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Jackie
I suppose we could continue this thread forever - discussing the rights and wrongs of humour. I muist admit, once again, though, that whilst I felt a twinge of guilt, I also had to laugh when I read the joke. Quite irresistible - perhaps the reason why dictators hate comedians.
cheer
the sunshine warrior
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
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>rights and wrongs of humour
I think that one of the things that alternative comedy has tried to do is to shift the butt of a joke from something that one has no choice about (eg being a mother-in-law (tired humour), different religions or races (no choice)) to something which has involved a choice (being a politician (fair game), being a member of a particular profession (a lawyer - they can take it)). Hence the Irish joke in Britain and the Polish joke in America appear to been replaced, in many (but not all)circles, by jokes about lawyers, Tony Blair or Bill Clinton.
Jokes about religion, gender, or race tend to be told these days, more by people where they themselves are the but of the joke, not others. In the same way clowning, slapstick and visual humour tends to focus on the person appearing to be foolish.
I suppose humour is society's way of discussing difficult issues. We can tell a lot about whether people have similar views to ourselves by their reaction to different kinds of humour.
I suspect that the people of Eastbourne would be amused by the play in words in the joke mentioned earlier and would tell the story about themselves.
>dictators hate comedians
I'm sure they do!
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
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>So how's the tan?
Gorgeous!
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veteran
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I suspect that the people of Eastbourne would be amused by the play in words..and would tell the story about themselves.
Well, it's a brilliant joke, and the younger residents definitely would (as I live in Sussex myself I've actually passed this joke on to a few locals) !
But possibly, Jo, that's a bit of an argument against your viewpoint of people rarely being cruel to others in their humour these days. Much as I admire the principle, and try to endorse the practice.
For one thing, humour is hardly ever solely directed at oneself, any more than it is solely directed at others.
I think you hit the nail on the head with humour is society's way of discussing difficult issues. Among those difficult issues are matters such as being unable to call a spade a spade, and having to politely ignore the unpleasant attributes of, say, old people and sick people whilst in their presence. Hence a lot of nurses and carers tend to have what could be seen as a "sick" sense of humour. This doesn't mean that they are at all uncaring, unprofessional and/or not suited to their work - it's just a much-needed occasional outlet, and maybe the flip-side of the coin to some of the horror they willingly take on in their working lives.
I think it's very true that laughter is the best medicine. It's also true that sometimes, in an otherwise unbearable situation, "you've just got to laugh".
After the recent floods where the centre of Lewes (England) was pretty much wiped out, I noticed a sign up outside the remains of a pub:
Opening soon - Lewes' first Scuba Bar!
Todays' Specials
Adam's Ale
Noah's Tipple
OUR BEERS AREN'T WATERED DOWN
Tears and laughter; instant enantiodroma.
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old hand
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Feeling very smug now about the famous (?) British sense of humour (and the Dunkirk spirit?).
Thanks for that.
cheer
the sunshine warrior
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the famous (?) British sense of humour (and the Dunkirk spirit?)
Something like that!
Likewise smug.
And my pleasure.
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