The 24/7 Comedy Radio Station came to town last fall. I listen to it pretty exclusively in the car when I’m in town (the signal is too weak to receive far out of town). What I’ve discovered is that what some folks think is funny is decidedly unfunny to me.
I’m not talking about fart jokes, or gross jokes, or sex jokes. I’m talking about cruelty humor or just “lack of respect” humor. I’m talking about making fun of large groups of people (not including politicians and lawyers here).
For some reason those of short stature, who prefer to be called “little people” rather than the terms used by the comedians, and those of wide girth, who get called a multitude of awful names by the comedians, are thought to be fair game. They are not included in the respect afforded to people of different races, people with mental disabilities, etc., whose stereotypical nicknames are no longer considered appropriate to use.
If I’d been in the comedy club where some of the routines were recorded that I’ve heard recently, I would have voted with my feet and asked for my money back. As it is, I change the station to something else for a while or turn the radio off. I don’t have to listen to hatred being sown in the name of comedy. It is not OK.
First amendment gives them the right to say it. I have the right not to listen. The radio stations have the right not to play it. I haven’t contacted them yet. Perhaps it is time I did.
Internal jukebox: Jehovah Jirah, (translation: the Lord is my provider) another song from VBS. I think I’ll listen to a lot of Pandora at work today and see if I can reprogram my brain. I have no problem with praise songs to the Lord, but having the same ones in my head the clock ’round is getting tedious.