When does humor cross the line and become insensitive?

1. 62

   Drew Breezzyposted 14 years ago

   Do you feel there is a set of standards or common decency humor should follow?

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2. 81

   RooBeeposted 14 years ago

   I'm going to assume you are talking in the context of this site, particularly the forums? If not, sorry, correct me and we'll go back that way. Not trying to redirect your topic..
   
   Personally, I think that while it's okay to generalize or talk about public figures and such it is not cool to personally attack other people with whom you're conversing.
   
   For instance, I may say: "Sarah Palin is yucky." I think that is okay. You may disagree - in fact some of my favorite hubbers do.
   
   But, if I say to another hubber: "YOU are yucky," then I should probably back up and remember not to cross that line.
   
   I recently witnessed some particularly nasty behavior in the forums where a certain person completely hijacked the topic to spew personal attacks at folks in the thread. It can be very tempting to shoot back, but it just leaves you feeling dirty having sunk to the level - ya know?
   
   There have been a couple of great hubs written recently on forum etiquette and such, search 'forums' in hubs & see what you get. I think there is a pretty nice set of guidelines (even beyond the official rules) that most hubbers try and adhere to when it comes to being humorous (or attempting to).

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3. 81

   RooBeeposted 14 years ago

   Having read that, though, I do admit that I take pleasure in seeing a more ballsy hubber than myself give it to someone who has been harrassing others in the forums. Once someone's been a big jerk, I can't help but laugh when they get served.

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4. 49

   badcompany99posted 14 years ago

   When it's not Humor !

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5. 0

   pgrundyposted 14 years ago

   Humor isn't supposed to be sensitive. That's why kings used to keep jesters on court--so somebody could tell the king the truth even if was only in jest.
   
   You know, like, "Here's your reality check. We accept VISA and Mastercard."

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   1. 62

      Drew Breezzyposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Haha I agree. There is truth is every "just kidding".
      
      But does anyone feel there are topics that should be off limits?
      
      Like lets say events like the holocaust, 9/11 etc
      
      or things like rape, murder, etc

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   2. 82

      LondonGirlposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      that's a wonderful line!

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6. 0

   pgrundyposted 14 years ago

   Well, I saw George Carlin do a bit about gang rape once. I love George Carlin, but I didn't understand why that routine was funny. It upset me a lot. If it would have been anyone else, I'd have changed the channel and just blown it off but I liked and trusted Carlin's humor so not 'getting it' felt really crummy. I still don't understand what that bit was about.
   
   I know after 9/11 there was no humor for weeks. Bill Maher got fired for making a joke about it (well, it wasn't a joke so much as a comment) the week it happened and he didn't work on TV for a year or so after that.
   
   I also know from when my Dad died that telling jokes to people who come to visit, even if you are punchy from all the mourning that doesn't go over too well either. That's why alcohol was invented.
   
   But I still think comedy has to be raw. You can't have limits and keep it funny. You can't know where the line is unless you let people cross it. In a way, that's another job of comedians--to show us where the line is.

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   1. 62

      Drew Breezzyposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      This is a really good response
      yeah I agree art shouldn't be censored it is meant to push the limit. So some statements may offend certain people.

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   2. 82

      LondonGirlposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Private Eye, a satirical magazine here, had a front page a few days after 9/11, with a picture of George Bush being told about the attacks, sitting in a school. The aide was saying, "it's Armageddon, Sir!" and GB pictured saying, "Ah'm a gedding outta here"

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7. 81

   RooBeeposted 14 years ago

   Good explanation, pgrundy. Humor is like a salve to some, including me. I marvel at the human ability to find humor even in the darkest times.
   I am sure that what is funny is highly subjective depending on who is ingesting it.

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   1. 62

      Drew Breezzyposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Yeah I think finding humor in suffering is kinda way for people cope with the pain

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8. 57

   Dame Scribeposted 14 years ago

   I prefer humour that doesn't set somebody apart from others but is shared by all, have you watched, *Just for Laughs Gags* lately? love that show, lol

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9. 0

   \Brenda Scullyposted 14 years ago

   The problem with the forums is you cant see peoples reaction. You can joke with one person, and another person may find it really offensive, As you get to know hubbers, you are more free to joke around a bit.... I have seen instances on here when people cross the line, are told and then they apologise,,,,,, some people just love to hurl abuse at others. Why????

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   1. 78

      frogdroppingposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Because they to choose to Brenda. And on accasion it's not intentional. A huge part of communication rests upon body language and facial expression. Something which is of course missing 'talking' online.
      
      I seriously wouldn't worry about it. It can only hurt you if you let it.

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10. 0

    \Brenda Scullyposted 14 years ago

    Anyone Think This Is Acceptable Or Not
    
      The day the queen mother died, Prince Philip brought all the corgi's into the parlour and broke the news to them.... They were all very distressed, however one corgi piped up
       "At least we wont take the beatings for wetting the carpets anymore"....  I thought it was funny, some people were really offended by it...

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11. 60

    scheinandrasposted 14 years ago

    I don't think humor can be insensitive. If it is, it's not humor then. Maximum a bad joke.

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12. 66

    Ms Chievousposted 14 years ago

    I think in society we have pushed the limits on humour.  For example  I recently discovered one of the newer versions of the SIMS PC game promotes the killing of a social worker.  Supposedly you let your charater ignore their children and the virtual social worker shows up and you kill her... not funny.. not fun either

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    1. 62

       Drew Breezzyposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       wow that seems twisted

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13. 73

    Enelle Lambposted 14 years ago

    I think that a lot of things push the limits on humour - there is good taste and bad - it's knowing the difference that sets us apart...
    My taste in humour is a tad twisted and rather dark at times, and I realise that a lot of people don't find it funny...most of all I think humour is a personal taste, and there is definitely a middle of the road, with the extremists on either side.

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