Political incorrectness I do miss it!

Nankate I am a firm believer it is the way the comments/jokes are delivered and as you say "DI>Gene Hunt" does have a way of putting the comments across but anything he said would not be inappropriate to me as he is the best on TV at the minute plus he is very easy on the eye.

No, I don't think we have [entirely] NanKate but in the past, because it wasn't the done thing to be open about sex and sexuality, it had to be put in a jokey way full of euphemisms. Now you can just say it [or sing it or write it.]So we don't need it any more really, although, we did have a bit of fun recently on a thread about garden hoses!DI Hunt was a great character wasn't he? Too much political correctness can be really boring.

I love a bit of innuendo

Les Dawson's MIL jokes were funny whereas other comedians like Bernard Manning were just offensive from start to finish.

Well I am relieved to find some Gransnetters who like a good joke.

Tommy Cooper was always a favourite of mine.

Here are 3 classics.

Apparently, 1 in 5 people in the world are Chinese. And there are 5 people in my family, so it must be one of them. It's either my mum or my dad. Or my older brother Colin. Or my younger brother Ho-Chau-Chou. But I think it's Colin.

Two fat blokes in a pub, one says to the other "your round."
The other one says "so are you, you fat bast**d!"

A man walks into doctor's office. "What seems to be the problem?" asks the doc. "It's ... um ... well ... I have five willies." replies the man. "Blimey!" says the doctor, "How do your trousers fit?" "Like a glove."

Well they made me - goodnight folks.

chuckle chuckle

I do dislike the use of the term "political correctness" in this context. It implies that I would like to find these things funny, but have been told that it is no longer allowed, by some nebulous authority of political correctness. In actual fact a lot of the stuff that people would apparently like to still make jokes about, is to my mind either in bad taste or not remotely funny. I had the misfortune to have to sit through the sexist ramblings of a "comedian" recently and was just relieved that so much of that is a thing of the past.
To be clear, I am talking about jokes that are sexist, racist or homophobic.
I don't think there is anything "politically incorrect" about willies per se.

Thanks mamie, for expressing things so well

Absolutely right, Mamie!

Thanks for that Mamie. I don't like gibes about 'political correctness gone mad'.

I agree wholeheartedly that it's a good thing the sexist, homophobic and racist jokes we used to hear all the time have disappeared from the public arena. Jokes about people with disabilities always seemed very unoleasant to me as well. However, there is a certain lazy brand of humour which has to find a target to ridicule and this still includes fat people (especially plump celebs) and people from the country (especially Norfolk, for some reason). I wish they would disappear, too!

Some of my elderly neighbours are very politically incorrect. Some of the things they say make me cringe, not because I think they should be politically correct (I don't). It's just that I fear for them if someone overhears them and doesn't like what they say and 'has a go' at them which would be a shame. They are speaking as they have always spoken and in complete innocence.

I'm with Mamie too. It's not just the old comedians who overstep the boundary, but some young ones, too. I love Michael McIntyre's cheeky jokes and observations and Jack Whitehall and his dad have often got it right with their embarrassed accounts of each others' private behaviour and bad habits (although Jack on his own doesn't rein himself in), but I really don't want to hear comedians talking about getting their willies and 'ball bags' (ugh!) damaged in unfunny incidents, as they were last night on Alan Davies' chat programme.

It's not whether it's PC or not - we have learned more about each other now and legislation to stop racism and homophobia is a good thing. Gentle leg-pulling about certain stereotypical characteristics of some people is one thing, but not humiliating comments and taunting, or Frankie Boyle's sick jokes about paedos.

My favourite at the moment is Henning Wehn. I'd love to be in his company for an hour or two. He's self-deprecating and has an eye for the ridiculous

Quite right, NK, old Tommy C certainly made us laugh! Things changed with Billy Connoly who got us used to the f... word used directly in a comedy context. Somebody mentioned that in the old days obvious references to sex etc. were not deemed acceptable, hence the rise of the nudge, nudge, wink, wink sort of humour. Now we're more receptive to bad language and overt filth in humour whereas, perhaps, more sensitive to other subjects judged to be pc. But who decides what is pc these days and are we really more open and honest? I think that there is more sledgehammer and shouting than subtlety in modern humour, and at times I neither like it nor even understand it. I think I'll stick to the Two Ronnies sort of humour myself.

My dad was Irish and used to love to hear Irish jokes. He could laugh at himself.

Mamie I would like to respond to your comment below and explain from my point of view.

I do dislike the use of the term "political correctness" in this context. It implies that I would like to find these things funny, but have been told that it is no longer allowed, by some nebulous authority of political correctness.

That is exactly how I do feel that I have to be ultra careful that I don't upset people who take offence too easily IMO.

I used to teach a multi-cultural group in adult education and loved it. I got on tremendously with my students so could not be called racist by any stretch of the imagination.

When reading Noddy with my GS I noticed how the text had been changed to meet today's market and I thought it was sad that we no longer have the fun black character the name of which I dare not say it case I am admonished.

I used to be called Blondie in my youth but I never took exception to it. Even a Brummie Blondie which I am/was (grey now), but heaven help me if I said something like this about someone else.

I was rebuked in an assessment for offering students black or white coffee and told I should say with or without milk - how ridiculous it that?

KatyK I am glad your Dad was big enough to laugh about Irish jokes, not go all po-face.

I loved watching 'Are you Being Served' with the great John Inman himself as the over the top Mr. Humphries, that would never pass muster now.

I agree with Papaoscar that bad language has spoiled a lot of modern humour.

Finally, I should have explained that the third Tommy Cooper joke I included I did not think would offend, but it made me laugh a lot and I thought some/not all other Gransnetters too would have a giggle.

Finally, finally, Annodomini you say ^ I don't like gibes about 'political correctness gone mad'^. I hope I don't come across as sneering (definition of jibes) I am someone who likes a laugh with my pals and do not take myself too seriously.

I don't expect many of you to agree with the above, but Gransnet is a great place to make a statement and hopefully keep some Gransnetter friends.

Over and out.

I think most of us understood you NanKate

Don't we all have to be careful about what we say, in front of whom, NanKate? I certainly moderate the language I use and do not say what I really think about some political issues, religion and other potentially contentious things in front of certain people. Isn't that just normal politeness and consideration for the feelings and sensibilities of others?
What I was taking issue with was the idea that these (mythical) political correctness police were responsible for the suppression of the freedom to make jokes about things that only those who are over-sensitive and lacking the right kind of sense of humour would find objectionable. I never liked sexist, racist or homophobic jokes and used to feel deeply uncomfortable, but people still related them in my hearing. I am glad that it is no longer acceptable to do so.

Relieved as I may be not to have to listen to mysognistic, racist or homophobic 'jokes' any more (at least in mainstream media), just because it's not acceptable to say such things publicly any more doesn't mean people have stopped being all those things.

I worry that their hatred will be demonstrated in other, more devious ways - there's no easy answer, but simply banning sexist jokes isn't going to automatically persuade men to respect women.

No Ana, sadly it doesn't. I think it helps a bit though. Even if they now just start the misogynistic remark with, "it may not be politically correct to say this, but...."

Thanks to those who replied to my long post. I realise that the chances of us agreeing are remote, but at least we can discuss emotive subjects frankly and agree to disagree.

I worked with a lot of young Asian women who led repressive lives and it was important to them to talk amongst themselves and to me in class. I am so pleased that I have a much freer life and fellow Gransnetters to debate with.

Night all.

I think some of the modern comedians are far worse than the old ones, many of whom used innuendo and a bit of naughtiness in their comedy. Some of today's 'comics' are just plain nasty (eg was it Frankie Boyle making direct nasty remarks about a disabled child?). Not acceptable at all. I really dislike some of today's so-called comedians, such as Boyle and Jimmie Carr.

I love Paul Merton, Ian Hislop and Andy Hamilton their humour is just my cup of tea.