we have to deal with baspingo until 2017

[choof]

i identify with the laugh track

[Cavernio]

Originally Posted by devonin

But no, I honestly think that -most- people who watch Big Bang Theory identify more with Penny than Leonard.

If that's the case then that speaks to me more of the calibre of humor OF the show, and not the characters IN the show.

[shenjoku]

Originally Posted by Wayward Vagabond

I liked the first three seasons. Season four sucked so I stopped there

^ Pretty much this.

[j-rodd123]

wait people are actually offended by big bang theory? that's hilarious

[Dynam0]

Originally Posted by devonin

But no, I honestly think that -most- people who watch Big Bang Theory identify more with Penny than Leonard.

And if this is the case...so what?

It's a sitcom like anything else, either you're going to find it obnoxious or hilarious. I find Seinfeld the best sitcom of all time but I know a lot of people who either love it or hate it. Those who love it think it's brilliant and those who hate it feel it's just 'stupidity and Kramer acting like a spaz.'

I think any sitcom can be broken down to one element of humour that is consistent and it's easy to call it passe; if you let yourself like it, you'll find reasons to like it and vice-versa, meh.

[Cavernio]

The argument here, Dynamo, is that the show, instead of being about nerds and supporting nerd culture as it was/is supposedly doing, is instead insulting of nerds.
The quality of the show's humor, if someone finds it offensive, is somewhat different from humor that's passé. (although a lot of passé humor is insulting)

[devonin]

The issue, Dynamo, is that the show inserts itself into nerd culture and nerd spaces and advertises itself as a show for nerds, about nerds, that nerds should like.

And then when you watch it, it is a VERY accurate representation of the kinds of things those kinds of nerds would say and do, except you're supposed to -laugh at it- not identify with it.

They basically said "Hey nerds, you get your own version of Friends, only it's nerds!" And while plenty of the things characters on Friends said were played for laughs, they weren't, intrinsically themselves, the funny thing you were supposed to laugh at.

[Dynam0]

No I realize that but there were some comments saying the show is stale now from season 4 onwards.

Wouldn't a ton of other shows qualify as being stereotypically insulting to a demographic though? I think I'm a lot more 'nerdy' than most people are but BBT doesn't insult me in the slightest. I found it funny because I could understand Sheldon when he went on about physics. The D&D/Star Trek references I have no familiarity with but poking fun at that kind of 'nerdiness' is funny to me. What's wrong with seeing the humour in grown-ups pretending to be dungeon-masters?

When/where does Chuck Lorre or whoever say that nerds should like the show?

[devonin]

Originally Posted by Dynam0

No I realize that but there were some comments saying the show is stale now from season 4 onwards.

Wouldn't a ton of other shows qualify as being stereotypically insulting to a demographic though? I think I'm a lot more 'nerdy' than most people are but BBT doesn't insult me in the slightest. I found it funny because I could understand Sheldon when he went on about physics. The D&D/Star Trek references I have no familiarity with but poking fun at that kind of 'nerdiness' is funny to me. What's wrong with seeing the humour in grown-ups pretending to be dungeon-masters?

Because hundreds of thousands of people do that because they love it, and it's not a source of humour in their lives, and having it treated as something to laugh at is insulting? All the more so when the people doing the laughing are also saying "But this is for YOU, you should love this!"

[TC_Halogen]

Originally Posted by Dynam0

And if this is the case...so what?

It's a sitcom like anything else, either you're going to find it obnoxious or hilarious. I find Seinfeld the best sitcom of all time but I know a lot of people who either love it or hate it. Those who love it think it's brilliant and those who hate it feel it's just 'stupidity and Kramer acting like a spaz.'

I think any sitcom can be broken down to one element of humour that is consistent and it's easy to call it passe; if you let yourself like it, you'll find reasons to like it and vice-versa, meh.

Thank you for posting this; it actually makes me feel a little bit better being someone who actually enjoys Big Bang Theory. I do find some enjoyment in the humor, but I wouldn't ever enjoy insulting someone or some group -- like Seinfeld (which I am a big fan of, for the record), I find a lot of the humor in TBBT situational. Continuing on:

Originally Posted by devonin

But no, I honestly think that -most- people who watch Big Bang Theory identify more with Penny than Leonard.

At least in my case: I don't feel like I identify with any character on this show, and some of the show's demographic should fall in that same area. Penny's pretty far from intelligent in the show, and well -- the others certainly fall beyond intelligent. There are points in the show where I feel like it's possible to identify with both characters (Penny's overall confusion compared to her overly intelligent friends compared to Leonard/Howard/Sheldon's occasional issues with social situations).

*shrug*

EDIT:

Originally Posted by devonin

Because hundreds of thousands of people do that because they love it, and it's not a source of humour in their lives, and having it treated as something to laugh at is insulting? All the more so when the people doing the laughing are also saying "But this is for YOU, you should love this!"

and suddenly, the typical crowd occasionally insulted/laughed at by nerds becomes the ones who get to take a shot here or there, yet the response is considerably different; gotta love the double-standard!

I resonate with this:

Originally Posted by Dynam0

What's wrong with seeing the humour in grown-ups pretending to be dungeon-masters?

When/where does the show say that nerds should like the show?

and this:

Originally Posted by j-rodd123

wait people are actually offended by big bang theory? that's hilarious

[Dynam0]

Originally Posted by devonin

Because hundreds of thousands of people do that because they love it, and it's not a source of humour in their lives, and having it treated as something to laugh at is insulting? All the more so when the people doing the laughing are also saying "But this is for YOU, you should love this!"

Awww cmon it's a silly niche hobby! I enjoy rhythm games and the like but I don't get insulted when people poke fun at what I do, it is what it is! Happy Gilmore was a hilarious movie and I didn't hear golfers belly-aching about it. The humour in it was situational and hardly poking fun at the sport of golf, pretty similar to this show imo

[igotrhythm]

Originally Posted by devonin

The issue, Dynamo, is that the show inserts itself into nerd culture and nerd spaces and advertises itself as a show for nerds, about nerds, that nerds should like.

And then when you watch it, it is a VERY accurate representation of the kinds of things those kinds of nerds would say and do, except you're supposed to -laugh at it- not identify with it.

They basically said "Hey nerds, you get your own version of Friends, only it's nerds!" And while plenty of the things characters on Friends said were played for laughs, they weren't, intrinsically themselves, the funny thing you were supposed to laugh at.

Pretty much this. I stopped watching because Sheldon reminded me so much of myself it was uncomfortable.

[j-rodd123]

hmm maybe I should watch the new seasons to see what all the fuss is about. I watched the first ~3 seasons and enjoyed it before losing interest, but ya dynamo and halogen mirror my thoughts on this

[Dynam0]

Originally Posted by devonin

All the more so when the people doing the laughing are also saying "But this is for YOU, you should love this!"

Still not sure where this is referenced from?

[dAnceguy117]

I guess he's saying it's implied? given the branding, the opening, looks at a glance like it could be "a show for nerds" or something.

@dev @otherpeople, if you can't laugh at yourself then you gotta lighten up imo.

that said I only enjoy watching a few sitcoms and BBT is not one of them

[Izzy]

It sounds more like it is people pretending to be nerds and failing.

You guys should watch Silicon Valley instead. Seems ok so far and authenticish as far as nerdy goes.

[choof]

if a sitcom had authentic nerdism (rofl), it wouldn't stay on tv for more than 5 episodes

[choof]

bbt kinda glorifies being a nerd; which is cool if you're actually not a nerd at all. it's akin to putting on stereotypical glasses and saying "i'm such a nerd"

[ilikexd]

[devonin]

Originally Posted by TC_Halogen

and suddenly, the typical crowd occasionally insulted/laughed at by nerds becomes the ones who get to take a shot here or there, yet the response is considerably different; gotta love the double-standard!

Yeah, because man, I know growing up, being the nerd absolutely put me in the TYPICAL crowd that got to insult or laugh at other people.

Where the hell did you grow up? Being a nerd got me beaten up, mocked, and made fun of for my entire childhood.