I often go to live performances by a local theatrical group. They have an improvisational show on a regular basis.
It may be some time before I can go to one of those again.
Tonight's show was a comedy show - and all improv. The audience took part, suggesting themes for the skits. Each skit was based on a theme suggested by an audience member.
I was having a good time until the group asked for a theme. Some jackass suggested that the skit be about a #MeToo victim and her victimizer.
Really.
One of the guys (the group was all guys) got a serious look on his face and said that he didn't know if they could make anything funny out of that (gee, ya think?). He asked if anyone objected to it. I raised my hand instantly.
Even though they had received other ideas for the skit, they went with the #MeToo one. I don't know why I didn't get up and leave immediately, but I didn't. And as the distinctly unfunny skit wore on, I felt worse and worse. Finally, I gathered my things together and walked out (with one of the group saying, "Oh, we lost her" as I went).
I still can't believe this happened. The group didn't want to do the skit, they had other audience ideas for it, only one person had suggested this idea, and they went with it anyway.
I've been thinking about the things that have happened to me that make me a member of #MeToo, about the things that have happened to family, friends... and these guys were making fun of it. And just as terrible, nobody else in the audience objected to it. Not one. I was surrounded by people who saw nothing wrong in it. That's one of the reasons why I left.
All sorts of buttons were pushed tonight. All kinds of horrible memories have flooded back. And all because I went to what I thought would be a comedy show.
It may be some time before I can go to one of those again.
Tonight's show was a comedy show - and all improv. The audience took part, suggesting themes for the skits. Each skit was based on a theme suggested by an audience member.
I was having a good time until the group asked for a theme. Some jackass suggested that the skit be about a #MeToo victim and her victimizer.
Really.
One of the guys (the group was all guys) got a serious look on his face and said that he didn't know if they could make anything funny out of that (gee, ya think?). He asked if anyone objected to it. I raised my hand instantly.
Even though they had received other ideas for the skit, they went with the #MeToo one. I don't know why I didn't get up and leave immediately, but I didn't. And as the distinctly unfunny skit wore on, I felt worse and worse. Finally, I gathered my things together and walked out (with one of the group saying, "Oh, we lost her" as I went).
I still can't believe this happened. The group didn't want to do the skit, they had other audience ideas for it, only one person had suggested this idea, and they went with it anyway.
I've been thinking about the things that have happened to me that make me a member of #MeToo, about the things that have happened to family, friends... and these guys were making fun of it. And just as terrible, nobody else in the audience objected to it. Not one. I was surrounded by people who saw nothing wrong in it. That's one of the reasons why I left.
All sorts of buttons were pushed tonight. All kinds of horrible memories have flooded back. And all because I went to what I thought would be a comedy show.
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