AS in comedy

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First off, let me state that I didn't know what other category to put this, but here goes nonetheless.

First off, I'm a guy who enjoys comedy as much as the next person. In recent times, given the ascension of Asperger's and other inherent disorders, there have been some comics who have mentioned it in their act or other places. Simple question here: does this offend you or make you embarassed? In general, how does this make you feel?

Do you meant that as in Aspie's are the butt of the comedian's joke(s), or that the comedian themself is the Aspie (Carolla, a denier) and jokes about their own issues with it?

Edit:
If you are saying that Aspie's are the butt of the jokes, can you link to a youtube set or name one for us, please?

It would entirely depend on how it was treated. I don't care if the joke is based in the realities of life with the disorder, but I don't appreciate derisive ridicule - especially since that kind of thing usually comes from people who know little to nothing about the subject.

Actually, I'm kind of insulted that Big Bang Theory producers have never outed Sheldon. They admitted in interviews when the show first started that he was based on an actual person with Asperger Syndrome, and now they deny that, as if they're afraid someone will sue them over it. Anyone with any experience whatsoever around an Aspergian would recognize his autistic behaviors in an instant - they even stole the obsession with trains straight out of the DSM and it was only mentioned there as an example.

I can't say I've heard any standups specifically mention AS or autism at all. I don't think in today's PC climate any disparaging remark about autism would go over too well, though strangely, you could probably make jokes about Asperger Syndrome all day and nobody would flinch.

I first heard the term back in about 1999 on Ted Danson's sitcom Becker, during an episode in which Danson's character laughed hysterically at the phrase "Ass Burgers" for the whole half hour, but they never explained what it was and back then I didn't know, but I thought it was insensitive to make fun of a specific medical condition like that.

Two Broke Girls tossed off a Temple Grandin joke once and it wasn't outright offensive, but again, it was crassly insensitive and clearly more of a reference to the HBO movie than to any understanding of autism, but everything about that show is shallow and crass, so that's to be expected.

I noticed Saturday Night Live did a Rainman skit last weekend with Ed Norton and they were careful never to use the word 'autism' anywhere in it.

Dan Ackroyd has acknowledged his AS diagnosis in interviews, but I've never known him to make any specifically humorous references to it. Back when he was on SNL, nobody in the US would have even recognized references to autism, and Asperger Syndrome would really have sounded like a made-up word concocted for a fart joke.

You'd think there must be a standup or two out there with AS, who could build a set around the difficulties of living with it. I could easily write the material, but I never did live audiences and no longer have daily access to radio as a forum for doing bits.

depends if the joke is offensive & funny, offensive and not funny, or just funny and inoffensive (i guess it could also not be funny and inoffensive)

I don't think it matters if it's funny or not. If they're making fun of the condition in any way it's not okay. It's comparable to racist jokes or sexist jokes; they're attacks for who or what we are and what those who match that demographic tend to do (where the sticky stereotypes come from.)

In my eyes, I'd be okay if it were an Aspie comedian using self-deprecating and non-stereotypical humor. In the vein that Chapelle, Mencia (joke theft aside), or... who was the American-basher that fell so flat here that he had to move to the UK to find an audience? What was his name again? No matter, that guy.

But again, without specific examples it's hard for me to judge.

Patton Oswalt wrote a long post about his change in attitude toward jokes about rape. It's worth seeking out. One of his points regarded the potential of comedy to either humble the mighty or persecute the downtrodden. Whether a joke is offensive or not comes down to individual perspectives, and I imagine that he mighty don't particularly relish humor that humbles them. As far as a joke's social value goes, however, if a comedian were to joke about the AS in such a way that pushed people in the direction of greater equality, I would consider the joke worthwhile. Someone, somewhere will certainly take offense anyway, but I'll consider it a fair trade-off.

Depends on how it's portrayed. Personally, I'll accept it if it falls under the following requirements:

1) The person doing the portrayal/telling the jokes is on the spectrum to some degree (as opposed to someone who simply knows another person with it)
2) The character is written so well that the symptoms come out of the actor (and to an extent, the audience) having dealt with the character a great deal of time
3) Society's evolved to a point where they understand it enough for the parodies to put a humorous spin without being degrading or offensive.

Taking the example of Sheldon mentioned earlier in the thread, I think the actor portrays him really well, but the character's writing from an AS perspective is abysmal. The audience is expected to laugh and suspend their disbelief in thinking that Sheldon's mannerisms are so far-fetched they couldn't possibly exist in real life. However, what the general viewing audience doesn't realize is some (not all necessarily) of the mannerisms of Sheldon could appear in someone on the spectrum in real life, even if the manifestations are completely different. So that "comedy" comes off offensively for me because it uses the audiences' ignorance as leverage.

Conversely, what I've seen of Abed from Community (and I'll admit it's only a season or two) is that, even though his writing is much more stereotypical, the actor can only go so far with what's given without going to the point where the role is unbelievable. Despite that, I wouldn't call it a bad writing, but here, I think the comedy comes out of a more realistic side, which I see as much more enjoyable.

TL;DR - Portrayal is everything. It can work, but only in certain circumstances.

Also depends on how easily offended you are. Some people are super sensitive and would find a lot of aspie jokes offensive that I wouldn't. I think in general, a lot of comedians walk a fine line between offensive and funny.

That's very true. I love comedy. I casually study it, because making people laugh is very helpful for social situations (albeit risky with as often as I trip over my words). I generally avoid the line-crossing comedians like Andrew Clay and the ilk.

I'm not easily offended for normal traits--tall, fit, straight white male and I truly can not hit a basket from outside the key. And by "outside the key" I mean "anywhere on the court." So there's that I can & will laugh about. I can't dance, either. I'll laugh about that. I can laugh at my stereotypes. It's the ridicule I can't laugh about, for historical reasons for a lot of us, I'm sure.

I'm very curious what the joke(s) were, and/or who the comedian(s) were. I may have to google this.

Not that I think that disabilities should be made fun of, in general, but I do think that comedy really has no limits in terms of offensiveness. It's never really too soon or too offensive if it's comedy.

I understand that others do not share that opinion, but I would encourage anyone who thinks that way to watch a movie called "The Aristocrats" to gain some perspective on the matter.
If nothing else the movie is very funny.
Please note that it's also extremely offensive and contains content that's probably not suitable for younger people, so if you can't deal with that sort of thing, you probably shouldn't watch it.

For an example of what I'm talking about, listen from the 20 minute mark onwards. WARNING: If you're reading this on a smartphone or tablet, this may or may not play.

I am actually more offended and embarrassed by aspies and autistics who take these things so personally.
We need to lighten up a bit. As long as they are not inciting threats of direct violence (which is relatively rare), I'm all OK for it.

Also, appearing weaker makes us more of a target.

a good joke never hurt anyone.sometimes one must have a sense of humor about ones self

But bad jokes frequently hurt people.

I saw an unknown local comedian here in the UK 6 months or so ago and he was diagnosed with AS and talked about it. He was really funny for me (diagnosed AS today with an ASD son!) and the room full of NT (or not, who knows?) people. His main line was that he didn't think the diagnosis was right because he doesn't meet this or that criteria: cue some funny way which he was displaying the criteria whilst denying it.

I also saw Greg Proops around the same time who made a quip about a disability (I can't remember if it was autism related or learning disability related) and I adore his comedy but this was just not funny to me. Does that mean he shouldn't tell it? No, I don't think so, he has a good attitude in general so I must at least acknowledge that I may be over sensitive in this area at times.

However, I am not about to go to see, as an example, Frankie Boyle (Scottish comedian who mocked a famous child with disabilities) because I think his only intent is to be outrageous and he does so in a way that I think is uncalled for.

I have had to ask my boyfriend to stop buying me The Big Bang Theory dvds - as much as I find some humour in it all I seem to see at times is Sheldon - and by association people who relate to him - being bullied and mocked for giggles.

But I can't stand Family Guy-not because it makes jokes just about the disabled-it's tasteless and crude in general. Therefore, I wonder the intelligence level of those masses who watch the show. It belongs on some comedy channel, not on Fox Network.