28th January. We had one agenda.
We spent our evening glued to our laptops. Offended. Disgusted. Amused. We watched the AIB Knockout right to the finish and some of us, twice. This roast was the talk of the town.
Over the last week, social media has been flooded with an outrage on the negative feedback that the AIB Roast received. Rants on how the views of our politicians are regressive. How everyone just needs to “chill” (as they say in today’s fast paced world). How it is a clear violation of our freedom of speech.
Now, I like to believe that I’m a liberal person, with liberal views and outlooks. My issues with the roast have nothing to do with it “not in line with Indian culture”. However, I disagree with the outcry on how the roast was completely harmless. I believe that there are real, negative impacts that this roast could have on the masses. And that many of us are conveniently choosing not to see them. I can sense eyes rolling already.
I would be lying if I said I …show more content…
While it is essential to fight for freedom of speech and expression, its important to remember that it comes with a context. Have we considered what it is that we’re fighting so relentlessly for? The right to be politically incorrect? To be offensive? Or is it the right to be degrading? The use of the words ‘liberal and progressive’ here, are starting to seem more and more like an oxymoron.
Perhaps it’s a ‘roast’ in itself that I have a problem with. I believe that roasts are a ‘healthy’ form of comedy for a very (very) niche audience. One that is ‘rational and mature’. One that makes us laugh, because they really just “know better than that”. One that will simply enjoy 2 hours of ‘harmless’ comedy before returning to their liberal, cultured and enlightened lives.
But until then, the impact it could have on Indian society seems
We spent our evening glued to our laptops. Offended. Disgusted. Amused. We watched the AIB Knockout right to the finish and some of us, twice. This roast was the talk of the town.
Over the last week, social media has been flooded with an outrage on the negative feedback that the AIB Roast received. Rants on how the views of our politicians are regressive. How everyone just needs to “chill” (as they say in today’s fast paced world). How it is a clear violation of our freedom of speech.
Now, I like to believe that I’m a liberal person, with liberal views and outlooks. My issues with the roast have nothing to do with it “not in line with Indian culture”. However, I disagree with the outcry on how the roast was completely harmless. I believe that there are real, negative impacts that this roast could have on the masses. And that many of us are conveniently choosing not to see them. I can sense eyes rolling already.
I would be lying if I said I …show more content…
While it is essential to fight for freedom of speech and expression, its important to remember that it comes with a context. Have we considered what it is that we’re fighting so relentlessly for? The right to be politically incorrect? To be offensive? Or is it the right to be degrading? The use of the words ‘liberal and progressive’ here, are starting to seem more and more like an oxymoron.
Perhaps it’s a ‘roast’ in itself that I have a problem with. I believe that roasts are a ‘healthy’ form of comedy for a very (very) niche audience. One that is ‘rational and mature’. One that makes us laugh, because they really just “know better than that”. One that will simply enjoy 2 hours of ‘harmless’ comedy before returning to their liberal, cultured and enlightened lives.
But until then, the impact it could have on Indian society seems