Are there any topics that you believe are off-limits for jokes?
- Thread starter CrystalViolet
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Strictly off limits? no but that doesn't mean they always appropriate, can't be harmful, mean-spirited or bigoted and that a person can't be called out for any of the shit they say or take issue with what the punchline actually is if it's a "joke".
My attitude is free speech means just that, not the freedom to only speak what you agree with. As a result I do not think any jokes are off topic, ditto for outright hate speech, and all kinds of things other people try and turn into exceptions. My basic attitude though is that free speech evens out, if you dish it out, expect to take it back.CrystalViolet said:
That said when I was growing up Andrew "Dice Man" Clay was the hottest comedian in all the world, but he offended a LOT of people, women in particular as he did his routine in the guise of an exaggerated "Macho Man" (understand Andrew Clay went on to do other things besides the "Dice Man" character as well). There were all kinds of people who wanted to ban him, get him kicked from venues, and all kinds of other things. They even had a very negative parody of him and the "issues" involved on Night Court back when he was still pretty hot. As far as I'm concerned if you don't think jokes are funny, then you don't need to listen to them. If you feel personally insulted by someone's joke, remember you can always make one back as well, that's the beauty of free speech.
I tend to only get irritated about things like this if someone goes around making all kinds of 'edgy' jokes but then can't take it if they run into someone else doing it in a way that could include them. Time and place also matter.
no limits for me.... or my family either.. we're all sarcastic bastards and make lots of messed up jokes about just about anything you can imagine..
I don't believe in a general "line" that can't be crossed. Instead, there are billions of lines because it's subjective for each person. Personally, it takes a lot for me to be offended, and I'm of the opinion that any topic has the potential to be humorous if done correctly. The context of the situation and the audience are key.
I have no problem with people finding enjoyment in humor that others find to be extremely distasteful so long as it's only a joke. That being said, I feel you should consider your audience and be respectful toward those who object to your humor. It's only courteous to apologize if somebody is truly hurt by your carelessness. Just tell the jokes to other people when they're not around, it's not that hard to gauge people's tolerance for such humor.
And he's pro-Marmite! Seriously, PatStew only ever goes up in my estimation. What a guy.Gordon_4 said:
On topic: comedy is tragedy plus time, so no, I don't think anything can ever be said to be "off limits". Also, screw the liberal concept of "punching up" - comedy exists to make people laugh, not as a form of cultural Marxism. Shock comedy is a thing, and it most definitely punches down a lot of the time to make the punchline.
If there is one thing I have learned as I've attempted to become an author for 3 years is that it is literally impossible to make someone feel a certain way. You can't make someone offended or laugh or cry. If someone believes otherwise, they should attempt stand-up comedy with an audience full of vegetables.CrystalViolet said:
No, people can only get influenced by you, and being influenced tends to happen involuntary, but with discipline all of it can be condensed into a stiff upper lip. Being offended is, more or less, a choice seeing as you can prevent it with a conscious action, however I do find that some jokes are just in horrible taste that would, probably, only influence people negatively, which fails the purpose of it being a joke in the first place.
I'm a firm believer that every subject can and should be joked about, where offence comes in is on an individual level, by individual level I mean on a joke by joke basis.
A joke about sexual assault can be funny, it can also be horribly insensitive and offensive, hell it could be the same joke, just told by a different person in a different context and it's level of offensiveness can change.
But then again I'm a firm believer that comedy is just as valid a way as any to deal with any and all issues.
A joke about sexual assault can be funny, it can also be horribly insensitive and offensive, hell it could be the same joke, just told by a different person in a different context and it's level of offensiveness can change.
But then again I'm a firm believer that comedy is just as valid a way as any to deal with any and all issues.
I don't think I've ever thought to myself where lines should be drawn in terms of jokes about potentially sensitive subjects or material.
I can be rather crude with my jokes myself, so I'd say I fall somewhere into the "just about anything can be joked about effectively" camp.
I think sometimes the effectiveness of those types of jokes come down to both the individual being told the joke and the delivery of the person telling the joke, so sometimes they can work quite effectively, and other times backfire horribly. However, I don't think there should really ever be lines drawn unless it's about a pretty recent event.
I can be rather crude with my jokes myself, so I'd say I fall somewhere into the "just about anything can be joked about effectively" camp.
I think sometimes the effectiveness of those types of jokes come down to both the individual being told the joke and the delivery of the person telling the joke, so sometimes they can work quite effectively, and other times backfire horribly. However, I don't think there should really ever be lines drawn unless it's about a pretty recent event.