George Carlin's Advice on Dealing with the 2016 Election

in the last seven to eight years I began to develop a different comic voice and a different perspective you know comedy stand-up comedy is a low art it's it's a vulgar art it's an art of the people it's not an art but it is an art it's it has to do with interpreting the world as you see it and then writing something and then delivering it verbally and I found a very liberating position for myself as an artist and that was I sort of gave up on the human race and gave up on the American dream and culture and nation and decided that I didn't care about the outcome and that gave me a lot of freedom from a kind of distant platform to be sort of amused kind of to watch the whole thing with a combination of Wonder and pity and try to put that into words not caring about the outcome what I mean by not having an emotional stake in whether this experiment with human beings works I really don't care I love people as I meet them one by one people are just wonderful as individuals you see the whole universe in their eyes if you look carefully but as soon as I begin to group as soon as they begin to clot when there are five of them were ten or even groups as small as two they begin to change they sacrifice the beauty of the individual for the sake of the group I decided it was all under the control of groups now whether it's business religion political people or what and I would distance myself from wishing for a good outcome let it do what it's going to do and I'll enjoy it as an entertainer reflect on what it is on its own and I'll enjoy it for the entertainment there's a little bit of a sick part in this too I root for the big comet I root for the big asteroid to come and make things right that's right would stir things up yes to get us back where we were before the first one came and knocked out these dinosaurs and let the ferret talk about comets on this show tonight I know and I'm I'm rooting for that big one to come right through that hole in the ozone layer because I want to see it on CNN see I'm here for the entertainment charlie I am people these philosophers say why are we here I know I am here for the entertainment the show bring it on I want to see the circus so how does this affect your performance and what you bring to stand up well I've seen a lot of community we've all seen a lot of communities who seem to have a political bent in their work and always implicit in the work is some positive outcome that this is all going to work if only we do this when we pass that bill only elect him when we do that it's not true it's it's circling the drain time for the free humans I believe this I honestly believe this not just as a comedian he thinks that I didn't say that I believe it and when you say to yourself I don't care what happens it just gives you a broader perspective for the art for the words to emerge to not care that's what happened in that 92 show that's why I could say the planet is fine the people are because the planet will outlast us it will be here and it will be fine has the subject matter changed well I you know you're still stuck with what's going on but I don't like topical I don't like political humor I don't mention politicians in fact I defend them in this particular show everyone is on there Kay everyone is always making things I bet I defend them and blame it on the people this is where it belongs get what you deserve yes you get what you do heaven you deserve what you get and I have a slogan the public sucks and it works nicely and people accepted not not not very enthusiastically but they understand that it says we the people in that preamble doesn't say them that this isn't those that that's us it says hey we got on this but people who hate government are involved in a form of suicide because government is self government if you hate the government you hate yourself it's the same with the war against nature that mankind goes through so I just said to myself it's not gonna get better not in my lifetime let me enjoy this and get a little perverse about my commentary on I I almost perverse me yeah well to look for where the people think the line is that people have values that these things these these are morphus things they call values that they bring to to the to the seat in the theater when they sit down and I like to find out where their line may be and deliberately cross it to sturb them a little make them uncomfortable and then make them and then bring them with me across the line and make them glad they came that's what I do I'm an entertainer I'm not a doomsayer I'm not here to preach I don't do political tracts but I do entertain I do a lot of jokes but I want you to feel a little in danger along the way

Channel: Robert MacCready

Views: 2,029,467

Rating: 4.8642163 out of 5

Keywords: trump, clinton, 2016 election, therapy, george carlin, charlie rose, depression

Id: eVZMifGcW64

Length: 4min 19sec (259 seconds)

Published: Mon Nov 07 2016

Reddit Comments

[u/christmastreedrink]

The way he describes enjoying people as individuals rather than in groups was amazing. I feel exactly the same way, just never really could put it into words

[u/TommyG3nTz]

"We are here for the show." With everything, that's all we can do. The winds will blow every which way and the only thing you can control is the small sails of your little boat.

[u/SpiritWolfie]

What a great clip.

I used to work with a guy that was VERY close to retirement and he was very much like George describes in this clip. He gave zero fucks and actually liked it when people fought or got angry.

I remember being really frustrated with him one time and I unleashed on him....he took it in stride and I never really understood because he didn't really argue back. He just kinda shrugged and said, "yeah, that's fair". Later when discussing it with him I was surprised to find he didn't even mind my anger and vitriol. He said, "Yeah man, I love a good fight." and just chuckled.

It was then that I realized this guy is different than most and just sat back and started observing. It was quite an interesting education but he never knew how closely I was observing. :)

[u/jsmooth]

I kinda needed to see this. Thanks.

[u/J808]

"Not giving a fuck"...as it relates to his art. As he says, he is using that perspective as a source of creativity.

[u/scviking831]

staywoke

[u/gtbaddy]

I like watching comedy a lot, and George Carlin is one of the rare ones that I consider a genius. He was on another level.

[u/macland]

This guy was truly one of the best communicators of his generation.

[u/PerishingSpinnyChair]

He gave so little of a fuck that he presumed 9/11 was an inside job without looking into it.