Results: What Doesn't Kill You...Makes You Laugh
1.
1.
We have all heard the adage "Laughter is the best medicine". Well, some comedians have made their audiences laugh until it hurts at such risque topics as cancer and chemotherapy. When Tig Notaro took the stage, and started off with "Hello, I have cancer" back in 2012, the audience had no idea that they would be laughing at this woman's story of how she coped with breast cancer. Have you ever heard this 30-minute comedy routine, which is considered by many comedians to be legendary and hilarious?
Yes I have and I loved it
10%
•
207 votes
Yes, but I didn't find it funny
7%
•
146 votes
No
65%
•
1326 votes
No, and I do not see how this could be funny
17%
•
355 votes
Other (please specify)
1%
•
29 votes
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
| 0.44% | 9 | |
| na | 0.29% | 6 |
| n/a | 0.24% | 5 |
| did not watch | 0.05% | 1 |
| i would love to see it | 0.05% | 1 |
| not applicable | 0.05% | 1 |
| didn't watch the video | 0.05% | 1 |
| unsure | 0.05% | 1 |
| she is too monotone! | 0.05% | 1 |
| yes, it is just okay | 0.05% | 1 |
| i saw the netflix special and enjoyed it. | 0.05% | 1 |
| havent seen it | 0.05% | 1 |
2.
2.
Tig decided that she was going to approach her cancer diagnosis the same way she approached everything in her life--her breakups, her relationship with her mother, who had died and her coming out-- with humor and laughter. Certainly she was prepared for some criticism (after all cancer is decidedly NOT funny) but she knew that if she didn't laugh about it, she would surely let it consume her and win. Some may think that some topics just are not suitable material for a comedy routine. How many of these comedians do you think may have crossed the line?
Stewart Lee, whose comedy routines slams Christian fundamentalist and religion in general
11%
•
219 votes
Caitlin Brodnick, who also bases much of her comedy on cancer and dying, and even preventative double mastectomy
8%
•
155 votes
Doug Stanhope, whose routine talks about paedophilia and religion
10%
•
210 votes
Richard Pryor, the late comedian's act was racially-charged and full of profanity
13%
•
265 votes
Bill Hicks, the late comedian attacked both religion and anti-smoking people, even found comedy in Waco, Texas incident
9%
•
187 votes
Billy Connolly, the British comic, who based his comedy on the Catholic church with liberal profanity
8%
•
154 votes
Jimmy Carr, whose comedy made fun of the disabled, terrorist tragedies and Princess Diana
13%
•
269 votes
Reginald D Hunter, whose comedy about racism is full of use of the 'N' word
10%
•
200 votes
Daniel Tosh bases his routine on abortion, rape, women's rights and gay rights
13%
•
265 votes
Frankie Boyle, British comedian, whose foul routine is politically-charged and very personal
5%
•
102 votes
Louis CK, talks about masturbation, the luck of being born white, rape and many other off-color subjects
12%
•
240 votes
None of them
44%
•
893 votes
All of them...these topics just aren't funny!
23%
•
477 votes
3.
3.
Do you think that using humor to deal with very serious issues is a good way of dealing with stress? Yes, in all cases
11%
•
215 votes
Yes, in most cases, but in appropriate situations
24%
•
486 votes
Depends on the issue and also the timing
38%
•
781 votes
No, never
15%
•
298 votes
I have never had to deal with a serious issue/N/A
12%
•
239 votes
Other (please specify)
1%
•
16 votes
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
| 0.39% | 8 | |
| na | 0.10% | 2 |
| sometimes | 0.05% | 1 |
| v | 0.05% | 1 |
| it can be but it depends if it's yourself you're making fun of & ot putting others down | 0.05% | 1 |
| when i had colon cancer (18 years ago). i was also being monitored for breast cancer. i would ask the doctor when i went in for my exam if i needed to llay dow or bend over. had to have humor with the situation. no colon cancer and no breast cancer | 0.05% | 1 |
| depending on the case, it seems to be more of a way to prevent others from taking potential dangerous things seriously. | 0.05% | 1 |
| no comment | 0.05% | 1 |
Comments