When is a joke not a joke?

stephen_n

The obvious answer would be when it's not funny I suppose, but as humor is so subjective how can any joke be deemed not funny when someone somewhere will probably find it funny.


You may be asking at this point what am I rambling on about and what it has to do with this forum. Well I kind of had a discussion today on Facebook over someone posting a complaint via their status about some group that was set up on FB called something like throw dildo's at Sean Og, set up by some Tipp fans as a joke before some up coming GAA match.

Upshot of this is, there were a lot of people getting their knickers in a twist over it. Now I find the idea of the group stupid but then again the same can be said of most groups on FB and I didn't really think that people took them seriously. I think pretty much 90% of all groups on FB would be insulting to someone. After all this is not really incitement to hatred. it is taking the piss out of someone who took a big step in coming out as gay, which I accept is hard to do at high levels in sport. However I think humor is too a certain degree societies way of normalising things and although I don't find this funny I'm pretty sure there wasn't any real malice in it.

Point is, do you think that sometimes the willingness to be offended gets in the way, as in fosters an us and them attitude?

Annasopra

I don't think that's a joke. I was curious and went looking for the group - The group administrator has posted nasty comments as well

"He's GAY He's BENT His arse is up for rent,,donal og"

Boston

If the price of tolerance is swallowing abuse, then fuk it.

ShagNastii

There is a fine line which reads from "Pisstake said in jest with the undertone of no harm intented or wished upon" to "Pisstake siad in jest with a vile undertone of homophobia". I'd say this is very much the latter. Fat jokes, blonde jokes, black jokes, incest joke, gay jokes- they are all funny when said in a tongue and cheek manner and are not brought too far.

Annasopra

ShagNastii wrote: »

There is a fine line which reads from "Pisstake said in jest with the undertone of no harm intented or wished upon" to "Pisstake siad in jest with a vile undertone of homophobia". I'd say this is very much the latter. Fat jokes, blonde jokes, black jokes, incest joke, gay jokes- they are all funny when said in a tongue and cheek manner and are not brought too far.

And I probably would have said that there was "no harm intented or wished upon" until I read the comments above

Tricity Bendix

Its not a nice group. Humour is not its intent. People howling like monkeys when a black footballer scores is not funny. Its racist. I don't see how this is any different.

Heebie

Here's a story about this.

When I was just a lad of 25 or so.. I worked as a cashier in a grocery in the U.S... in a town sometimes called "Lesbianville U.S.A" (google it.. you'll find it.)

I was working one pride day.. with it being gay pride day in town.. the first Saturday in May every year, we had a lot more openly gay people (mostly festooned in gay-pride-day garb) than we would normally have in the store.. this would have been a bit after the time when the "main" festivities were over and most people headed home..

A woman came through my checkout and used the phrase "fruity" about something in the types of passing conversations that cashiers have with their customers in a grocery.
I made an offhand comment of, "There's a lot of that going around today" which.. being openly gay at the time.. I found quite humerous.
My customer most decidedly did NOT find it funny in the slightest, and was absolutely appalled that I would say such a thing. I felt awful that I'd upset her so... she was a regular customer and seemed like a decent sort to me.

There's really no way to predict exactly how everyone around you is going to take a joke.. maybe not even if you've known them for years. (although the longer you've known them.. the more likely you'll be right, I think.)

and.. when someone does take offence.. you'll know it. =O Oh boy.. you'll know it.

oisindoyle

stephen_n wrote: »

The obvious answer would be when it's not funny I suppose, but as humor is so subjective how can any joke be deemed not funny when someone somewhere will probably find it funny.


You may be asking at this point what am I rambling on about and what it has to do with this forum. Well I kind of had a discussion today on Facebook over someone posting a complaint via their status about some group that was set up on FB called something like throw dildo's at Sean Og, set up by some Tipp fans as a joke before some up coming GAA match.

Upshot of this is, there were a lot of people getting their knickers in a twist over it. Now I find the idea of the group stupid but then again the same can be said of most groups on FB and I didn't really think that people took them seriously. I think pretty much 90% of all groups on FB would be insulting to someone. After all this is not really incitement to hatred. it is taking the piss out of someone who took a big step in coming out as gay, which I accept is hard to do at high levels in sport. However I think humor is too a certain degree societies way of normalising things and although I don't find this funny I'm pretty sure there wasn't any real malice in it.

Point is, do you think that sometimes the willingness to be offended gets in the way, as in fosters an us and them attitude?

It's NOT funny humourous at all.It's offensive and the authorities should step in and do something about it .The GAA have to make a stand now and STAMP OUT homophobia in the game.
Homophobic comments by so called fans has to be stopped .
If idiots can start a FB campaign against Donal Og ,then its time people sttod up and contacted the GAA and insist they do something about homophobia.
Maybe set up a FB page as well

stephen_n

Johnnymcg wrote: »

I don't think that's a joke. I was curious and went looking for the group - The group administrator has posted nasty comments as well

I didn't look up the group tbh as I think all of those groups are purile, however I'm sure Sarah Jessica Parker would be offended by the group saying she has a face like a horse, even if it's true.

Those comments are way out of line though and I would imagine probably written by a 15 year old. It seems to go with a certain type of sports supporter that appears in every game on planet. I have heard some pretty nasty stuff shouted at rugby players who do not find themselves in any minority whatsoever. Seems to be a certain type of male thing, not a homophobic, sexist, racist thing!

Oisin setting up a rage page on FB yes I could really see how that would help with stopping attention seeking morons getting their attention, by creating more of it for them!

DubArk

I had a look and it’s getting nasty on that page people calling each other names!!

From my point of view STOP been so sensitive, I’m gay and have made many jokes about minorities some funny, some not so funny! Although the original question was about jokes, that FB group were just not funny and I think they weren’t really trying to be funny, just been a bunch of narrow minded jerks and that’s why they’re all in that group! And good luck to them!

Getting back to jokes!! I laugh my ass of at others expense all they time so I will never complain when fun is poked at me! Bring it on!!!

Boston

A joke is no a joke when the intent is to cause offence. It may cause offence as a secondary consequence but that's ok, in my opinion.

Stark

It's an attack against an individual which is where it crosses the line imo. If it was simply "Let's all throw dildos at gays", then it would be crass and immature but not on the same level of abusiveness.

stephen_n

Stark wrote: »

It's an attack against an individual which is where it crosses the line imo. If it was simply "Let's all throw dildos at gays", then it would be crass and immature but not on the same level of abusiveness.

Good point but as I said there are hundreds of Facebook pages attacking individuals from Sarah Jessica Parker to Jedward and so on so forth without much outcry about it at all.

A fair percentage of the population are morons and social networking sites are giving them a public medium but no more so than in every day life is it not the best policy just to ignore them?

Iwasfrozen

I must be very curse but I've never been offended by a joke and can't understand people who do.

I think people who are offended by any sort of minority joke should stop being so sensitive and make a joke back.

Iwasfrozen

stephen_n wrote: »

Good point but as I said there are hundreds of Facebook pages attacking individuals from Sarah Jessica Parker to Jedward and so on so forth without much outcry about it at all.

I believe it all comes down to freedom of speech. Why should any person have the right to stop people comparing Sarah Jessica Parkers face to a horse ? Especially since her face does resemble a horse.

Similarly Jedward are very annoying and have made alot of money from being annoying. Why should anybidy not be allowed to say they are annoying or make fun of their hair ?

stephen_n wrote: »

A fair percentage of the population are morons and social networking sites are giving them a public medium but no more so than in every day life is it not the best policy just to ignore them?

Of course. Because anybody who doesn't agree with you a a moran. :rolleyes:

Annasopra

Iwasfrozen wrote: »

I believe it all comes down to freedom of speech. Why should any person have the right to stop people comparing Sarah Jessica Parkers face to a horse ? Especially since her face does resemble a horse.

Similarly Jedward are very annoying and have made alot of money from being annoying. Why should anybidy not be allowed to say they are annoying or make fun of their hair ?

So people should have the freedom of speech to say "Hes gay, Hes bent, his arse is up for rent, Donal Og"?

stephen_n

Iwasfrozen wrote: »

Of course. Because anybody who doesn't agree with you a a moran. :rolleyes:

No that doesn't make them morons at all because if it did I would clearly class you in that catagory.

What has lack of basic understanding about peoples sexuality and rights to live there life without judgement got to do with agreeing with me? So roll your eyes around that one