"This is why the Daniel Tosh incident “crossed the line” for so many people. It’s not that comics can’t cross lines. Comics should say whatever they want. If Tosh honestly thinks rape is funny… well, that’s his opinion. That’s his worldview. What’s disturbing is that this is a worldview that is violent and that lacks empathy. What’s even more disturbing is that he’s not some unknown comic presenting an unpopular opinion. He’s one of the most popular and beloved comic acts in the country. Which means that a huge percentage of our country thinks rape jokes are funny, but not because they admire Jeselnik’s wordplay or Silverman’s irony or Mulaney’s empathetic juxtaposition. They think rape jokes are funny because they think the act of physically hurting and sexually dominating a woman against her will is funny. And it’s not. They’re not laughing at a joke. They’re laughing at the concept of rape. Rape is disturbing and horrible. It’s one of the horrors that we should keep at bay with humor, not encourage. Right now, the woman who posted the complaint about Tosh is receiving legitimate death and rape threats from his fans. So, his “joke” didn’t diffuse pain or horror — it sparked it."

   — Meghan O’Keefe: When Rape Jokes Are Never Funny  (via herglass-slipper)