Did you hear the one about…

Jokes. Who doesn’t like a good joke? But just what exactly makes a good joke?

Everyone has different tastes in humour. Some people like witty, clever humour, while others prefer slapstick, and still others like their humour a bit “edgy.”

I enjoy the droll British humour, but I know many who do not share my appreciation.

So is it any wonder that there is some confusion as to whether a particular joke, or even a headline, is indeed humourous or offensive? Do some people just not have a sense of humour?

That ubiquitous reference source Wikipedia offers the following as a definition for sense of humour:

“A sense of humour is the ability to experience humour, although the extent to which an individual will find something humorous depends on a host of variables, including geographical location, culture, maturity, level of education, intelligence, and context.”

One of my favourite movies is Mel Brook’s Blazing Saddles. Thirty years on it still makes me laugh. It lampoons various stereotypes that were held at the time – and may still be held by some – and employs a sense of humour that, even at the time, was beyond edgy, and borders on offensive.

The movie is laced with Jewish jokes (Brooks is Jewish), and littered with the N-word. In fact, co-star Burton Gilliam (Lyle) initially refused to say the N-word, but Brooks and star Cleavon Little convinced him that it was necessary to underscore the bigotry the film was lampooning.

Gilliam did use the word, but was reported to be very uncomfortable doing so.

Of course, the ultimate of lampooning came in the scene where Bart arrives in Rock Ridge to assume the role of Sheriff. The townspeople are aghast that a n….. would be made Sheriff; Bart proceeds to take himself hostage, wrapping one arm around his neck, and holding his own gun to his head with the other; he then utters one of the film's most memorable lines: “Hold it! Next man makes a move, the n….. gets it!”

The DVD contains interviews with some of the stars, all of whom agree that the movie could never be made now.

Why? Because times, and sensibilities, have changed.

We no longer refer to people of African decent as n….., nor do we use similarly offensive epithets for people of other racial or cultural backgrounds. Or at least, most of us do not.

Yes, I grew up listening to, and telling, Newfie jokes, Frog jokes, Pollock jokes, and other jokes that exploit racial and ethnic stereotypes. That does not mean that it is acceptable to do so today.

In the News Response forum on Friday, and continuing today, some people argue that “in this day and age anybody is ready to take offence where none is intended.” I understand that point of view, although I do not agree with it.

Certainly, people do not necessarily intend to offend others when telling what they find to be an amusing story, anecdote, or joke. That does not mean that people won’t still be offended.

Some would argue that people are too sensitive and easily offended. Others argue that they are from a particular ethnic or cultural background, and do not find such humour offensive.

That may well be, but that does not diminish the sense of insult felt by those who do find such humour offensive.

And of course, poking fun at oneself is quite different from making jokes at the expense of another.

A number of posters suggested a simple test; if one substitutes the group that is the subject of the joke – for instance, the Irish – with another – blacks, homosexuals, women, Jews, etc, -- would the joke still be as funny? Would it still be appropriate?

There does seem to be a sense, and not just here on SooToday, that it is okay to make fun of “white” people. In general, people accept that poking fun of visible minorities and other readily identifiable groups is inappropriate, but that somehow “white” people are immune to taking offense.

The fact is that when someone tells a joke that others find offensive, it likely is offensive, no matter how many others may attempt to defend it as “a harmless joke.”

A good friend of mine, who hails from Newfoundland, put it into perspective. He said he had often had others, uon finding out where he was from, tell him “Newfie” jokes. He would sit and listen for a while, and then would tell a few “Mainlander” jokes.

For some reason, although the jokes he told were the same ones he had just heard, only turned back on those who had told them, the others did not find them funny at all.

I know that there are many examples of political correctness run amok, but I don’t believe this is the case. It’s time we recognized that making jokes at the expense of others, however innocuous we believe this to be, is offensive.

I haven’t always agreed with Sault Star columnist Fred Loader, but I always admired his take on re-telling jokes. He would change the groups involved to be Fredloadians, an imaginary group of people who could not be offended.

Ours is an increasingly multicultural society, and we would do well to consider how others might interpret our remarks, especially with regard to the jokes we tell.

Unfortunately, saying “it was only a joke” won’t always make up for a hurtful remark.

But… that’s just my opinion.