Social-media whining about jokes is actually the perfect note on which to end this miserable year.

Many have noted, correctly, that the clip below isn’t a grand departure from CK’s brand of humor. I had the same thought as Michael Brendan Dougherty: It reminds me of the “Of Course, But Maybe” bit from one of his Netflix specials. CK likes to play the bien-pensant who can’t repress pensants that aren’t so bien. So why’s he in trouble this time? Dougherty’s right about that too.

No. It’s actually like they care more about him rejecting their authority, than they do about his sexual harassment. https://t.co/rCxVO2ViqN

— Michael Brendan Dougherty (@michaelbd) December 31, 2018

Can’t mock the left’s sacred cows when you’re already on cultural parole. That amounts to reoffending, even though the disgraceful sexual harassment that first landed him in cultural jail isn’t related to this. Before the scandal he would have gotten away with a set like this one; after the scandal he no longer gets the benefit of the doubt that his intentions are good and the Bad Thoughts are merely laugh lines. (Which is why George Carlin could do bits like this.)

Worse than that, by attacking these particular targets he’s flouting progressive authority over popular culture. They might grudgingly let him back into the mainstream — but not if he’s going to goof on victims involved in causes they champion. He must know that, but apparently he doesn’t care. CK’s telling them that he feels no need to atone to them. That’s why there are so many comments online today accusing him of being a “right-wing” comic now, all because of two minutes during a much longer performance. He isn’t right-wing but he is giving the left a sort of middle finger. You can understand their confusion.

And so we’re granted the spectacle of comedians policing other comedians for the wokeness of their jokes:

You know what’s the worst, most boring kind of comedy? The kind where older white men are angry that older white men can’t do or say whatever the fuck they want anymore.

— Andy Richter (@AndyRichter) December 31, 2018

That’s CK’s point, though. He can say whatever he wants. Richter and his fellow travelers can punish him for it but he’s going to make the jokes he wants to make.

Here’s the bit. Four-letter-words aplenty, so adjust your computer speakers accordingly.

i mean he's like a RW comic now. hes milo pic.twitter.com/QYOGI7TrGa

— JackAM! (formerly GrinchPosting/JackAllisonLOL) (@JackAMtheShow) December 31, 2018