Misogyny and high drama in the Portland comedy scene

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

So, a local comedian told a rape joke, which fell flat. He then called out another, more popular local comedian, who was sitting in the front row, for not laughing at rape jokes even though she laughs at feminism jokes.

She went home and blogged about it, albeit without identifying him. Ensuing high drama is to be found here: http://blogtown.portlandmercury.com/BlogtownPDX/archives/2013/10/12/my-least-favorite-piece-of-misogyny-this-week-comedy-bullies

[Cardinal Pizza Deliverance.]

Wow. These comments are comedy gold. Someone should be mining this shit for their act.

[Pæs]

This is pretty much how my local comedy scene works too.

[Cardinal Pizza Deliverance.]

If someone called me out, as a fellow whatever, for not appreciating their failed attempt at mutual skill I feel I'd be forced to tell them what I REALLY THINK^TM. And then if they got butthurt over it, I would use the burning rage of their angst to keep me warm all winter long.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

And this is what happens when we dig our heels in.   

Brutal, public beatings on blogsites.

Good luck getting a paying gig, dude!

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

I know. I was like, wow... first thing he could have done was not make things worse, by keeping his stupid mouth shit. Second thing is he could have made things better, by saying "I'm sorry".

BUT NO. 

My favorite comment:

"Have you noticed that Barbara Holm never laughs at rape jokes, no matter how funny?"

So the joke is "I suspect that THIS woman (the one right here in this room that I'm pointing out) is a rape victim, everyone look at this rape victim", right?

I wouldn't open with it.

[hooplala]

4th comment is from the comic in question... ya know dude, you could have slinked away in anonymous shame, she didn't name you.  But, noooo, you just had to comment on her "lack of character" for taking it to a public forum. 

[Cardinal Pizza Deliverance.]

This guy is funny. Just not for the reasons he thinks.

[Pope Pixie Pickle]

4th comment is from the comic in question... ya know dude, you could have slinked away in anonymous shame, she didn't name you.  But, noooo, you just had to comment on her "lack of character" for taking it to a public forum.

that was the funniest bit for me!

[Pæs]

I've basically totally removed myself from the comedy scene in my area. Signora did the same a long while ago. Comedy attracts a bunch of different people for different reasons but you get a LOT of people drawn to it because they can be rewarded for acting up in a destructive way. I've never been in a group so full of loud people with fragile egos, so the calling her out for not laughing is pretty unsurprising.

Conversations in my local scene are basically a bunch of people standing in a circle riffing off each other, which is cool and to be expected, but doing so over each other, shouting their jokes into the centre and repeating them, becoming increasingly offended and upset, if they don't seem to get acknowledged.

Someone just opened a thread on our comedy FB page about how to make comedy more inviting towards women. It got totally shouted down by "WOMEN SHOULD JUST BE FUNNIER" or "I AM A WOMAN AND OTHER WOMEN ARE JUST PUSSIES". "What do you mean get more women on stage? Should we also get more midgets and other minorities? Women just don't like jokes."

So, yeah, I'm given to understand that this Portland blow up is just how comedy operates everywhere.

[Signora Pæsior]

I've basically totally removed myself from the comedy scene in my area. Signora did the same a long while ago. Comedy attracts a bunch of different people for different reasons but you get a LOT of people drawn to it because they can be rewarded for acting up in a destructive way. I've never been in a group so full of loud people with fragile egos, so the calling her out for not laughing is pretty unsurprising.

Conversations in my local scene are basically a bunch of people standing in a circle riffing off each other, which is cool and to be expected, but doing so over each other, shouting their jokes into the centre and repeating them, becoming increasingly offended and upset, if they don't seem to get acknowledged.

Someone just opened a thread on our comedy FB page about how to make comedy more inviting towards women. It got totally shouted down by "WOMEN SHOULD JUST BE FUNNIER" or "I AM A WOMAN AND OTHER WOMEN ARE JUST PUSSIES". "What do you mean get more women on stage? Should we also get more midgets and other minorities? Women just don't like jokes."

So, yeah, I'm given to understand that this Portland blow up is just how comedy operates everywhere.

Don't forget the part where having one woman in every line-up -- literally 1/8 representation -- is unreasonable and women should just shut the fuck up.

[Pæs]

Oh yeah. Someone actually said that.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

That's pretty phenomenally bullshit!

We have a comedy club here that actively seeks women comedians, it's pretty cool. I've been there and it was FUNNY, too.

[Signora Pæsior]

That's pretty phenomenally bullshit!

We have a comedy club here that actively seeks women comedians, it's pretty cool. I've been there and it was FUNNY, too.

You mean they weren't all shrill harpies who joked about their periods for eight minutes apiece? Inconceivable!

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

That's pretty phenomenally bullshit!

We have a comedy club here that actively seeks women comedians, it's pretty cool. I've been there and it was FUNNY, too.

You mean they weren't all shrill harpies who joked about their periods for eight minutes apiece? Inconceivable!

It's amazing and bizarre what some people think about women, isn't it?