General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsCan someone here give me a straight answer about death jokes?
You know, there is almost no greater tragedy within a family than the loss of a loved one. Often, it becomes the benchmark for family history, (i.e. "that happened right before so-and-so passed away" and in quiet times, many recall the often-premature taking of a family member, close friend, neighbor, or even favorite politician. So howcum people tell death jokes, like "Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead" or the joke whose punch line is "Nah, he's dead. I'm just screwing with you."?
The reason, THE REASON, is because this is how some of us, no, MANY of us, might effectively deal with sorrow, with loss, with tragedy, with discrimination. In documentaries and essays about my people, the Jews, many times there are references to why we became disproportionately prominent in comedy circles, and one of the reasons given by sociologists, psychologists, and other armchair experts is that we have sufferred so much that the only way we can deal with it is to use humor. Of course, we are not the only group who has: Dick Gregory, Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy, Chris Rock and multitudes of other African-Americans perform comedy which is well-received and much of which concerns the plight of the black men and women in these United States.
Abuse, murder, discrimination, and a multitude of crimes are not funny in and of themselves. But as a society we have learned to manage their existence through the use of carefully crafted humor. My post, the one in question in the other thread, was aimed at ME MYSELF AND I. It was an exaggeration created to show the depth of the ridiculousness of Gingrich's request to his wife translated into the ordinary schmuck's life. If one doesn't find it funny, that's fine, but in no way was it intended to promulgate or make acceptable physical abuse, any more than Dick Gregory wanted further discrimination wielded against him, his family, or those of his race or in fact any other race. Next time, perhaps you might think of that when listening to a comedian like Bill Maher or any of those Italian-American fellows and ladies who practice self-deprecation on HBO, Cinemax, or Showtime nightly.
On edit: I'm referring to the post
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002198038
Scuba
(53,475 posts)... and grief falls under that also.
I recall more than one incident of laughter at funerals. I think that's healthy; others may see it as disrespectful.
Tx4obama
(36,974 posts)your Open Marriage OP here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002187132
was hilarious.
Hell it even won a DUzy Award: http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002195083
I did not see that one as a 'death joke' and I haven't seen ANY death jokes so I'm not sure what your OP is referring to.
Anyway, goodnight
PCIntern
(25,517 posts)...I will refrain from expressing my feelings about such posts and would rather use compare and contrast methodology.
Thanks for the patontheback!
PC
etherealtruth
(22,165 posts)I did not perceive your post as joking about domestic violence ... my perception was that the post was mocking the absolute absurdity of Gingrich's request of his (then) wife.
My first career was in nursing, specifically hospice nursing. We NEVER laughed at patient suffering (believe me , I worked with a group , of largely women, that sacrificed much of their private and all of their professional lives to bring peace and comfort to patients and their families) ... however, gallows humor helped alleviate the intense pressure we often (more often than not) felt.
The post would not have been funny if Gingrich's (then) wife had violently attacked him (or threatened to) ... if we lived in a society where domestic violence was frequently perpetrated by women against men (it does occur, but when it does it is not funny).
The post in question mocked a "powerful man" actually having the nerve to expect that his wife would agree to what many may consider a demeaning condition of marriage.
The post mocked the absurdity of the request ... not violence.
PCIntern
(25,517 posts)I was particularly peeved at the fact that apparently one is no longer allowed to have a 'sensayuma', because some group or condition suffers at the hands of said humor. That's what a joke is...
i treat a number of hospice workers in my practice and we often discuss issues and techniques...hats off to you for your incredible work.
Response to PCIntern (Original post)
Obamanaut This message was self-deleted by its author.
PCIntern
(25,517 posts)Lorena Bobbitt joke or laughed at one.
I would certainly believe that one...
Response to PCIntern (Reply #7)
Obamanaut This message was self-deleted by its author.
PCIntern
(25,517 posts)I wasn't attacking you, I was simply reflecting that those who cast stones may themselves live in glass houses. Then again, they may not.
FBaggins
(26,727 posts)Almost all humor is a response to pain. We laugh rather than cry.
Think about it. Virtually there's a "butt" of every joke. In Italian it's a battuta (beating).
monmouth
(21,078 posts)often heard it said that Jesus is the best Jewish comedian of all. I don't dispute it...
jberryhill
(62,444 posts)I have never seen a dead person express offense about jokes involving death.