Look, if you're legitimately trying to hurt someone's feelings, then - depending on the situation - you could be construed as a jerk. But, if you're simply someone who tells jokes for a living, and people are offended by jokes that are clearly intended as jokes, then they're being offensive by being offended themselves.
Stand-up comedians have faced growing social media scrutiny in the last decade or so in the form of "cancel culture." Some comedians, like legendary "redneck" comedian Larry the Cable Guy, don't care whether people are offended or not.
In a recent interview with People, the 57-year-old comedian spoke about his first stand-up special in over 10 years, the now-streaming "Remain Seated," and how the culture of comedy has changed.
"Well, I think that the comedy environment sucks," he said. "I mean if you're not free to tell jokes, it's ridiculous."
It is ridiculous, and it's because of the fact that our "tolerant" society isn't very tolerant of anything that might disrupt their rose-colored world.
Judging by this interview, Larry the Cable Guy just gets "it," whatever "it" is.
After saying that in previous years if people didn't like someone's comedy then they simply would make the decision to not go to their shows or buy their merchandise, he essentially called cancel culture offensive to him.
"You know, we've gone from, 'That guy's offensive, I'm never going to go see him again' - okay, you know - to 'I don't like that guy, I'm going to call that comedy club, making sure he never comes there to work again. I think that's offensive,'" he said. "I mean holy smokes, really? We've gone that far where you're really going to do that? You're going to ban somebody because you didn't like the joke they told? That's 4-year-old garbage. It's like, grow a set and get over it."
Absolutely! People who can't handle comedy that is clearly and intentionally meant to be a joke should probably not frequent stand-up comedy clubs. Unlike the monotonous, mean-spirited jokes that late-night talk show hosts tell to make both their elitist friends and the sheep who watch them laugh, true stand-up comedians can actually tell a joke and elicit genuine laughter because their audiences know that they're meant only to be laughed at.
If someone isn't funny, just don't watch them. A clear example of that practice are previously said late-night talk show hosts. Simple.
For video of the interview, watch below:
H/T: Fox News