While comedy is entertainment, comedians have historically used humor to make cultural and political discussion palatable.

I've experienced what you did on the Internet before. While people are always more likely to attack those they disagree with on the net because they can hide behind anonymity, when they know you're female, the attacks take on a sinister tone. They throw out the "c" word, bring up rape, attack your looks, etc.

Making jokes about rape, beating your wife and the like do perpetuate an attitude that these things are a normal part of life. It's difficult because we don't want to get into telling people what to say and going over the top is what makes things funny, but you can go too far.

from one of the Jezabel readers:

Right, this "there can never be boundaries" argument falls apart when you see the dearth of lynching jokes. Rape is an acceptable joke topic to these people because they think rape can be funny.

...very often these days.

Whether or not it's acceptable, rape is a subject for humour because it's an ongoing issue.

self esteem to weather all of that. I imagine that some women can't take such personal insults and these insults keep them quiet,so in a sense, the ugliness works.

that she is affiliated with and support from from her partner who made the video featured at the top of the article.

In the minds of the pro-rape commentators, RAPE is SEX. They're talking about desire, what they find sexually attractive; Completely clueless they sound like rapists. Even the ones threatening rape think they're talking about sex

This disconnect is what leads to Steubenville's, perpetuates rape culture. And they think their desire is a compliment, and the lack of desire is an insult. This is so fucked up

Yo pro-rape commentators, you all are nasty. That woman doesn't want your dumb ass, you think getting raped is a compliment? Really?

if that should really make her think twice about being so uppity

I am somewhat sympathetic to Norton's argument though I disagree with it.

Trying to turn any subject like rape or cancer into humor has to be done with an extraordinarily fine tuned sense of the line between catharsis and merely enabling the inner horribles of people.

In other words, you better get it right. It better be goddamn funny to the general public, including those most likely to be offended. Because if it isn't, you're doing active harm.

Kind of like surgery in a way.

I enjoy it immensely--so does my husband. We embarrass our kids. Its great.

I was talking to a friend who is finishing radiation for breast cancer about the tattoos you can get instead of breast reconstruction. we turned it into a humorous conversation---she was talking to another breast cancer surviver (I'm a nurse, I work with women, breast cancer is uncomfortably common) but I knew my audience, so to speak, I knew I wouldn't cause pain, or harm.

I'm not of course, professional comedienne and I agree with you, if you can't get it right, or are not sure don't try to be topical with hurtful matters.

I've noted that to me, even George Carlin, whom I adore, couldn't make rape jokes work. And I agree with Carlin that words have the power you give them, but conversely they are the most powerful tools/weapon/healers we have.
I'm old enough to understand that Richard Pryor forever changed race relations through his singular brand of humor. The old 'blue' recordings of Red Foxx are hilarious--but full of sexism. Lenny Bruce dared to swear and broke more that just verbal barriers.

And as comedy goes on, the use of irony is a better choice for sensitive topics than a Andrew Dice Clay free for all. The ability to 'shock' is comedic laziness.

Surgery indeed.

I laughed so hard.

I read an article that said The trick is to not focus on the victim as the object of comedy. So I suppose while they're rape jokes, they're (for the most part) not rape victim jokes. The irony of walking through the world as a potential rape victim can resonate as Several of the women comedians showed.

Carlin's jokes feel flat to me because he mistakes rape for sex, and makes the victim the joke.

http://artists.letssingit.com/george-carlin-lyrics-rape-can-be-funny-7j9zp7k

I think in general women have a better sense of how to pull off that kind of joke.

Then again, if Dane Cook can do it . . .

like they make racists and pedophiles the brunt.

I watched the "debate", really to short to be called that, and it was on a comedy show. But did you see what he said at the very end?

He said the he and Lindy should make out. My stomach churned. Wasn't funny to me anyhow.

And the more emotionally charged the topic, the more difficult and volatile its application in comedy. I always figure that one of the cardinal rules of humor is - or should be - that if you're going to be offensive then you'd damn well better be funny. Because being offensive and unfunny just makes you look like an asshole.

As for Jim Norton specifically, I find some of his stuff really funny - his stand-up special "Please Be Offended" is quite good - whereas I've heard him say other things that repulsed me. Which I guess is the point.

And threatening someone in a violent, sexually charged way just because they disagree with you? That's not comedy, that's behaving like a sociopath. And the fact that such behavior has found a certain niche of acceptability in contemporary society, speaks rather poorly of all of us.

direct quote: "freedom of speech does not mean freedom from criticism."

The comments to her were vile,(which is what the OP is about )it's a real problem on the internet for women who piss off the wrong subset of men,it doesn't have to be manufactured,it happens all the time. Here's a follow up from Kamau discussing it:

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You have issues with comprehension.

Amazingly, the First Amendment doesn't just apply to men.
I don't know what you get out of denying the obvious, but there is something seriously wrong. The threats are posted on Jezebel, and they are the kind of thing that happens to EVERY women that challenges men in anyway.

What a bunch of horseshit, Have you listened to any comedians. What you mean is why do women have the nerve to open their mouths and challenge misogyny when you think they should keep them shut. Just be honest for God's sake.