DEBATE: inspired by SOTM, what is funny?

[caitycaity]

on a recent thread that SOTM started , several posters said that making fun of people was rude and childish.

the debate is:

do you see people like stand up comedians or jay leno/conan o'brien/david letterman as childish/rude?

does it make a difference if the person being made fun of is famous or well-known?

are the wedding names that leno does (you know like the wedding of seymour-butts or something ), for example, childish and rude or are they funny?

when does the line get crossed? what makes something funny?

discuss amongst yourselves.

 

[minniepumpernickel]

Hey, I think Howard Stern is funny!

I like Larry David's sense of humor too. I like the humor on Will and Grace.

My philosophy: I prefer humor over misery any day of the week.

 

[Serena]

You may have a point, but I'm not taking it very well right now. Maybe because he's so young, maybe because if he ever needed a prayer, we wouldn't be complaining and offer him our prayers.

But today, too many people I care about were made fun of and I didn't like it.

 

[frustrated]

I think the line in taste is crossed when it becomes personal. Now, that being said, with 66,000 someone is going to be offended by anything! That is what makes the world go round. And, FTR, I hold everyone to the same standards, i.e. Jay or SOM.

 

[Saffron]

I think it's not funny when someone, anyone, a celebrity ( Conan my favorite), someone on the net, or someone in my real life, tries to shame, guilt or belittle someone into doing something, but disguises it as "Come on, only joking.". That's not funny to me, that's demeaning and cruel.

 

[snoopy]

Originally posted by Saffron
I think it's not funny when someone, anyone, a celebrity ( Conan my favorite), someone on the net, or someone in my real life, tries to shame, guilt or belittle someone into doing something, but disguises it as "Come on, only joking.". That's not funny to me, that's demeaning and cruel.

I started out w/this long reply, but then I saw Maggie's. She's much more eloquent and a thousand times more perceptive than I am, so I'll just say I totally agree.

 

[Blondie]

Another one who agrees with Saffron.

 

[Deb in IA]

Yes, people should have the ability to laugh at their own foibles.


However, belittling others, being condescending to those who are sad or upset, or laughing at other people's problems is not funny.

 

[frustrated]

I guess that I see humor that uses others in a humiliating way is cheap. There are so many wonderful, exciting and very humorous situations in this world, that I don't see any reason to make folks feel bad. That is at least my theory.

 

[Robinrs]

There is a major difference between immature taunting and actual wit.There is a fine line, it just takes time to figure it out.

 

[cynsaun]

Originally posted by Saffron
I think it's not funny when someone, anyone, a celebrity ( Conan my favorite), someone on the net, or someone in my real life, tries to shame, guilt or belittle someone into doing something, but disguises it as "Come on, only joking.". That's not funny to me, that's demeaning and cruel.

I completely agree!

 

[Pyg Me]

Originally posted by caitycaity
on a recent thread that SOTM started , several posters said that making fun of people was rude and childish.

the debate is:

do you see people like stand up comedians or jay leno/conan o'brien/david letterman as childish/rude?

does it make a difference if the person being made fun of is famous or well-known?

are the wedding names that leno does (you know like the wedding of seymour-butts or something ), for example, childish and rude or are they funny?

when does the line get crossed? what makes something funny?

discuss amongst yourselves.

For me it crosses the line when someone purposely goes out to insult, hurt, or denegrate another. When the main intent is to cause pain and not a laugh, you crossed the line.

 

[caitycaity]

When the main intent is to cause pain and not a laugh, you crossed the line.

but isn't that a fine line too? i mean, how do you know what the person's intent was?

 

[minniepumpernickel]

Originally posted by caitycaity
but isn't that a fine line too? i mean, how do you know what the person's intent was?

I don't think that SOTM meant to upset anyone either. Hope we haven't scared him away.

Perhaps he just believes that dwelling on ones afflications or illnesses only makes things worse. I don't know?

 

[frustrated]

Maybe it is less an "intent" than it is mere thoughtlessness. I don't think someone has to be mean-hearted to make a rude remark that they believe is funny. But I think it shows a lack of compassion.

I also think that just saying that someone is young, or blindly sticking up for him does not give him credit! SOM is a smart cookie. Real life is filled with people who will be offended by things said. He is just learning, like all of us have had to, that some things offend people.

If you offend your friends, you stand the chance of losing them, if you offend your boss you stand the chance of being dismissed. It is all a part of life. JMO

 

[caitycaity]

He is just learning, like all of us have had to, that some things offend people.

i'm guessing he probably already knows that.