The difference between comedians and the general public is that we are meant to be funnier. And when you've got politicians giving material so easy that the general public is doing it, what is the necessity of us anymore?
Interpretation
Comedians are expected to be funnier than the general public, but when everyday events become too comedic, their role feels diminished.
In this quote, Jim Jefferies highlights the expectation placed on comedians to bring humor to the world, emphasizing that their craft relies on being funnier than ordinary people. However, he points out the irony that when political events and social situations provide abundant comedic material, the need for comedians may seem less critical, suggesting a shift in the dynamics of humor in society.
In practice
In a comedy show, a comedian might reflect on how absurd politics can be, using Jim Jefferies' perspective.
I don't think comedy really does change people's minds; I think you can only get someone who is almost ready to change their mind. You can't change someone from one direction straight into the other, but if you get someone who is considering your view, and you make a good point, there's power in that.
People don't get angry at you for shock value. People get angry at you when you affect something that is at their core, whether it be guns or religion or whatever. Their belief system.
Mom claimed that I could carry a tune at 2 or 3 years of age. Maybe she was a little prejudiced.
The court jester had the right to say the most outrageous things to the king. Everything was permitted during carnival, even the songs that the Roman legionnaires would sing, calling Julius Caesar "queen", alluding, in a very transparent way, to his real, or presumed, homosexual escapades.
A guy comes down to earth, takes your sins, dies, and comes back three days later. You believe in him and go to heaven forever. How do you get from that to Hide-The-Eggs? Did Jesus have a problem with eggs? Did he go, "When I come back, if I see any eggs, the whole salvation thing is off."
It is hard enough to be good at all, but to be good in comedy speaks for your character.
At the risk of appearing disingenuous, I don't really think of myself as 'writing humor.' I'm simply reporting on the world I observe, which is frequently hilarious.
New Rule: Food companies must face the facts: One container equals one serving. Look, we’re Americans, and that means once we open the bag, there’s no stopping us until we’re licking stray bits of powdered cheese off the carpet. So stop trying to give us nutritional information based on a fraction of the package. It assumes a talent for two things that we’re really not capable of: restraint and math.
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