anarchyriot There is a kernel of truth here: shame and outrage have become weaponized and there are people who exploit that to silence opposing ideas. That's true, but it's not a strong enough foundation to support most of the arguments this documentary tries to make.The documentary awkwardly conflates legitimately funny comedians whose acts may be offensive with people who are offensive because they don't know how to be funny. It fails to distinguish comedians who invoke stereotypes to ridicule them from people who take them as absolute truths. Yes, there are people exploit outrage. But what this documentary shows is that there are many more people disingenuously pretending their sociopathic behavior is just an act or a joke.Several scenes cover comedians or artists that intentionally set out to be offensive, yet warn their audience that the show will be offensive, and act surprised and "outraged" when people actually get offended. It begs the question: If they're being honest about trying to make people think, why give the warning? If you're actively trying to dissuade people who will get upset at material you know is upsetting from attending, aren't simply trying to set up a rally for like-minded people? The reason for the title of this review is Jonathan Rauch's argument towards the middle of the film, in which he claims that society grows stronger when even the most hateful speech is allowed. It's understandable how that might have been appealing in 2015. But given the spike in white supremacy marches, misogyny, xenophobia and homophobia over the past three years, he'd have a tough time selling the idea that the country is stronger now that the pendulum has swung the other way.Ultimately, the film itself rings of the same kind of hollow mock-offense it claims to abhor, and aside from some great comedians expressing legitimate concerns, ends up being mostly lackluster minds trying to cloak their lack of intellect and humanity under cultural icons like Lenny Bruce and George Carlin. The answer to the question posed by the title is: Yes, Can You Make One?

mooohala OK. so there is a part in this doc where lenny bruce is talked about as having gotten pardoned after his death. a plaque is shown. in my mind.. what this shows is this. oh.. what he did was OK, so we can do this and we can do that and it will be OK too. and what they want is for it to be OK. everyone wants what they do to be OK. they can't get around it. but God's laws, Jesus words are still totally the measuring stick. and if you break them it is called sin. so it is not OK. and if you don't repent and obey Jesus.. then hell is the result upon death. so if you think it's safe, but it's not.. it.. is hell.

Courtney Soliday Loved this. I thought it covered an aspect of outrage culture where the people who are mad are not necessarily victims but instead just on a power trip or trying to "pat themselves on the back." The documentary covers different comedy-related incidents that resulted in outrage, all offline. I had no idea cops used to go to comedy clubs and arrest speakers for saying things like "cocksucker." "Is it safe to hold unpopular views on campus?" there are news statistics, etc.Lost 2 stars for the typography effects at the beginning, a bit too much motion for me.Must see for anyone who loves comedy, wants to perform or write comedy, is interested in the First Amendment and self-expression and pop culture fanatics.

jake_fantom This is a one-note documentary, the sole point of which is that people are too easily offended by edgy humor, and that college campuses have become bastions of intolerance for free speech. I think these thoughts are probably essentially correct, but that's really not enough to make a film about. The usual suspects (edgy comics) are rounded up, or rather, filmed in their own homes, clubs and studios so they don't have to put forth much effort, and asked a series of perfunctory questions which lead to an affirmation of the film's not very controversial premise. There is a de rigueur homage to Lenny Bruce, and a lot of anecdotal storytelling about offended customers at comedy clubs. And there is plenty of predictable stuff about how the internet enables instant mass outrage at offenders du jour. Yet the documentarians never get at the essence of their issue. Despite a brief segment about the nutjobs at the Westboro "church," there is no real examination of hate speech as espoused by neo-Nazis, racists of various colors, propagandists for causes like ISIS, or presidential candidates like the short- fingered vulgarian. We are left with Penn Jillette's not very comforting reassurances that this will all be "cleaned up" pretty damn quick. I managed to make it to the very end of this piece of intellectual fluff by watching in brief installments. Unless you are similarly prepared, I suggest you seek entertainment and enlightenment elsewhere.