'Offensive' Humor

craig_t · 20 Nov 2015 at 16:35

I don't think it should determine the type of person you are. I am not racist but I would find a racist joke funny. I'm not a rapist but I can find a joke on rape funny... And so on. It doesn't mean I am one of them people, nor does it make me a bad person.

The only time someone could maybe be offended, is say the joke was about rape and they'd been a victim of it before it may be hard for them.

Nix · 20 Nov 2015 at 16:39

craig_t said:
I don't think it should determine the type of person you are. I am not racist but I would find a racist joke funny. I'm not a rapist but I can find a joke on rape funny... And so on. It doesn't mean I am one of them people, nor does it make me a bad person.

The only time someone could maybe be offended, is say the joke was about rape and they'd been a victim of it before it may be hard for them.

An addendum to that would be that only if the joke teller was telling the joke through malice.

The topic itself is obviously a sore spot. The offence implies being wronged in some way.

SonniLombardi · 20 Nov 2015 at 17:03

Six6siX said:
That gif is literally the best thing I have seen all day

Carltons dance is hypnotising, always makes me smile

Had to watch a compilation after seeing the .gif haha

craig_t · 20 Nov 2015 at 17:11

Nix said:
An addendum to that would be that only if the joke teller was telling the joke through malice.

The topic itself is obviously a sore spot. The offence implies being wronged in some way.

Good point I suppose!

Schlong&Stable · 20 Nov 2015 at 17:16

There is no such thing as offensive humour, only offended people.

Anyway, to answer the question: No. Laughing at a joke does not mean you condone the contents of the joke. When I laugh at a Jimmy Carr joke, neither party is approving of say rape, we both know its wrong. But that he has been daring enough to make light of it is of course very funny.

Terminal_Boy · 20 Nov 2015 at 17:17

harry5522 said:
I think offensive humor is very case by case. A friend of mine from the USA says that our banter/jokes over here would cause wars.

That said we do come out with some pretty ****** up ****

The Yanks seem to get more upset by blasphemy than they do profanity, especially in the Bible Belt.

Using the "C" word still makes you the centre of attention in the USA, even around ex-forces and ex-police people.

Nix · 20 Nov 2015 at 17:18

Thompson_NCL said:
There is no such thing as offensive humour, only offended people.

What? Of course there is. If I was to start mercilessly mocking you for something personal to you with the intent to either upset you or display superiority, that would be offensive humour.

jsmoke · 20 Nov 2015 at 17:20

I think in the purest sense it's just what it is, offensive, making a mockery out of others to boost your own ego, i.e get laughs or praise from dumb crowds or persons listening and agreeing with you.

I don't like Frankie Boyle, I think he thinks he's some kind of wise old worldly man who has the authority to take the mic out of others(offensively) to force them to examine themselves, which it probably does make them do that, but you can also do that with decent humour like Milton Jones and others. He plays to his own low level crowd.

Schlong&Stable · 20 Nov 2015 at 17:22

Nix said:
What? Of course there is. If I was to start mercilessly mocking you for something personal to you with the intent to either upset you or display superiority, that would be offensive humour.

No, because I'd probably not be offended. So who is the. offended party? If you upset me, then it is offensive.

estebanrey · 20 Nov 2015 at 17:55

Q. What's the difference between a Pakistani and a dead baby?

A. I've never had sex with a Pakistani

jsmoke · 20 Nov 2015 at 18:04

When I was younger there were quite a few, Englishman, Scotsman and Irishman jokes with the butt of the joke always landing on the Irishman, for example.

An Englishman, Irishman and a Scotsman.

Englishman. "My wife has just spent £50 on books and she can't even read!"
Scotsman. "Well, my wife spent £75 on booze and she doesn't even drink!"
Irishman. "Well, my wife is going on holiday, and has just spent £100 on condoms and she hasn't even got a ****!"

blundaruss · 20 Nov 2015 at 18:09

Thompson_NCL said:
No, because I'd probably not be offended. So who is the. offended party? If you upset me, then it is offensive.

I would tend to agree. It wouldnt offend me if somone starts joking about my personal situation. The way I see it, it says more about them finding it funny that it does me. Good luck to 'em!

Mynight · 20 Nov 2015 at 18:11

Personally I don't think any humor is out of bounds. Every so often I hear a joke and think you shouldn't have said that but it's never myself that finds it offensive.

Sliver · 20 Nov 2015 at 18:19

Mynight said:
Personally I don't think any humor is out of bounds. Every so often I hear a joke and think you shouldn't have said that but it's never myself that finds it offensive.

I almost agree with you. I don't see any point in trying to joke about a tragedy like the Paris attacks or 9/11 etc. Otherwise I think the sky is the limit. If you're not upsetting someone with a joke you tell then it's probably not a funny joke.

Hiijinx · 20 Nov 2015 at 18:27

I'd rather laugh about something than avoid it.

arc@css · 20 Nov 2015 at 18:29

Hiijinx said:
I'd rather laugh about something than avoid it.

Sometimes I think that laughing about something can be avoiding it.

Moothead2 · 20 Nov 2015 at 18:40

It's just like asking does enjoying violence and murder in games make you a psycho. While I wouldn't recite a joke out of malice or say it to someone I know would be offended I do laugh at them and share them with friends I know will take it for what it is.

estebanrey · 20 Nov 2015 at 18:49

jsmoke said:
When I was younger there were quite a few, Englishman, Scotsman and Irishman jokes with the butt of the joke always landing on the Irishman, for example.

On an Irish building site, Mick the Foreman sees Paddy picking up nails and looking at them before hammering some of them in but throwing the rest of them in the bin.

So Mick walks over and says,

"Oi, Paddy. Why are you throwing half the nails away?"

Paddy replies,

"Well boss, you see I pick them up and If the head of the nail is facing me then I use them but if it's pointing at me then it's a dud."

Mick shouts...

"PADDY YOU EEIJET! THEY'RE NOT DUDS!!!!

THEY'RE FOR THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PHECKING WALL!"

elmuzzy66. · 20 Nov 2015 at 18:49

A spastic walks up to an ice cream van and asks for a cone ice cream.
'Which flavour?' the vendor asks.
'Doesn't matter am going to drop it'

Six6siX · 20 Nov 2015 at 18:58

Moothead2 said:
It's just like asking does enjoying violence and murder in games make you a psycho. While I wouldn't recite a joke out of malice or say it to someone I know would be offended I do laugh at them and share them with friends I know will take it for what it is.

I like the parallel with violent games

I think the view point on that has shifted for the better since it was originally considered a real issue in the media.

So what is it that needs to change in order for people who don't understand how to appreciate humour for what it is rather than taking it personally? Is it possible to bring people round who think that way? It seems like that majority of people don't have a problem with as long as it isn't personal - which I agree with.