Not funny - warning rant

[HER82]

ok I know black humour is sometimes needed when an event is tragic etc.. but some events are taboo when it comes to jokes.

September 11 and even more so the Tsunami Tragedy.. really are not jokes topics or if some one must make light of it... do it in private!


An event which thousands died and are still dying mostly children is NOT funny... I would hope that the lady I work with who sat by her phone for days hoping her sister,brother inlaw & their children survived does not hear these jokes, and I hope the friends I have who were sent over there facing the job of retreiving bodies for indentification do not hear them, and the parents who lost all their children do not hear them.

Some things are just not funny... and hoping I do not log on to JC & see the jokes like on some other forums about the Tsunami.

[ClairBear]

Her82, whilst I understand where you are coming from, remember that humour is some peoples way of coping with a tragic event. Not everyone wears their heart on their sleeve. I am sure those inventing these jokes are compasionate deep inside, but use humour as a relief valve - we are all differant and cope differantly in situations. The human race consists of many differant traits which is good, if we were all the same, imagine how boring the world would be

I hope the lady you work with finds her family alive and well. I am sure the jokes are not directed at anyone personally. What I found abhorrent the other night on irc was a chatter saying he wished all the Indonesians were wiped out as they are a bad race.

What has happened is an enormous tradegy, many have lost loved ones and many more don't know if loved ones are still alive. I think it has touched everyone world wide in one way or another. It would be nice to think the world would sit up now and stop all the wars and crap, and together as an entire race, rebuild those cities and learn from this that we are all one. The reality is that won't happen.

Found out yesterday that two friends of mine are missing in Indonesia. I only hope they are stranded somewhere and will make contact with someone at home soon.

[Torana]

I will have to agree with HER82. I mean, why do people joke about this bullshit??? Like, wtf is wrong with their heads? If someone ever told a joke about this to my face, I'd turn around and give 'em such a belting!

[ClairBear]

I will have to agree with HER82. I mean, why do people joke about this bullshit??? Like, wtf is wrong with their heads? If someone ever told a joke about this to my face, I'd turn around and give 'em such a belting!

See I wonder what is wrong with your head, having to resort to violence to solve a problem. You could choose the alternative, tell them politey you find it offensive and walk away.

[Troy711]

people will joke about anything but making a joke doesnt mean they dont give a shit

[AirStrike]

See now I am the oposite there is nothing I can't stand more then ppl who take them selves so seriously. Nothing is ment by it, thats why it is a 'joke'......

Ill just get my ready shall I.......
AirStrike

[Bax]

Agreeing with Airstrike.. I can understand the losses people have gone through. And how its going to take alot of time to recover.

But people grieve and deal with things in different ways. You can't tell me you've never made a joke about something tragic. If you have on the other hand then damn you'd be a fun person to be around..

I've got a sick sense of humour, I make jokes about things, but at all times I have a huge amount of respect and understanding about whats gone on. And I'd never in any way deliberately do it to take advantage of them.

You people don't like the ones that make light of a situation. We dont like people that are always so tight assed and have no sense of humour.

However Her82... Having said that, I'll not say anything on these boards. And best wishes and condolenses go out to your workmate.

[beckrey]

I think it is disgusting if people make jokes about this sort of thing.People should think of others feelings & think how they would feel if someone they know had died in some sort of tragedy & all of a sudden people are making these jokes.Eventually the families involved are going to come across these jokes.

i would certainly hope that none start showing up on here.

maybe the moderators could consider banning anyone that puts any shit up here.

like what was threatened about a cat because this is far far worse than what happened to the cat

[DJ Majah]

like what was threatened about a cat because this is far far worse than what happened to the cat

Depends. If youre talking about the loss of life, yes. If youre talking about the incident itself, no - this is a natural thing, natural causes, natural affects. The cat was tortured, much worse.

Generally though, its nothing offensive.

[Julie]

I am in total agreement with DJ Majah here. As tragic as they were the tsunamis were a natural disaster. If people want to joke about it let them, just don't laugh along with them. What needs to be realised is that nothing is sacred when it comes to jokes. It doesn't mean I find them funny or appropriate. But who died and made anyone here joke nazis saying what should not be allowed. Just add these to the millions of insensitive, poor taste, inappropriate jokes around the world eg. sept 11, racist, cot death, war, rape, child molestation- read michael jackson jokes........ the list goes on and on. Seems most jokes would be offensive to some people.

like what was threatened about a cat because this is far far worse than what happened to the cat

Well what happened to the cat can not be compared to the tsunamis, its like chalk and cheese, a callous act of torture by evil inhuman 'humans' or a freak tragic natural disaster. There is no parallel. Also I might add the story of the cat was not in the joke section. Also suprisingly I am yet to see one tsunami joke, and I have asked many others and they haven't heard any either, so I don't think its a huge problem.

[UnleesoncedMinkey]

The man I love is missing in Sri Lanka. There has been absolutely no word of his whereabouts and there is nothing I can do about it, except wait. While I'm waiting, which is a living, breathing hell on earth, jokes like these make me laugh... it does not mean I do not find the situation horrendous or that I am cold or heartless... Come to my world, live my pain and then understand that the only way I can deal with it is to laugh at it. My turn to wail and scream may come in it's own good time. Until then, I thank god for these jokes.

[ClairBear]

The man I love is missing in Sri Lanka. There has been absolutely no word of his whereabouts and there is nothing I can do about it, except wait. While I'm waiting, which is a living, breathing hell on earth, jokes like these make me laugh... it does not mean I do not find the situation horrendous or that I am cold or heartless... Come to my world, live my pain and then understand that the only way I can deal with it is to laugh at it. My turn to wail and scream may come in it's own good time. Until then, I thank god for these jokes.

Thanks for sharing this with us and giving those who think jokes are heartless and cruel another perspective to look at.

Guys, I know the person who wrote this - she is a very close friend and dear to my heart and I would not do anything to cause her hurt or pain, yet I have been forwarding her some jokes about this tragedy that have had both of us in fits of laughter. As I posted earlier, I have 2 friends, whom this poster also knows well, missing in Indonesia. Our way of coping right now is to look at the lighter side of life whilst praying for the return of our friends and loved ones.

[Bec]

I think it goes both ways.
I make and respect jokes in horrible situations, as do many other people. I don't think there is anything wrong with sad humour, as long as you know who you're talking to and that they can both deal with it and not take it the wrong way. However, I don't condone it in a public internet forum. Tom and Dick may enjoy the joke, but Harry might get rightfully offended and upset.
So basically....you should know your audience.

PS Wishing you guys and all involved the best of luck with finding your loved ones.

[HER82]

I have to agree with all posts, and good to get a different spin on things from others.

I guess what I found upsetting about some of the jokes going around was that they were brutal in content & timing... and posting on forums so soon (one was dated the day it hit the news) was a shock.

Humour is needed to stop the overwhelming feelings, I am sure those who have been directly touched by the event in some way need reason to smile or a light hearted moment.... but the "humour" was not in their benefit with their feelings in mind.

p.s. I do have a sense of humour

[Sherman]

My opinion on this matter somewhat differs. As much as others might be able to joke on the light of the situation, I personally wouldn't and couldn't find it humourous. So as was said before if you don't personally know your audience then it is safer to keep your jokes to yourself. You don't offend anyone.
I can't possibly look on television and watch those children who are now orphans and those people who are now homeless, and those people who have lost loved ones and share with them their sorrows for a brief shining moment and then to turn of the television and pass a joke about it. We are talking of a situtation of apoclaptic proprotions. One of the biggest disasters of our human existance. My wife and I would love to consider adopting one of those children who have lost everything, but the red tape and beuracracy is what hinders our efforts.

My fellow members jokes aside please find it in your hearts to donate some money as every cent counts and my deepest sympathys to anyone who has lost a loved one.

[NORTI]

My opinion on this matter somewhat differs. As much as others might be able to joke on the light of the situation, I personally wouldn't and couldn't find it humourous. So as was said before if you don't personally know your audience then it is safer to keep your jokes to yourself. You don't offend anyone.
I can't possibly look on television and watch those children who are now orphans and those people who are now homeless, and those people who have lost loved ones and share with them their sorrows for a brief shining moment and then to turn of the television and pass a joke about it. We are talking of a situtation of apoclaptic proprotions. One of the biggest disasters of our human existance. My wife and I would love to consider adopting one of those children who have lost everything, but the red tape and beuracracy is what hinders our efforts.

My fellow members jokes aside please find it in your hearts to donate some money as every cent counts and my deepest sympathys to anyone who has lost a loved one.

not only the red tape (which is indonesia's idea for the reason following, because alot of people want to adpot a "tsunami orphan"), but you would move there to take care of this child?? No?? it is not usually in the best intrest of a lot of these children to be taken out of their home country for a "better life". A lot of these kids do have family there but they are unable to care for another child. Taking them away is cruel, on top of losing their parents.

And if we were to not post/say anything that MAY offend someone, then none of us would say/do anything! So I wont post jokes or "light" moments in regard to this tradegy, as is the noraml way I deal with this sort of thing, in light of this thread. But keep that in mind if you were always worried about offending people, you might find you never have anything of value to ever say!


just my 2cents.
D.

[Sherman]

Hi Danc,
You see in places like indonesia and Thailand in "some" cases these children end up either sold off to the illegal sex trade. They are groomed up from early childhood and sold off. Just on tv they showed a newborn dropped off in a park left with its birth certificates, a letter that the family cant take care of him and that the parents are disceased. Ten to fifteen years down the track do you honestly think that the indonesian or Thai governments are going to care for him? Social welfare wise? It would be much crueler to allow them to grow up and end up fighting to stay alive to feed themselves and then end up selling their bodies to the sex trade.

[Bax]

Unfortunately thats life, it happens everywhere.

[EllaBella]

Also suprisingly I am yet to see one tsunami joke, and I have asked many others and they haven't heard any either, so I don't think its a huge problem.

i actually heard a couple at work last night and while (im my opinion) they were in bad taste, they actually werent even funny

No?? it is not usually in the best intrest of a lot of these children to be taken out of their home country for a "better life". A lot of these kids do have family there but they are unable to care for another child. Taking them away is cruel, on top of losing their parents

taking them away might be cruel, but you have to think. they have no one to take care of them and the majority of these children are going to end up in an orphanage for the rest of their childhood years

the children in indonesia arent as lucky as they ones in thailand - the king there has promised he's going to support each tsunami orphan until they graduate from school. some parents that have lost children are adopting some of these orphans, which is good for both the parents and the children.

taking these children away might seem cruel after everything they've already lost, but where they are now, they're in the perfect position to be taken by these scum of the earth peadophiles and its going to be years and maybe even decades before these countries will be back up and running properly again.

i know if i adopted one of these children (and if i were in the position to do it i would love to) and was allowed to bring them to australia, i would do my best to make sure they still got to know their culture and never let them forget where they've come from and take them back as often as possible

[NORTI]

The Indonesian government have said the reason they are not allowing international adoptions is for the reasons I said above. while I agree with that, I also understand & agree with whats been said here too. I realise you can offer more here than there but the family thing also rings true. Sorry if they came across as just my view but thats what was reported the other nite, and I thought it needed to be mentioned. I think its a bit damned if you, damned if you dont really. Either way families, children & the population as a whole are going to go thru some more horrfic things before it gets better.


D.

[Julie]

Perhaps the answer to this dilemma would be for anyone intending on posting tsunami or any other potentially offensive jokes to clearly state what the joke is about in the thread title then those who wanna read can click, those who dont wanna read don't click. Simple

[NORTI]

Perhaps the answer to this dilemma would be for anyone intending on posting tsunami or any other potentially offensive jokes to clearly state what the joke is about in the thread title then those who wanna read can click, those who dont wanna read don't click. Simple

Hey not a bad idea!


D.

[SCUMMY]

0 0

[Garth]

right, i know im gonna get some flack for this but hey, whats the world without different oppions

6 yrs ago i was in east timor, and i was shot at by a bunch of indonesian militia, not a plesent thing for me to feel, as a result, i now hold indonesians at the lowest of my ranks, they dotn rate to high with me

but

due to the cirucumstances of what had happend to the entire country and surounding countrys i would not wish this upon anyone in anyway.
my feelings towards them is not of death and distruction, but more un-trust

i got quite a clear solution this problem that this thread is dealing with, i sugest you all read the rules set out by the admin/moderation team here at justcommodores. and guess what, this topic would be covered by atleast 2 of those rules, see if you can guess which one's. personaly if i see anyone posting a joke about the tsunami i will kick them of the site, anyone caught joking about any form of death, be it human, ford drivers, cat tortue or anything that involves death will be kicked, as death is something that should not be joked around with.

but now on the next point. live sure does go on, if everyone was to stop and feel sorry for the people who lost their lives then the world would just stop. and this cant happen. for the people on this forum who have lost loved ones in this tragic event my heart does go out to you i wish you all the best, while there is nothing i can do personaly all i can offer is my sympathy and thoughts, as im sure all decent people here will do

it was tragic, yes, can we make it go away, no, all we can do is greive and think of those people near to us who are no-longer here,

my sympathy's

cheers
garth

[Julie]

Fair enough Garth, I'm all for that, but if rules are to be enforced it needs to be consistent IMO. Theres already heaps of jokes in here that break those rules, eg. That poor dude who died presumably from his elephantitus balls, that breaks the death and pornography rule doesnt it? And most of the jokes in here are potentially offensive to someone.