Remember back when conservative humor used to be Hee Haw? Remember when Dennis Miller was sort of funny? Remember when the cutting sarcasm of Don Rickles represented the most mean-spirited humor?
Ah, the good old days.
Ah, the good old days.
The
modern American Right Wing Authoritarian con-servative dwells in a world of negative emotions such as resentment,
fear, anger, and hate toward the other side. Trump and his followers share a spiteful, angry, and derogatory brand of humor that resonates from their darkened souls.
The mechanism of a lot of classic humor is "funny because it is true", or because it
reflects the beliefs or common understanding of the listeners.
ScientificAmerican examines this perspective in humor: “New research proves that the
things we find funny often reveal somewhat hidden beliefs we hold.”
Since
so many beliefs on the Right have no basis in reality, their “humor” needs to
reflect their false beliefs to be funny to them. “Funny” as in “owning the
libs” or otherwise expressing said resentment, fear, anger and hate.
Here
are two examples that illustrate that sharp contrast in humor.
The
first bit is from Mrs. Betty Bowers, "America’s Best Christian": If I discriminate against or criticize you,
it’s called “religious freedom”. If you return the favor it’s called
“persecution”.
Funny
‘cause it’s true, isn’t it?
From
the Right we have:
President Trump is
making America so great that Obama is applying for citizenship.
That
is not funny to most of us because it has no grain of truth to it. In fact it
reeks of ignorance, hate, and bigotry.
However,
on the far Right, it is hilarious because to them it “owns the libs” and reinforces
Trump’s racist birtherism.
What
a hoot! That’ll show the Muslim/Kenyan/Socialist Black Guy and his commie libs.
LOL!
Speaking of immigrants, did you see the president grin in mirthful delight while his MAGAt rally mob guffawed when someone shouted, "Shoot 'em!"?
"Shoot 'em!"
They are as hilarious as they are enlightened and compassionate.They see themselves as tough guys and can dish a lot out, but one thing they can't take is a joke. If one didn't know better, they would appear to be immature, thin-skinned, emotionally labile, tantrum-throwing snowflakes.
Speaking of immigrants, did you see the president grin in mirthful delight while his MAGAt rally mob guffawed when someone shouted, "Shoot 'em!"?
"Shoot 'em!"
They are as hilarious as they are enlightened and compassionate.They see themselves as tough guys and can dish a lot out, but one thing they can't take is a joke. If one didn't know better, they would appear to be immature, thin-skinned, emotionally labile, tantrum-throwing snowflakes.
This
is how the radical far Right finds humor in malevolence, and why they will always be mean-spirited, while being completely befuddled and angered by
satire.
Posts
10 comments:
"The first bit is from Mrs. Betty Bowers, America’s Best Christian: If I discriminate against or criticize you, it’s called 'religious freedom'. If you return the favor it’s called 'persecution'." ~~ Dave Dubya
Ms. Bowers certainly doesn't come across as one of the great humorists of our time, but where ever that came from, she nailed it. ;-)
The truth is in, as said so many times by Stephen Colbert, the "truthiness".
It has been my experience that fundamentalist Christians -- evangelicals, and many other protestants, especially -- hide behind their supposed faith all the time. Take away their Christian shield and there's nothing there. Laterally. It's all part of the cherished fairy tale, I suppose.
Gospel translates to "good news". It's obvious Trump's base of evangelicals not only sees the mainstream-media as "fake news", but their gospels also.
JG,
Like reality, satire clearly has a liberal bias.
I love Betty Bowers and follow her on twitter. Here's the full context of the Betty quote:
https://twitter.com/BettyBowers
The complete tweet, including the caption quoted:
#ReligiousFreedom is a magic trick that allows a powerful majority to pretend to be a persecuted minority, so it can actually persecute actual minorities.
America's Best Christian, Mrs. Betty Bowers explains how "Religious Freedom" works.
"If I discriminate against or criticize you, it’s called “religious freedom”. If you return the favor it’s called “persecution”.
Betty Bowers is portrayed by Canadian comic Deven Green and written by Andrew Bradley
https://www.devengreen.com/betty-bowers
"American Humanist "Arts" Award 2018"
Deven Green & Andrew Bradley
"Most humorous Youtube Video"
San Francisco Film Festival
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=betty+bowers+america%27s+best+christian
A Democrat walks into a bar and asks, “What’s the most popular drink?”
The bartender replies, “A Russian collusion.”
The Democrat orders one… and the bartender gives him an empty glass
Liberals will not get it.
JTF,
Thank you for being on topic.
"Liberals will not get it." LOL! The unintended punch line was funnier than the "joke".
It is funny to you because it is Malicious Humor and parrots Trump's lies.
What's also funny is those who think a glass full of vodka is empty.
Collusion: secret agreement or cooperation especially for an illegal or deceitful purpose.
As in, "Russia, if you're listening...." THATs' collusion.
As in the secret Trump tower meeting cooperating with Russian agents and as in Manifort giving polling date to Russians. THAT's collusion.
As in the Mueller Report, "The investigation also identified numerous links between the Russian government and the Trump Campaign...established that the Russian government perceived it would benefit from a Trump presidency and worked to secure that outcome, and that the Campaign expected it would benefit electorally from information stolen and released through Russian efforts..."
And THAT is collusion.
Therefore the joke is funny because it's... not true, but it takes a malicious dig at others. Thank you.
Time for satire based on truth.
"When it comes to evangelicals and Christ, no collusion." - Mrs. Betty Bowers
Funny as in, "Grab her by the pussy" and "Shoot 'em" are OK if you are evangelical.
"'When it comes to evangelicals and Christ, no collusion.' - Mrs. Betty Bowers" ~~ Dave Dubya
LOL Now, that's funny!
"From the Right we have: President Trump is making America so great that Obama is applying for citizenship. [This] is not funny to most of us because it has no grain of truth to it." ~~ Dave Dubya
Agreed, it's not funny 'cause it holds no element of fact or truth to it.
And then you have your resident troll offering this:
"A Democrat walks into a bar and asks, 'What’s the most popular drink?'
The bartender replies, 'A Russian collusion.' The Democrat orders one… and the bartender gives him an empty glass." ~~ Timothy L. Trueblood V (or, simply, "Vern")
Applying the conventional definition of "collusion", there's no element of "truthiness" here. Therefore, as with the first example, it's not funny either.
"Remember back when conservative humor used to be Hee Haw?" ~~ Dave Dubya
I recall the show, Dave, and I'll bet that Vern made a point of watching religiously every week. It was probably his brand of humor -- moronic and hickish. ;-)
JG,
I loved the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and even Laugh-In.
Picture, if you will, the "joke wall" when they would open the little doors for one-liners...
Dan Rowan: Have you heard this one?
Goldie Hawn: When it comes to Trump and Christ, no collusion.
Dick Martin: Or this one?
Lily Tomlin: When it comes to Pence and Christ, no collusion.
Henry Gibson: How about this one?
Ruth Buzzi: When it comes to Republicans and Christ, no collusion.
Jo Anne Worley: And then obviously:
Arte Johnson: When it comes to Vern and Christ, no collusion. Verrry interesting!
Just ask 'em. "No collusion!"
LOLOL Funny!
A colleague and I were discussing Laugh-In and the "joke-wall" just the other day, and of course Arte Johnson in raincoat, flipping over riding his tricycle. Also, his bit as the "dirty old man" was priceless, not to mention "veeery interesting".
Yes, no collusion! LOL
Is this a joke?
Mike Lindell, the Trump-loving CEO of MyPillow, announced this week that his company will be laying off 150 workers at a facility in Shakopee, Minnesota — despite the fact that he claimed months earlier that America was in an “economic boom” thanks to the president’s tax cuts.
Sadly the joke is on the people working for the MAGAt.
Remember when the evil liar Sarah Huckabee was asked to leave the Red Hen restaurant? The hate mail and threats poured in from the MAGAts.
The owner reported to the Washington Post, “I’ve been getting hate mail for almost a year now, ever since I asked White House press secretary Sarah Sanders to leave my Lexington, Va., restaurant, the Red Hen, last June...The blowback was swift and aggressive. Within 24 hours, the restaurant’s phone line was hacked, my staff and I were doxxed, and threats to our lives and families and property were pouring in through every available channel.”
So did they have to lay people off and close down?
No.
Yet, as I kept opening the letters, I saw a pattern. For every hateful message, there was one of gratitude. For every angry accusation that our actions were driven by the inability to accept Hillary Clinton’s 2016 loss, there was a note of thanks from someone lamenting Trump’s rollback of protections for marginalized people. What’s more, for every wish that our business die a painful death, there was a dollar bill or a generous check or an order for a gift certificate.
When we opened after a 10-day hiatus, our dining room was full. In the following weeks, people who had never been to the Shenandoah Valley traveled out of their way to eat with us. Hundreds of orders for our Red Hen spice blend poured in. And the love spread far beyond our door, as supporters sent thousands of dollars in donations in our honor to our local food pantry, our domestic violence shelter and first responders.
After nearly a year, I’m happy to say that business is still good. Better than good, actually. And besides the boost to our area charities, our town’s hospitality and sales revenue have gone up, too.
Our haters may have believed that there were more of “them” than of “us,” but it turns out we have more than enough to keep us cooking. And to everyone who might be fearful about taking a stand, I say don’t be. Resistance is not futile, for you or your business.
Looks like the joke is on the MAGAts...again.
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