What are some things that are not okay to joke about?

[ldopas]

Another is jokes that actually hurt someone's feelings. I get that sometimes you don't know but if you continue to joke at the expense of another's emotions then it's never okay.

So what is there left to joke about then? Any joke is going to probably find someone who will get offended. The trouble with today is people look for offence, often where none is intended.

Soooo tell us what is left to joke about then?

Jokes also can be the most cutting way to destroy a bigot and bigotry by the way. So by your logic if a bigot or racist or homophobe is offended by a joke at their expense, should we ban those jokes as well? Or is it only jokes that you don't like?

ps The Producers poke fun at Hitler and the Nazis and is hilarious!!!!!!!

[Amandistan]

If it hurts someone, it should mean to stop joking about the subject.
Maybe if it'a about the actual dictator it's okay but if it's a negative joke about concentration camps or jewish people, then it is disgusting. 

In all honesty sometimes people just need to be serious. Humor is not always useful. you need to be serious about some things. 

[Stephanie]

This is really a very interesting topic - it's probably impossible to reach an agreement - but many interesting points have been made.

Context certainly matters a lot - and audience - and then it matters WHO is telling the joke. I don't know most of the comedians mentioned in this thread but I assume they are pretty much like comedians here (= Germany). There are some I really love - and their comedy could be considered racists, sexist, anti-semitic...only I do know that the ones I like are actually certainly not racist (sexist, etc) at all but use comedy as a means to point out certain issues, things that are, in their opinion, wrong with society, politcs, these days. You have to get it, though, and to know what their actual stance on these things is.
Same goes for telling jokes in private - I can laugh my sorry behind of at most of the jokes my dad tells, no matter how "politically incorrect" they may be. But then I know how he really feels about these topics and am aware that he is really only being a clown and HE knows I know that and won't be offended and he also knows I am quite capable of differentiating between what's being said in a joke and what is going on in real life.

So I guess if you are amongst friends who know each other really weel - you can joke about anything. Amongst strangers or on the internet - well, the danger of being completely misunderstood is quite high so it's probably good to think twice at times.

[Master Ray]

I used to work for the NHS, mainly amongst nurses... some people would be shocked at what I heard them saying sometimes amidst discreet company... but when you work in a job where you see people die and suffer almost every day?  It was a necessary pressure valve to release what can be so upsetting... otherwise, the tide of upset might overwhelm.

[ldopas]

In all honesty sometimes people just need to be serious. Humor is not always useful. you need to be serious about some things.

True. But isn't that the problem these days, people are too ******* serious about everything. Lighten up world!

[Master Ray]

To add on to my previous post... humour is a massive and crucial defence mechanism against the utter shithole that is the world today.  You can't let it drag you under.

[szmurf]

Didn't watch any of those videos that you mentioned MR, but doubt I would find jokes about rape and school shootings funny.

Seems like I remember a comic in Germany or France that got in trouble for being a Holocaust Denier.  A year back or so.  I don't see the humor in that either.

[BlackCountryMaggiD]

In all honesty sometimes people just need to be serious. Humor is not always useful. you need to be serious about some things.

And vice-versa!

Have you remembered anything that makes you laugh yet Amanda apart from Putin with his shirt off?

[ldopas]

To add on to my previous post... humour is a massive and crucial defence mechanism against the utter shithole that is the world today.  You can't let it drag you under.

MR, can I ask. Where is this stuff coming from? 

The world is not a shithole. Beautiful days, kids playing, blue skies, mountains, spring rain, generosity of spirit (yes it is still there in the vast majority) sun/rain/snow. 

To add to this, whatever our politics and beliefs, we are privileged to live in the west and the UK, we do have clean water, infrastructure, access (free at the point of) to first world advanced medicines, there is some sort of safety net for those less fortunate (we can argue how effective but it is there), we score high on many of the life indexes.

All I am saying is compared to North Korea, Sierra Leone, the surface of Venus, living in a Favela, living in places where genocide exists, I don't know why you would describe our geopolitical position as a shithole. Setting our standards against Utopia, ok I see your point, but that is unfeasible.

Can I ask? Do you have a partner, a loved one, family who you can talk to as you and some others sound as if you internalize and magnify the negatives and don't see any positives and that way lies the abyss. I'm starting to worry about you matey! 

[ldopas]

Ok I think I've got one Amanda might approve of; non racist, non offensive;

I've got a pet snail, and took his shell off to see if he could move a bit faster without the weight on his back. But all he got was a lot more sluggish! (Oh yeah!) 

[Master Ray]

Ba-dum tish, Idopas!

Thanks for your concern, mate.  And you're right... in a way.  Compared to others, we have it so damn easy.

But that's a case of misunderstanding the nature of someone who suffers from depression.  I know that there are others on this Forum who have the same condition.  I'm sure there was a thread about this awhile back.  There is no logic to it... there are people who have everything you can think of and still spend some days barely able to function.  It's a bit like saying to someone with MS 'hey, at least you don't have cancer!'

I do try and not bring it here, but it slips out sometimes.  You can't help it.  Yes, my personal situation isn't great right now, but I can think of back when things were much better and I still had black days.  If I won the bloody lottery, them black days would still happen!

One of the best descriptions of depression I ever heard was that 'it's like living your life with a layer of skin missing'.  Ie, stuff that you should just shrug off and shouldn't touch you REALLY gets to you.

But, to make this relevant to this thread, I can laugh about it, as do friends of mine!  It's something I can do little about (and please, don't suggest anti-depressant drugs, HATED the way they made me not happy, just numb and permanently tired!) so I take it on the fuckin' chin and get on with it.  Hopefully with a few dark jokes along the way because that's my favourite style of humour.  Actually, I'd love it if anyone here has a joke or two about depression, I'll be the first one to laugh!

I know, it's kind of a see-saw way to live, but it's the only one I got...

 

 

[Coumarin]

ray, you can argue with this ldopas. hes always right. with pumpkin, leave them to them to it. I learned that some time ago. this place is to talk about NMA. they never do

[Master Ray]

ray, you can argue with this ldopas. hes always right. with pumpkin, leave them to them to it. I learned that some time ago. this place is to talk about NMA. they never do

Gotta disagree, with the greatest of respect, my friend.  It's a community of like-minded folks who talk about anything and everything that might be on their minds but who came here thanks to the magnificence of NMA.  I've made great friends here who I all too rarely meet but can be in touch with every day, if I want to.

If all you want to talk about is NMA, then go for it, I respect that, totally.  But the 'everything else' thread is about... well, everything else.

Look forward to your threads on the specific NMA forums, mate!   

[Amandistan]

I find many things funny.  Not bullying someone with internet memes to make it look polite. And using Hitler to make it feel threatening.

[Coumarin]

thank you for enlightening me ray. I will, of course take your research with me