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From: john@frog.UUCP (John Woods, Software)
Newsgroups: net.jokes.d,net.women
Subject: Re: Re: Offensive humor
Message-ID: <628@frog.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 7-Feb-86 11:41:39 EST
Article-I.D.: frog.628
Posted: Fri Feb  7 11:41:39 1986
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> It seems to be very hard not to make a joke that offends some people.
> I suspect that only those that are very distanced from human events/
> experience are able to fit the bill.  With that theory in mind, I throw
> the following example to the wind.  Can anyone find a reason why this
> simple joke would offend anyone?
> 
> 	Q:  What did one rock say to the other rock?
> 	A:  Nothing.  Rocks can't speak.
> 
It offends me.  It isn't funny, and it is the conclusion of a line of argument
that basically denies all humor.

However, since the humorless won't accept that, I propose the following
alternate explanation:  it is offensive because the recipient of the joke has
been set up to expect something, which has been cruelly denied by the joke
teller.  And if you take that tack, then just about ALL jokes are offensive.
Now that we have removed humor as an outlet of human emotion, can we get back
to killing each other?

--
John Woods, Charles River Data Systems, Framingham MA, (617) 626-1101
...!decvax!frog!john, ...!mit-eddie!jfw, jfw%mit-ccc@MIT-XX.ARPA

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