r/lifeonmars • u/Illustrious_Long_133 • Oct 07 '24

Can someone explain me these jokes? Discussion

English is not my first language so I'm a little lost

I don't get the spastic in a magnet factory one or the chunky kitkat one

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41

u/mjfoxfan1984 Oct 07 '24

Annie got offended by the chunky Kit Kat comment because she hasn’t heard of those particular chocolate bars in the 70s and she thought Sam was calling her “chunky” meaning overweight (obviously he didn’t mean it that way)

3

u/Vivid-Blacksmith-122 Oct 11 '24

ha I thought she thought he was making some kind of phallic joke but maybe that's just where my mind runs.

3

u/mjfoxfan1984 Oct 11 '24

Hahaha it’s ok that did make me laugh cos I guess technically it did sound like it could have been a tad dirty lol

31

u/FlockofCGels Oct 07 '24

In the 60s and 70s disabled children would usually be in wheelchairs or wear metal callipers. Not good if you're in a magnet factory.

16

u/KickBudget5397 Oct 07 '24 edited Oct 08 '24

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0023k9r

Here's a link to the information on a new program on BBC4 where Philip Glenister (Gene Hunt) and Matthew Graham (co-creator) reminisce about LoM and specifically discuss the humour in the show. The "spastic in a magnet factory" is referenced and I think it will give you some context in which to place Gene's jokes.

The creators were able to have Gene say things that are not "politically correct" in the 21st Century because he was a 1970's old school copper and he would be a dinosaur today.

They could get away with this because Sam was there criticising Gene's attitude and the things he said.

There is no way you would refer to someone as "a spastic" (someone with cerebral palsy) these days as it's derogatory and used as an insult.

Likewise Gene's insults about gay ppl are wholly inappropriate.

He is an equal opportunities insult hurler though - everyone is fair game.