Comment by nooyurrsdey | Hacker News Reader

Comment by nooyurrsdey | Hacker News Reader

I can't fault Dave Chapellle for being angry at the emotional fatigue they've made him endure. I can't be mad that he wants his money either.

However comedy has one rule - you can say anything you want as long as it's funny. You can literally spout anything, just make sure the audience is laughing while you're doing it.

I just spent 18 minutes watching a therapy session with minimal jokes. I would have thought someone as clever as Chapelle would have weaved a better narrative (although he is a talented storyteller).

I hope he gets what he's looking for, I really do.

But I'm also annoyed with the recent trend of comedians just...complaining. Complaining constantly, with slightly more anger than humor. Bill Burr dedicated 20 mins of his recent standup to how "sensitive" the modern generation is. Seinfeld's entire "Comedians in Cars" has numerous bits about him just complaining without being funny while doing it. Sebastian Maniscalco's earlier specieals were relatable humor, and now his recent bits are just slightly angrier versions of "can you believe people these days"?

And now I just watched what seemed like a semi coherent rant that wouldn't end.

I think this is not a therapy session - rather, this is Chapelle turning into a preacher (and I don't say that as a negative thing).

If you saw the previous special he released on social media and his opening act for SNL, it's clear that he wants to talk about serious issues without having to sneak them between jokes.

I appreciate that, and I think he's well qualified to preach - Particularly on this topic, but on plenty of others. Comedy comes from discomfort, and Chapelle's brand has always been a discomfort from disquieting truths. That plays well into preaching. That said, I think the history of actors getting involved in policy and politics is littered with cautionary tales. I wish him success in not getting dragged into the mud.

> comedy has one rule

Who says this is comedy?

Who says that what Dave Chapelle has to do is comedy?

Dave Chapelle is at this point a big enough draw and people care enough about what he has to say that they will happily pay to come see him talk about ANYTHING. He is closer to a poet than a comedian at this point.

I don’t think much has changed in this regard, comedians are very often miserable complainers... in the past they usually just didn’t get frequent tv specials or series.

And to Seinfeld’s credit, his show seems to be intentionally more of a talk show than a comedy show. Bill Burr has ALWAYS complained about sensitivity (kind of a Denis Leary sibling), Lewis Black’s shtick is angry ranting... it’s an entire genre.

Comedians previously ran for much longer on much less material, at least as far as I can tell... and yeah sometimes if they had bad days they’d rant for their entire set... you just didn’t see it.

> it’s an entire genre

Two names: George Carlin and Bill Hicks. Absolute complainers-in-chief, their acts where very long rants. Burr, Maniscalco, they all come from that tree. And of you go to local gigs, you’ll find plenty more with the same schtick.

Dennis Leary

I think the fact that so many comedians are complaining should be seen as a huge early warning sign.

They're canaries in coal mines.

A warning sign of what?

Less-funny people complaining

So once you are labeled a comedian, you are no longer allowed to say things that aren't funny?

Sure you can say non-funny things, but don't expect your audience to stick around forever, if they are searching for laffs.

I highly recommend to you to watch Bill Hicks or George Carlin. Artist did not exist only to entertain people, you have a plethora of corporate clowns around to amuse your self to death.

Was this supposed to be comedy? It sounds like he was just taking a break from comedy to do a little advocacy, which, as an American citizen, he has every right to do.

This comment didn't make me laugh so I have dismissed it from further consideration.

Ricky Gervais gave a mocking lesson-giving turn on this https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=L3dxMGzt5mU , and I think there's comedy in their twitter/social-media reach that we don't get to experience. They are on the other side of the firehose, and their experience doesn't relate to ours.

It really must be demoralising to see how frail our ears have become. Or have always been? I mean listening to some Carlin's stand-up can be a bit hard for younger generations (I sometimes wince) and some of his jokes might not be tell-able today... Especially not at work. Or on the bus. Or on the street. Or in front of your mum. Or that friend that doesn't want to hear /some/ words (and you know the words)... Well OK you might still want to tell the joke without believing any of its content. Except, someone might be recording. Filming. OK so no more racist/sexist/transphobe/fatshaming/flatearthmocking jokes.

I deeply regret the validation we give to 'just transgression without humor' humor when we rage about it. The best solution to bad jokes is just no one laughing. Silence is a powerful motivator for a comedian to improve... And the people you want to reach are the ones laughing, not the ones making the joke. And making them feel horrible about a laugh they had might not be the way to reach social justice.

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