Humour. The fitness of subjects thereof. Opinions?

[Hullygully]

Mine is often unsuitable, apparently.

So, I am genuinely interested to know, what subjects do you think shouldn't be joked about?

think tabulah had it right back near the start of the thread: 'I don't think there are any subjects that shouldn't be joked about as such, it depends on what the butt of the joke is...

'If the joke is basically to point and laugh at someone because they're a certain race, religion, gender, sexual preference or have a disability then I'd object.

'But not about the subject itself if you see what I mean.'

So Ricky Gervais is waste of oxygen because his idea of 'humour' is to be nasty to children with disabilities and shout 'mong' as often as he likes. But ANother comedian might be quite good at parodying attitudes to DS.

I cant stand that people think anything is fair game for the sake of humour. Its not. Not offending IMO is far more important than being funny

Of course you can be funny, without insulting any individual or group of people

Q: whats green and goes up and down
A: a frog in a lift

see

rhubarb - I was thinkiung the same thing! Go on I'll try

There were 2 nuns in the bath
One said wares (sic) the soap
The other says - yes it does

Is that right??

Yup, that's right.

"where's the soap?" - you don't give them the other spelling, let them figure it out.

Yes I thought long and hard about hwo to spell it

But bejeezus, some people think that being funny is more important than being offensive- this makes them many things, but it doesn't necessarily make them not funny.

(It's 'wears' )

I'd struggle to laugh about child porn/death but I get over-emotional at the drop of a hat these post-DC days.

Rhubarb your playlist did make me chuckle.

Yes, but bejeezus, the frog joke isn't very funny, is it? A lot of humour (not all, obviously) depends on having a shock twist as the punchline.

"wears" the soap...

WHAT IS FUNNY ABOUT A TERRIFIED AMPHIBIAN IN A LIFT?

hOW IS IT SUPPOSED TO LAY FROGSPAWN ON A METAL FLOOR AND IT CAN'T REACH THE BUTTONS

Thanks for telling the joke i think i'd heard that one, obviously it's not offensive enough for me to find it funny but none the less cheers.

Princess Dianan Queen of are Hearts.

hmmm..it does to me tethers..it completely diffuses the humour IMO

I like Eddie Izzard

Top subject and something I have wondered about. Could someone tell when, if ever, a joke about child abuse is funny?

I cannot see that that is ever ever ever funny.

If someone can tell me otherwise I would be extremely interested.

Ricky Gervais, Allen Carr etc just astound me when they do this.

Of course you can be funny, without insulting any individual or group of people

Q: whats green and goes up and down
A: a frog in a lift

How dare you I am married to a frog, you cheeky cow.

the frog joke is VERY funny hackmum where is your sense of humour? miserable old amphibianist...

Just wrote a massive post about the French.

You're all cunts.

HT is funny.

Yep, agree with tabulah and edam. It's all about where the joke is aimed, not the subject matter. If you're punching up, at people more powerful than yourself, or punching inwards mocking yourself and your own attitudes, that's fine. If you're punching downwards at people less powerful than yourself, it's not and is basically bullying.

Richard Herring is very good on this subject (something he writes about quite a bit) and is a good example of a comedian who uses intelligence and insight to explore 'controversial' issues such as disability. As opposed to Ricky Gervais who comes across as cold, smug and bullying.

And Hully is funny.

it was just a JOKE bupcakes Grrrr...I hate people with chips on their shoulders

But isn't that the beauty of humour, bejeezus? Its subjectivity?

I find Eddie Izzard insufferably DULL, but I wouldn't question the fact that you find him funny IYSWIM...

Just wrote a massive post about the French.

That made me weep and I DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND IT

There were lots of jokes about Josef Fritzil being named 'Dad of the Year' which I find amusing because my mother was once awarded 'Mum of the Year' and she is emotional abusive and a very disturbed individual.

'Not offending is more important...' - depends. Not offending someone who can't defend themselves from pathetic bullying, yes. Not offending someone who just thinks their views should be privileged above anyone else's, no.

There's a long tradition of humour that pokes fun at the powerful. Lots of jokes about religion, for instance (RIP Dave Allen). Someone who is terribly pious and thinks no-one should be allowed to tell jokes about their religion (even when the person telling the joke often shares the same religion) should be ignored.

Talladega Nights is extraordinarily funny.