# Is this joke offensive/morally reprehensible? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 19, 2014, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-joke-offensive-morally-reprehensible/707659 "2014-12-19T13:45:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2014, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-joke-offensive-morally-reprehensible/707659/21 "2014-12-19T15:33:10Z")
I’ve never been offended by anything, so I’m not qualified to answer. Of course it’s not offensive. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2014, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-joke-offensive-morally-reprehensible/707659/22 "2014-12-19T15:39:32Z")
> [@andrea\_green](#): > > What bothers me is that I felt the implication of the joke was that jewish israelis not capable of producing impressive things while Palestinian people are not. (I assume that first “not” was supposed to be an “are”?) If you think that, you didn’t get the joke. But if you didn’t get it and thought that’s what it implied, other people might have the same reaction. ---
**Author:** ![andrea\_green](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecccb3/32.png) [@andrea\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andrea_green)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2014, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-joke-offensive-morally-reprehensible/707659/23 "2014-12-19T15:54:31Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > (I assume that first “not” was supposed to be an “are”?) Yes thank you for pointing that out, I meant are. > [@Slash1972](#): > > Is the story saying that feces is the best that the people governed by Hamas can produce? Or is it calling the leadership abilities of Hamas into question, because they sent feces instead of finding the best their people could produce and sending that? This is getting to the crux of what bothered me. The first interpretation you mentioned that feces is the best that the people governed by Hamas can produce. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2014, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-joke-offensive-morally-reprehensible/707659/24 "2014-12-19T15:57:52Z")
> [@andrea\_green](#): > > What bothers me is that I felt the implication of the joke was that jewish israelis not capable of producing impressive things while Palestinian people are not. It devalues the intellectual capabilities not just of HAMAS but of the people that Hamas leads. What? No. The joke isn’t “The best thing the people that Hamas leads can produce is poop.” The joke is “Hamas thought they were being clever sending Israel a box of poop, and then Israel was like ‘Yeah, whatevs. I guess that’s the best your people can produce. BURN!’” The joke-teller isn’t saying anything about the actual capabilities of the people who are lead by Hamas. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2014, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-joke-offensive-morally-reprehensible/707659/25 "2014-12-19T16:04:40Z")
When they tell it in Palestine, Peres eats the poop. ---
**Author:** ![JKilez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@JKilez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKilez)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2014, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-joke-offensive-morally-reprehensible/707659/26 "2014-12-19T16:19:27Z")
What struck me as odd in this “joke” was that while Hamas sent Israel something real and tangible, Israel’s return gift was just a fantasy. So the point of the joke is that Hamas lives in the real world, while Israel lives in a world of rainbows and unicorns? ---
**Author:** ![Staggerlee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/staggerlee/32/3134_2.png) [@Staggerlee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Staggerlee)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2014, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-joke-offensive-morally-reprehensible/707659/27 "2014-12-19T16:24:08Z")
The version I heard, Hamas opens the box Peres has sent back, only to find his faeces is composed of partially-digested Palestinian babies. I must say, even I found that version offensive. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2014, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-joke-offensive-morally-reprehensible/707659/28 "2014-12-19T16:24:43Z")
> [@andrea\_green](#): > > This is getting to the crux of what bothered me. The first interpretation you mentioned that feces is the best that the people governed by Hamas can produce. I agree. While in theory this joke could _just_ be about Hamas (which is . . . Hamas leadership? Anyone who voted for Hamas? People who kinda-sorta stand behind Hamas, even though they don’t like everything about it?), in practice this joke and others like it are just about “those people on the other side,” regardless of how deserving they are of being spit upon by the good guys. ---
**Author:** ![Abner\_Ravenwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c4cdca/32.png) [@Abner\_Ravenwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abner_Ravenwood)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2014, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-joke-offensive-morally-reprehensible/707659/29 "2014-12-19T17:01:48Z")
So then I guess the Argentine and Brazilian genie joke with a punchline of genocide for all Argentines that I was told while in Argentina is out of the question. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2014, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-joke-offensive-morally-reprehensible/707659/30 "2014-12-19T17:09:44Z")
Obviously, the joke would work regardless of who the adversaries happened to be, that were built into the joke. If you feel offended by it, just put in some other nationality, see if becomes more or less funny. The joke’s humor does not depend on the ethnicity of the actors. Humor is humor and hatred is hatred, and there is not necessarily a link between the two. ---
**Author:** ![iljitsch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/77aa72/32.png) [@iljitsch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iljitsch)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2014, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-joke-offensive-morally-reprehensible/707659/31 "2014-12-19T17:16:49Z")
ZipperJJ nailed it. I’d say this joke isn’t politically correct, but doesn’t rise to the level of being offensive. Anyone who takes offense here, save maybe for those deeply entangled in the Israelian/Palestinian conflict, needs to lighten up. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2014, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-joke-offensive-morally-reprehensible/707659/32 "2014-12-19T17:18:27Z")
Slightly off-topic variant: Two musicians (a guitarist and a drummer) roomed together and had been working together on gigs for quite a while. One morning the guitarist told his buddy, “I’m going down to the studio and listen to out latest recording.” Later that day he came back and the drummer asked him, “How is it?” The guitarist: “Okay, but just a little too much drums.” Next day the reverse situation and when the drummer came home it was, “How was it?” Drummer: “Okay, but just a bit too much guitar.” ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2014, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-joke-offensive-morally-reprehensible/707659/33 "2014-12-19T17:20:43Z")
That’s the second least offensive joke I’ve ever heard. The first was: Knock! Knock! Who’s there? Me Hi, come on in the coffee is almost ready. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2014, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-joke-offensive-morally-reprehensible/707659/34 "2014-12-19T17:35:51Z")
> [@Eonwe](#): > > I agree. While in theory this joke could _just_ be about Hamas (which is . . . Hamas leadership? Anyone who voted for Hamas? People who kinda-sorta stand behind Hamas, even though they don’t like everything about it?), in practice this joke and others like it are just about “those people on the other side,” regardless of how deserving they are of being spit upon by the good guys. Yeah. I am also weary, speaking purely as an American Jew, of Israelis being literally the biggest smug assholes on the planet and getting a pass because HOLOCAUST. As noted by others its a very lazy joke, and as it casts Israeli smug assholery in a positive light it’s also tiresome. ---
**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:** [December 19, 2014, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-joke-offensive-morally-reprehensible/707659/35 "2014-12-19T18:02:12Z")
[Mork] Ah, humor. AR! AR! AR! AR! AR! [/Mork] It’s just a joke. Lighten up, Francis. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2014, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-joke-offensive-morally-reprehensible/707659/36 "2014-12-19T18:34:23Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > " The joke is “Hamas thought they were being clever sending Israel a box of poop, and then Israel was like ‘Yeah, whatevs. I guess that’s the best your people can produce. BURN!’” That’s my take on it as well. It certainly possible to find offense in the joke but being offensive isn’t a requirement for the joke to work. I think an old WC Fields routine is a decent comparative joke. Uptight Judgemental Woman: You sir, are a drunk. WC Fields: Yes, but I will be sober in the morning and you will still be Ugly. The joke works because the second asshole out assholes the first asshole (and in a clever way), which makes the joke funny, not so much that calling ugly women ugly is funny. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2014, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-joke-offensive-morally-reprehensible/707659/37 "2014-12-19T18:41:14Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > What? No. The joke isn’t “The best thing the people that Hamas leads can produce is poop.” The joke is “Hamas thought they were being clever sending Israel a box of poop, and then Israel was like ‘Yeah, whatevs. I guess that’s the best your people can produce. BURN!’” > . That, more or less. No need to be incensed about the joke. It isn’t clever nor funny, however. And many will be amused by this kind of joke only because they actually despise the side that is mocked. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2014, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-joke-offensive-morally-reprehensible/707659/38 "2014-12-19T18:46:54Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > Slightly off-topic variant: > > Two musicians (a guitarist and a drummer) roomed together and had been working together on gigs for quite a while. One morning the guitarist told his buddy, “I’m going down to the studio and listen to out latest recording.” > > Later that day he came back and the drummer asked him, “How is it?” > > The guitarist: “Okay, but just a little too much drums.” > > Next day the reverse situation and when the drummer came home it was, “How was it?” > > Drummer: “Okay, but just a bit too much guitar.” I’ve read this several times and I’m having trouble figuring out what makes it a joke, despite its being structured like a joke. Is “too much drums” a common thing to say about music, and “too much guitar” something that’s never said? ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2014, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-joke-offensive-morally-reprehensible/707659/39 "2014-12-19T19:18:39Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > I’ve read this several times and I’m having trouble figuring out what makes it a joke, despite its being structured like a joke. Is “too much drums” a common thing to say about music, and “too much guitar” something that’s never said? No, each roommate thinks they are the most important instrument in the band. To the drummer, the guitar is drowning out the best part, the drums, and to the guitarist, the opposite. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2014, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-joke-offensive-morally-reprehensible/707659/40 "2014-12-19T19:52:34Z")
It’s a joke. It’s politically biased, but the reality is far more offensive than the joke. I’d avoid telling the joke to Hamas supporters, but I’d avoid talking to them about any subject. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-joke-offensive-morally-reprehensible/707659.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-joke-offensive-morally-reprehensible/707659.md?page=3)