Offensive (?) Jokes

Some specifics of this have been mentioned before in other threads from time to time... but I thought I'd collate...

So:

Does joking about something, condone it?

i.e. by making racist, sexist, and homophobic jokes, or jokes about rape, molestation, domestic violence, etc., are you actually casting some kind of approval at such opinions or actions?

And, if there's a line to be drawn, where is it? I know plenty of people that will tell a joke about any of the above subjects, but will also be eager to inform you that they aren't racism/sexist/etc.

In terms of mainstream stand-up comedy, I think it has mostly moved forward from the racist/sexist jokes (I'm thinking, in UK terms, of people such as Jim Davidson and Bernard Manning... both still doing the circuits, but not really finding new audiences). However, the likes of Jimmy Carr and Ricky Gervais are a lot more likely to bring comments about rape or pedophilia into a stand-up routine. Although many people find them offensive, they also attract massive audiences. In fifty years, will newer generations look at old footage and cringe?

My step-nephew made the point that, by telling or laughing at (for instance) a "rape joke", you are condoning rape to some extent. Perhaps that is a little severe, and I don't mean it quite as such. The implication is that your laughter might equal - in some people's eyes - an approval of some sort, therefore becoming a contributing factor in other people's actions.

My step-niece, in response to her brother, accused him of being "too serious" and claimed that people know it is a joke and thus treat it solely as such. Some might argue that racist jokes have played a part in the cultivation or perpetuation of racism, and that similar jokes do the same.

What do you lovely people think?

The Power of the Forum

I've had quite a nostalgia trip during the last week, having visited old friends in my old home-county, discussing school days with them, etc. As a result, I found myself searching through my old forum posts. Despite being one of the earlier members, I haven't been a particularly prolific poster, and there were several months here and there where I don't think I visited the forums at all.

The first thing that astounded me were the messages I don't even remember writing. Some of them I vaguely recall, but others look almost alien to me now. Secondly, it is lovely to see how supportive the group of people here are.

During the recent meet, Mata talked generally about some of the things that have happened to members here, and how they've found the forum to be extremely useful, or helpful, or comforting, etc, and how that is really one of the primary reasons why he introduced the forum. When looking back through my old posts, I found the thread I made where I talked about my mum being ill, and her eventual death. Reading through the thread, initially I was struck by how much I had forgotten about the events of that time and my reaction to it. But also, the replies from the Matazonians were (it felt to me) far beyond any patronising cliches: they were wholly sincere, and I know they meant an awful lot to me - as did the private messages I received.

I think it would be safe to say that the forum provided an outlet for me to spill how I was feeling, away from my family, and therefore not feel concerned about how it might affect others who were also caught up in the situation. A place to discuss what I felt, elsewhere, was undiscussable. But, ultimately, the messages of support from people here, without a doubt, helped me through a very difficult portion of my life. So thank you to them, and to Mata for a.) his own support, but also b.) for providing the forum in the first place.

As an aside, it is only now, after a few other difficult periods in my life (some shared on here, others not), that I am starting to feel like the jigsaw pieces of my life are becoming uncovered. They might not be fitting together yet, but at least I'm starting to discover where they are. I feel no shame in saying that I have been regularly visiting a therapist for over a year now. And it has done me a world of good.

I know that a lot of others have been through difficult times, and feel the same way about this social network, so... well... thanks everyone

Getting Musical!

Well...

I've made my first ever upload onto YouTube:

An explanation:

Most of the time that passes whilst I am in my car is spent driving (obviously) and listening to an ever-expanding collection of music on my iPod. Radio 1 plays away throughout most of my day at work. And, until a year or so ago, I lived in a house with my piano and a singing teacher Essentially, I love my music.

I've spent several years plonking my fingers up and down the piano keys, and singing my head off, and trying my best to be creative. There's several "songs" I've partly written lying here and there, none of which I put any great accolades upon. But I enjoy the whole process.

I also keep listening to certain songs that currently float up and down the Top 40, and I think to myself, "I'd really like to do something to that song." In most cases, it's an upbeat, thumping, dance track that is heavy on the BPM, and I wanna' slow the whole thing down and turn it into a ballad

ANYWAYS... the last couple of days I decided I might as well have a go at it, rather than think about it. So I grabbed 'Bonkers' by 'Dizzee Rascal', which was at Number 1 (I think!?) a month or two ago. I stole the first few notes from the synth riff at the beginning - turning them into a cello's first few notes - and I thieved the lyrics too, then just messed around with it for several hours.

A few minutes ago I finished it as best I could (I desperately need a pop-shield - although better mic technique would help - , a preamp, and a great deal more skill and talent), and quickly messed around with the original track's video so that there would be something to go with the song when I uploaded it...

...to YouTube!

I've gone public!

Well, hope someone out there enjoys listening to it as much as I enjoyed the whole process. I don't for one minute consider it original: it's typical amateurish progressive orchestration that probably ignores a million rules of music theory. But damn it, I tried.

If you aren't familiar with the original, it might be worth listening to that first.

Mine:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jwj-cdbRZtg

Original:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b94beDQQtWI



P.S. The main lyric I left out in my 'new version' is the title itself, "Bonkers". It just didn't sound right to include it.

Happy Valentine's Day

Whether you are single or in a relationship, Happy Valentine's Day to you!

There's always lots of love on Matazone :]

Migraines

I had one of my patented migraines yesterday morning. They suddenly come on, without reason nor warning. I just look up at some point, and I notice that a small area of my vision is blurred. Within about a quarter of an hour, 75% of my vision becomes a blurred mess. This subsides eventually, but leaves me with a blinding headache that feels like a bolt is running through my eye and out the back of my head. This, in turn, makes me feel sick. It usually takes me about two days to get over it, as I am very groggy afterwards.

Yesterday's, I managed to notice it quickly and, for the first time ever, quickly downed some pain killers and then sat in my car (I was at work, at the time) for an hour - trying to relax. The vision cleared quicker than ever, and the pain was less, but I slept for most of the rest of the day.

Does anyone else here get migraines? Apparently, the ones I suffer are called, "focal migraines". I don't get them often, thank god, but about two or three times a year.

The first one I had was when I was 18, and I was at school. And it was the most severe one I've had, as I found myself unable to talk or write properly (words getting jumbled up), and I was being quite irrational.

So... anyone have similar problems? And anyone have any advice on how they control them, if they get them?