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From: arnold@hpfcla.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.jokes.d
Subject: Pass the jokes, hold the mustard
Message-ID: <59000001@hpfclr.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 6-Feb-86 14:37:00 EST
Article-I.D.: hpfclr.59000001
Posted: Thu Feb  6 14:37:00 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 15-Feb-86 03:37:40 EST
Organization: 06 Feb 86 12:37:00 MST
Lines: 32

TRAGIC
TRAGIC
TRAGIC
TRAGIC, quite a word, don't you think?  Or does anyone at all care?
Certainly not I.  Well perhaps......

Really though.....why is everyone so upset about what is tragic and
what is not and what humor is in good taste and what is not?  Many
things are TRAGIC.  Death in general, even of those we dislike, is
usually considered tragic (why?  Do we really understand what happens
at death?  There are possibilities).  Nevertheless, we very frequently
makes jokes about things we are afraid of including tragedies affecting
those we care about.  It helps to ease the fear and pain by talking
about it in a non-serious or belittling manner.  Serious talk and grieving
for extended periods of time including mourning the same matter/event
repetitively in same mundane way soons becomes boring and succeeds in
doing little more than giving us (at least some of us) ulcers and
seldom sheds much new light or improvement upon the matter.  Humor,
on the other hand, often heals -- if  nothing else, it keeps people
from moping around for an indeterminate amount of time.  

Well, there's just one more thing.  I'm  sick and tired of having people
who think they know the formula to life and good living or who perhaps think
that they are in some way qualified to know what is good and what is not
good for others, tell me what I can (or should) and cannot read, write,
say, or listen to.  Ignore the jokes you consider in bad taste and
let others, like myself enjoy them, if I/we so please  -- without undue
commentary on their distastefulness...and I for my part will ignore jokes
and commentaries (possibly including my own) that I do not wish to read
or dwell upon in due turn.  Thanks.

Arnold