---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It just so happens that people aren't…"
description: "\"It just so happens that people aren't doing comedy about abortion or cannibalism or waterboarding. And that to me doesn't necessarily mean that there a..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df7/rob-mcelhenney-51713_abortion_it-just-so-happens-that-people-aren-t-do_680206.jpg"
---

#  It just so happens that people aren't doing comedy about…

![“It just so happens that people aren't doing comedy about abortion or cannibalism or waterboarding. And that to me doesn't necessarily mean that there aren't aspects of those subjects that are funny, it just means that people are too uptight.” quote by Rob McElhenney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df7/rob-mcelhenney-51713_abortion_it-just-so-happens-that-people-aren-t-do_680206.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df7/rob-mcelhenney-51713_abortion_it-just-so-happens-that-people-aren-t-do_680206.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df7/rob-mcelhenney-51713_abortion_it-just-so-happens-that-people-aren-t-do_680206.jpg)

> “It just so happens that people aren't doing comedy about abortion or cannibalism or waterboarding. And that to me doesn't necessarily mean that there aren't aspects of those subjects that are funny, it just means that people are too uptight.”

[Rob McElhenney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-mcelhenney/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Society avoids humor about taboo subjects, not because they're unfunny, but due to fear of offense and social constraints.

**In simple terms:** People are too cautious to joke about sensitive topics.

Key Takeaway

Challenge norms responsibly.

Themes

taboo humor social norms

Mood

provocative reflective

Type

satirical observational

When to use this quote

- stand‑up routines
- satirical writing
- media commentary
- public speaking

Key Concepts

censorship psychology comedy ethics

Questions to Reflect On

- What topics could be approached with humor without trivializing pain?
- How does fear shape creative expression?

A Different Perspective

Humor can still alienate or cause harm if not handled with nuance.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Abortion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abortion/) [Aspect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aspect/) [Cannibalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cannibalism/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Comedy Abortion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy-abortion-5383423/) [Doing Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-comedy/) [Happens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happens/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Aren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-aren/) [People Uptight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-uptight-1781246/) [Subjects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subjects/) [Subjects Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subjects-funny-5383424/) [Uptight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uptight/)

## Related quotes

> [People who are too uptight make me nervous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-chang/people-who-are-too-uptight-make-me-nervous/)

[Victoria Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-chang/)

> [I've noticed the people most uptight about smokers and drinkers don't really have a problem with gluttony and gossip.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-hawkins/i-ve-noticed-the-people-most-uptight-about-smokers-and-drinkers-don-t/)

[Tim Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-hawkins/)

> [German people get very uptight if you mention World War II. Germans today feel that what's past is past, new generations don't really remember…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-summer/german-people-get-very-uptight-if-you-mention-world-war-ii-germans/)

[Donna Summer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-summer/)

> [It's fine to admit being nervous - after the event. But if you tell people you're uptight before the game, it can be like,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gianluigi-buffon/it-s-fine-to-admit-being-nervous-after-the-event-but-if-you-tell/)

[Gianluigi Buffon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gianluigi-buffon/)

> [I think that I was being much more uptight about those things before. I feel like I really don't have to prove anything at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-krall/i-think-that-i-was-being-much-more-uptight-about-those-things-before/)

[Diana Krall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-krall/)

> [I separate cartooning, which is fun and wacky and soulful, from illustration, which is very well-drawn and extremely uptight to look at. There's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-bakshi/i-separate-cartooning-which-is-fun-and-wacky-and-soulful-from/)

[Ralph Bakshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-bakshi/)

> [In my experience I haven't met too many uptight black people. I'm sure they're out there. Like I'm some big authority and I've lived…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-reubens/in-my-experience-i-haven-t-met-too-many-uptight-black-people-i-m-sure/)

[Paul Reubens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-reubens/)

> [Laughing at fear is one of the best things you can do. When you are afraid, instead of just plunging into panic, laugh. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/laughing-at-fear-is-one-of-the-best-things-you-can-do-when-you-are/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [“God, you’re uptight. Did the aliens maybe forget to remove your anal probe?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cherise-sinclair/god-you-re-uptight-did-the-aliens-maybe-forget-to-remove-your-anal/)

[Cherise Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cherise-sinclair/)

> [Sometimes people are very kind of uptight and they're not really sure how to behave, but after time they open up sometimes. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wilson/sometimes-people-are-very-kind-of-uptight-and-they-re-not-really-sure/)

[John Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wilson/)

> [“I'm not uptight. I'm conscientious. There's a difference.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenore-appelhans/i-m-not-uptight-i-m-conscientious-there-s-a-difference/)

[Lenore Appelhans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenore-appelhans/)

> [...when you let go of your expectations, when you accept life as it is, you're free.To hold on is to be serious and uptight.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carlson/when-you-let-go-of-your-expectations-when-you-accept-life-as-it-is/)

[Richard Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carlson/)

> [The work that I do doesn't make me feel uptight, It energises me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robinson/the-work-that-i-do-doesn-t-make-me-feel-uptight-it-energises-me/)

[Tony Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robinson/)

> [ I know that some of the folks in the press are uptight about this \[moving the press corps out of the West Wing \],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reince-priebus/i-know-that-some-of-the-folks-in-the-press-are-uptight-about-this/)

[Reince Priebus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reince-priebus/)

> [I think dressing up or down should be a creative experience. Exciting. Fun. For me the key to personal style lies in accessories. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-apfel/i-think-dressing-up-or-down-should-be-a-creative-experience-exciting/)

[Iris Apfel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-apfel/)

## More by Rob McElhenney

> [I think the more depth you build into the characters, and the more you see where they came from, the more fun you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-mcelhenney/i-think-the-more-depth-you-build-into-the-characters-and-the-more-you/)

[Rob McElhenney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-mcelhenney/)

> [Regardless of your metabolism, if you stop consuming so many calories, you will lose weight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-mcelhenney/regardless-of-your-metabolism-if-you-stop-consuming-so-many-calories/)

[Rob McElhenney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-mcelhenney/)

> [Dramas need to have a certain aesthetic that comedy just doesn't really seem to need to have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-mcelhenney/dramas-need-to-have-a-certain-aesthetic-that-comedy-just-doesn-t/)

[Rob McElhenney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-mcelhenney/)

> [When you're dealing with subjective matters, there's no wrong or right answer, it's just, "What do we think is best for the show?"](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-mcelhenney/when-you-re-dealing-with-subjective-matters-there-s-no-wrong-or-right/)

[Rob McElhenney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-mcelhenney/)

> [I feel like it's a dangerous and dark world if 'Sunny' becomes mainstream comedy. If you were to turn on CBS at 8 o'clock…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-mcelhenney/i-feel-like-it-s-a-dangerous-and-dark-world-if-sunny-becomes/)

[Rob McElhenney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-mcelhenney/)

> [If anything, when you're in your late 20s, early 30s, and then mid-30s, you're getting less attractive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-mcelhenney/if-anything-when-you-re-in-your-late-20s-early-30s-and-then-mid-30s/)

[Rob McElhenney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-mcelhenney/)

[Explore all 7 Rob McElhenney quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-mcelhenney/)

## More Abortion quotes

> [“Conception is the beginning of human life. From the time that an ovum is fertilized a new life begins that is neither that of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declaration-on-procured-abortion-congregation-for-the-doctrine-of-the-faith-1974/conception-is-the-beginning-of-human-life-from-the-time-that-an-ovum/)

[Declaration on Procured Abortion Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith 1974](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declaration-on-procured-abortion-congregation-for-the-doctrine-of-the-faith-1974/)

> [Hey everyone, in case y'all didn't hear, I'm pregnat, and after discussing it w/ my family, I've decided to get an abortion, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madison-badesheim/hey-everyone-in-case-y-all-didn-t-hear-i-m-pregnat-and-after/)

[Madison Badesheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madison-badesheim/)

> [There was no mistake in us making abortion legal and available on demand. That was what we call progress. Just like it was no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ruffalo/there-was-no-mistake-in-us-making-abortion-legal-and-available-on/)

[Mark Ruffalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ruffalo/)

> [My favorite Founding Fathers, Christians like John Adams, were absolutely appalled by slavery, and did not own slaves. I think we're going to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/my-favorite-founding-fathers-christians-like-john-adams-were/)

[Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/)

> [“David Bereit, Founder of Forty Days for Life, points out that any abortion clinic in America should have a sign in its window that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-price/david-bereit-founder-of-forty-days-for-life-points-out-that-any/)

[John Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-price/)

> [The Chinese describe themselves as political refugees. Many base that claim on China's strict population laws, which allow them to have only one child.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-koch/the-chinese-describe-themselves-as-political-refugees-many-base-that/)

[Ed Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-koch/)

> [I'm a pro-life candidate because I believe that science is proving us right every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-fiorina/i-m-a-pro-life-candidate-because-i-believe-that-science-is-proving-us/)

[Carly Fiorina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-fiorina/)

> [I've noticed that everyone who is for abortion…has been born.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-noticed-that-everyone-who-is-for-abortion-has-been-born/)

[Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/)

> [We talk a lot about how abortion is a medical procedure, but actually if you look at what the other side is doing, they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-northup/we-talk-a-lot-about-how-abortion-is-a-medical-procedure-but-actually/)

[Nancy Northup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-northup/)

> [“The Vatican won't prosecute pedophile priests but I decide I'm not ready for motherhood and it's condemnation for me? These are the same people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-renee-taylor/the-vatican-won-t-prosecute-pedophile-priests-but-i-decide-i-m-not/)

[Sonya Renee Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-renee-taylor/)

> [Pro-lifers have long been castigated for bringing private values into the public square. But actually it is the pro-abortion position that is based on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pearcey/pro-lifers-have-long-been-castigated-for-bringing-private-values-into/)

[Nancy Pearcey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pearcey/)

> [I am 100 percent pro-life and have been my whole life. That means I am opposed to abortion at any stage of pregnancy, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-hawley/i-am-100-percent-pro-life-and-have-been-my-whole-life-that-means-i-am/)

[Josh Hawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-hawley/)

> [Any woman should have the right to a safe and legal abortion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-ford/any-woman-should-have-the-right-to-a-safe-and-legal-abortion/)

[Betty Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-ford/)

> [“For Republicans, life begins at conception but ends at birth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-adam-snyder/for-republicans-life-begins-at-conception-but-ends-at-birth/)

[J.Adam Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-adam-snyder/)

> [I think fundamentally, the real power behind the anti-choice movement in regard to abortion and the opposition to the rights of LGBT Americans is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-w-lynn/i-think-fundamentally-the-real-power-behind-the-anti-choice-movement/)

[Barry W. Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-w-lynn/)

[Browse all 1,629 Abortion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abortion/)

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