When does a joke go too far?

[Lace Neil Singer]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-1229083/A-N-WILSON-Cant-joke-anymore.html

We've all told blonde jokes before; if someone is offended by someone telling a blonde joke, do they have a right to be or should they just put up or shut up? Especially, consider, if the joke isn't personal; it's just an generic blonde joke.

[Greenday]

If the joke is directly being used to be sexist/racist/etc., then yea, there's reason to get offended by it. But jokes told for the sake of being funny, either it's funny and laugh or it's not funny and don't laugh. Don't cry me a river over a joke just because you didn't find it funny.

[jackfaire]

*nods sagely* You have to be careful though if your too offensive you may piss off Creedy, Sutler, or both

[Ree]

In the situation that occurred in the link provided, though, it was about more than the jokes.

It was the spirit in which they were told.

The man is even quoted as saying, "So I called her dumb, blonde and decorative? That's not an insult."

It's one thing to share a laugh with somebody over an occasional dumb blonde joke, but when the person to whom they are being directed on a daily basis is actually blonde, they cease to be funny.

What if the woman was of a certain ethnic group and the boss told racist jokes every day?

I do think society has become a bit touchy over all and people do tend to take themselves a little seriously.

I think people need to learn to laugh at themselves a bit more.

I'm short and I'm fat. I hear all the short jokes, and all the fat jokes.

Depending on how I am feeling that day, or who is telling the joke, my reaction varies.
Usually, I laugh if the joke is actually funny. (If it's a corny, tired joke, but isn't being offered in a mean-spirited way, I usually just smile.)

It's no secret how I feel about my religion, but I laughed my butt off when someone asked me why Jesus didn't eat Skittles. (They fall through the holes in his hands.)
Now, some people might get positively rabid if they were told that same joke.
Personally, I like to think God has a sense of humour.

It all goes back to the freedom to swing a fist ending at a neighbour's face.

[EricKei]

Personally, I like to think God has a sense of humour.Of course He does. How else would one explain the giraffe? Or the duck-billed platypus?...Or us, for that matter? :cool:

[Lace Neil Singer]

If God exists, then he's laughing his arse off at humankind, the biggest joke of all. ;)

I'm a natural blonde, and I tell blonde jokes. I like to top jokes rather than get offended; it works a lot better. Replying with a better joke is a lot better than getting your knickers in a knot cuz of someone else's sense of humour.

[Slytovhand]

From what little that article says, he wasn't telling jokes, he was being deliberately offensive. He's in a position of power, and felt the need to try and ridicule and demean her...

Jokes for the purpose of eliciting mirth from the audience is one thing - insults designed to get a rise out of someone is something completely different!

[DesignFox]

I agree. When it comes to jokes, it all depends on the context in which they are being used.

If someone is purposely trying to be a bully, but hiding behind the facade of telling a joke, then they've gone too far, and need to be called out. Blanket banning on jokes, or the current trend of having to be too PC for fear of OMG offending someone just sucks, though.

Like the article stated, I'd rather live in a world where someone occasionally takes it too far, than in a world without jokes.

I like that Jesus and Skittles joke, Ree. That's cute. :)

[jackfaire]

At work no one gets too PC (thank god) I know because I keep a Buddha on my desk and no one says boo.

[blas87]

I've heard just about every blonde joke there is.

I'm fairly easy going, I get that some people think it's just the funniest thing ever to point out to me that I'm a blonde (like I didn't know that before).....but opening up a conversation with me with a blonde joke is bound to get you some pretty dirty looks or a big pointy heel up your butt.

[Parrothead]

"Why are blonde jokes so short?"

"So Brunettes can remember them."

[KabeRinnaul]

I've known a number of very intelligent blondes.

I've known very few intelligent bottle blondes.

I think that's the key difference.

On a related tangent, nothing really wears on me quite as fast as West Virginia jokes. Mainly because a lot of the people who spread them seem to honestly believe they're a good description of the whole state. And while yes, there's an element of truth in it all (the coalfields counties, Chesapeake), they generally only apply to places most West Virginians try to avoid, too.

[jackfaire]

On a related tangent, nothing really wears on me quite as fast as West Virginia jokes.

OH dear god they actually have jokes about that state? I know it's a state but I guarantee you that I could find at least 10 people that if I said the words West Virginia they would ask what part of Virginia is that in.

Not kidding people are stupid about geography

[joe hx]

I find most blonde jokes, and even a lot of racist jokes, are "stupid people" jokes. That is, it's making fun of stupidity, and you can interchange the race and it's still funny.

i.e. Why did the <stupid person> not make it to the airport? Because <stupid person> saw a sign that said "Airport Left"

[Slytovhand]

In Oz, we had a very long running TV show called "Hey Hey, it's Saturday" (see the thread on 'Was the act racist'!).

They 'invented' a group of people - the Muddlepuddlians (iirc) - so, no matter the joke, they just inserted their new group, and bingo! Also, I think they invented a certain person they could joke about as well - no real description (just happened to be female), but useful for the same reasons.

Smart move, really!

On a related tangent, nothing really wears on me quite as fast as West Virginia jokes.

Which part of Virginia is that in?

[Bloodsoul]

How many Super Saiyans does it take to screw in a lightbulb?

One; but it takes three episodes.

[lordlundar]

How many Super Saiyans does it take to screw in a lightbulb?

One; but it takes three episodes.

Wow, that fast huh?:p

[KabeRinnaul]

OH dear god they actually have jokes about that state? I know it's a state but I guarantee you that I could find at least 10 people that if I said the words West Virginia they would ask what part of Virginia is that in.

Not kidding people are stupid about geography

Once, long ago, my 3rd grade teacher told us that she'd told someone in the Southern parts of the country that she was from West Virginia, and they asked her "Isn't that near Raleigh?"

But yes, try looking around Fark.com for a story about WV and see what the comment thread looks like.

[guywithashovel]

On a related tangent, nothing really wears on me quite as fast as West Virginia jokes. Mainly because a lot of the people who spread them seem to honestly believe they're a good description of the whole state. And while yes, there's an element of truth in it all (the coalfields counties, Chesapeake), they generally only apply to places most West Virginians try to avoid, too.

I grew up in Southeastern Ohio, and for some reason, people there tend to like to rip on West Virginia and Kentucky quite a bit. I'll admit I've chuckled at a few West Virginia jokes. However, if it weren't for the signs up, I honestly wouldn't be able to tell Southeastern Ohio from West Virginia and Kentucky. For the most part, the people are about the same, and the land looks about the same, too.

Heck, sometimes we would go to the malls in Ashland, Kentucky and Huntington, West Virginia to do some shopping. Very nice malls.

[protege]

And while yes, there's an element of truth in it all (the coalfields counties, Chesapeake), they generally only apply to places most West Virginians try to avoid, too.

Throw Grafton, WV in there too. Been there many times to watch trains...and unfortunately, there's some truth to the WV jokes. Not all of Grafton resembles the stereotypes--there are some nice homes there...mainly in the outlying areas. However, the area up the hill (by the abandoned high school) is pretty shitty. Most of the homes are falling apart--one or two were quite nice, but the rest were dumps. Parked outside many of them, were rusty pickups with Confederate flags and gun racks in the windows. Still, many of the rednecks were polite...but they did keep a watchful eye on me.

[jackfaire]

Once, long ago, my 3rd grade teacher told us that she'd told someone in the Southern parts of the country that she was from West Virginia, and they asked her "Isn't that near Raleigh?"

But yes, try looking around Fark.com for a story about WV and see what the comment thread looks like.

Meh I tell people I am from Vancouver and immediatly I am from Canada If I say Washington I am from our Nation's capital.

Online I can understand this but when I am across the river it is just sad.

[Seshat]

Jokes are like flirting. Watch for the reaction.

If your audience - all of your audience - is happy with a particular line of joke, keep it up. If you've upset a minority of your audience, switch topics. (Joke about the muddlepuddlians, not the polish, for example.)

If you've upset a majority of your audience, it's time to let someone else tell the jokes.


That's my rule of thumb for not taking it too far.

[jackfaire]

My rule of thumb if your standing in front of the firing squad you went too far.

[Lace Neil Singer]

My rule of thumb if your standing in front of the firing squad you went too far.

Or on a train to the Gulag... yup, you took that joke too far.

Stalin references don't count as provoking Godwin's Law, right? :p