... here I am watching a programme about Tourettes Syndrome.
And I am just the way that people have been descibed, as a person who finds the syndrome and it's effects "funny"!
I am actually ashamed of this as I do have a quite sound understanding of the syndrome and the consequences of it's tics on those whom suffer/cope with it.
It must be truely awfull to be around people who niether know nor understand you as the tics are expressed. Causing embarassment and distress all round.
Also, I work with people who have learning disabilities and physical disabilities. This is my working life and something I feel incredibly strong about... empathise as far as posible... support where I can... and encourage growth and participation, challenging prejudice... and all that jazz....
... and yet... here too is a lot of humour, whether it be intentional or otherwise.
I simply can't help it.
so tell me; why can I not drop this "funny" Tourettes thing?
do you have any feelings along these lines?
or am I really damned?
lp
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I''m really really sorry, but...
Sex God
Don't fret - it's natural. Humour is a basic response to something we find disturbing. It's how you behave as a result that marks you as damned or devine.
My Mum is a breast cancer survivor, having had a single mastectomy. And there are aspects of it that we can laugh at. The possibility of converting a single earing (having lost the other one) into a nipple peircing had her in stitches - especially since she's 80 this year.
My Mum is a breast cancer survivor, having had a single mastectomy. And there are aspects of it that we can laugh at. The possibility of converting a single earing (having lost the other one) into a nipple peircing had her in stitches - especially since she's 80 this year.
lp,
im glad im not the only one, im not one for laughing at anyone who is facing distress, but i had to turn over as i felt so guilty as i found it funny.
i mean i was sitting there watching and listening and empathising, then hed do something and id be laughing.
sorry to anyone who finds that offensive.
xx fem xx
im glad im not the only one, im not one for laughing at anyone who is facing distress, but i had to turn over as i felt so guilty as i found it funny.
i mean i was sitting there watching and listening and empathising, then hed do something and id be laughing.
sorry to anyone who finds that offensive.
xx fem xx
you see that's the crux of it for me also fem.
as Foxy said up there, and I agree, humour can and will be found in many situations that may seem inapropriate.
but with these folk dealing with tourettes, I simply can't get the feeling that the syndrome in itsself presents as "funny". It's wrong, I know it is...
lp
(my disclaimer also: I intend no offence, nor would I wish this to become an opportunity for anyone to poke fun.)
as Foxy said up there, and I agree, humour can and will be found in many situations that may seem inapropriate.
but with these folk dealing with tourettes, I simply can't get the feeling that the syndrome in itsself presents as "funny". It's wrong, I know it is...
lp
(my disclaimer also: I intend no offence, nor would I wish this to become an opportunity for anyone to poke fun.)
Sex God
Quote by Nem
Random,
I find this post so offensive, in so many ways, how you could post it staggers me.
This post was beneath contempt
You might at least want to read the post properly before you condemn RO
He clearly stated the whys and wherefores and that he doesn't want this to become an opportunity for anyone to poke fun.
Orgasminator
You see that's the thing - you laughed because it IS funny. Every single one of the people shown in the documentary, at some point laughed at themselves over something they'd shouted out and they've lived with it for years.
I very much doubt you were laughing AT them, more the situation, so give yourselves a break.
*Her* (who watched it and laughed in places too but doesn't feel guilty because I wasn't laughing at them :P )
I very much doubt you were laughing AT them, more the situation, so give yourselves a break.
*Her* (who watched it and laughed in places too but doesn't feel guilty because I wasn't laughing at them :P )
Freckledbird
I did read his post properly and do fully comprehend the point he was trying to make.
The reason I found it so offensive was the fact that RO is obviously an intelligent individual who helps and works for the benefit of people with special needs, yet he failed to use his experience and intelligence to not see it as amusing but in reality terribly sad.
The mensch laugh at things they fail to comprehend or percieve as abnormal because they lack intellect and compassion.
While your honesty is commendable RO, I was incensed not because you found them amusing but that you have the intelligence to know it's wrong but you laugh at them anyway.
They don't have the luxury of hiding their quirks and identities from public view/ridicule on a website.
Your better than the crass post you made....well I hope you are.
You might at least want to read the post properly before you condemn RO
He clearly stated the whys and wherefores and that he doesn't want this to become an opportunity for anyone to poke fun.
I did read his post properly and do fully comprehend the point he was trying to make.
The reason I found it so offensive was the fact that RO is obviously an intelligent individual who helps and works for the benefit of people with special needs, yet he failed to use his experience and intelligence to not see it as amusing but in reality terribly sad.
The mensch laugh at things they fail to comprehend or percieve as abnormal because they lack intellect and compassion.
While your honesty is commendable RO, I was incensed not because you found them amusing but that you have the intelligence to know it's wrong but you laugh at them anyway.
They don't have the luxury of hiding their quirks and identities from public view/ridicule on a website.
Your better than the crass post you made....well I hope you are.
and therein lies the quandry.
before going further, I do not laugh 'at them'.
I find the tics humourous even though I believe I should have a better grasp on the plight of those who live with the syndrome. I understand and empathise with the difficulties it may cause, for both the one living with it, those close to them, and then those who may find them selves exposed to the consequences.
it's the very fact that: I should know better that has me feeling so awful. Yet all the same I find myse;f generally unable to seperate my emotive reaction from the rational.
That is where I do indeed feel shamed... just as I would if I were to feel pity for the people I work directly with at present. I don't... but then, I have worked with my employers for a few years now, my attitude having changed through experience (it not being too off the mark in the first instance I believe).
So perhaps this is where the programme I viewed last evening may help... to further broaden my experience and awarness of the 'person' as a whole, and not merely by the expression of thier affliction.
The programme brought me to raise the question once more within myself, and then to this particular forum with it's broad readership and range of perspectives.
once again though I will stress:
I do not laugh AT the person, any more than I would point and stare at the quadraplegic. I hoped not to have given that impression.
Generally I tend not to be too serious here... there is far to much of that in the day-to-day, so maybe I made a mistake here.
and... "the mensch", whats that then?
lp
before going further, I do not laugh 'at them'.
I find the tics humourous even though I believe I should have a better grasp on the plight of those who live with the syndrome. I understand and empathise with the difficulties it may cause, for both the one living with it, those close to them, and then those who may find them selves exposed to the consequences.
it's the very fact that: I should know better that has me feeling so awful. Yet all the same I find myse;f generally unable to seperate my emotive reaction from the rational.
That is where I do indeed feel shamed... just as I would if I were to feel pity for the people I work directly with at present. I don't... but then, I have worked with my employers for a few years now, my attitude having changed through experience (it not being too off the mark in the first instance I believe).
So perhaps this is where the programme I viewed last evening may help... to further broaden my experience and awarness of the 'person' as a whole, and not merely by the expression of thier affliction.
The programme brought me to raise the question once more within myself, and then to this particular forum with it's broad readership and range of perspectives.
once again though I will stress:
I do not laugh AT the person, any more than I would point and stare at the quadraplegic. I hoped not to have given that impression.
Generally I tend not to be too serious here... there is far to much of that in the day-to-day, so maybe I made a mistake here.
and... "the mensch", whats that then?
lp
In LP's defence ( not that he needs any but anyhoo ) hands up all those who watched Big Brother and giggled at the guy who suffered from Tourettes and went on to win the show? ( his name escapes me as I never watch the show but it's hard to miss the circus that surrounds it ) I used to catch the odd glimpse when my son was watching it and I'm sure lots of people DID laugh - not AT him or because of his condition but purely at the inappropriateness of it.
Nuff said
Nuff said
Sex God
Quote by Nem
Freckledbird
You might at least want to read the post properly before you condemn RO
He clearly stated the whys and wherefores and that he doesn't want this to become an opportunity for anyone to poke fun.
I did read his post properly and do fully comprehend the point he was trying to make.
The reason I found it so offensive was the fact that RO is obviously an intelligent individual who helps and works for the benefit of people with special needs, yet he failed to use his experience and intelligence to not see it as amusing but in reality terribly sad.
The mensch laugh at things they fail to comprehend or percieve as abnormal because they lack intellect and compassion.
While your honesty is commendable RO, I was incensed not because you found them amusing but that you have the intelligence to know it's wrong but you laugh at them anyway.
They don't have the luxury of hiding their quirks and identities from public view/ridicule on a website.
Your better than the crass post you made....well I hope you are.
It is totally impossible to choose what tickles your funny bone. The difference between people is whether they choose to pass on that offensive text, repeat the offensive joke or start a thread saying "wasn't that bloke with Tourette's funny". The point is RO DID NOT say the guy's suffereing was funny - he made it very clear that what was funny was the action. And that he found is deeply disturbing that he found even that funny.
I challenge you - and everyone here - can you really claim that you have never EVER laughed at a banana skin sketch, or when a friend trips over the cat or whatever? There is a huge genre of comedy that is predicated on laughing at other people's mishaps. The intelligence is recognising that the laughter comes from the mishap, NOT the person and is warmed by compassion for the situation the preson finds themselves in.
Oh and final point (honest) things can be incredibly sad and still trigger laughter (hence my earlier comment about my Mother's cancer).
Witchy got this bang on I think. I'm sure nobody would find the distress sufferers of this condition suffer funny. However the innapropriate times and places the outbursts etc can happen could be funny.
Nem, I'm sorry you feel as you do but nobody is saying there proud to laugh at such things. I think the discussion is more why we laugh at such things. I think on a lower scale it's like laughing at someone who falls over in snow. A mishap but we laugh, the laughing would stop I'm sure if they got up head gushing with blood.
Nem, I'm sorry you feel as you do but nobody is saying there proud to laugh at such things. I think the discussion is more why we laugh at such things. I think on a lower scale it's like laughing at someone who falls over in snow. A mishap but we laugh, the laughing would stop I'm sure if they got up head gushing with blood.
Sex God
Or is it more of an involuntary reaction to a socially difficult situation?
For example, being admonished by someone for something. The reaction may be to laugh, which is completely inappropriate for the situation, but because of the stress or discomfort involved it triggers an involuntary reaction. It does not mean that you find the situation funny, just that you're having a conditioned reaction.
I think this is what RO is referring to, I don't think he finds any amusement in others suffering and I think that he posted in order to attempt to find some form of resolution to this reaction rather than having it validated.
Well that's the impression I get.
For example, being admonished by someone for something. The reaction may be to laugh, which is completely inappropriate for the situation, but because of the stress or discomfort involved it triggers an involuntary reaction. It does not mean that you find the situation funny, just that you're having a conditioned reaction.
I think this is what RO is referring to, I don't think he finds any amusement in others suffering and I think that he posted in order to attempt to find some form of resolution to this reaction rather than having it validated.
Well that's the impression I get.
Quote by easy
Or is it more of an involuntary reaction to a socially difficult situation?
For example, being admonished by someone for something. The reaction may be to laugh, which is completely inappropriate for the situation, but because of the stress or discomfort involved it triggers an involuntary reaction. It does not mean that you find the situation funny, just that you're having a conditioned reaction.
I think this is what RO is referring to, I don't think he finds any amusement in others suffering and I think that he posted in order to attempt to find some form of resolution to this reaction rather than having it validated.
Well that's the impression I get.
Totally agree :thumbup:
Example- and I'm unashamedly picking on the "obvious" Tourettes trait as the beach awaits...
John Smith is meeting Her Maj- he has Tourettes, and has done some work in the community to set up a support group. As Lizzie reaches out to shake his hand and make some sort of banal statement, John shouts "TITS!" and then carries on as normal.
Do I laugh? Bet your life. And I think faced with that situation anyone would be hard pressed not to.
Some may think that makes me callous, I'd prefer to think I was just human.
John Smith is meeting Her Maj- he has Tourettes, and has done some work in the community to set up a support group. As Lizzie reaches out to shake his hand and make some sort of banal statement, John shouts "TITS!" and then carries on as normal.
Do I laugh? Bet your life. And I think faced with that situation anyone would be hard pressed not to.
Some may think that makes me callous, I'd prefer to think I was just human.
as above, if i saw a person without torretts do that i would really laugh,its funny. so why would my body react instinctively any diferent when its caused by someones condition?
i think they fact i do give a shit about people feelings makes me feel guilty.
so im not going to worry or apologise for what i said at the start of the thread, cause at least i know i didnt mean it with malice.
we watch youve been framed,and laugh,and most of those clips are people having accidents.
xx fem xx
i think they fact i do give a shit about people feelings makes me feel guilty.
so im not going to worry or apologise for what i said at the start of the thread, cause at least i know i didnt mean it with malice.
we watch youve been framed,and laugh,and most of those clips are people having accidents.
xx fem xx
i have a friend with tourettes, and we laugh with him not at him, and he is fine with it, i always say i wish i could get away with shouting FUCK OFF to people. i know its not funny to laugh at anyone with tourettes, but we are only human and sometimes i cant help it, but its never done as TAKING THE PISS
Casanova
Not looking at this with any level of intelligence or particular understanding, but having watched a small segment of the series, I also found myself laughing, along with feeling compassion and frustration for the sufferers.
I believe I know why I felt all of the emotions I did. How many times has something happened and that little voice in your head has said exactly what they were blurting out? Thankfully most of us can keep that thought in our head and then respond in a way that is diplomatic or judged with the full facts before making an exchange of views. However, it is funny to hear someone expressing thoughts that would normally be kept quiet, especially when they are visual ones. Ie, woman with big boobs or a mole on the face etc. Didn't Little Britain do a sketch with a similar nature? As it IS funny!
It doesn't mean that you don't feel compassion or care!
I believe I know why I felt all of the emotions I did. How many times has something happened and that little voice in your head has said exactly what they were blurting out? Thankfully most of us can keep that thought in our head and then respond in a way that is diplomatic or judged with the full facts before making an exchange of views. However, it is funny to hear someone expressing thoughts that would normally be kept quiet, especially when they are visual ones. Ie, woman with big boobs or a mole on the face etc. Didn't Little Britain do a sketch with a similar nature? As it IS funny!
It doesn't mean that you don't feel compassion or care!
I have laughed at hearing of the death of a loved one.
Nervous laughter can come to the fore any time, any place.
There is nothing wrong with questioning our response to 'the unusual'.
Many disabled people will tell you that excessive staring is irritating, but most understand it... but worse still, is those that NEVER look... as if they want to deny the 'unusualness' of a missing limb etc.
So RO found something funny in someone's misfortune... haven't we all?
The real tragedy is in the condemnation of honesty. He wasn't mocking the individual, he was laughing at the situation. We're all guilty of that at some point.
Also, it's nothing to do with intelligence (or lack of). I can't see a damn thing wrong with an honest, open posting. If we stop folks raising those issues, we will never ever be honest with ourselves in society, we'll all become to scared that we'll upset someone, brush it under the carpet and never ask a war veteran "how DID you come to lose your arm then?"
Nervous laughter can come to the fore any time, any place.
There is nothing wrong with questioning our response to 'the unusual'.
Many disabled people will tell you that excessive staring is irritating, but most understand it... but worse still, is those that NEVER look... as if they want to deny the 'unusualness' of a missing limb etc.
So RO found something funny in someone's misfortune... haven't we all?
The real tragedy is in the condemnation of honesty. He wasn't mocking the individual, he was laughing at the situation. We're all guilty of that at some point.
Also, it's nothing to do with intelligence (or lack of). I can't see a damn thing wrong with an honest, open posting. If we stop folks raising those issues, we will never ever be honest with ourselves in society, we'll all become to scared that we'll upset someone, brush it under the carpet and never ask a war veteran "how DID you come to lose your arm then?"
