Rifftrax - please stop with the transgender "jokes"

[MontyServo]

I think I need one of RVR's Abandon Thread gif's right about now.

This is the one I like:

[RoninFox]

Video gamers and sci-fi fans are video gamers and sci-fi fans by choice.  They can also get some sun, find some friends, and raise their self-esteem.  Transgenders cannot not be transgenders.  Not really sure how you are comparing one type of joke to the other.

While video games are a choice you make with how much of your time you are willing to lose with them, I'm not a geek by choice. I didn't decide one day to like Star Trek, I just saw it and reacted to it. Given the choice while I was in elementary school I never would have been a geek, because it made me unpopular, and on rare occasions got my ass kicked. Despite that, I learned to be happy, find friends, and enjoy being a geek. Unfortunately, as a redhead, there's nothing I can do about the pale part, no matter how much sun I get.

Not saying this to put myself on the same level as gay or transgendered people, who I know get a lot more persecution they don't deserve. Just saying that I get the comparison a bit.

[TheUnabeefer]

Video gamers and sci-fi fans are video gamers and sci-fi fans by choice.  They can also get some sun, find some friends, and raise their self-esteem.  Transgenders cannot not be transgenders.  Not really sure how you are comparing one type of joke to the other.

While video games are a choice you make with how much of your time you are willing to lose with them, I'm not a geek by choice. I didn't decide one day to like Star Trek, I just saw it and reacted to it. Given the choice while I was in elementary school I never would have been a geek, because it made me unpopular, and on rare occasions got my ass kicked. Despite that, I learned to be happy, find friends, and enjoy being a geek. Unfortunately, as a redhead, there's nothing I can do about the pale part, no matter how much sun I get.

Not saying this to put myself on the same level as gay or transgendered people, who I know get a lot more persecution they don't deserve. Just saying that I get the comparison a bit.

I got the ever-loving shit beaten out of me through most of the 80's and well into the first couple years of the 90's, due to my thick-rimmed glasses I had to wear and the fact that I was a scrawny little white-Urkel who was/is weird and a bookworm math whiz who had poor social skills.

I never chose any of that.

[MontyServo]

I am sorry for anyone who had a rough childhood like that.  I saw a lot of that sort of bullying go on when I was in school and I never did anything about it.  (I was neither the bully or the victim, but was big enough I probably could have fucked with the bully if I wanted to.)

I just feel that if certain people are offended or hurt by the jokes that Rifftrax is telling, then they should be able to express that opinion here.  And they should expect a reasonable debate in return for stating their opinions.  As far as I can see that is what is happening here.

I do wish someone from Rifftrax would chime in, but don't demand or expect them to do so.

[D.B. Barnes]

I got the ever-loving shit beaten out of me through most of the 80's and well into the first couple years of the 90's, due to my thick-rimmed glasses I had to wear and the fact that I was a scrawny little white-Urkel who was/is weird and a bookworm math whiz who had poor social skills.

I never chose any of that.

[Pak-Man]

I would be curious to see specific examples of where the line ever seems to cross to hatefulness.

I recall a lot of Rifftrax lines where the joke is, "That person seems to exude a lot of qualities that the opposite gender usually exudes. We'll play with that and say he/she's really a she/he."  I remember a few riffs that state that Lana Wachowski had a sex change, but it never goes much further than addressing the issue.

There's the occasional, "Kevin wearing women's clothing is very unsettling." I've seen it, and yes. It is.

I don't recall any joke where it's more like, "That woman trapped in a man's body is a horrible person and should be ashamed of themselves."

Not every joke is an act of hate.

[MontyServo]

I got the ever-loving shit beaten out of me through most of the 80's and well into the first couple years of the 90's, due to my thick-rimmed glasses I had to wear and the fact that I was a scrawny little white-Urkel who was/is weird and a bookworm math whiz who had poor social skills.

I never chose any of that.

That is so so wrong.

(liked anyway)

[MontyServo]

I would be curious to see specific examples of where the line ever seems to cross to hatefulness.

I recall a lot of Rifftrax lines where the joke is, "That person seems to exude a lot of qualities that the opposite gender usually exudes. We'll play with that and say he/she's really a she/he."  I remember a few riffs that state that Lana Wachowski had a sex change, but it never goes much further than addressing the issue.

There's the occasional, "Kevin wearing women's clothing is very unsettling." I've seen it, and yes. It is.

I don't recall any joke where it's more like, "That woman trapped in a man's body is a horrible person and should be ashamed of themselves."

Not every joke is an act of hate.

I actually agree with this post, examples of the riffs that are troublesome would go a long way to bolstering your argument.

[TheUnabeefer]

The worst one I've noticed was in The Devil's Hand... It wasn't really spiteful, but even I felt it was a bit much.  I don't recall exactly what they said, but it was when the guy went to visit his lady-friend in the hospital and they made about 3 trans jokes in a row, regarding her being in the hospital to get a penis stitched onto her body.  Or something.  I dunno, too lazy to re-watch it again.

[ScottotD]

I remeber Lana Wachowski  being a pretty constant target during the Matrix riffs although I was more bored and dissapointed than offended myself I can see where Artie's coming from.

[TheUnabeefer]

Suppose someone compile a comprehensive list, complete with time-stamps.

That won't be me though, because I don't give a shit just what offends all you Jews.

[goflyblind]

I don't recall any joke where it's more like, "That woman trapped in a man's body is a horrible person and should be ashamed of themselves."

Not every joke is an act of hate.

no, but if you spend your time dealing with hatred from other sources, someone making what they think is a good-natured joke could be a push over the emotional edge.

[Pak-Man]

Granted. Is the solution then to consider them off-limits? That seems like a slippery slope to me...

[goflyblind]

i don't know what the solution would be, but a good place to start would be to get transgendered people involved in the discussion.

[TheUnabeefer]

i don't know what the solution would be, but a good place to start would be to get transgendered people involved in the discussion.

In a perfect world, yes...  but considering how easily some get offended, perhaps a less comedic forum would be the best spot for that.  Or you can find a way to lock Doc and me out of the thread before it starts.