Who's a funny boy?
At one point or another, you've probably had the pleasure of meeting one of those people who at a certain point during a funny conversation stops you in your tracks and says "sorry, but I find that offensive."
In most cases such people go on to explain that they are not offended for themselves but for someone else who is not even in the room – perhaps they're offended for all the blacks in the street, or for all the women in Afghanistan; perhaps they're offended for all the people who died in the war, or all the blondes in the world who get picked on so often - point is, they'll stop the laughter, they'll stop the fun and giggles, to inform you that they've just been offended for someone else.
I find this annoying, to say the least, because I take humour very seriously, in fact when I first started writing, back in 1995, I wanted to offer something different – 'a taste of funny with a pinch of witty' I thought to myself - and for a while I refused to write in any other style if not that.
I kept it up for a while, but believe me it wasn't easy. You see, as any comic writer will tell you, getting funny right is damn hard, and with one small slip of balance you could send out a whole different message to the one you intended. This is why I strongly believe that the ability to be funny indicates at least some level of intelligence, and this is also why I'm so surprised when our robotic politicians demonstrate some form of it.
What's interesting however, is that whilst politicians, especially in Malta, do not seem to have a humorous bone in their body and, prefer to clog up our already stifled courts with useless libel cases, political humour in our society is rife.
So whilst funny politicians are as rare a find as honest ones, given the height of our society's political humour, I'd be tempted to say that humourless politicians must be the funniest.
Unfortunately though, election time is also peak season for offence-takers.
During this time it's not just the editor or the publishing house who get to decide what can be published and what not, but also anyone who can claim to have had their feelings hurt.
But isn't it time that we noticed that there are some real crimes out there? Real crimes like murder, rape, domestic violence, and thefts? Aren't these better suited for police attention, than the insult victims who never grow up?
I'm regularly offended by ugly old men trying to chat me up, I'm also offended by foul smelling construction workers who don't keep their distance, I'm offended by sad sales people who act like they're doing me a favour by taking my money. Most of all I'm offended by public figures who act like over-sensitive gits and waste our police and court's time over frivolous libel and 'insult' cases. Should I get the state to punish them perhaps ?
So please dear politicians, do us all a favour, preferably before you start knocking on our doors pleading for votes, go out and get yourselves some thick skin and make sure to wear them before the race gets any rougher.
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Michael Attard
Sep 10th 2012, 08:55
I found this blog very "offensive" No pun intended although point taken in the last few paragraphs you need some work in the opening statement.. takes some intelligence she says, I take humor seriously she says. lol You either take it as a joke or you take it seriously. Fail.
Alison Bezzina
Sep 10th 2012, 11:47
@Michael
Google Jerry Palmer.
Roderick Micallef
Sep 11th 2012, 07:12
Mr. Attard,
I actually think that you didn't even understand what Alison meant when she said that she take humour very seriously. Just like any professional comedian he/she will take comedy very seriously because it would be their job to be amusing but at the same time balanced and this is what Alison meant.
If you take it from your point of view on how it should be actually taken, well as the name implies comedy should NEVER be taken seriously because it is what it is. From your comment however I can understand that you will most probably not even agree with this. It's like saying 'I watched an adult movie and I found it offensive' my question is 'Why did you watch it in the first place?'
Michael Attard
Sep 16th 2012, 12:14
No need to formalities Roderick First name basis is fine it does not actually change your stance in the 'discussion' at hand, Given that you think that I may not have understood Alison's post on the contrary I have not think I have, However I'm still opinionated that the opening of her blog was inconclusive and off subject entirely.
Alison is a blogger not a professional comedian, should see that their is a fine difference between the two.
I found nothing offensive in her blog it was a pun however it shows the level of understanding that you hold that you could not see this, But that's ok I don't mind explaining. wait what? Adult movie? Found it offensive? Your example leaks of comprehensive missing attributes to the prior discussion. I suggest actually knowing what you are saying before you do, Think before say perhaps?
@ Alison: When the day you can compare yourself with Jerry Palmer I can consider myself Bjarne Stroustrup so I would advice to get off your high horse and look at yourself at what you currently truly are here on Times of Malta, A blogger just as I am a just a viewer. Nothing wrong with that :), Being a good one or bad one I cannot say as I have only read a few of your blogs and cannot compile a review on such little research, However your writing skills are good. When you are comedian I will respect that taking comedy seriously at face value. Also being professional also includes taking good and bad comments as appreciation not crying a river over 'em.
Alison Bezzina
Sep 23rd 2012, 12:00
Michael
@Michael
First of all Jerry Palmer is not a comedian but an academic researcher - I suggested that you to look him up because he explains the concept of taking humour seriously which you say is not possible to do. In his book 'Taking Humour Seriously' on which I based my thesis, he argues that humor must be taken seriously even in its "native state"--or else we fail to understand a fundamental dimension of our aesthetic and social culture.
And if you found nothing offensive in the blog, and you only intended that statement to be a pun, then you shouldn't have written No Pun Intended after your statement. Simples.
Alfred Grech
Sep 9th 2012, 14:03
A bit of prudence helps. No need to use Ghaddafi's image - Gonzi might be a an excellent pm but he's not anything close to Ghaddafi.
stephen koludrovic
Sep 9th 2012, 04:34
Anyone that can't take a joke is not worth knowing. In the case of politicians, if they have no sense of humor then no brownies, and no vote.
Ethelbert Schembri
Sep 7th 2012, 14:39
We really live in a sick society ... people, especially our politicians, first they take decisions that make us wonder if we are living a joke and when someone points out the obvious they start victimising!!
Very pathetic and a sign that our politicians and our society ingeneral needs a good shake up and to grow up from the state of lie we came up to live in.
So please do try to cill out !! And as A.Sant said in his hot summer as PM .... Keep cool and relax :P
Joseph Demanuele
Sep 7th 2012, 11:42
"I find this annoying, to say the least, because I take humour very seriously" - This must be the mother of oxymorons.
Mark Randon
Sep 7th 2012, 11:42
Nicley written piece - but do not hold your breath about our politicians getting a sense of humour - I have one minister in mind who has a robotic smile. Wish I could mention him but do not fancy ending up in court.
J Farrugia
Sep 7th 2012, 10:42
Which ever politician knocks on my door better have armour plating, the amount of crap i have in store for them there gonna wish they were never born,
Albert Spiteri
Sep 7th 2012, 08:47
It may come as a surprise to you Ms Bezzina, but UGLY and/or OLD does not automatically lead to MAN. Are you being offensive here? UGLY is no demographic monopoly. As the corny cliché goes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and lovers everywhere and of whatever age has to sometimes play blind, deaf and mute at some point of their time, sometimes even dumb!
Like most I enjoy chatting up people of whatever age or sex as long as it's someone who knows how to listen and is honest. Since my mid-teen years I always enjoyed female wit and charm much more than male. Does that make me a dirty old man? I guess it does in your book of definitions.
Joseph Borg
Sep 6th 2012, 22:39
Sense of humor go dan il pajjiz fejn tidhol il politika! 300m below sea level!
Ramon Casha
Sep 6th 2012, 20:20
Well said Alison. Many of our politicians need to grow a spine, a thicker skin and a funny bone to better do their job.
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