It May Have Been Wrong To Laugh... but...

[Joe Wordsworth]

So, one of my best friends ever is a third year law student. Brilliant guy, and very funny. We get to talking about the way the Supreme Court actually works (I highly recommend that people with curiosities or questions about US law ask a bonafide scholar of that law for the answers or just good anecdotes). We get off into a tangent, because he's been learning a lot about International Law and we start talking about the UK.

Then, he goes off on a comical tirade:

Here's what I want to say to 'em... all of 'em. I want to say "Hey, there, British person, what is your problem?" because they don't like us... and then say "Oh... I just want to say one thing... umm 17-fucking-76.

That's it.

And, oh, but maybe not... o.k... how about 1812, same shit, different day. 'But we burned the White House', yeah, good job. You got your asses kicked in party central USA, and then we gave you some of our booze and send you home drunk on a boat.

Oh, and then years and years and years of every territory in the world kicking you out. I mean, India, what's up with that? Have you seeeen India? I have. I've been. We're talking about people who are eating disease--and they didn't want you. What's that say about your culture?

And then... yeah... WWII... you'd be speaking German for fifty years if we didn't decide to visit on some boats and nuke some Japo's for you. It'd be Sig Heil in the morning with tea, because... because... we'd have kept Hitler around just to live on the island with you.

And then, we went and spent fifty years with you as that kid that tags along to all the cool parties and then made Tony Blair the sidekick to Sheriff Bush. But not the cool sidekick that shoots really well, ala Blazing Saddles, but the dopey sidekick that wears the brim of his hat up and rides the donkey...

...that we had to buy you."

And then, I'd dangle my nuts for them. And they'd say "Oh, what marvelous nuts", because they don't know any better and my nuts are spectacular. Because they're American.

American nuts... best fucking nuts in the world. God Bless America.

It was crude, but it was all stream of consciousness and I was, unfortunately, laughing my ass off. Thought I'd share. I have nothing against the UK, but then again I have nothing against women either and I think Andrew Dice Clay is funny.

 

[Lucifer_Carroll]

So, one of my best friends ever is a third year law student. Brilliant guy, and very funny. We get to talking about the way the Supreme Court actually works (I highly recommend that people with curiosities or questions about US law ask a bonafide scholar of that law for the answers or just good anecdotes). We get off into a tangent, because he's been learning a lot about International Law and we start talking about the UK.

Then, he goes off on a comical tirade:

Here's what I want to say to 'em... all of 'em. I want to say "Hey, there, British person, what is your problem?" because they don't like us... and then say "Oh... I just want to say one thing... umm 17-fucking-76.

That's it.

And, oh, but maybe not... o.k... how about 1812, same shit, different day. 'But we burned the White House', yeah, good job. You got your asses kicked in party central USA, and then we gave you some of our booze and send you home drunk on a boat.

Oh, and then years and years and years of every territory in the world kicking you out. I mean, India, what's up with that? Have you seeeen India? I have. I've been. We're talking about people who are eating disease--and they didn't want you. What's that say about your culture?

And then... yeah... WWII... you'd be speaking German for fifty years if we didn't decide to visit on some boats and nuke some Japo's for you. It'd be Sig Heil in the morning with tea, because... because... we'd have kept Hitler around just to live on the island with you.

And then, we went and spent fifty years with you as that kid that tags along to all the cool parties and then made Tony Blair the sidekick to Sheriff Bush. But not the cool sidekick that shoots really well, ala Blazing Saddles, but the dopey sidekick that wears the brim of his hat up and rides the donkey...

...that we had to buy you."

And then, I'd dangle my nuts for them. And they'd say "Oh, what marvelous nuts", because they don't know any better and my nuts are spectacular. Because they're American.

American nuts... best fucking nuts in the world. God Bless America.

It was crude, but it was all stream of consciousness and I was, unfortunately, laughing my ass off. Thought I'd share. I have nothing against the UK, but then again I have nothing against women either and I think Andrew Dice Clay is funny.

Sounds standard drunk moron to me, sorry. Guess I "had to be there".

 

[English Lady]

Hell Joe, we have similar tirades about the Americans. If us Brits can do owt we can laugh at ourselves...Peter Kay...grand comedian makes jokes about observations, he gets his laughs by basically picking on peoples faults but its funny 'cos it's true.


Anhow...laugh it up...we're well non PC over here*L*

 

[Joe Wordsworth]

Originally posted by Lucifer_Carroll
Sounds standard drunk moron to me, sorry. Guess I "had to be there".

He's a certified genius and one of the most brilliant people I've ever met... and that's saying something.

Originally posted by English Lady
Hell Joe, we have similar tirades about the Americans. If us Brits can do owt we can laugh at ourselves...Peter Kay...grand comedian makes jokes about observations, he gets his laughs by basically picking on peoples faults but its funny 'cos it's true.


Anhow...laugh it up...we're well non PC over here*L*

Good to see some good-natured-ness about it. I always wanted to go to England. Always did. I went everywhere else in Europe when I was younger--spent three glorious weeks in a tent on the beach in Italy. But I always wanted to see England.

 

[Lucifer_Carroll]

He's a certified genius and one of the most brilliant people I've ever met... and that's saying something.

I didn't mean it like that. I just meant that it sounded like the standard drunk guy rant that's not as funny when sober. Personally I've never been much for drunk humor and most of the people I've seen on that rant have been those 'failed life' guys who are waiting for the 'fag' next to them to say one negative word to justify beating the shit out of them so that they can feel alive for one fleeting moment.

I doubt your friend is of that category. I just don't personally enjoy that 'humour'. Not to mention having some painful memories of 'looking at them funny' after some burly men finished a tale of near verbatim 'humour'. My personal distaste, not an indictment of your friend. I'm sure when sober, he's a great and intelligent man.

Or perhaps it was different that night. That the funny voices, inebriation, and atmosphere combined to make it hilarious in a way that I'd have been laughing along. Lord knows at a party, I've engaged in drunk Kant critique which was equally hilarious at the time and which if I recorded down here, you'd find no humour whatsoever in. It's all about what's funny with booze and atmosphere.

Drunk humour rarely works under sober retellings.

 

[Guest]

He sounds like a complete fucking twat to me. Oh well, one shouldn't mock, I'm sure it was bloody hilarious at the time.

Next time one of my friends has a rant about the US I'll be sure to transcribe it here, word for word. Would you take it in good humour?

Give the guy a snog from me.

Lou - bowing to the superior twats.

 

[English Lady]

Joe...you should come over for a visit, come up to liverpool and I'll show you the sights.


I might take you round the city too if we have time *chuckles*

 

[TheEarl]

Joe...you should come over for a visit, come up to liverpool and I'll show you the sights.


I might take you round the city too if we have time *chuckles*

Joe: Whatever you do, don't let her take you round Toxteth. If she suggests it, it's a trap!

For a smart guy, your friend sounds like he doesn't know that much. Standard US-bullshit about saving our arses in WW2 would have led me to point out just how much both our countries owed the Russians in that battle. Without the Eastern front, we were both screwed. (1/2 million American army dead, 1/2 million British army dead, 1/2 million Australian army dead, 27 million Russian army dead. QED).

Sorry, sorry, I know this was a light hearted thread, before my size 13s came into it. Rest assured that this is me holding back. I tend to get riled when someone badmouths my country without having a scoob what they're talking about.

The Earl

 

[English Lady]

Joe: Whatever you do, don't let her take you round Toxteth. If she suggests it, it's a trap!

Do you think I've had a brain by-pass and bought myself an armoured car?


Do you know what they do to MAnchester United fans out there? *shudder*


*chuckles*


You know, I swear I am far to laid back in these things. I actually find the "joke" kinda funny.


But then one of my favourite jokes ever is...

"have you heard about the dyslexic devil worshipper?

He sold his soul to Santa!"

And my sister is dyslexic...and she likes that joke too.

Maybe it's years and years of non PC jokes coming from my Dad.

To me...a jokes a joke...no use getting het up about it.

 

[Carl East]

Joe: Whatever you do, don't let her take you round Toxteth. If she suggests it, it's a trap!

For a smart guy, your friend sounds like he doesn't know that much. Standard US-bullshit about saving our arses in WW2 would have led me to point out just how much both our countries owed the Russians in that battle. Without the Eastern front, we were both screwed. (1/2 million American army dead, 1/2 million British army dead, 1/2 million Australian army dead, 27 million Russian army dead. QED).

Sorry, sorry, I know this was a light hearted thread, before my size 13s came into it. Rest assured that this is me holding back. I tend to get riled when someone badmouths my country without having a scoob what they're talking about.

The Earl

Actually, this was the only thing I objected too. I mean if it hadn't been for pearl harbor they'd still be thinking about it. lol

But seriously, America entered the second world war because they had to. If they hadn't they would've been the next target on Germany's list of countries to occupy.

I can understand now why some people want the war remembered for all eternity, because we should never forget the atrocities that occurred during those dark years.

Carl

 

[Carl East]

Why am I adding to a potentially argumentative thread, I never do that. Some one shoot me. lol

Carl

 

[McKenna]

He's a certified genius and one of the most brilliant people I've ever met... and that's saying something.

Joe, I'm confused at your logic here; even if the man is a certified genius, it doesn't excuse him from being a jackass.



Some of the most brilliant people I've known have also been people most lacking in common sense and courtesy.

 

[Virtual_Burlesque]

. . . and then years and years and years of every territory in the world kicking you out . . .

Tell your moronic friend not to laugh too loud, if he ever took his nose out of a dusty textbook he would see that the same thing is happening to the American Empire and it started in Iraq . . . or do I mean Viet Nam?

... WWII... you'd be speaking German for fifty years if we didn't decide to visit on some boats and nuke some Japo's for you. It'd be Sig Heil in the morning with tea, because... because... we'd have kept Hitler around just to live on the island with you.

Might have happened like that in another Galaxy far far away . . . but in this one, Hitler had to declare war on America a week after Pearl Harbor, before the capitalistic interests in America got off the dime and started making the world safe for democracy . . .

And then, we went and spent fifty years with you as that kid that tags along to all the cool parties and then made Tony Blair the sidekick to Sheriff Bush.

What was the fucking twit drinking? Did you gave him Australian Beer when he was accustomed to American? Ammonia?

, I'd dangle my nuts for them. And they'd say "Oh, what marvelous nuts", because they don't know any better and my nuts are spectacular. Because they're American.
American nuts... best fucking nuts in the world. God Bless America.

Joe, a person gets known by the friends they keep. I'd toss this asshole as far away as possible.

It was crude, but it was all stream of consciousness and I was, unfortunately, laughing my ass off. Thought I'd share. I have nothing against the UK, but then again I have nothing against women either and I think Andrew Dice Clay is funny.

This is what I mean,Joe. People will -- with reason --judge you by what you laugh at. They will logically conclude that you are a bigoted moron and shun you accordingly, instead of merely feeling sorry for your unfortunate sense of humor.

I’m not British. I just hate Americans who make public morons of themselves. That’s what we have a media for.

 

[gauchecritic]

Explaining humour (not a worthwhile idea)

Joe, surprisingly maybe, I can see that it was funny, once I got over the "usa usa usa" bravado of it, because it seems to be more about the character he was being rather than anti-anti-American and because realistically WWII and colonialism are about the only history America actually has.

So the joke (as I see it) was about middle American chauvanism in much the same vein as Alf Garnett, who was apparently also funny, although I never got that.

The pc problem is that it bolsters what some real Americans think without realising how pathetic it makes them seem to others.

Hopefully that was the gist and why it was funny to you, drunk or not. OK non-Americans? It was actually funny, but it appeared to be just a rant, which it wasn't. Geddit?

(If that isn't the gist then Fuck You and your All American Braniac Brothers*)

Gauche

*Humour (with a 'u')

PS This is funny and got the comedian Al Sharp booed at the Montreal Fest:

Americans have a dream. They live the dream, they strive to make the dream come true. The difference between them and Brits is that we're awake.

 

[English Lady]

gauche love....I knew you'd geddit.

I got it.


I laffed.


Thats my humour.


Loved your Al Sharp Quote too.


Northerner's unite

 

[Guest]

Oh well, I'm a stuffy Southerner. It didn't make me laugh, it made me cringe, and I stand by my knee-jerk reaction: the guy's a twat.

I'd love him to come here and spout that lot off, while pissed, in a pub full of pissed English blokes. I'd find it funny then. Fuck, would I laugh at that!?

Lou

 

[Guest]

. . . I tend to get riled when someone badmouths my country without having a scoob what they're talking about.

The Earl

And rightly so. And I've heard that sort of bluster a great deal lately, usually by loud pro-Bush scare tactic proclaimers.

*sigh*

Tends to give many of us in the U.S. a bad name. Makes us sound misinformed, nationalistic, and snobbish.

(I love "scoob" - I'm going to start using that here, by the way.)

 

[fogbank]

I thought it was funny, but I must say it was more of a "laughing at him" rather than "laughing with him" sort of humour. I'm not sure if he was intending it as a self-depricating statement about America, but that's definitely the way I read it. And then I get sad when I consider that I've heard so many Americans say similar things without any sense of irony, and that maybe your friend fits into this category, and if that's the case, I can't help but hope that his much-valued american nuts meet with a very unfortunate and premature end.
Deep down, I struggle to remind myself that the vast majority of Americans I know personally are intelligent, rational, worldly people.

 

[Lucifer_Carroll]

Engh. Of course!

Sorry, Joe. If it was indeed ironic, I must admit he got the dumb drunk American act down pat. So down pat in fact that I took him for genuine. And so I salute him for a job well done.

If it wasn't meant in irony, then I stand by my original position.

 

[Joe Wordsworth]

Originally posted by McKenna
Joe, I'm confused at your logic here; even if the man is a certified genius, it doesn't excuse him from being a jackass.

...but it may contend with the notion of him being a moron. I never argued that he might be a jackass. However, now that its brought up, there really are two ways to look at it.

I'm a fan of George Carlin, Dennis Leary, Ron White... I find them all very funny. However, are the things they say literally offensive? Sure. No doubt about that. Dennis Leary makes a joke of beating his kids. George Carlin accuses religion of being homosexual and a singularly destructive entity (all religion, by the way... ever heard his rants about Pagans?). Ron White mocks the wealthy and has some great "God Bless America"-esque jokes not unlike the ones my friend told.

So, they're literally rude... but does that make them actually rude? Possible. A lot depends on the listener. Any number of jokes I hear on here made at the expense of my religious beliefs or political ones are essentially rude... but does that mean that the speaker is being strictly offensive?

Hard questions, really.

We laugh at the jokesters up until the jokesters make a joke of us?

Dunno.

I hadn't intended this to turn "issue-y".

Luc has it right (last time I'm going to say that, promise). It was a joke. It was a charactature of national pride. It was all so sudden and unexpected and funny that I laughed. Thought I'd share it with all the other derisive humor I both enjoy and find on these very boards.

 

[English Lady]

We laugh at the jokesters up until the jokesters make a joke of us?

(snipped from the above post)



I think you hit the nail on the head there...when a joke hits home....it becomes offensive not humourous.

EL-Happy to laugh at everyone and anyone (including her good self) -so is very rarely offended by humour.

 

[lewdandlicentious]

He's a certified genius and one of the most brilliant people I've ever met... and that's saying something.

Just be careful Joe, you don't get stuck up his brilliant genius ass!!!

For a smart guy, your friend sounds like he doesn't know that much. Standard US-bullshit about saving our arses in WW2 would have led me to point out just how much both our countries owed the Russians in that battle. Without the Eastern front, we were both screwed. (1/2 million American army dead, 1/2 million British army dead, 1/2 million Australian army dead, 27 million Russian army dead. QED).

The Earl

Not to mention the fact, that it was the Americans who supported Hitler, prior to his invasions, giving him the confidence to launch his offensive in the first place. America also ignored Europe's advice that Hitler was a tyrant in the making and a madman to boot. You're damn fuckin-tootin they should come over and help get us out of THEIR mess!

I can understand now why some people want the war remembered for all eternity, because we should never forget the atrocities that occurred during those dark years.

Not to mention the men and women who gave their lives to defend us from Hitler's tyranny. They were very dark years Joe, they're still finding bodies now!

(If that isn't the gist then Fuck You and your All American Braniac Brothers*)

Amen to you, Brit brother Gauche.

*Humour (with a 'u')

LOL!!!! That's real Humour!!!

Americans have a dream. They live the dream, they strive to make the dream come true. The difference between them and Brits is that we're awake.

A-Fucking-Men brother!!!

I stand by my knee-jerk reaction: the guy's a twat.

Naaahhh, he's not that good!!!!!

I'd love him to come here and spout that lot off, while pissed, in a pub full of pissed English blokes. I'd find it funny then. Fuck, would I laugh at that!?

Yep, that would be hilarious, watching him get TWATTED all over the place!!!

 

[Guest]

Go Lew!

Your humour I always get.

 

[cjh]

I'm jumping into a thread unannounced from the shadows. My apologies, and thanks in advance, for letting me add my few cents.

Lenny Bruce and George Carlin were so fucking funny because they were right on point. They whacked the shit out of a raw nerve, they made a lot of people scream and howl, but push comes to shove, they were right on point.

I don't know that your friend's rant is right on point. Imperialism ran its course for a lot of countries for a lot of reasons.

It seems to me, too, that the story would have just the same punch if you substituted Saigon for Oxford and 19-fucking-75 for 17-fucking-76. I just hope that we won't be able to substitute some date in the future and a city in Iraq for the two. (Thank God we don't have to worry about two guys in Grenada saying 19-fucking-83).

That said, I like law students. Even drunk ones.

*edited - typo

 

[Joe Wordsworth]

Originally posted by CrackerjackHrt
I'm jumping into a thread unannounced from the shadows. My apologies, and thanks in advance, for letting me add my few cents. (The irony of this is that I've run into all too many Ole Miss law students over the years.)

Lenny Bruce and George Carlin were so fucking funny because they were right on point. They whacked the shit out of a raw nerve, they made a lot of people scream and howl, but push comes to shove, they were right on point.

I don't know that your friend's rant is right on point. Imperialism ran its course for a lot of countries for a lot of reasons.

It seems to me, too, that the story would have just the same punch if you substituted Saigon for Oxford and 19-fucking-75 for 17-fucking-76. I just hope that we won't be able to substitute some date in the future and a city in Iraq for the two. (Thank God we don't have to worry about two guys in Grenada saying 19-fucking-83).

That said, I like law students. Even drunk ones.

*edited - typo

Nobody was drunk (what's up with that... I'm noticing a lot of people are saying that).

Past that. That they were "on point" was highly debateable. A lot of the things Carlin said (and I'm a huge Carlin fan) were no more or less on point than the contents of the above. "Fuck the children!"? I mean... geez.

I agree with the raw nerve stuff... just find the ambiguous concept of "on point" highly shiftable.