What do others think of Bill Hicks' philosophies on comedy and religion?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the philosophies of comedian Bill Hicks, particularly his views on comedy, religion, and societal issues. Participants explore their personal opinions on Hicks' ideas, his approach to conspiracy theories, and the impact of his work on their thinking.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants appreciate Hicks' humor and wit but express skepticism about his credulity towards pseudo-science and conspiracy theories.
  • Others acknowledge Hicks' ability to provoke thought, particularly regarding his philosophical questions about morality and harm.
  • There are mixed feelings about Hicks' mental state, with some suggesting he was not entirely sane but still had valuable insights.
  • One participant mentions finding a collection of Hicks' work, highlighting its depth and creativity.
  • Comparisons are made between Hicks and other comedians, such as Denis Leary and David Cross, with varying opinions on their comedic value.
  • A quote attributed to Hicks about Leary is shared, showcasing Hicks' self-awareness and humor regarding his comedic style.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally express a mix of admiration and critique regarding Hicks' philosophies, indicating that multiple competing views remain without a clear consensus on his overall impact or the validity of his ideas.

Contextual Notes

Some participants reference specific quotes and personal experiences with Hicks' work, which may reflect subjective interpretations and varying levels of familiarity with his philosophies.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to fans of stand-up comedy, those exploring the intersection of humor and philosophy, and individuals curious about the cultural impact of Bill Hicks.

LightbulbSun
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He was a funny and witty man, but often he was too credulous towards pseudo-science theories from the works of Carl Jung and conspiracy theories such as JFK. I just wanted to know what everyone else thought of his philosophies as a comedian/preacher. I've always enjoyed his comedy, but I disagree with his "unconditional loving god" theory.
 
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I love Bill Hicks, can't say I agree with everything he said, he did go a bit off with his anti-everything-ness sometimes and would up on the side of believing too much in conspiracies and magical stuff like you said. I personally don't think he was the sanest person on planet earth... but he was more sane than most, and had some good ideas, he just needed to calm down a bit and think them through a bit more.
 
moe darklight said:
I love Bill Hicks, can't say I agree with everything he said, he did go a bit off with his anti-everything-ness sometimes and would up on the side of believing too much in conspiracies and magical stuff like you said. I personally don't think he was the sanest person on planet earth... but he was more sane than most, and had some good ideas, he just needed to calm down a bit and think them through a bit more.

He certainly made you think. Especially his line of "what does it matter what I do as long as I don't harm another human being?" I paraphrased that, but that is certainly a line worth discussing philosophically.
 
when I was in London, I found a paperback book with all of hicks standup, plus letters he wrote, as well as some songs and poetry. really amazing stuff. I love that guy. Although he isn't anywhere near as good in many ways, I find David Cross's standup to be similar.
 
denis leary :!) :!) is way funnier !11 lol
 
seriously?
 
god no... denis leary is a hack
 
I just looked up a quote that was brilliant with bill hicks about leary,

"I have a scoop for you. I stole his act. I camouflaged it with punchlines, and to really throw people off, I did it before he did."
 
Hahah, I've never heard that one before, that's awesome.
 
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"When did mediocrity and banality become a good image for your children?"
 

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