Just when I thought...

[Crystal11]

While watching TV today, one of my favorite shows came on. "King of Queens" which takes place in New York. To me it is easy to hear and understand what they say.. good for a hard of hearing person hehe.
Anyway, Doug and Kary were talking and Kary wanted Doug to take her father to a game instead of inviting his friend. Kary's father had wished for more time with Doug as a birthday wish.
While talking, Kary asked Doug if he would invite someone to go to the game with him. He said "Decon will come" and she stared and moved her head towards her father in a way that wasn't too obvious but was enough to show Doug that she secretly wants him to take her father instead of his friend.
Doug and Kary talked it over in the living room and Kary said "Didn't you understand what I was saying when I was pointing my eyes and head towards my father?!" He said "No, I thought you were having some type of seizure or something."

I got so mad and said "Oh God no he did not just say that!" It made me mad to hear that because not a whole lot of shows talk about medical conditions kind of funny way anymore- or I haven't noticed it as much.
I can't stand it when they portray a blind or hearing impaired person- it makes me feel they are making fun of me.. So talking about a seizure in a funny silly way just makes me disappointed.
I am not going to be all kind of upset about it- but I am sort of disappointed that one of my favorite shows talked about a seizure in such a way.

Have you guys seen many shows with people talking about Epilepsy or seizures in a comedic way?
How do you feel about it? Just curious if you guys laugh or don't let it bother you, or if you get upset about it..

Take care,
Crystal

 

[Nakamova]

I tend to get abit peeved about those kinds of jokes, and then I let them go. Insensitivity seems to be an inescapable part of lazy comedy writing (the majority of Saturday Night Live sketches bear this out). The King of Queens joke is meant to be more of a comment on how clueless Doug is, rather than something derogatory about people with seizures, so I would give it a pass, despite its cringeworthiness.

I'm more vigilant if my friends or acquaintances make jokes about seizures. They're not allowed to poke fun, even if I am. This may seem hypocritical, but it's the same with ethnic jokes or other jokes based on stereotypes. In-group people can mock themselves, but for people outside the group that kind of mocking is off-limits. We here at CWE can make jokes about our seizures (a sense of humor is a big help when coping with E), but it's rarely cool if others do.

But everyone has a different threshold for what seems out of bounds. If you see something in the media that feels offensive or off-base, don't hesitate to address it -- write a letter to the editor, or to the producers of the show, or to the network. It can't hurt, and it might well keep someone from writing such a lame-o joke in the future.

 

[epileric]

I feel the same way as Nakamova. I find it insensitive but I also think that people start to perceive that sort of joke or behaviour as acceptable when they see it on TV.