[Greater-baltimore] Ellen DeGeneres' Ignorance

[Maurice Peret]

Hey Chris,

I actually think you make a fair argument here. I would only add for
the sake of balance that it speaks rather negatively about our comedic
abilities if they rely exclusively upon disparaging others. I was once
told by somebody very wise that the bulk of humor that is out there
tends not to uplift but to laugh at either ourselves or others at the
expense of dignity. Humor is among the finest of art forms that has
unfortunately gone the way of what we historically knew as good
literary skill in writing, reading, and even conversation and in the
oral traditions. Mine is simply an observation, not necessarily a
comment in favor or against the incident under discussion. I merely
welcome the discussion and all its viewpoints, so long as they remain
civil.

Yes, sometimes we can be way too sensitive. We must also be vigelent
against thinly disguised predjudices that hide behind the oft tacit
remark, "oh come on, I was only kidding." This device tends to be
overused and often tramps on otherwise sensitive ground. Don't ask me
how I know. (impish grin)

Maurice

On 10/26/11, Chris Paulus <chrispaulus at gmail.com> wrote:
> Is there no place for comedy anymore? Everyone is a target in that realm,
> and Ellen's show is that of entertainment. There is a point where we all
> become too sensitive. If all groups were banned from any comedic taunt, what
> is there to laugh about anymore? Its easy to look at what was posted and see
> that she didn't mean any harm.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: greater-baltimore-bounces at nfbnet.org
> [mailto:greater-baltimore-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of spclarke
> Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2011 6:16 PM
> To: greater-baltimore at nfbnet.org
> Subject: [Greater-baltimore] Ellen DeGeneres' Ignorance
>
>
> I was watching Ellen DeGeneres' show today as usual when all of a sudden she
> started to pick on a woman who was in her audience yesterday and using
> binoculars.  She displayed a picture of her using her binoculars.  Then she
> said that she thought the woman was at the wrong show and should have been
> at the opera.  She added that maybe she should get her tickets for the
> opera.  A portion of the audience laughed.  Then she asks her sidekick Tony
> if he saw the woman with the binoculars.  He said that he didn't see the
> woman with the binoculars.  Ellen seemed puzzled about that like she thought
> the woman really stood out.  Tony was really acting like it didn't matter if
> the woman was using binoculars or not.  This, of course, is the proper
> reaction.  Ellen has been asking everyone to post Halloween costume ideas
> for her on her Facebook page.  One woman suggested that she should be a box
> of popcorn (like what you get at a movie theatre or ball game).  Ellen
> displays a picture of herself in a popcorn box costume and then whips out a
> pair of binoculars and starts looking at the picture on a big screen behind
> her with the binoculars.  Ellen and the audience is laughing the entire
> time.
>
> I was very upset by Ellen's words and actions so I posted a message about
> what she said and did on her Facebook page.  I told her how the visually
> disabled use binoculars to see things that are far away.  I told her that
> when you pick on someone who doesn't fit into the norm that it sets a great
> example for bullies to hurt people who don't fit in somehow.  I hope my
> message will have some kind of an impact.
>
> Sue-Ellen Clarke
>
>
>
>
>
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-- 
Maurice Peret, NOMCT
National Orientation & Mobility Certifier Trainer
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