Posted by Snuffy at 132.161.28.143 on February 24, 2000 at 12:07:12:
First off, I'd like to agree with Kev big time on his anti-rape views. Rape is a horrible danger to women, and it really IS primarily a women's issue. We should recognize the danger women face in this arena, and realize that they are at a disadvantage when it comes to rape.
That said, one of the things Kevin takes issue with in his anti-rape post is the use of rape in humor. The comic discussion or portrail of rape is a much merkier subject the actual act of rape. Should we allow jokes be made about rape?
Well, Kevin himself admitted to making jokes about the holocaust in his up-coming Clerks Cartoon. (If you remember, the joke was about a new Spelgberg flick called "Flinstones List".) I think you'll agree that the holocaust is equally horrible to rape. And the holocaust is still a relievent socail issue since many people still deny that the holocaust happened and many people are still anti-semitic today (as we saw in those hate letters about dogma).
So, is it okay to joke about rape and the holocaust? (Bear in mind, I may be a male, but I am Jewish.) I say yes. What matters is that you do the joke in the right spirit. What about that joke about child-molestation in "Pircilla: Queen of the desert" (in the bathtub scene)? Or how about "Life is Beautiful," a comedy centered around the holocaust? Those are jokes about atrocities done in the right spirit and, by making such jokes, you actually draw due attention to important social issues that people commonly ignore.
For the final word on the subject, I'm gunna quote Carlin's "Parental Advisory" CD. Since Carlin is an Askewer, I think his view on the subject is relevent. He says, "I can prove to you that rape is funny. Think of Porky Pig raping Elmer Fudd... I know what your saying, 'Elmer was asking for it.'... A lot of men think that way. They say, 'hey, she had it comin. She was wearin a short skirt.' They think women should go to prison for being cock teasers. Don't seem fair to me. Don't seem right. But you can joke about it."