keep all things sex related positive. Sex to me is about pleasure and love, not about domination or rape. As such, I monitor my use of the word "fuck" very carefully.

I avoid saying:

He really fucked me over.
I fucked that up/that's fucked up.
Well, fuck me! (after seeing something horrible or painful)

I enjoy saying:

That was fucking awesome!
We fucked last night. (as opposed to "I fucked them", or "they fucked me")
Well, fuck me~ (after seeing something amazing)

However I realize this is my own choice of language, and I try not to go overboard in censoring what others around me say.

jolly_mcfats · 2012-11-20T02:34:17+00:00

I judge people who do it negatively, but I don't think they are required to care what I think.

I feel the same way about rape jokes as I do about jokes and phrases that attack gays, the disabled, transgendered, blacks, jews, etc... I think they make good people feel uncomfortable and unwelcome, so I think using them is crass and uncivilized. It's a lot like that flyer that AVFM put up about not "fear and hating x".

I don't always treat people with the respect they deserve though, and if people aren't doing it with conscious malice, I write it up to the prevailing social conventions rather than a massive character deficiency. Also, not wanting to give offense is definitely a trait I think comes with age (it did with me), and I cut people under 28 some slack, and people under 15 a lot more slack.

borderlinebadger · 2012-11-20T03:12:44+00:00

I believe the attitude that rape is the worst thing that can happen to somebody and forever damaging is incredibly harmful. Of course rape itself is awful but this attitude and treatment does not help those who have been raped nor prevent future rapes. For most related issues e.g. panic disorders and ptsd the best treatments are often very direct. That rape is always framed in emotive ways and the conversation silenced harms the discourse. Most anti-rape campaigns frame the issue in a way that does the least to solve the issue.

ZimbaZumba · 2012-11-20T00:56:04+00:00

Rape jokes in my experience usually aren't funny, even as black humor. And to be honest I have heard very few, they don't make a good topic to form a joke around. There are not many topics I haven't heard jokes on, I have a very raw sense of humor.

As for "that test just raped me", I feel objections to this are sociably constructed and an attempt to hijack our language by the PC crowd. The meanings of words are dependent on their context, I have never heard phrases like this suggesting a support for rape.

The use of the word rape as a form of sexual assault is only about 60yrs old btw.

NemosHero · 2012-11-20T01:12:46+00:00

Much like poop jokes, it's within the lowest form of comedy and usually shows a weak comedian. However, it should not be censored.

As for phrases like "I just raped that noob". It's a phrase stating that you just violently violated an enemy. How is it not accurate. Oh, because it's a bad concept we should avoid it at all costs? Give me a break. Life sucks get a helmet.

ryukyukids · 2012-11-20T02:11:10+00:00

I don't think it's that big of a deal, but it will probably be phased out of use by people that want to be more pc. Like the words fag and retard, it was socially acceptable to use ten years ago, now not so much.

2012-11-20T05:56:37+00:00

indifference. I think anything can be made wildly inappropriate or horribly funny depending on the person telling the joke and the audience.

oneiorosgrip · 2012-11-20T07:05:58+00:00

I think people hand too much power over to the word "rape."

Allowing just the mere mention of it to affect one's feelings as if one has been assaulted is nothing but self-abuse.

I also think it's very telling that rape jokes are only not funny when they're made about raping women. When was the last time you heard an equal level of protest over a male equivalent? (Going to prison? Don't drop the soap. Getting audited? Bend over, dude.) It seems to be accepted as simply a part of modern speech to insinuate anal rape of men, either in the real context of prison, or in the figurative context of being given a raw deal. The only reason that switching from casual description of the concept to the use of a concrete term (rape) causes such a hullabaloo is that society identifies that term as relating to a trauma experienced by a female victim.

2012-11-20T02:30:41+00:00

As unfunny as rape jokes are I don't really mind. If someone wants to use a serious matter like rape in that context it's fine most jokes are pretty dark anyway and I'm not going to start saying something irrational like "Language is a tool used by our oppressors to indoctrinate everyone into accepting their actions".

If this subject has become so touchy that people should be disgusted by someone joking about it then I weep for humanity.

Jokes are allowed to touch on serious matters just like people are allowed to use edgy language and at the end of the day a test never really raped anyone.

theskepticalidealist · 2012-11-20T06:03:00+00:00

feminists regularly say "go die in a fire" just google it. Death and even murder apparently is A-ok to joke about

AryoBarzan · 2012-11-20T03:14:59+00:00

Like every other "joke". It's a JOKE!

I'm VERY against censorship and I find it appalling that "rape jokes" against men (even by comedians) are considered "unfunny" while it's completely acceptable to laugh about men being genitally mutilated by their wives. Rape committed against men is considered hilarious as well and they are made FAR more often than against women. Ironically enough, nobody (feminists particularly) seem to not care very much for any violent "jokes" against men.

2012-11-20T04:14:06+00:00

they are fine as long as you don't say them around a woman, or at work, etc etc...just keep it amongs your close friends...same thing with racial and dirty jokes... its not condoning rape..

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