Seriously thoughtful When is HUMOR in "Bad" taste?

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I think you're slightly missing the point with that one. You may never have seen him on American TV, but Saha Baron Cohen, the British comedian who stars in that film, has made his career out of being in bad taste. That's the way it's supposed to be.

But it's not just bad taste. It's offensive in some places. And stupid in the rest.

[=X=]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

And, please, for Satan's sake, let's not fight.
Don

Isn't this a bit of a contradiction? If you're doing anything for satan's sake it would be evil and belligerent as a matter of fact it would be a requirement, if acting on satan's sake, to do down right contradict you're request.

Now fortunate for you I don't act in satan's sake, but in God's sake. So I will not be calling you names or try to hijack the thread.

... speaking of which what is the topic?

=X=

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by Moejoe

Weekend at Bernies

Yes, that's it! Thank you.

Like I said, I didn't think it was a very good movie. For me, it was stupid rather than funny.

Don

[=X=]

For me bad taste is only when you go after what people consider sacred or dear. It doesn't have be be religious attack but a lot are. It can even be when the go after a ethnic group.
This bother me.

And while I do find "shock humor" taseless I don't seem to get offended by it. More than anything I just don't find it funny.

=X=

[Moejoe]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

Yes, that's it! Thank you.

Like I said, I didn't think it was a very good movie. For me, it was stupid rather than funny.

Don

There's a Ray Bradury short, I seem to recall, that has a similar premise. Friends of the recently deceased kidnap the body from a morgue and take that body for one last night on the town. At least I think it's a Ray Bradbury.

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by DixieGal

That was Weekend at Bernies. Loved it!

So Don, let me ask you a personal question: Are you native to Peru? I ask because every Hispanic male I know is very squeamish about bodily functions, as you describe. I have an acquaintance from Guatemala in front of whom I make a point to pop in an insulin shot, just to watch him turn green and see his skin crawl. He told me it is considered bad manners to do such things in public where he comes from. So I, of course, poke his personal boundaries whenever possible. After all, what are friends for?

Is this your experience also, that discussing or witnessing bodily functions is taboo?

No, I'm a citizen of the U.S.

I just love humor that challenges and is on the cutting edge, and perhaps even "dangerous" if it gets people to think. Also, because I love dead things (re: Zombies), I love to put them in odd situations in terms of humor.

I also think cats make the most lovely bookends imaginable. (That's a joke, but someone will read into it a desire to torture animals. People who feel that way have very narrow perspectives...)

Don

[Lady Blue]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

But it's not just bad taste. It's offensive in some places. And stupid in the rest.

That's what's so great about the free world. With the right outlet, you can make a good living (or get downright rich) from "bad taste," "bad jokes," "bad behaviour," and "offensive anything."

A world of opportunity where even stupidity pays (sure wish someone would start paying me for MINE.)

I think it's a pitiful state of affairs, but at the same time I defend everyone's right to make bad jokes in bad taste and be offensive if that's what floats their boat. I don't appreciate someone trying to purposely attempt to embarrass or humiliate another, just for grins and giggles, (or any purpose) but it's not illegal, so if someone wants to be a jerk, oh well . . .

I'm not forced to watch (or read) bad TV, movies, comic strips or whatever, if that's the main premise of the medium. So if that's your profession, have at it and be successful.

On the other hand, if something off-color, in bad taste, bathroom humor, or offensive (by my standards) is scattered at intervals throughout a medium where I don't expect it, I don't freak out and have a hissy-fit about it either.

I'm just sayin' . . .

[JSWolf]

South Park is juvenile and offensive. But it's also funny.

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by =X=

For me bad taste is only when you go after what people consider sacred or dear.

That is so true. You tell a joke about dead cats, cat lovers say it is in bad taste, blonds don't seem to like dumb blond jokes, short people don't like short people jokes... and on and on.

But, does that make the joke in bad taste just because someone else does appreciate it?

I think racial jokes are generally considered in bad taste too. I also think it depends on the group or audience. There are some jokes you would tell to your guy friend but not to your wife or your mother.

BOb

[Xenophon]

My wife and I made a deal about ethnic jokes. I can tell any ethnic joke I like, as long as the ethnicity being put down is (one of) mine (Scots or Slovak). Otherwise, I tell <ethnic> jokes. A brief (and lousy!) example:

Q: What's black and crispy and hangs from the ceiling?
A: An <ethnic> electrician!

Xenophon

[Moejoe]

Q: What's black and crispy and hangs from the ceiling?
A: Ardvarks.

(You really had to be there to get the joke)

[Over]

Originally Posted by Xenophon

My wife and I made a deal about ethnic jokes. I can tell any ethnic joke I like, as long as the ethnicity being put down is (one of) mine (Scots or Slovak). Otherwise, I tell <ethnic> jokes. A brief (and lousy!) example:

Q: What's black and crispy and hangs from the ceiling?
A: An <ethnic> electrician!

Xenophon

Or like that joke about a black guy who cut off a finger. They only had a white finger for transplant, so they did it. The black guy died in two days: the finger rejected the body.

Bad taste, offensive but funny.

I guess what defines a joke, is its context.

[Sparrow]

A newspaper cartoon on Stephen Hawking's illness asked 'Have they tried switching him off and on again?"

That's a bad taste joke in my book because it is about an actual person who is suffering.
Happily Stephen Hawking is expected to make a full recovery.

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

That is so true. You tell a joke about dead cats, cat lovers say it is in bad taste, blonds don't seem to like dumb blond jokes, short people don't like short people jokes... and on and on.

But, does that make the joke in bad taste just because someone else does appreciate it?

I think racial jokes are generally considered in bad taste too. I also think it depends on the group or audience. There are some jokes you would tell to your guy friend but not to your wife or your mother.

BOb

I think the question you pose -- is a joke in bad taste because someone doesn't like it -- is an important question.

I think the audience is important, as you point out. But should the audience "tell" you not to post, write, or tell a bad joke? I don't think the audience has a right to act as my censor. You don't like it, then don't read it. I feel censorship is a very dangerous thing, but that may be because of my training in Journalism.


Don

[Sparrow]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

You don't like it, then don't read it.

How does that work? I know before I read it whether I'll like it or not??