Comments on: Jones missed the joke’s real punchline *UPDATED* http://www.bookwormroom.com/2010/04/26/jones-missed-the-jokes-real-punchline/ Conservatives deal with facts and reach conclusions; liberals have conclusions and sell them as facts. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 06:19:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: suek http://www.bookwormroom.com/2010/04/26/jones-missed-the-jokes-real-punchline/comment-page-1/#comment-95572 suek Wed, 28 Apr 2010 23:28:39 +0000 http://www.bookwormroom.com/?p=11731#comment-95572 Interesting observation.  I think maybe it's because jokes depend on stereotypes - either reinforcing them or contradicting them.  Many people find _any_ stereotype to be offensive, hence the joke that stereotypes is offensive, and the "joke" that doesn't stereotype isn't offensive and isn't funny either. Interesting observation.  I think maybe it’s because jokes depend on stereotypes – either reinforcing them or contradicting them.  Many people find _any_ stereotype to be offensive, hence the joke that stereotypes is offensive, and the “joke” that doesn’t stereotype isn’t offensive and isn’t funny either.

]]> By: bernieg1 http://www.bookwormroom.com/2010/04/26/jones-missed-the-jokes-real-punchline/comment-page-1/#comment-95568 bernieg1 Wed, 28 Apr 2010 23:04:34 +0000 http://www.bookwormroom.com/?p=11731#comment-95568 MacG, amusing take on the matter, however... I commented at another blog that all jokes are offensive.  A story about groups that can no longer be offended cannot be funny.  For example: Q: How was copper wire invented? A: Two Hittites grabbed the same Penny. This is not funny because it offends no one. On the other hand, if said in the UK substitute Scotsmen for Hittites, or in the US substitute Jews  for Hittites, or in Malaysia use Chinese instead and you have a knee-slapper.  Every culture in the world has the proper ethnic group to offend. If it's not offensive - it's merely chatter, it's certainly not a joke. MacG, amusing take on the matter, however…
I commented at another blog that all jokes are offensive.  A story about groups that can no longer be offended cannot be funny.  For example:
Q: How was copper wire invented?
A: Two Hittites grabbed the same Penny.
This is not funny because it offends no one.
On the other hand, if said in the UK substitute Scotsmen for Hittites, or in the US substitute Jews  for Hittites, or in Malaysia use Chinese instead and you have a knee-slapper.  Every culture in the world has the proper ethnic group to offend.
If it’s not offensive – it’s merely chatter, it’s certainly not a joke.

]]> By: Soccer Dad http://www.bookwormroom.com/2010/04/26/jones-missed-the-jokes-real-punchline/comment-page-1/#comment-95507 Soccer Dad Tue, 27 Apr 2010 10:34:46 +0000 http://www.bookwormroom.com/?p=11731#comment-95507 <strong>And then the general walked into a bar ......</strong> A lot has been written the joke Gen. James Jones, the administration's national security advisor said at the dinner given by the Washington Institute for Middle East Policy last week. It's actually a very funny joke, but what bugged people, was the ... And then the general walked into a bar ……

A lot has been written the joke Gen. James Jones, the administration’s national security advisor said at the dinner given by the Washington Institute for Middle East Policy last week. It’s actually a very funny joke, but what bugged people, was the …

]]> By: Charles Martel http://www.bookwormroom.com/2010/04/26/jones-missed-the-jokes-real-punchline/comment-page-1/#comment-95504 Charles Martel Tue, 27 Apr 2010 06:58:54 +0000 http://www.bookwormroom.com/?p=11731#comment-95504 MacG, good one! MacG, good one!

]]> By: MacG http://www.bookwormroom.com/2010/04/26/jones-missed-the-jokes-real-punchline/comment-page-1/#comment-95502 MacG Tue, 27 Apr 2010 05:31:47 +0000 http://www.bookwormroom.com/?p=11731#comment-95502 The difficulty in determining whether it is good natured or not without the benefit of knowing the tellers heart is precisely why one should not tell these kinds of  jokes in public where many will assume the worst.  Bad judgment. As I learned a long time ago if you are going to tell an ethnic joke from a podium in order to not offend anyone you need to use an ethnicity that is no longer extant.  Using such a group no one can possibly be offended and everyone can join in laughter.  Since we can all use a laugh today I will give an example lampooning the ancient Hittites:     There were these two Hittites named Sven and Olly... The difficulty in determining whether it is good natured or not without the benefit of knowing the tellers heart is precisely why one should not tell these kinds of  jokes in public where many will assume the worst.  Bad judgment.
As I learned a long time ago if you are going to tell an ethnic joke from a podium in order to not offend anyone you need to use an ethnicity that is no longer extant.  Using such a group no one can possibly be offended and everyone can join in laughter.  Since we can all use a laugh today I will give an example lampooning the ancient Hittites:
 
 
There were these two Hittites named Sven and Olly…

]]> By: SADIE http://www.bookwormroom.com/2010/04/26/jones-missed-the-jokes-real-punchline/comment-page-1/#comment-95480 SADIE Mon, 26 Apr 2010 22:24:10 +0000 http://www.bookwormroom.com/?p=11731#comment-95480 Wrong place. Wrong time. Wrong audience. Wrong, wrong, wrong. Wrong place.
Wrong time.
Wrong audience.
Wrong, wrong, wrong.

]]> By: Doug http://www.bookwormroom.com/2010/04/26/jones-missed-the-jokes-real-punchline/comment-page-1/#comment-95479 Doug Mon, 26 Apr 2010 22:22:22 +0000 http://www.bookwormroom.com/?p=11731#comment-95479 It would have been funnier if the store owner was Scottish and the thirsty guy was English.  Now that's a joke! It would have been funnier if the store owner was Scottish and the thirsty guy was English.  Now that’s a joke!

]]> By: Mike http://www.bookwormroom.com/2010/04/26/jones-missed-the-jokes-real-punchline/comment-page-1/#comment-95476 Mike Mon, 26 Apr 2010 22:08:28 +0000 http://www.bookwormroom.com/?p=11731#comment-95476 These people are so out of touch with reality it's not funny. That particular joke has been around in emails for a few years. There is also a youtube video about Achmed the terrorist and quite a lot of other stuff that I've seen but forgotten about and not worth mentioning. Also a lot of things on this congress and so-called leader. These people are so out of touch with reality it’s not funny. That particular joke has been around in emails for a few years. There is also a youtube video about Achmed the terrorist and quite a lot of other stuff that I’ve seen but forgotten about and not worth mentioning. Also a lot of things on this congress and so-called leader.

]]> By: Ymarsakar http://www.bookwormroom.com/2010/04/26/jones-missed-the-jokes-real-punchline/comment-page-1/#comment-95471 Ymarsakar Mon, 26 Apr 2010 21:09:35 +0000 http://www.bookwormroom.com/?p=11731#comment-95471 If a Christian had said it, they would be labeled an extremist, a believer in bringing down the Armageddon on the Jews. If a Christian had said it, they would be labeled an extremist, a believer in bringing down the Armageddon on the Jews.

]]> By: TommyC http://www.bookwormroom.com/2010/04/26/jones-missed-the-jokes-real-punchline/comment-page-1/#comment-95469 TommyC Mon, 26 Apr 2010 21:01:53 +0000 http://www.bookwormroom.com/?p=11731#comment-95469 Earl, of course you are correct.  This is the perfect example of the sort of thing where if a conservative said it, it would be proof he was anti-Semitic, but since  a liberal said it, he merely misspoke, used poor judgment, whatever.  So why am I giving him the benefit of a doubt?  Because I was raised that way, I guess.  I can't think of any other reason. Earl, of course you are correct.  This is the perfect example of the sort of thing where if a conservative said it, it would be proof he was anti-Semitic, but since  a liberal said it, he merely misspoke, used poor judgment, whatever.  So why am I giving him the benefit of a doubt?  Because I was raised that way, I guess.  I can’t think of any other reason.

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