Date: Mon, 19 Jul 1999 18:18:49 -0400
From: Unka Bart <mendicant-AT-buddhist.com>
Subject: Re : Redneck Jokes


>  When Princess Diana (given name Spencer) died in a
>  car crash in Paris, there were lots of jokes about this on the
>  anarchy-list.  These jokes would certainly have been offensive, not
>  just to the ruling class  and its hangers on, but to millions of
>  ordinary people who either saw her as  some fairy-tale princess, or
>  who just object to jokes about people dying in  general.

I subscribe to the old wisdom, as written in the Bible.  It goes, something
like:

Fuck 'em if they can't take a dead princess joke.

But I digress...

> It seems
>  quite likely that there could now be a spate of "offensive"  jokes
>  about Dead Kennedys on the anarchy-list.

If you point is that there is entirely too much talk about "punk"  and
"punk-music," the I entirely and enthusiastically agree!

>  I have been thinking about this,

Yeah, sure.  And I *believe* you.

>  and, so far, I  can't think of one single joke that we could
>  safely say wouldn't  offend  anybody . Even telling jokes about
>  yourself isn't  necessarily safe, because they are nearly always
>  capable of a more general  interpretation. For instance, on British TV
>  the (very) camp comedian Julian  Cleary sometimes makes jokes at his
>  own expense which some of his fellow gays  object to on the grounds
>  that they are being stereotyped. Even Unca Bart talking  about having
>  one of his "senior moments" might be far from funny to some senior
>  citizen for whom memory loss and confusion are no laughing matter.

What you meant to say was "Some *other* geezer... and fuck them them too.
Not to put too fine a point on this, Fuck the big white horse that they
rode in on, as well.

And, oh by the way, Brian, while we're an the subject, did you get your
email address business squared away yet?  If not, and please understand
that I mean to offer no offense by this whatsoever, fuck you as well.
 
>  Where was I  ?   Oh yes, the more general application of jokes at
>  your own expeense. Well, if even  those  jokes might offend
>  somebody   -   IS  there such  a thing as an inoffensive joke ?  Can
>  anybody think of one ?    Even if you    CAN   think of an inoffensive
>   joke    -    is it funny  ?   Dave

But I agree that rascist jokes are offensive.  Fortunately for me, I have
learned to deal with it.  Those whose kinckers are easily knotted might
find life a whole lot more enjoyable if they would develop that similar,
simple skill.

Either that, or they can jolly well fuck-off and die.  In any event, it's a
matter of little consequence either way.

Yer Kindly Ol' Unka Bart