# About humor impaired people **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 18, 2002, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-humor-impaired-people/124518 "2002-08-18T22:36:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2002, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-humor-impaired-people/124518/41 "2002-08-20T12:40:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Princhester \* > \*\*Are you suggesting I said that? \*\* I’m not suggesting anything. I was emphasising your dumb analogy. ---
**Author:** ![Simetra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Simetra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simetra)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2002, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-humor-impaired-people/124518/42 "2002-08-20T15:51:27Z")
**kryptonite2** , I would quote you, but that joke really doesn’t warrant repeating. That _really_ wasn’t funny. You see, there’s this huge grey area between funny and offensive, and most of the time I hang out there with everybody else and have no problem with jokes. Even if I don’t find them funny. But, you shot way past that. Making light of someone’s beliefs is one thing… I can accept that you find certain views humorous and even silly. But, making fun of how someone died in a very painful and agonizing way is completely another. Especially when that someone is g-d to a lot of people. Think before you speak. ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2002, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-humor-impaired-people/124518/43 "2002-08-20T16:00:49Z")
The “Jesus saves” quotes reminded me of a church here in Chicago that’s in what appears to be an old bank building. The sign out front is for the Philadelphia Church and it’s a marquee style sign with “Jesus Saves” across it. I always fill it in in my head as “Jesus saves…at the Philadelphia Church and Loan.” And for what it’s worth kryptonite, I thought the joke was funny. Horrible and in bad taste, but funny. ---
**Author:** ![tiny\_ham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@tiny\_ham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiny_ham)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2002, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-humor-impaired-people/124518/44 "2002-08-20T16:36:30Z")
I think the point that some of us are trying to make is that just because we don’t find ONE joke funny or a joke in ONE area funny, doesn’t mean we’re humor impaired. I don’t find jokes about Jesus FUNNY. I’m not offended by them…I just don’t LAUGH at them. Just because I’m not falling all over the place telling Opal how creative she is doesn’t mean I’m ‘humor impaired’. ---
**Author:** ![Thurgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aeb1de/32.png) [@Thurgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thurgin)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2002, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-humor-impaired-people/124518/45 "2002-08-20T17:55:52Z")
Only because I simply can’t believe no one else said it… Hi, Opal! 😃 (in a humor thread, no less!) ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2002, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-humor-impaired-people/124518/46 "2002-08-20T18:31:55Z")
Because that’s hardly hilarious either, Thurgin. In fact, it’s kinda, well, old. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2002, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-humor-impaired-people/124518/47 "2002-08-20T20:07:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Simetra \* > \*\ ***kryptonite2** , I would quote you, but that joke really doesn’t warrant repeating. > > That _really_ wasn’t funny. \*\* Correction: _YOU_ didn’t find it funny. Krypt obviously did, so he repeated it. At least two others found it funny, photopat and myself. It was perfectly appropriate for the subject nature of this thread, so it looks like he did indeed “think before he spoke”. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2002, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-humor-impaired-people/124518/48 "2002-08-20T20:13:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by OpalCat \* > \*\*the thing that bothers me the most is that they are so high on their horse about it, like I’d personally slain their saviour or something. \*\* Are you saying they think you’re Jewish? Ahhhh, that was pretty bad, sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Ferrous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Ferrous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferrous)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2002, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-humor-impaired-people/124518/49 "2002-08-20T20:19:22Z")
Eh, just for the record, _I_ thought **kryptonite** ’s joke was pretty funny as well. Sorry, **Simetra** , your application for the post of Humor Arbitrator has been denied. ---
**Author:** ![papergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/aca169/32.png) [@papergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/papergirl)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2002, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-humor-impaired-people/124518/50 "2002-08-20T20:37:22Z")
I’m with **jarbaby** , I believe. I’m not really even religious, and I’m certainly not humor-impaired. I just don’t find jokes about the religious beliefs of other people to be all that funny, any more than I think jokes about someone’s sexual orientation or IQ funny. “…amusement at the outrage of others…”. Riiiight. And you’re calling _them_ humor-impaired? It reminds me a bit of some of the college kids I see, who are so busy being outrageous that they become a parody of self-expression. They just seem so busy patting themselves on the back for wearing thrift store clothes and their father’s eyeglass frames and a general air of “Ohmygod I am so UNIQUE you wouldn’t even understand”- ness. There’s definitely a “Lookitme!” quality to it, it seems. And that doesn’t really crack me up. FWIW. ~karol ---
**Author:** ![red\_dragon60](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ce73a5/32.png) [@red\_dragon60](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/red_dragon60)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2002, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-humor-impaired-people/124518/51 "2002-08-20T20:57:50Z")
Jesus saves! By using double coupons and shopping wisely… ---
**Author:** ![Avalonian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@Avalonian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avalonian)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2002, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-humor-impaired-people/124518/52 "2002-08-20T21:47:38Z")
Opal’s t-shirt reminds me of one of my favorite Margaret Atwood quotes… I wrote it down as soon as I read it. From _The Blind Assassin_: > [@](#): > > Probably God was in the broom closet. It seemed the most likely place. He was lurking in there like some eccentric and possibly dangerous uncle, but she couldn’t be certain whether he was in there at any given moment because she was afraid to open the door. heheh… your t-shirt’s funnier, though, **Opal**. Nice work! And for the record, I don’t think **OpalCat** expects everyone to find the joke funny… I think he considers the fact that some Christians can’t recognize it as a harmless joke and send him hate-mail (!) ridiculous, and dubs such people “humor-impaired.” I agree, not because they’re not laughing, but because they’re taking themselves and everyone else just a little too seriously. Not only that, but sending someone hate-mail because of what their t-shirt says isn’t exactly the “Christian” thing to do, is it? :lol: ---
**Author:** ![Avalonian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@Avalonian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avalonian)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2002, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-humor-impaired-people/124518/53 "2002-08-20T21:50:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Avalonian \* > **I don’t think OpalCat expects everyone to find the joke funny… I think he considers the fact that some Christians can’t recognize it as a harmless joke and send him hate-mail (!) ridiculous, and dubs such people "humor-impaired."** Um. I meant “she” and “her” respectively. Sorry, Opal, little slip. ---
**Author:** ![BottledBlondJeanie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/0ea827/32.png) [@BottledBlondJeanie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BottledBlondJeanie)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2002, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-humor-impaired-people/124518/54 "2002-08-20T22:06:05Z")
\*\* Coldie \*\* Im not weighing in on either side, but with the history between you and **Opal** , could you possible “butt-out” of this one before it blows up? Are you trying to egg her on? Re the OP, I can see it from both sides; and, depending on your mindset it is really harmless or not funny/offensive. ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2002, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-humor-impaired-people/124518/55 "2002-08-20T22:25:42Z")
Well, here’s my two cents: It’s human nature to blame disagreement not on legitimate differences of opinion or personality, but rather on some personal failing of the person you disagree with. I think everyone has a tendency to do this. A person refuses to agree with your position in an argument --\> they don’t just disagree with you, they’re “stupid.” A person doesn’t think something’s a big deal that you thin is a big deal --\> they don’t just have a different emotional perspective, they’re “insensitive.” A person doesn’t think something is funny that you think is funny --\> they aren’t just unamused in that case, they’re “humorless.” We all think we’re right almost all of the time, but the danger IMO is assuming that others who differ from us can’t be right _as well_, in their own way. No, if we’re right and they’re different, then they must be wrong. Like I said, I think it’s human nature to conclude this. I also think it’s wrong. (Wrong in the sense of “incorrect,” not in the sense of “morally indefensible.”) All of which is a long-winded way to say what others have already said: Different people have different senses of humor, and find different things funny. That doesn’t mean they’re “humor-impaired.” None of which is to justify the sending of “hate-mail,” which IMO is pointless, useless, cowardly, and low. People who send hate-mail can be criticized for far worse social crimes than not having a sense of humor. As for the rest, I’m with JAR: Jesus behind the couch. Ha, ha. Oh, my sides. It seems such T-shirts can eiither work as a statement of humor or as a provocation of outrage, but they’re not really all that interesting to those of us who find them neither particularly funny nor particularly outrageous. That doesn’t mean I don’t have a sense of humor or I am insensitive. It just means my senses of humor and sensibilities are different from those of the presumed target audience for such shirts. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2002, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-humor-impaired-people/124518/56 "2002-08-20T22:49:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BottledBlondJeanie \* > **Coldie Im not weighing in on either side, but with the history between you and Opal, could you possible “butt-out” of this one before it blows up? Are you trying to egg her on?** Huh? I commented on a rather unfortunate analogy by another poster, and I told a newbie using “Hi Opal!” was rather old. Yeah, I’m egging her on alright. ---
**Author:** ![LolaCocaCola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@LolaCocaCola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LolaCocaCola)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2002, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-humor-impaired-people/124518/57 "2002-08-20T23:01:24Z")
Dear God, protect me from your followers… ---
**Author:** ![BottledBlondJeanie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/0ea827/32.png) [@BottledBlondJeanie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BottledBlondJeanie)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2002, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-humor-impaired-people/124518/58 "2002-08-20T23:02:40Z")
\*\* Colidie \*\* you have argued in the past that she miscontrues your comments…I think the first one could be…as well as the second: “that’s hardly hilarious either” Look, you know you irritate her. Popping into her thread could be contrued as a challenge or it may feel like, to her, you are trying to get some shots in. Whether you **feel** justified or not with your comments, whether they are harmless are not, they may not be so to \*\* Opal \*\* judging by past issues. Seriously, stop before this gets blown up. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2002, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-humor-impaired-people/124518/59 "2002-08-20T23:04:29Z")
Dammit Coldie! Knock it off already! 😉 > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bodypoet \* > \*\*I’m with **jarbaby** , I believe. > > I’m not really even religious, and I’m certainly not humor-impaired. I just don’t find jokes about the religious beliefs of other people to be all that funny, any more than I think jokes about someone’s sexual orientation or IQ funny. > > “…amusement at the outrage of others…”. Riiiight. And you’re calling _them_ humor-impaired? > > \*\* I don’t think that this qualifies even in the same neighborhood as “amusement at the outrage of others”… it is just a silly play on words. ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2002, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-humor-impaired-people/124518/60 "2002-08-20T23:09:16Z")
> [@](#): > > Look, you know you irritate her. Popping into her thread could be contrued as a challenge or it may feel like, to her, you are trying to get some shots in. BBJ, with all due respect, I don’t think you have any right to tell COLDFIRE where or when he can post. And I think it’s unreasonable to expect him to refrain from posting based on how another poster _might_ take his comments, based on her opinions of their “history.” So long as he is not trolling or being a jerk, he has the right to post whatever he wants, wherever he wants, whenever he wants. Just like you, just like me, just like everyone. Frankly, and again with all due respect and such degree of gentleness as I can convey on a message board, the only person who IMO is out of line here is you, for taking it upon yourself to ask him to butt out of a thread he has every right to participate in. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-humor-impaired-people/124518.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-humor-impaired-people/124518.md?page=4)