Too many people today are too caught up with trying to be politically correct in all areas that they tend to forget what being funny is all about. Don't get me wrong on this because I believe that political correctness which would permit any kind of multi-cultural excess is bad - at the other end of the spectrum, raw race hatred is equally bad. Worse, is trying to become indifferent when surrounded by all these issues.
Good thing that artist Jerry Seinfeld agrees with me and made it blunt to everyone who cared to listen that comedy and political correctness don't mix.
The "Seinfeld" star had some surprisingly blunt things to say about the perceived lack of diversity on his shows in a chat with BuzzFeed and CBS News.
The host brings up the fact that most of the guests Seinfeld has had on his Web series, "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee," have been white males. Seinfeld is clearly uncomfortable with the line of questioning, muttering, "Oh, this really pisses me off."
He continues, "People think it's the census or something? Does this [have to] represent the actual pie chart of America? Who cares? Funny is the world I live in. If you're funny, I'm interested. If you're not funny, I'm not interested. And I have no interest in race or gender or anything like that."
Seinfeld then takes a shot at "everyone else [who] is calculating, 'Is this the exact right mix?' To me, it's anti-comedy. It's more about P.C. nonsense than 'Are you making us laugh or not?'"
Seinfeld has a point. Staying politically correct does not solve this or any problem in society. In fact, by eliminating discussion and acknowledgment about different races and unequal qualities between men and women, we may have created a bigger problem.
If we believe certain racist, sexist, and otherwise insensitive or discriminatory ideas and behaviors are bad, it makes sense that we should try to stop them from spreading. However, by forcing people to use specific terminology or avoid certain conversation topics, we are going about it all wrong. Staying "politically correct" is not medicine for the problems that exist—it’s a band-aid to cover up the wounds that can still pester.
Good thing that artist Jerry Seinfeld agrees with me and made it blunt to everyone who cared to listen that comedy and political correctness don't mix.
The "Seinfeld" star had some surprisingly blunt things to say about the perceived lack of diversity on his shows in a chat with BuzzFeed and CBS News.
The host brings up the fact that most of the guests Seinfeld has had on his Web series, "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee," have been white males. Seinfeld is clearly uncomfortable with the line of questioning, muttering, "Oh, this really pisses me off."
He continues, "People think it's the census or something? Does this [have to] represent the actual pie chart of America? Who cares? Funny is the world I live in. If you're funny, I'm interested. If you're not funny, I'm not interested. And I have no interest in race or gender or anything like that."
Seinfeld then takes a shot at "everyone else [who] is calculating, 'Is this the exact right mix?' To me, it's anti-comedy. It's more about P.C. nonsense than 'Are you making us laugh or not?'"
Seinfeld has a point. Staying politically correct does not solve this or any problem in society. In fact, by eliminating discussion and acknowledgment about different races and unequal qualities between men and women, we may have created a bigger problem.
If we believe certain racist, sexist, and otherwise insensitive or discriminatory ideas and behaviors are bad, it makes sense that we should try to stop them from spreading. However, by forcing people to use specific terminology or avoid certain conversation topics, we are going about it all wrong. Staying "politically correct" is not medicine for the problems that exist—it’s a band-aid to cover up the wounds that can still pester.