Jay Leno makes fun of apnea patients

A few minutes ago, Jay Leno did a segment on the Tonight Show in which he made fun of people with apnea. He showed an ad for a pillow designed to aid someone sleeping while wearing a full face mask. The ad was real but his position was that this was funny because "who could sleep with something like that on". Going on with the gag, he commented "hey, you want to make love?" and then pantomimed heavy breathing like darth vader (my interpretation) while hulking up his shoulders and extending his arms. Not funny to me at all, especially since the only reason I was watching his show is because I have apnea. I wear an FFM not because I want to but because I have to in order to get any sleep at all. I feel like writing a letter to NBC.

nuf said,

-LM

Sounds like Leno's writers were running low on good material.

I'd like to see a large, angry mob of CPAP users invade his studio in full face masks and demand an apology. I bet they'd get one.

Maybe you should take it as it is given, as a joke! He makes fun of all sorts of things and people for a laugh. It is his job and I don't think it is intended to insult anyone. Being able to laugh at oneself makes life a little more fun at times.
Just my thoughts.

bap40 wrote:Maybe you should take it as it is given, as a joke! He makes fun of all sorts of things and people for a laugh. It is his job and I don't think it is intended to insult anyone. Being able to laugh at oneself makes life a little more fun at times.
Just my thoughts.

Ok...by that reasoning, is it fair game to make fun of cancer patients, autistic individuals, cerebal palsy patients, mentally and physically challenged, etc.? I'm thinking the writers would think twice about that....

Mike

I try not to get so self-conscience about my infirmities.

we're all human, we all have something wrong with us.

it's good to laugh.
it's good to laugh at oneself at times. It's better that drowning in misery.

there was a rather long thread here about our devices and their effect on how we get our groove on. most of it was funny.

Poster Blackneto writes...
it's good to laugh. it's good to laugh at oneself at times. It's better that drowning in misery.

And, I'm with you 100 percent on this.

First, if we insist on no lighthearted criticism of our (admit it, it's alien-ish) nightly appearance, don't expect true acceptance. You will get the p.c. gratuitous stuff, but not real acceptance.

Second, (and related) the more others feel as though apneics have a "disability", the less we are among the mainstream. This bad. You do not want the world feeling sorry for you. You want the world to feel comfortable with you in it's midst.

Third, consider that there are many folks on the fence about whether to get that sleep study, or to inquire about symptoms, or to even use the machine they have in a drawer somewhere. If the goofy appearance of xPAP gear is not to be discussed in polite circles, or becomes something to be pitied or hidden, then a whole lot of folks with serious apnea will not get, or persue treatment. Conversely, if it's something that we can chuckle about, like wearing a cast, or a dental appliance, then THAT will work socially.

Finally, I rarely defend Leno. I believe that the politics of his humor is obligately one-sided. But on this? Have at it, Jay.

Regards all - -



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RafterRattler wrote:

bap40 wrote:Maybe you should take it as it is given, as a joke! He makes fun of all sorts of things and people for a laugh. It is his job and I don't think it is intended to insult anyone. Being able to laugh at oneself makes life a little more fun at times.
Just my thoughts.

Ok...by that reasoning, is it fair game to make fun of cancer patients, autistic individuals, cerebal palsy patients, mentally and physically challenged, etc.? I'm thinking the writers would think twice about that....

Mike

AMEN to that! I did not even see the show and I am offended by what he said. Oh it's good for a laff alright, if your not the one who has to use a cpap machine.. Not so funny when your the one using it though. Making love? Heck do it before you go to sleep then mask up! He makes it sound like you will never do it again..

I recall when everyone thought my loud snoring was a joke. I'd rather take the cpap jokes.

RafterRattler wrote:

bap40 wrote:Maybe you should take it as it is given, as a joke! He makes fun of all sorts of things and people for a laugh. It is his job and I don't think it is intended to insult anyone. Being able to laugh at oneself makes life a little more fun at times.
Just my thoughts.

Ok...by that reasoning, is it fair game to make fun of cancer patients, autistic individuals, cerebal palsy patients, mentally and physically challenged, etc.? I'm thinking the writers would think twice about that....

Mike

hrmm

Make fun of or just point out the absurdity of it all?
No sane person takes the delight in the sufferings of another person. but tippytoeing around someone's infirmity can only make that person feels worse.

I'll freely admit that I;m not the most sensitive person in the world. but I don't think people want to be coddled. understood? yes, coddled? no
Guy at work was diagnosed with bladder cancer. He was mentioning how he was staying away from home because everyone around him was depressing with their grief and crying.
We made his day by cracking him up about the "non-invasive" surgury he was about to have. pondering if the nurse that inserted the cather would be nice enough to give him a happy finish and other nonsense like that.

This is just one instance but I suppose you don't remember the comedienne with CP Geri Jewell that made a living not only making fun of her condition but brought some awareness to the condition.

"protected" groups make me ill. they whine and moan about equal treatment but demand special treatment at the same time.

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come on can't we all use a laugh I find Ptach Adams had the right idea , my hubby jokes and I don't take offense I can even joke my self about my mask, But I have been able to joke all my life about my shortcomings: example I have a glass eye since the age of 8 and I can joke about it to family and friends

Guest wrote:come on can't we all use a laugh I find Ptach Adams had the right idea , my hubby jokes and I don't take offense I can even joke my self about my mask, But I have been able to joke all my life about my shortcomings: example I have a glass eye since the age of 8 and I can joke about it to family and friends

okay you just reminded me of an old playground joke.

the clean punchline of which is "butt face, butt face"

To even SUGGEST that sleep apnea is close to cancer is beyond absurd.

ractar28 wrote:To even SUGGEST that sleep apnea is close to cancer is beyond absurd.

Geez. Now it's a my disease is worse than your disease discussion? Look, apnea is a disease - we're not arguing over severity. Both can kill.

I can laugh at myself along with the next guy. However, I don't make fun of people out of total ignorance. My Dad died of alzheimers after a 6 year battle. I was somewhat comfortable joking about it with him (during the earlier parts of the onset) and I can joke about it a little now. The reason I feel ok about it is because I know a little something about the disease and how it affects people, and I think I can stay away from the sore spots pretty well. The way it was described by the original poster, Leno's comments came from ignorance, pure and simple. I DO object to people making fun of a disease they know nothing about. All that will serve to do is make people who MIGHT have apnea afraid of a diagnosis.

Mike

If sleep apnea jokes are offensive to some then it isn't funny to joke about sleep apnea and no-one can tell another that they should or shouldn't be offended/hurt/insulted by certain references to certain things.

Leno ought to know better.