Larry David and the double standards in America

[Smiert Spionam]

Originally Posted by Pentangeli

News just in: Channel 4 released a scandalous sex tape involving Roman Polanski and an underage girl. In response to the public backlash, Downing Street has released its stance on the matter: "if you don't like, change the channel...", read the statement, heavy handedly written in crayon.

1. Curb is on HBO, a premium cable channel.
2. A sex tape has never been aired on regular television, let alone on the news. Nevermind the fact it would be a sex tape involving a minor, which is highly illegal to even have possession of.

You need another analogy...

[Pentangeli]

Originally Posted by Smiert Spionam

1. Curb is on HBO, a premium cable channel.
2. A sex tape has never been aired on regular television, let alone on the news. Nevermind the fact it would be a sex tape involving a minor, which is highly illegal to even have possession of.

You need another analogy...

1. It wasn't analogous.
2. ...It wasn't analogous.
3. I didn't need numerical bullet points.
4. Ripe bananas are yellow.
5. Lady Gaga has a willy
6. Yep, no matter how hard i've tried to make them work, I really didn't need these numerical bullet points, no need for them whatsoever.

[BubbaStrangelove]

Originally Posted by Pentangeli

Yes, people make Jewish jokes, although mostly its from Jewish people. Very rarely will you hear a non-Jewish comedian make fun of Jewish customs, it happens, but very rarely.

[BadCoverVersion]

Mr. Big Nose: I'll get you for this, you bastard.
Parvus: Oh, yeah?
Mr. Big Nose: Oh, yeah. Don't worry. I never forget a face.
Parvus: No?
Mr. Big Nose: I warned you. I'm going to punch you so hard, you Roman git!
Parvus: Shut up, you Jewish turd!
Mr. Big Nose: Who are you calling Jewish? I'm not Jewish! I'm a Samaritan!
Gregory: A Samaritan? This is supposed to be a Jewish section.

[Jon Lyrik]

The Jews got all the money!

[BubbaStrangelove]

There's also been scores and scores of jokes about Jews involvement in the entertainment industry - I want to say Hollywood Shuffle made some, but can't place any specific sources for sure. Along the same lines, there's the jokes with the over-the-top Jewish stereotype who's running slums. These types of jokes happen so often in media that it's hard to even recall specific examples.

A picture of Jesus next to a toilet isn't really a sacred thing, sorry. That's why it's different from, say, Mohammed cartoons. Maybe I'm mistaken, but I think the act of making an image of Jesus is strictly forbidden by the bible, but there's nothing in there that says you can't piss on one. Please feel free to provide scripture saying otherwise, because in contexts such as this one, I'd rather be wrong and learn something new than be right.

Something else, I'm pretty sure if we looked at numbers here, Jews have the highest rate of self-depreciating humor of a group of people. Probably next is African-Americans. There's not a whole lot of white Christian jokes being told by people from Christian backgrounds - the one exception I can think of is a black Christian by the name of Tyler Perry.

What I'm getting at here, is that if there's not enough good Jewish jokes in the media by groups other than Jews, it's probably because the good ones have already been done, statistically, by Jews.

As was pointed out, how is pissing on a synagogue funny?

Pent, pretend you are Larry David, and please draft a series of scenes with a set-up, delivery, and punch-line, in which someone pisses on a synagogue. Then what we can do is that that joke, and the other joke -- I can reformat them to be identical in objective statements - and we can start another thread, a poll. Then we can see which people think is funnier.

Probably, the bottom line is that I think the only people with possibly a right to complain about what Pent is complaining about is Christian writers in Hollywood who have gotten shit for making Jewish jokes (ones that weren't Anti-Semitic, at least)

If anything, I think Christians would have been offended by them being depicted as being misled in their faith, but apparently no one noticed that part because they were too confused by watching the show since they never watch it and are mostly thinking, "Wait, is he supposed to be a real person, or is he like a character? What's going on?"

[labialover]

I hope Larry David gets interviewed by Fox News and is an asshole to them, as only Larry David could be.

[Natty]

Originally Posted by Badbird

Christians are the majority yes, but they are also the one group that people have no problem oppressing/insulting. Just because they are the majority doesn't mean you should do it, just like when you insult any 'group'; you're only exposing your own insecurities.

If you think about it, everyone on these boards seems happy to oppress Christian views, and this isn't the first time this stupid bloody graph has been posted here.

EDIT: By the way the graph isn't accurate at all, so that's why I would deem it 'stupid'. Christians remain the majority but make up about 35-40 percent rather than 80.

[Jon Lyrik]

That doesn't even make sense. Christians make up a good 75% of Americans, where Larry David resides. You mean the worldwide plurality, and even then you are overshooting it.

People are just annoyed by the sanctimonious and selective (and vaguely anti-Semitic) whining. People mock religion all the time here, don't make me pull up threads on Mormonism or fundamentalist Islam or Scientology. People need ribbing to stay humble, all people.

I'm also trying to think of when Christian views have EVER been oppressed here.

[Natty]

What part doesn't make sense? I know if you're 35% then you're not the majority but I meant they are the most popular religious group.

I was talking about worldwide figures yes.


Dammit:

Originally Posted by zombievictim

Fuck religion. Especially Christianity.

Originally Posted by spacemonkey

Oh, trumpets in heaven are referenced to in more then one occasion. So are these invisible trumpets, or ones made of metal? And angels have I guess a respiratory system with which to blow these trumpets with? Are their lungs invisible as well?

Originally Posted by Hey Man

My question is, is Heaven ONLY open to you if you believe in Jesus? If so, I reject the idea.

In regards to Baptism - it's not a Christian tradition at all.

the early Popes of Christianity were sometimes homosexual, fathered children with their own daughters, had liasons with underage children.

Originally Posted by jackson13

Originally Posted by spacemonkey

christianity has been known to kill others who dont think like them.

Originally Posted by spacemonkey

I mean I can literally go on and on with things that dont make sense about christianity, and demons and being afraid to be affected by them is just one of them.

Why not tell you, you are great, you can achieve your dreams, you can do achieve anything you want to in life instead of: you are not even worthy of your own god. It seems like a destructive way of thinking. Its kind of depressive.

Not all these are oppressing the 'views' I know, but its banging on about the evils and implausibilities of the ridiculous idea that is being a Christian. No need.

[ericdraven]

I think people bashing christianity is as fanatic as christians bashing homosexuality.

[BakeTheMooCow]

Originally Posted by ericdraven

I think people bashing christianity is as fanatic as christians bashing homosexuality.

One is a choice and the other isn't, so no.

[Pentangeli]

Originally Posted by BakeTheMooCow

One is a choice and the other isn't, so no.

It depends on whether (on homosexuality) you are referring to the attraction or the sexual act. Certainly any action is a choice.

[QUENTIN]

Originally Posted by Natty

What part doesn't make sense? I know if you're 35% then you're not the majority but I meant they are the most popular religious group.

I was talking about worldwide figures yes.

Not all these are oppressing the 'views' I know, but its banging on about the evils and implausibilities of the ridiculous idea that is being a Christian. No need.

The graph is about America, which is the country this American Larry David sitcom criticism from Fox News concerns and where the graph is a fairly accurate representation of religious identification. It is American Christians who are known to falsely whine about being oppressed when they can't put manger scenes on public property or feeling a looming threat of "War on Christmas" and whatnot. What they define as oppression is generally just no longer receiving special and preferential treatment.

NONE of those quotes you cite are oppressing Christianity or Christian views. They're quotes made by people expressing their opinions on Christianity, mocking, deriding, or most often simply personally rejecting its tenets. None of these quoted individuals writing on a movie message board have the power and authority necessary to burden with cruel and unjust impositions the Christian faith or views of Christian individuals. It would take a tyrant of some sort to do that.

Criticize ≠ Oppress which is part of what that graph and many others are mocking. We all have the right to criticize. Islam is far more commonly and widely derided than Christianity in the States. The reason Christianity is a bigger target from non-anti semitic Americans than Judaism is because there are 80 million American Evangelical Christians including our last president, and over 230 million American Christians total. There are about 5 million American Jews. One has a much larger impact and is therefore a much larger target. It's the same reason The Daily Show mostly focuses on Democrats, Republicans, and the 24-hour-networks, not the America First Party, Marijuana Party and a cable access news program in Wichita. The other big factor is that most atheists and agnostics in America are not only surrounded by Christians, but were usually raised Christian and so that's the religion that gets their resentment or ire or has its hypocrisies most evident in their minds. Non-religious or anti-religious people tend to think Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Zorostrianism etc. are all just as silly as Christianity, but they're not as familiar with the other religions and aren't encountering Zorostrians every day for instance. It's mostly a question of what you're exposed to.

There is no need for anything we say on the boards. But we're free to express our opinions whatever they may be so long as they don't break the rules. Just because you hold a movie very dear to your heart doesn't mean someone else who thought it was silly shit shouldn't say so. Feel free to mock and criticize non-Christians.

On another note:

Originally Posted by Pentangeli

I haven't said Christians are being persecuted.

Isn't that the point of your thread? That and that Jews run Hollywood. The first line of your first post:

Originally Posted by Pentangeli

In the U.S media, there's a constant attack on Christianity.

[Pentangeli]

Originally Posted by QUENTIN

Isn't that the point of your thread? That and that Jews run Hollywood. The first line of your first post:

The first line will be given the proper context when read together with the rest of the paragraph.

My complaint is not that some people attack/criticise/mock Christianity. The complaint was the double standards the U.S media has on the issue of disrespecting religions. Some religions are relatively protected, or ideed off limits depending on the individual who wishes to voice the attack/etc/etc.

I've never said Jews run Hollywood.

[Badbird]

Giving you a hard time does not equal "Oppression."

The whining in this thread exemplifies the joke of my pie chart perfectly.

I'm sure you guys just get furious when someone says "Happy Holidays!"

[Smiert Spionam]

Okay, who here can actually name ONE religion which is completely "off-limits" and has yet to be made fun of in movies or television?


























Exactly.

[Jon Lyrik]

Taoism?

[Reigh Kaufman]

Originally Posted by Jon Lyrik

Taoism?

The Tao of Steve?

[Natty]

I'm fully aware of the reasons why Christians are criticised more than those of another religion. I just said that people shouldn't do it so much,

Originally Posted by QUENTIN

There is no need for anything we say on the boards. Feel free to mock and criticize non-Christians.

I choose not to because I shouldn't have to, it's petty and the discussions should relate to movies/celebrities anyway. I believe mocking people (especially on the grounds of faith) is against the rules of the forum and that's why the 'whining' (which by the way BadBird is always a response to your initial whining--even if you simply posted a picture) was done.

As for the difference between mocking and oppression, I was talking about oppression as putting down or treating unjustly. If you mean oppression in the sense that people are being kept down by a higher force or overwhelmed unfairly (i.e. the citizens in 1984) than I really can't think of any examples in which Chrisitans have complained about being oppressed, so the graph is still nonsense to me. Maybe I need to live in the States to get all of this religion backlash.

[Natty]

Originally Posted by Badbird

I'm sure you guys just get furious when someone says "Happy Holidays!"

No.

[Smiert Spionam]

Does anyone find it ironic that the two people most concerned/upset about this don't even live in America?

[Natty]

Originally Posted by Smiert Spionam

Does anyone find it ironic that the two people most concerned/upset about this don't even live in America?

Well yeah that's what I was getting at. I probably need to live in a country in which it's the atheists that are oppressed in order to understand all this backlash against Christianity. And I'm not concerned/upset about what Larry David did, just all the disrespectful anti-religious statements that usually arise on these forums every time a thread with the theme of religion is created.

[Natty]

Originally Posted by BakeTheMooCow

One is a choice and the other isn't, so no.

No to you. Both are choices. Maybe I don't get what you're trying to say though, do explain.

[Smiert Spionam]

Word. Let me put it this way: I like you Natty. I think you're a cool chap, as I'm sure many other Schmoes here do as well.

But here's something you might have to come to accept: Some of us really hate religion......just like some of us really hate Michael Bay. So yes, occasionally, we'll be taking pot shots at Jesus. We don't mean it with the intention to insult you personally or your beliefs, we meant it to insult the awful people that perpetuate evil in the name of your beliefs. So when someone says "Christianity is dumb." etc, just let it go and move on just like you would if someone were to insult your favorite movie/director. Avoiding the urge to come to its defense is the same reason you don't get into a debate with LordSimen over a horror movie: its a waste of your valuable time and you'll never come to a mutual agreement.

Just my perspective....

[Natty]

Originally Posted by Smiert Spionam

So when someone says "Christianity is dumb." etc, just let it go and move on just like you would if someone were to insult your favorite movie/director.

True. The best thing to do is ignore/walk away so after Bake has responded that's what I'll do.

[labialover]

Originally Posted by Smiert Spionam

But here's something you might have to come to accept: Some of us really hate religion......just like some of us really hate Michael Bay.

I like Michael Bay more than religion.

[Pentangeli]

Originally Posted by Smiert Spionam

Word. Let me put it this way: I like you Natty. I think you're a cool chap, as I'm sure many other Schmoes here do as well.

But here's something you might have to come to accept: Some of us really hate religion......just like some of us really hate Michael Bay. So yes, occasionally, we'll be taking pot shots at Jesus. We don't mean it with the intention to insult you personally or your beliefs, we meant it to insult the awful people that perpetuate evil in the name of your beliefs. So when someone says "Christianity is dumb." etc, just let it go and move on just like you would if someone were to insult your favorite movie/director.

To insult individuals who commit evil deeds in the name of a belief, is one thing. But that's not what you're doing. You're attacking an entire belief structure which doesn't advocate such "evils". Your reasoning is illogical.

Furthermore, your rationale doesn't seem to be extended to other religions. Why is it you find it appropriate to attack Christianity, and yet keep as quiet as a mouse in regard to Judaism or Islam?

[Smiert Spionam]

I'm gonna give this to you in bullet points, because I know how much you love those....

1. My post was for Natty, not you. So joining in on the exchange I'm having with him in order to avoid the fact that your thread is fucking stupid and everyone agrees is pretty lame.
2. At present, I have yet to insult ANY religion, so there goes that.
3. Yes, my post was a broad generalization, but its virtually impossible to name EVERYONE who uses religion as a means to persecute, control, and spew hateful opinions because they're far too many of them, especially here in AMERICA, where you don't live.
4. I CHOSE CHRISTIANITY AS MY EXAMPLE BECAUSE NATTY IS A CHRISTIAN. I'm not solely advocating insulting Christians, so quit trying to make something out of nothing, keeping in mind that I, again, never insulted anyone's beliefs............yet.
5. Quiet as a mouse? WTF are you even talking about?
6. This thread is still fucking stupid.

[BubbaStrangelove]

Hey Bubba, look...

What?

It those non-personal/objectified, insightful statements that don't perpetuate circular arguments.

Why do they look so small?

That's because they are so far above everyone's head.

Oh, I see.

[Pentangeli]

"As quiet as a mouse", its a simile, idiom, of sorts.

And nobody's forcing you to write on this thread. If everyone thought it was stupid and beneath them, the thread would have slipped away into an abyss, or just slipped down the thread listing, probably the latter is most likely.

[BubbaStrangelove]

Originally Posted by Pentangeli

"As quiet as a mouse", its a simile, idiom, of sorts.

And nobody's forcing you to write on this thread. If everyone thought it was stupid and beneath them, the thread would have slipped away into an abyss, or just slipped down the thread listing, probably the latter is most likely.

It's funny that out of the previous two posts I made, that's the one you responded to.

[Preston_79]

Originally Posted by Pentangeli

I've never said Jews run Hollywood.

Jew's by in large do run Hollywood and I for one am not complaining. They've put out some awesome shit in my lifetime. Well done Jews.

[BubbaStrangelove]

This is like a throwback to the Lynn7 days.

Here, I got something Pent can address - Christians are responsible for all the evils in the world.

I don't really believe that, but it should make for a lot of back and forth responses.

[Hey Man]

Originally Posted by Pentangeli

http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment...rinates-jesus/

In the U.S media, there's a constant attack on Christianity. Yet whenever somebody has the guts to speak out about the asinine drivel that is Judaism, such views aren't accepted, and often people hide behind their ethnicity to prevent any attacks on the ideological belief.

What Larry David did was a disgrace. I wonder if he would find it funny if someone pissed on a Synagogue. Lets find out...

Sorry to piss on your theory, but what he did was hilarious. It was a picture of Jesus Christ - which I could have drawn for example. It doesn't become automatically sacred.

[BubbaStrangelove]

Hey, DC's in the house, jump for joy!

[Hey Man]

I also think in this day and age - if one gets offended at something depicted in a TV show or movie, just shut the fuck up and get over it - life is too short to not have a sense of humor.

[Buck Turgidson]

Originally Posted by Pentangeli

I've never said Jews run Hollywood.

That's rich.

Originally Posted by BubbaStrangelove

This is like a throwback to the Lynn7 days.

[Gilpesh]

Originally Posted by Hey Man

Sorry to piss on your theory, but what he did was hilarious. It was a picture of Jesus Christ - which I could have drawn for example. It doesn't become automatically sacred.

I've drawn pictures of Jesus. And I really hope they aren't automatically sacred. I mean... I keep them with other drawings, and I hope that they don't start crying or bleeding, ruining my other drawings in the process.

[Pentangeli]

Originally Posted by BubbaStrangelove

It's funny that out of the previous two posts I made, that's the one you responded to.

I'm sorry Bubba, but I haven't responded to either of your two posts. That which you replied to was a response to Smiert Spionam.