Every character on the show is some sort of strereotype. That’s the whole point of the show. Homer is portrayed as the stupid white American. May as well replace him whilst we at it.
Has political correctness actually gone mad?
- Thread starter Pogue Mahone
- Start date
Every character on the show is some sort of strereotype. That’s the whole point of the show. Homer is portrayed as the stupid white American. May as well replace him whilst we at it.
Groundskeeper Willie as well. They’re cartoon characters, I think you’d have to be a bit precious to take it seriously.
Bill Maher ranted at the PC/SJW crowd last night, starts after the 3:00 mark. I found this a quality rant.
Loved the character of apu. Sucks that he is being written out of the show.
Absolutely ridiculous decision. Every character on that show is a parody of something FFS. Humor is slowly being eroded.
Even more than that, Apu was one of the better characters in the show if you want to use real life standards. He was a hard working family man.
Even more than that, Apu was one of the better characters in the show if you want to use real life standards. He was a hard working family man.
Anyone still watching The Simpsons needs to be on a government register.
I hear that but it's not Family Guy.
My kids grew up on it. I grew up on it. Apu jokes got thrown around when I was a kid and no doubt they get thrown around now so maybe they just want to make it a little less edgy/adult in that sense.
Kids don't understand if you start to repeat Apu lines in school you could get in trouble or worse, get a smack in the mouth.
Personally I'm not that bothered by it. If I want to see Apu there's nearly 3 decades worth of content I can go through...
Not really the point though, is it.
I hear that but it's not Family Guy.
My kids grew up on it. I grew up on it. Apu jokes got thrown around when I was a kid and no doubt they get thrown around now so maybe they just want to make it a little less edgy/adult in that sense.
Kids don't understand if you start to repeat Apu lines in school you could get in trouble or worse, get a smack in the mouth.
Personally I'm not that bothered by it. If I want to see Apu there's nearly 3 decades worth of content I can go through...
As someone of Indian descent I really find the outrage over him has been quite annoying, that’s probably why it bothers me so much. Besides the accent, what else could possibly be offensive about Apu
You tell me. This guy was annoyed enough to make a documentary.As someone of Indian descent I really find the outrage over him has been quite annoying, that’s probably why it bothers me so much. Besides the accent, what else could possibly be offensive about Apu
...and I've lost count of the amount of times that "thank you come again" has started an arguement. Shit I even recall making the joke myself as a child and pissing off an Asian class mate
.It's not for me to say who and why someone should be offended, but I can understand why and what they are doing, and I'm not invested enough in Apu to get outraged by this...
I stopped watching a long time ago, did it get any better ?
You tell me. This guy was annoyed enough to make a documentary.
...and I've lost count of the amount of times that "thank you come again" has started an arguement. Shit I even recall making the joke myself as a child and pissing off an Asian class mate
It's not for me to say who and why someone should be offended, but I can understand why and what they are doing, and I'm not invested enough in Apu to get outraged by this...
I think the guy who made the video simultaneously felt like Apu was both a strong character who was portrayed as a hard-working businessman but also a flawed guy in his personal life, while also being one who reinforced some lazy Asian stereotypes. Which is fair: it's possible to criticise something while also recognising its virtues. Plenty of old movies are extraordinarily problematic now but also remain very good. Anyway, surprised they're writing him out the show, but by the same token it should've ended years ago so I doubt anyone really cares beyond whatever it's supposed to represent symbolically to either side of the PC debate.
You tell me. This guy was annoyed enough to make a documentary.
...and I've lost count of the amount of times that "thank you come again" has started an arguement. Shit I even recall making the joke myself as a child and pissing off an Asian class mate
It's not for me to say who and why someone should be offended, but I can understand why and what they are doing, and I'm not invested enough in Apu to get outraged by this...
The problem is that why does one group possess special rights to get offended, whereas other stereotypes are totally ignored?
Like others have said, it's a cartoon based on stereotypes. Braindead alcoholics, evil businessmen, fat lazy cops .. the list goes on and on. The message it sends out is that you're ok showing negative stereotypes about certain demographics, but others are protected.
You either say no to all 'offensive' stereotypes, or you recognise it's just a cartoon and if you personally find it offensive, turn the television off. You can't pick and choose which ones you don't like.
You do what you want? The bit you highlighted is me saying it's not for me to decide. If you want to be offended by another character in the Simpsons knock yourself out.
Nowhere in my post does it say that one group has special rights?
Sounds like you're saying that you think all steretypes are equal?
Hold the phone, there's a Simpsons character that embodies a stereotype. NO!
He aint got nothing on Cleveland though.
By the way, has this person never watched the Simpsons for 30 years or just took 30 years to figure out that he thinks it's a racist stereotype?
He aint got nothing on Cleveland though.
By the way, has this person never watched the Simpsons for 30 years or just took 30 years to figure out that he thinks it's a racist stereotype?
You do what you want? The bit you highlighted is me saying it's not for me to decide. If you want to be offended by another character in the Simpsons knock yourself out.
Nowhere in my post does it say that one group has special rights?
I wasn't accusing you of this, I was saying that other people are getting offended over this and deciding that this particular offensive stereotype needs to be banned. Which in my opinion .. is wrong, you can't laugh at loads of other stereotypes then call for one which offends you to be banned.
It's not for anybody to decide what offends them, but it does very much feel like certain stereotypes get way more attention than others, and I think Apu being axed shows that.
I don't care if someone is offended by Apu and doesn't like the show because of that, but maybe I start to care when characters are written out because that small number of people make a lot of noise.
See my edit... But in general. I disagree with you. It's not for you to decide who should be offended by what. You state that you care more about a character being writing out of a show than the potential offense that character might have caused? Pfft... Cry me a river.
The answer was in the 2 minute trailer I posted.
I had to deal with little racist cnuts giving me Apu jokes all the way through school. Doesn't happen any more but I get why people find the character offensive.
I care nothing for people getting offended over a cartoon stereotype in a show where every single person is a stereotype of some sort.
It's comedy. Just like the Italians in the show are all in the mafia, yet I assume they will still be in the show?
I don't think characters should be written out of shows because a small number of people throw a tantrum over it.
You see this right here? This is valid. This fits the thread title. Even then, this is still just my opinion. I'm sure some will disagree.
Most of the shit some posters put in this thread is so minor that it's cringeworthy. Pick your battles because your starting to sound like the people you despise.
I feel you my brother.
Watched the trailer. You know what, he has a point. Let's ban Apu, but let's ban all other offensive stereotypes on tv too. Everything. If someone takes offense, it gets the axe.
And people wonder why we have no funny shows like Monty Python anymore
Why ban them? I'm not saying that. You have shows like Family Guy, they have the edgy stuff, they are for adults. Simpsons as far as I know is a family show.Watched the trailer. You know what, he has a point. Let's ban Apu, but let's ban all other offensive stereotypes on tv too. Everything. If someone takes offense, it gets the axe.
And people wonder why we have no funny shows like Monty Python anymore
Anyway I've said my piece...
I have to admit I dont watch The Simpsons anymore. I thought it was supposed to be snarky and satirical as well?
The problem is, I get why it's offensive, I do, but is this really a big deal? Now ofcourse, Im white, so I know poc making fun of white people is different, but who gives a feck. Someone is making fun of your accent, big deal.
Meh, I dont rreally disagree with you either way. Just wish the world would stop being agressively racist so all races could make harmless fun of each other in peace
I don't think it's the jokes themselves. It's how it makes the individual feel.I have to admit I dont watch The Simpsons anymore. I thought it was supposed to be snarky and satirical as well?
The problem is, I get why it's offensive, I do, but is this really a big deal? Now ofcourse, Im white, so I know poc making fun of white people is different, but who gives a feck. Someone is making fun of your accent, big deal.
Meh, I dont rreally disagree with you either way. Just wish the world would stop being agressively racist so all races could make harmless fun of each other in peace
If they are used on you and only you or those like you, to demean you and belittle you then of course they will become offensive to you. Maybe they weren't initially but now they are. I can understand...
Between your mates you can return in kind, but even then sometime's it leaves a bad taste... Best to just move on to better material
.I can rinse my mates about their looks, clothes or dumb shit they've done without even having to get edgy. As for TV shows etc? Keep that edgy shit for the adults that can understand the context etc and aren't going to take it to the playground or form long lasting ideas based on it...
Also I've gotta do it and you're probably gonna hate me. I don't rate Monty Python
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It used to be the most edgy show on TV. As for Apu he's just your stereotypical meek Indian bloke. To be fair, there can be a lot truth in stereotypes - offensive as they can be.
In many ways it's probably a symptom of how times have changed. The best episodes are still cutting-edge satire, hilarious and sometimes weird and dark, but by the same token they're most quite wholesome and present a slightly dysfunctional but ultimately decent middle-class family dynamic, Homer choking Bart aside.
A lot of the characters on the show are stereotypes - as a Scot, Willie's probably one of the laziest characters on it, but there's not really going to be as much grounds for offence when most Scots clearly haven't been subjected to the same kinds of prejudice that Asian communities have been during certain points of American history. Hence why any critique of him is likely to hold more weight.
I don't disagree with any of that. On a sideish note, it's interesting seeing how different communities can have their own characteristics. I suspect it's also different in India itself - Sikhs don't fit the Indian stereotype - perhaps religion plays a part... also many Muslim countries are geographically close to India but from my experiences they seem to have more bravado. Anyway the US has a cringeworthy image of English folk... the males all resembling the mumbling nice but dim Hugh Grant - it's a shame they don't to portray non middle class Londoners.
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Racial stereotypes tend to get more attention, and for good reason.
The Indian character from The Big Bang Theory has gotta be a more "harmful" stereotype than Apu ever was. RIP Apu, he will not come again.
I actually watched the documentary earlier. Glad the guy made it. Apu had to go.
Bet his nephew (introduced a few seasons ago) will take over the Kwik-e-Mart.
Jokes about dumb and loud sardars (sikhs) are by far the most common stereotype-based jokes within India.
No he didn’t have to go.
Get a sense of humour and quit moaning about everything.
Same. I'm sure plenty of Asian kids had to hear "come again" and "oh no no no" on rotation.
The character himself wasn't racist or offensive, hell I thought he was one of the best characters, but he did make it seem OK to use those catchphrases.
I've got a brilliant sardar joke I always pull out when in need of cheap laughs.
Do tell.
A village in the Punjab decides to have a meeting to discuss why everyone thinks sardars are dumb. All the elders are debating while the lay folk intently listen and offer their take on it. They finally agree to send their most educated person who happens to be the school teacher to Mumbai to find out the answer. Everyone gathers at the train station to send him on his way with cheers of "good luck masterji".
He arrives in Mumbai and flags down an auto rickshaw, the driver asks him why he's so far from home and the sardar relates his mission to the driver. The driver says "ooff, you didn't need to come all this way for the answer, in fact sardarji I'll help you". The driver then gives the sardar a quiz, he asks "there's 3 people who live in your house, your wife, your child but who is the 3rd"?
The Sardar thinks and thinks and thinks but he doesn't know the answer, he bows his head in shame and says he doesn't know. The driver then says triumphantly "YOU! You're the 3rd person". A light bulb goes off in the sardars head and he profusely thanks the driver for giving him the epiphany and he heads back to his village.
Everyone in the village comes and gathers round the sardar when he returns back home. They all ask him with hope whether he has an answer to their stereotype, he replies that he does. He turns to the assembled crowd and asks the question "3 people are in your house, your wife and child but who is the 3rd"? Everyone is trying to think of the answer but there's blank stares in the crowd, finally the headman very sheepishly says "forgive us masterji, we are simple folk while you are learned and know the world, what is the answer because we don't know"... Exasperated the sardar rolls his eyes and tells them "ME! I'm the 3rd person".
But surely that's down to the kids decision to use innocent words as a tool of ridicule and not the show the character is on.
There's nothing inherently wrong with Apu's lines, but if you take them and say them over and over again to a real Indian person then yeah, that's probably going to get tiresome for them. But the only ways to ensure that doesn't happen is to either never have an Indian character in the show with any lines at all, or you could educate children when they do something wrong. I don't think in just removing the character they're addressing the root of the problem.
There is racism, therefore Apu is quoted. Not the other way round.
I'm guessing nobody has taken the time to watch that documentary? That's fair, but then you're just talking out of ignorance...