One person who supports the “Family Guy” staff is Andrea Fay Friedman, the 39-year-old actor and public speaker who played Ellen in that episode. Like the character, Ms. Friedman also has Down syndrome. ;)


http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/18/family-guy-voice-actor-says-palin-does-not-have-a-sense-of-humor/?no_interstitial

why does her opinion matter?its not her family that is being attacked by a tv show.

She's pretty ugly (Andrea Friedman).........


Hey, if she can make fun of others, I can make fun of her, right? It's all in good fun! She's ugly.

She's pretty ugly (Andrea Friedman).........

Hey, if she can make fun of others, I can make fun of her, right? It's all in good fun! She's ugly.

That not "making fun" that stating a fact.

why does her opinion matter?its not her family that is being attacked by a tv show.

The only "attack" on Palin was that the Ellen character states she was the child of a former Alaska governor. Unless Ellen's character portrayed those with Down's Syndrome in a bad light then, there was no "attack" on Palin at all, just a reference by (strong) implication.

Ellen was portrayed as a bitch, but not as a bitch "because" she had Down's Syndrome. I am personally offended that Sarah Palin refuses to admit that people with Down's Syndrome come in the full range of human types (which includes the capacity to develop negative personality traits). In her world, I guess, if you have Down's Syndrome, then you have to be positive and friendly, because the only complaint she could have against the episode is that Ellen was not that.

The only "attack" on Palin was that the Ellen character states she was the child of a former Alaska governor. Unless Ellen's character portrayed those with Down's Syndrome in a bad light then, there was no "attack" on Palin at all, just a reference by (strong) implication.

Ellen was portrayed as a bitch, but not as a bitch "because" she had Down's Syndrome. I am personally offended that Sarah Palin refuses to admit that people with Down's Syndrome come in the full range of human types (which includes the capacity to develop negative personality traits). In her world, I guess, if you have Down's Syndrome, then you have to be positive and friendly, because the only complaint she could have against the episode is that Ellen was not that.

why was the reference made to sarah palin's family?

One person who supports the “Family Guy” staff is Andrea Fay Friedman, the 39-year-old actor and public speaker who played Ellen in that episode. Like the character, Ms. Friedman also has Down syndrome. ;)


http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/18/family-guy-voice-actor-says-palin-does-not-have-a-sense-of-humor/?no_interstitial

People get made fun of, in life and in the media. Palin needs to ease the **** up.

why was the reference made to sarah palin's family?

It was part of the meta-joke, in that the viewer was kind of *expecting* them to make fun of Down's Syndrome sufferers qua Down's Syndrome sufferers. There was one joke about Ellen's eye spacing being somewhat off but her eyes otherwise being beautiful, but there were no other jokes that related to any handicap. Referencing the former governor played to the sense that they were going to insult those with Down's Syndrome, and they never did.

I suppose it's also possible that they tried, and the jokes were just so unfunny that it did not feel like they were making fun, though Chris Griffin made the point explicitly that people with Down's Syndrome are just like anybody else.

She's pretty ugly (Andrea Friedman).........


Hey, if she can make fun of others, I can make fun of her, right? It's all in good fun! She's ugly.

so your mocking her for the symptoms of down syndrome? man that's just wrong

so your mocking her for the symptoms of down syndrome? man that's just wrong

Yup.

Family Guy can mock people for race, religion, and diseases, so why can't I? Family Guy says it's okay!

Yup.

Family Guy can mock people for race, religion, and diseases, so why can't I? Family Guy says it's okay!

but that wasn't what they were doing. god when will the right get humor

Family Guy can mock people for race, religion, and diseases, so why can't I? Family Guy says it's okay!

Go watch the epidode "When You Wish Upon a Weinstein" from DVD with the commentary turned on.

My seven year-old only needed to hear that explanation once—when she was about four—in order to understand those parts of Family Guy's humor. And once you've figured out that basic principle of comedy, head on over to read the Parents Television Council (http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/publications/bw/2009/1009worst.asp) denunciation of this season's first couple of episodes.

And when you've done that, by all means come on back here and show us that you have acquired something resembling a clue as to what you're talking about.
___________________

Notes:

Parents Television Council. "Worst TV Show of the Week". October 9, 2010. ParentsTV.org. February 20, 2010. http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/publications/bw/2009/1009worst.asp

but that wasn't what they were doing. god when will the right get humor

I've always hated crude, inappropriate, offensive humor. It isn't funny to make light of serious issues.

Real comedy is the comedy that makes you laugh without resorting to racism and stupidity.

I've always hated crude, inappropriate, offensive humor. It isn't funny to make light of serious issues. making people laugh is a good way to get people thinking about things.


Real comedy is the comedy that makes you laugh without resorting to racism and stupidity.

there was nothing bigoted nor stupid about it.

making people laugh is a good way to get people thinking about things. I disagree. I think it just makes people care less about serious issues; it makes them comedic matters, when they shouldn't be. Even Socrates and Plato were very much against comedy, especially when it involved real world issues.


there was nothing bigoted nor stupid about it.

Nonsense. Shows like that have, time and time again, mocked other cultures, religions, groups of people, and historical and political figures. It's not okay.

I disagree. I think it just makes people care less about serious issues; it makes them comedic matters, when they shouldn't be. Even Socrates and Plato were very much against comedy, especially when it involved real world issues. comedy to the greeks was very different and it touched on real world issues.




Nonsense. Shows like that have, time and time again, mocked other cultures, religions, groups of people, and historical and political figures. It's not okay.
Its satire. ITs perfectly ok. people have been doing for hundreds of years. Read jonathon swift's a modest proposal. Your just whiny because its people and things you like are the things usually being satired.

comedy to the greeks was very different and it touched on real world issues. The same as much of comedy today. What's your point?


Its satire. ITs perfectly ok Satire is stupid. It's childish, first of all. Second of all, it reduces serious intellectual debates to mere matters of mockery and jest, and it keeps politics alive and people arguing for the sake of arguing. It makes it seem "cool" to be stupid.

Your just whiny because its people and things you like are the things usually being satired.

Of course. Nobody ever said the writers of Family Guy were intelligent. The point is, however, that comedy like this takes serious issues and makes them laughing matters. Documentaries and tragedies are much better for conveying the seriousness and magnitude of a subject than comedy.

The same as much of comedy today. What's your point? you said the main greek scholars were against it.


Satire is stupid. It's childish, first of all. Second of all, it reduces serious intellectual debates to mere matters of mockery and jest, and it keeps politics alive and people arguing for the sake of arguing. It makes it seem "cool" to be stupid. Satire is one of the highest forms of comedy. the stupid can't do it.



Of course. Nobody ever said the writers of Family Guy were intelligent. The point is, however, that comedy like this takes serious issues and makes them laughing matters. Documentaries and tragedies are much better for conveying the seriousness and magnitude of a subject than comedy. actually I did. they are smart. probably a lot smart than you.

you said the main greek scholars were against it. I said Socrates and Plato were against it. Learn to read.


Satire is one of the highest forms of comedy. the stupid can't do it.
Satire takes skill to create, but I never said otherwise. I only said that satire and mockery were low forms of entertainment, generally for the childish; and that they were detrimental to society because they made laughing matters of serious subjects. They make comedy out of real issues. They defame historical and political figures.

That's not very good, in my opinion. Documentaries and tragedies do a much better job, because they are actually serious in nature.

I said Socrates and Plato were against it. Learn to read. well first off your going to have to prove that.



Satire takes skill to create, but I never said otherwise. I only said that satire and mockery were low forms of entertainment, generally for the childish; and that they were detrimental to society because they made laughing matters of serious subjects. They make comedy out of real issues. They defame historical and political figures. You have no idea what satire is do you? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_satirists_and_satires some of the greatest writer throghout history are on that list. ITs made for the adult and intelligent. Satire is by no means a low form of entertainment.


That's not very good, in my opinion. Documentaries and tragedies do a much better job, because they are actually serious in nature.

but unlike humor they can't get some to think about it if they disagree.

well first off your going to have to prove that. No problem. Just read Republic, or almost any other of their works.



You have no idea what satire is do you? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_satirists_and_satires some of the greatest writer throghout history are on that list. It's made for the adult and intelligent. Satire is by no means a low form of entertainment.
'Course I know what it is. I just don't think making fun of others, and making light of serious issues, is a mature thing to do. It discourages serious debate and encourages name-calling; it defames historical figures, too. It makes light of important events (such as the Holocaust).


but unlike humor they can't get some to think about it if they disagree.

Of course they can, even moreso than any crude, inappropriate humor can. Vulgarity is not a good thing for encouraging thought.

No problem. Just read Republic, or almost any other of their works. in other words you can't.




'Course I know what it is. I just don't think making fun of others, and making light of serious issues, is a mature thing to do. It discourages serious debate and encourages name-calling; it defames historical figures, too. It makes light of important events (such as the Holocaust). clearly you don't given how you characterizing it. fuck about the holocaust I believe jews them selves have helped right satirical things on it.




Of course they can, even moreso than any crude, inappropriate humor can. Vulgarity is not a good thing for encouraging thought.

You just don't get it. Satire is one of the highest forms of humor and generally one of the highest ways to critize people.

in other words you can't. In other words, I can. It's not a big secret that Plato and Socrates were against the theatre; they were also big critics of the democracy in Athens.

Again, read their works, or otherwise shut up.



You just don't get it. Satire is one of the highest forms of humor and generally one of the highest ways to critize people.

It's one of the least respectful, most defamatory, and most vulgar ways to criticize people.

In other words, I can. It's not a big secret that Plato and Socrates were against the theatre; they were also big critics of the democracy in Athens.

Again, read their works, or otherwise shut up. Sorry its your job to prove your points. So again please prove your statement or retract it.





It's one of the least respectful, most defamatory, and most vulgar ways to criticize people.

lol. No it isn't. Just because your antihumor doesn't mean its direspectful, defametory, or vulgar.

In other words, I can. It's not a big secret that Plato and Socrates were against the theatre; they were also big critics of the democracy in Athens.

Again, read their works, or otherwise shut up.

wow. i take it that you don't bother reading introductions, or secondary literature, eh? i'd suggest you read up on plato and socrates as you clearly haven't yet discerned authorship. it remains a matter of debate as to whether socrates was or was not an opponent of democracy.


It's one of the least respectful, most defamatory, and most vulgar ways to criticize people.

i'm with pj on this: i don't believe that you know what satire is.

Sorry its your job to prove your points. So again please prove your statement or retract it. I did prove it. I cited Republic as my source. I am also a theatre hobbyist. I know more about drama and theatre than you do.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/1824376/posts
http://chelm.freeyellow.com/democracy.html


According to Plato, a state which is made up of different kinds of souls, will overall decline from an aristocracy (rule by the best) to a timocracy (rule by the honorable), then to an oligarchy (rule by the few), then to a democracy (rule by the people), and finally to tyranny (rule by one person, rule by a tyrant)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plato#The_State
http://faculty.frostburg.edu/phil/forum/PlatoRep.htm

Quotes by Plato (pertaining to democracy)
A good decision is based on knowledge and not on numbers.

Democracy passes into despotism.

Democracy... is a charming form of government, full of variety and disorder; and dispensing a sort of equality to equals and unequals alike.

Dictatorship naturally arises out of democracy, and the most aggravated form of tyranny and slavery out of the most extreme liberty.

----

Further, it is common knowledge that Socrates was a heavy critic of Homer, and argued that while the various romantic tales told in Oddyssey and Illiad were charming, they were hardly any model for the youth to pursue; and he also argued that many other poetries shared the same qualities, and thus he argued that the ideal state would censor inappropriate content and expose the youth only to content favorable to the needs of the state and society.


No it isn't. Just because your antihumor doesn't mean its direspectful, defametory, or vulgar.
I am anti-crude humor. And have you ever seen Family Guy? Sure, it's funny sometimes.........but it is inappropriate. If you seriously don't think so, then you should probably pay more attention.

I did prove it. I cited Republic as my source. I am also a theatre hobbyist. I know more about drama and theatre than you do.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/1824376/posts
http://chelm.freeyellow.com/democracy.html I know people who work in theatre.




I am anti-crude humor. And have you ever seen Family Guy? Sure, it's funny sometimes.........but it is inappropriate. If you seriously don't think so, then you should probably pay more attention.
I don't see anything wrong with it. Its designed for people adult enough to handle such things.

aside from the fact that this has absolutely nothing to do with this topic, you are mis-informed about socrates:

It is often argued that Socrates believed "ideals belong in a world only the wise man can understand",[citation needed] making the philosopher the only type of person suitable to govern others. In Plato's dialogue the Republic, Socrates was in no way subtle about his particular beliefs on government. He openly objected to the democracy that ran Athens during his adult life. It was not only Athenian democracy: Socrates objected to any form of government that did not conform to his ideal of a perfect republic led by philosophers, and Athenian government was far from that. It is, however, possible that the Socrates of Plato's Republic is colored by Plato's own views. During the last years of Socrates' life, Athens was in continual flux due to political upheaval. Democracy was at last overthrown by a junta known as the Thirty Tyrants, led by Plato's relative, Critias, who had been a student of Socrates. The Tyrants ruled for about a year before the Athenian democracy was reinstated, at which point it declared an amnesty for all recent events.

Socrates' opposition to democracy is often denied, and the question is one of the biggest philosophical debates when trying to determine exactly what Socrates believed. The strongest argument of those who claim Socrates did not actually believe in the idea of philosopher kings is that the view is expressed no earlier than Plato's Republic, which is widely considered one of Plato's "Middle" dialogues and not representative of the historical Socrates' views. Furthermore, according to Plato's Apology of Socrates, an "early" dialogue, Socrates refused to pursue conventional politics; he often stated he could not look into other's matters or tell people how to live their lives when he did not yet understand how to live his own. He believed he was a philosopher engaged in the pursuit of Truth, and did not claim to know it fully. Socrates' acceptance of his death sentence, after his conviction by the Boule (Senate), can also be seen to support this view. It is often claimed much of the anti-democratic leanings are from Plato, who was never able to overcome his disgust at what was done to his teacher. In any case, it is clear Socrates thought the rule of the Thirty Tyrants was at least as objectionable as Democracy; when called before them to assist in the arrest of a fellow Athenian, Socrates refused and narrowly escaped death before the Tyrants were overthrown. He did however fulfill his duty to serve as Prytanis when a trial of a group of Generals who presided over a disastrous naval campaign were judged; even then he maintained an uncompromising attitude, being one of those who refused to proceed in a manner not supported by the laws, despite intense pressure.[20] Judging by his actions, he considered the rule of the Thirty Tyrants less legitimate than the Democratic Senate that sentenced him to death.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socrates

I know people who work in theatre. So do I. Not to mention, I've taken theatre courses, and I am part of improv acting groups.


I don't see anything wrong with it. Its designed for people adult enough to handle such things.

Sure. But, the downsides aren't worth it: it makes people resort to name-calling, and it makes light of serious issues.

Comedy is one of the most insidious forms of criticism precisely because of its light-hearted, politically incorrect nature.

So do I. Not to mention, I've taken theatre courses, and I am part of improv acting groups. than you should no better and should be treated like shit for attacking your profession in such a way.




Sure. But, the downsides aren't worth it: it makes people resort to name-calling, and it makes light of serious issues. only in your head. not in the real world.


Comedy is one of the most insidious forms of criticism precisely because of its light-hearted, politically incorrect nature.

Satire arose because people like you tried to prevent criticism from being voiced. Satire is good and you don't know what the hell your talking about as usual.

than you should no better and should be treated like shit for attacking your profession in such a way. I'm not a professional actor. I'm an actor as a hobby. And I'm not attacking drama, I'm just attacking crude, inappropriate humor.


Satire arose because people like you tried to prevent criticism from being voiced. Satire is good and you don't know what the hell your talking about as usual.

Criticism can be voiced in less disrespectful, less controversial ways. Comedies are the most insulting forms of criticism.

I'm not a professional actor. I'm an actor as a hobby. And I'm not attacking drama, I'm just attacking crude, inappropriate humor.



Which jokes specifically bothered you?

Which jokes specifically bothered you?

Race jokes
Politically charged jokes
Culture/nationality jokes
Family-values related jokes


That sort of thing.