Yes or No: do you think Dave Chappelle is transphobic?

Michael Smores wrote:

Flagpole wrote:

I have no idea, but taking what any comedian says during a comedy show to determine what they really think is foolhardy.

I don't even think he's all that funny, so I'm not defending him because I like him. ANYONE and ANYTHING should be fair game when it comes to comedy. Due to what that person or group or thing is, it is fair to not find it funny, but I don't get being offended at all.

Comedians have made fun of tons of categories to which I belong - Uber smart, super good looking, athletic, musically gifted, wealthy - and I've never been offended. People just need to grow a spine.

great, if ANYONE is fair game, then let's all make fun of you

Go ahead. I'm a big boy. I can take it. Let's see if you're funny or not.

Uncle Ricco wrote:

Flagpole wrote:

I have no idea, but taking what any comedian says during a comedy show to determine what they really think is foolhardy.

I don't even think he's all that funny, so I'm not defending him because I like him. ANYONE and ANYTHING should be fair game when it comes to comedy. Due to what that person or group or thing is, it is fair to not find it funny, but I don't get being offended at all.

Comedians have made fun of tons of categories to which I belong - Uber smart, super good looking, athletic, musically gifted, wealthy - and I've never been offended. People just need to grow a spine.

Right... Don't forget other categories you belong in like, super big wang, 10/10 wife, white privilege.

Hmm...while neither confirming or denying, your first one there is crude, so I wasn't about to comment on that. My wife is the best in all ways, so 10/10 is correct, and yes, I DO have white privilege, BUT to be clear, I neither am happy about that nor am I ashamed by that. I WISH it weren't a thing in our culture, but I accept that for now, it is.

This is where he lost me. Both of his point (and assumptions) run counter to the real world.

Trans men are not benefitting from being men. They are stigmatized for being trans.

And the notion that trans=blackface is idiotic. Chapelle is only looking at it from the reaction standpoint. Some women react to trans -women as if were black face. However, the motivations are completely different. Trans people know the world will look down on them, harass, assault and even kill them for trying to be their true self. Blackface people are largely clueless people doing it one time as a bad joke. They might lose a job but that's about it.

I don't think Dave transphobic (although he restroom story does show a lot of fear). I do think he is close-minded probably because of his age / position of power.

Funny, in the special Dave says he would stop talking about it. Yet, he keeps talking about it every chance he gets .

WinnytheBish wrote:

I'm going with no, but he does seem to fixate on it given The Closer was heavily rooted in that conversation.

why would you be "afraid" of a guy dressed like a girl?

Let's break it down:

1) I think rationally about ALL things.

2) Your second sentence is 100% correct AND important, so VERY GOOD SHOW there, brother.

3) I accept that you think Chappelle is hilarious. I find a TON of current standup comedians to be MUCH funnier (Bill Burr, Sebastian Maniscalo, John Mulaney, Mike Birbiglia, Patton Oswalt, Brian Regan, Lewis Black, Jim Gaffigan, Tom Segura to name a few)...but, to each his own.

4) I agree that no one will become a transphobe by watching his special.

5) Activists can be crazy on both sides of the aisle, and ones who attack comedians (in this case leftists) have just gone too far.

I think this is where the breakdown is. You dont see trans men as not benefiting probably because you have never been black and had to watch such little progress happen meanwhile trans men have enjoyed much quicker progress. Didn't he pretty much spell this out? It seems super obvious to me this is what hes saying. Maybe focus on refuting the thing he is actually saying and not what he isnt saying.

Tatar.. wrote:

RunRagged wrote:

Chapelle raised the question women are constantly told it's bigoted and transphobic to ask: why when liberal-minded people today widely recognize that it's offensive and morally wrong for white people to don blackface in order to mimic, demeaningly stereotype, dehumanize and punch down on black people do those same supposedly liberal-minded people say that when men to do the equivalent to women, it's not just acceptable - it's praiseworthy, brave and progressive?

It's an absurd analogy. Blackface is ridicule and the color of your skin is fixed whereas gender roles are social constructions - anyone can wear heels on any given day, they are not 'women's clothes', they are clothes that belong to the wearer.

The concept of 'races' is also social construction and how your skin color relates to race is a social construction but the actual tone of your skin isn't.

A white man is biologically far closer to a black man than he is to a white woman. The difference between black face and transgenderism is nothing but social norms.

Who really cares? He has right to think or say whatever he likes. If trans people don't like it, they don't have to see him.

just because you miss the point equally as Chapelle does mean he's right.

First of all his assertion that trans people have exceeded black people in acceptance or whatever he was trying to say is just wrong. Period.

Interestingly, Dave is very similar to the black slave owner he tells a story about. He is invested in a construct for success in comedy.

so we can only have opinions on things we like? Okay dude

Tatar.. wrote:

RunRagged wrote:

Chapelle raised the question women are constantly told it's bigoted and transphobic to ask: why when liberal-minded people today widely recognize that it's offensive and morally wrong for white people to don blackface in order to mimic, demeaningly stereotype, dehumanize and punch down on black people do those same supposedly liberal-minded people say that when men to do the equivalent to women, it's not just acceptable - it's praiseworthy, brave and progressive?

It's an absurd analogy. Blackface is ridicule and the color of your skin is fixed whereas gender roles are social constructions - anyone can wear heels on any given day, they are not 'women's clothes', they are clothes that belong to the wearer.

The concept of 'races' is also social construction and how your skin color relates to race is a social construction but the actual tone of your skin isn't.

Well, the difference is that trans women are not stereotyping, dehumanizing and punching down cis women for some entertainment purpose. At least that's not their intention. That description may apply to drag queens, but the TERFs are mysteriously silent drag queens.

As for Chapelle, I don't think he is transphobic. I just find him extremely untalented and boring.

Logic Helper wrote:

It should be clear that this was meant as a catharsis to deal with the suicide of his trans friend

This is complete BS.

sbeefyk2 wrote:

Everyone thinks it’s a phobia if you don’t like people. Guess what, it’s possible to not like a transgender people and not be transphobic. It’s possible to not like gays and not be homophobic. I think it’s understandable if you think transgender people are weird and have a lot of issues. There’s nothing transphobic about that.

That's a whole lotta dislike to be carryin around for no good reason tho. U havin a sh!t life or sumfink?

Bad hair day wrote:

sbeefyk2 wrote:

Everyone thinks it’s a phobia if you don’t like people. Guess what, it’s possible to not like a transgender people and not be transphobic. It’s possible to not like gays and not be homophobic. I think it’s understandable if you think transgender people are weird and have a lot of issues. There’s nothing transphobic about that.

That's a whole lotta dislike to be carryin around for no good reason tho. U havin a sh!t life or sumfink?

It's very strange of you to be so supportive of this disturbing cause. Perhaps an indicator of a mental disorder? Probably.

No absolutely not.

He makes fun of everyone and everything. In The Closer he makes fun of: Jews, Gays, Lesbians, White People, Asians, Black people, Transgender people. It's comedy. This narrative is activist- driven.

help me break 16 wrote:

No, he's not afraid of trans people.

He just thinks it's good comedy to kick a group of people who are just now struggling to get some respect and rights in our society. And that's what's really making people disgusted. Making fun of certain people who already have much higher rates of mental illness and suicide. Where is the decency in that?

Why not make fun of cancer patients too while we're at it? It's dumb.

Did you watch it? Looks like you didn't watch it. Just stick your head back in that echochamber of yours. Go back to watching Rachel Maddow and Hannah Gadsby so you don't have to grapple with reality.

Wuzzle Wuzzle3 wrote:

just because you miss the point equally as Chapelle does mean he's right.

First of all his assertion that trans people have exceeded black people in acceptance or whatever he was trying to say is just wrong. Period.

Interestingly, Dave is very similar to the black slave owner he tells a story about. He is invested in a construct for success in comedy.

How is he wrong? How many trans men are profiled by police, choked out in the street and then have half the country tell you its acceptable? A black mans life is of less value in this country than saying homophobic things at a concert. People will try to twist what happened with DaBaby but the bottom line is if a black person cannot entertain you their life has even less value than trans/gay persons feelings. You say he's wrong about this, while providing no evidence of any such thing.

How long ago was the civil rights movement? And how long from slavery to the civil rights movement? How long have rich white men been receiving sex changes? You think hes wrong about the speed of progress? You are purely delusional.

No!

Charles Bukowski wrote:

Bad hair day wrote:

That's a whole lotta dislike to be carryin around for no good reason tho. U havin a sh!t life or sumfink?

It's very strange of you to be so supportive of this disturbing cause. Perhaps an indicator of a mental disorder? Probably.

I'm trying to help him get over his self loathing. What's wrong with that?