Dave Chappelle's Obsession With Mocking Trans People Continues in New Netflix Special 'The Dreamer': 'I Love Punching...

[Sympthsical]

32. Getting a little bored with "lamp shade" comedians

I love stand-up comedy, and I have a very, very inappropriate sense of humor. The darker, the better. Offensive, not offensive. Whatever you want. As long as it's funny, I'll go along with it.

But there's this rise, particularly online and Chappelle is no different, where the jokes are constantly being lamp-shaded. "Well, this is edgy! I'll be canceled! Let's see if you can handle it!"

Just. Tell. Me. The. Joke.

Don't announce it. Don't tell me how you anticipate someone will react to it. Don't drag your social media life into the act.

Just tell the joke. I think it was Anthony Jeselnik who said (paraphrasing) "The art of comedy is telling the offensive joke and getting away with it." The joke should stand on its own. It should be so funny that the humor overpowers the offense. And if people are offended, so what? It's the internet age. Someone's offended if you tie your shoes wrong. Normal people don't run their lives worried about what Twitter thinks. The whole "Punching up! Punching down!" That's nonsense. Like anyone anywhere was begging for an ideological sociology lesson in their comedy club. People who tell you "The Rules" of being funny are almost never actually funny people.

Just be funny. My laughter will let you know if it works or not. And if it doesn't work, oh well. Maybe I won't watch their next special or whatever. That's the risk. I've never not watched someone because they walked up to the line. I have stopped watching someone because they cannot shut up about how awesome they are for walking up to the line. It's boring and played out.