# Ellen Cherry, question about the jokes in the Dark Knight shooting thread. **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [July 20, 2012, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ellen-cherry-question-about-the-jokes-in-the-dark-knight-shooting-thread/628855 "2012-07-20T14:57:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ellen-cherry-question-about-the-jokes-in-the-dark-knight-shooting-thread/628855/41 "2012-07-20T17:40:53Z")
First off, thanks to **Ellen Cherry.** I re-read my post and came off way too brusque and I apologize for that. Back to the off-topic discussion. What I find interesting is the weight of importance given to the babies. “Yeah, that’s a tragedy that 14 people were shot and killed. WAIT-A BABY WAS SHOT? OMG IT’S NOT FUNNY ANYMORE!!!11!!—Oh, the baby’s ok, you say? Bring back the jokes.” ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ellen-cherry-question-about-the-jokes-in-the-dark-knight-shooting-thread/628855/42 "2012-07-20T17:44:47Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > We aren’t first responders. We’re a bunch of random assholes on the Internet commenting on someone else’s tragedy that we saw on the news. The idea that we need to “cope with it” somehow is a bit much. This wasn’t 9/11. I find this post deliciously ironic. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ellen-cherry-question-about-the-jokes-in-the-dark-knight-shooting-thread/628855/43 "2012-07-20T17:48:50Z")
Yeah? Which part would you say is the most delicious? ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ellen-cherry-question-about-the-jokes-in-the-dark-knight-shooting-thread/628855/44 "2012-07-20T17:54:22Z")
> [@stpauler](#): > > Back to the off-topic discussion. What I find interesting is the weight of importance given to the babies. “Yeah, that’s a tragedy that 14 people were shot and killed. WAIT-A BABY WAS SHOT? OMG IT’S NOT FUNNY ANYMORE!!!11!!—Oh, the baby’s ok, you say? Bring back the jokes.” If you’re referring to my posts, I honestly have no idea how you got that from what I posted. ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ellen-cherry-question-about-the-jokes-in-the-dark-knight-shooting-thread/628855/45 "2012-07-20T17:54:48Z")
The part where you try to turn the tables as if the jokers were the ones overly invested in a sensationalized tragedy. ETA: Oops. Meant for VT. Multi tasking over here, forgive me. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ellen-cherry-question-about-the-jokes-in-the-dark-knight-shooting-thread/628855/46 "2012-07-20T17:55:43Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > Nobody is fucking talking about arbitrary “waiting periods” for jokes. We’re talking about knowing your audience. > > Did LCK tell that joke as the building was falling? No, because he knows his audience and he knows what is and isn’t funny. > > Like I’ve already said up above, anything can be joked about if THE JOKE IS FUNNY. > > You said you laughed at Rotter’s jokes, and I’m sure others did as well, so apparently you’re his audience. Forgive me if I don’t find that to be a redeeming quality in you. I listen to Jimmy Norton almost every morning. On a show the Louis CK and Patrice have been on very often. They absolutely make jokes as tragedy is happening. And in the middle of serious discussions of the issue. And I like it. I don’t know how it was handled today. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ellen-cherry-question-about-the-jokes-in-the-dark-knight-shooting-thread/628855/47 "2012-07-20T17:56:17Z")
> [@Nzinga](#): > > The part where you try to turn the tables as if the jokers were the ones overly invested in a sensationalized tragedy. Ah. Well, glad you enjoyed that. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ellen-cherry-question-about-the-jokes-in-the-dark-knight-shooting-thread/628855/48 "2012-07-20T17:57:02Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Yeah? Which part would you say is the most delicious? You just drew an arbitrary line at 9/11. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ellen-cherry-question-about-the-jokes-in-the-dark-knight-shooting-thread/628855/49 "2012-07-20T17:58:11Z")
> [@Enuma\_Elish](#): > > Does this mean we can never joke about cancer, or heart disease, or aids, or old age, or any of the many other ways people remain in hospitals fighting for their lives every single day? So the next time some poster posts about his wife being in the hospital fighting for her life, feel free to post jokes about it. Common sense should otherwise answer your question. ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ellen-cherry-question-about-the-jokes-in-the-dark-knight-shooting-thread/628855/50 "2012-07-20T18:01:07Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > So the next time some poster posts about his wife being in the hospital fighting for her life, feel free to post jokes about it. Common sense should otherwise answer your question. You are playing dirty right now. No one has suggested it is ok to make fun of a poster who is posting about his personal tragedy. ---
**Author:** ![Enuma\_Elish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5e9695/32.png) [@Enuma\_Elish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enuma_Elish)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ellen-cherry-question-about-the-jokes-in-the-dark-knight-shooting-thread/628855/51 "2012-07-20T18:03:43Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > So the next time some poster posts about his wife being in the hospital fighting for her life, feel free to post jokes about it. Common sense should otherwise answer your question. No - reasonable people would see that I was speaking in generalities while you are speaking in specifics. ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ellen-cherry-question-about-the-jokes-in-the-dark-knight-shooting-thread/628855/52 "2012-07-20T18:06:49Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Yeah? Which part would you say is the most delicious? The sweet, sweet innards? ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ellen-cherry-question-about-the-jokes-in-the-dark-knight-shooting-thread/628855/53 "2012-07-20T18:07:48Z")
> [@Enuma\_Elish](#): > > No - reasonable people would see that I was speaking in generalities while you are speaking in specifics. Once again. Common sense should provide the answer to the question you asked. ---
**Author:** ![Enuma\_Elish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5e9695/32.png) [@Enuma\_Elish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enuma_Elish)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ellen-cherry-question-about-the-jokes-in-the-dark-knight-shooting-thread/628855/54 "2012-07-20T18:17:58Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > Once again. Common sense should provide the answer to the question you asked. Common sense keeps most people from becoming unhinged at other people using humor as a coping mechanism. If you don’t share or understand gallows humor, good for you, but that doesn’t give you the right to judge people who do. ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ellen-cherry-question-about-the-jokes-in-the-dark-knight-shooting-thread/628855/55 "2012-07-20T18:19:53Z")
> [@stpauler](#): > > Oh, so what’s the timeline for appropriateness? 5 hours? 2 days? 4 years? :rolleyes: National tragedy caused by space exploration (a la Challenger): 24 hours National tragedy caused by terrorism (a la 9/11): 72 hours\* School shooting (a la Columbine): 12 hours\* Darwin-Award-worthy tomfoolery of national scope: immediate \*If comment is made from a locale at least 750 miles distant from event, or a different time zone, whichever is closer ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ellen-cherry-question-about-the-jokes-in-the-dark-knight-shooting-thread/628855/56 "2012-07-20T18:21:33Z")
> [@Enuma\_Elish](#): > > Common sense keeps most people from becoming unhinged at other people using humor as a coping mechanism. If you don’t share or understand gallows humor, good for you, but that doesn’t give you the right to judge people who do. We need rights now to judge people? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ellen-cherry-question-about-the-jokes-in-the-dark-knight-shooting-thread/628855/57 "2012-07-20T18:29:20Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > Why? You did nothing but ask to let the thread run it’s course before it went off on a gallows humor siding. I totally agree with you in that regard. Once that starts, the thread looses much of it’s interest, and it’s difficult to return to the discussion. Using your head and being proactive ins’t overstepping your authority. Yes it is. If no one is breaking any rules, she shouldn’t be posting under a “moderator” note. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ellen-cherry-question-about-the-jokes-in-the-dark-knight-shooting-thread/628855/58 "2012-07-20T18:37:25Z")
I didn’t see any jokes in the shootings thread. Just what I thought were a couple of horrible examples of threadshitting. To each his own. Go ahead and crack jokes if that’s your cup of tea. There needn’t be a rule against morbid humor. But don’t take it personally if someone asks, “What the fuck is wrong with you?” I don’t think **Ellen’s** note was out of place at all. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ellen-cherry-question-about-the-jokes-in-the-dark-knight-shooting-thread/628855/59 "2012-07-20T18:46:28Z")
> [@Enuma\_Elish](#): > > Common sense keeps most people from becoming unhinged at other people using humor as a coping mechanism. If you don’t share or understand gallows humor, good for you, but that doesn’t give you the right to judge people who do. Jesus. If you’re going to be an insensitive asshole and joke about recent tragedy, at least OWN your assholishness. Don’t try to hide behind “I use humor as a coping mechanism”. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ellen-cherry-question-about-the-jokes-in-the-dark-knight-shooting-thread/628855/60 "2012-07-20T18:55:14Z")
Could be worse, I suppose. Anyone else see [the @CelebBoutique tweet](https://twitter.com/marikatogo/status/226383512691933184/photo/1/large)? They just deleted it but it was up for about an hour. Looks like an intern will be dusting off their ol’ resume. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ellen-cherry-question-about-the-jokes-in-the-dark-knight-shooting-thread/628855.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ellen-cherry-question-about-the-jokes-in-the-dark-knight-shooting-thread/628855.md?page=4)