Doug Walker (TGWTG, Nostalgia Critic, Bum Reviews, and other projects)

I really hate the Island Adventure episode because there's been absolutely no follow up to it. And on I side note, it always rubbed me the wrong way how people have rationalized Sadie's actions in the episode. Had the roles been reversed there would have been a lot of cries of Unfortunate Implications.

Looked up the next few episodes. Sure they're not great but I wouldn't say they're that bad. I mean they aren't part of the bigger story that much but I thought they were still good episodes.

@Karkat: You know that frog and that bunny in that episode? They represent Ruby and Sapphire.

I thought they represented Pearl and Amethyst.

See, that's what you're led to believe at first.

I'm not 100% on if it actually was intended on foreshadowing or not, since I never actually went ahead and researched it. All I know is that it was a pretty persistent fan theory for a while.

Why do you guys think Doug hates Goodburger so much ?

If you watched the video, you may find out why.

... Man we're so PC these days.

Posted this on Facebook, posting it here too:

I've always found complaints about having to be PC to be coded complaints about having to extend some common decency to others. There is absolutely nothing wrong with showing at least some degree of sensitivity, and there's always a way to be funny without necessarily going for the more potentially offensive humor—you might just have to think a little harder.

Thanks for that. Also it makes me think of the shows I really love, like Bojack Horseman is really funny while also being really sad, and yeah it's a case of "comedy is based on misery", but I can't think of any alienating "these people have problems, let's laugh at them" jokes.

No problem. It's something I sincerely believe. Also I need to watch that show.

I always think of that famous Mae West quote when people complain about being censored. "I believe in censorship. I made a fortune out of it."

You think you're being censored? Good. That'll force you to think more creatively.

edited 8th Sep '15 4:10:29 PM by Odd1

"comedy is based on misery"

I am getting so tired of that line from him. It just shows how little he tries to think outside of his own metal box. There are ways to be funny without misery.

More accurate would be that most comedy is based in subverting people's expectations.

THIS!

You can have comedy, simply by being unexpected, or doing something out of the ordinary in the right way. Hell, a lot of the Looney Tunes stuff he loves so much, wasn't so much funny for the 'misery' but for being bizarre and not what you'd expect. A rifle blowing up because someone stuck their finger in the barrel. Wiley Coyote walking on air.. until noticing he was doing so. It wasn't just the 'misery' aspect that made it funny.

I think Doug said in another video how comedy is based on someone else's expense (I believe it was the Are Today's Cartoons Better video). Point is, most comedy is based on subverting expectations, which is technically at the audience's expense in a sense. The punchline to most of Monty Python's sketches was that there was no punchline (save a few moments, like the Wink Wink Nudge Nudge sketch), only silliness that played off the characters' expense, and the audience's expense as well. Misery from comedy is just one variation.

edited 8th Sep '15 5:34:51 PM by AdricDePsycho

On one hand, I hate words like "always" and "never". On the other hand, I'm having difficulty coming up with a counter example.

As far as offensiveness goes...what right do you have to make fun of people who already have a lot of problems? Why would you even want to? Just what good does it do?

The issue with that is "At someone's expense" meaning no matter what someone is getting taken down, being made less, just something negative. There is plenty of humor that does not require anyone suffering in any way.

That's a narrow definition of it. What I had meant was a simple "pulling one over" type deal involving subverting expectations. Doug seems to simplify it down to "misery=comedy" but he's mentioned how comedy is derived "from the suffering or confusion of others" in another video, which makes me think he's aware of a broader definition.

But that still requires harming, or in some way causing a negative reaction from someone else. Which you do not need to be funny.

Have you tried telling Doug that? Because, no offense, it's something you seem to bring up a lot, so the least you could is send Doug an email, get if off your chest, and hope something gets through to him.

Honestly laughing at others people's problems is funny at times. We try to be more sensitive about it nowadays for good reason but making fun of people does have its place whether you like it or not.

When would that be the case?

Wouldn't it be better to laugh with someone about their issues? Or punch up instead of down?

edited 9th Sep '15 9:48:31 AM by emeriin

I guess it depends. Like, if the person is an asshole and something bad happens to them because they were an asshole, then it'd be funny. The humor is at their expense because of karmic justice and because it was their own damn fault.

Now, if something happens to someone by accident, then it is a bit funny, and sometimes you just have to laugh about it when the joke is on you. I mean shit happens, ya know?

To counter, I've had jokes directed at me needing to use a wheelchair. Not quite "laugh it off because shit happens".