# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![DataX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@DataX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DataX)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2014, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-joke-offensive-morally-reprehensible/707659/61 "2014-12-20T20:26:49Z")
> [@TBG](#): > > I find it more offensive that people would find this joke offensive. I am offended at this. I don’t get how someone can be offended by a joke that is somewhat lazy and applies to scores of individuals - and it isn’t like Hamas is some sort of well respected institution. Even if it references a group I was a part of - the most it would get from me is a disgruntled groan. Is the joke “offensive”? Well that is certainly it’s intent. Should anyone actually be offended by it? I don’t think so. People call each other names. Sure I’d be offended if it actually mentioned me by name, but if it mentioned a group I was a part of - that plenty of people don’t like - I think I’d need thicker skin. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2014, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-joke-offensive-morally-reprehensible/707659/62 "2014-12-21T02:44:37Z")
> [@DataX](#): > > I am offended at this. > > I don’t get how someone can be offended by a joke that is somewhat lazy and applies to scores of individuals - and it isn’t like Hamas is some sort of well respected institution. The Hamas/hand grenade jokes above aren’t a problem, since they’re directed at Hamas. The OP joke is directed at Palestinians and has the racist implication that Palestinians are subhuman savages whose best product is shit. I’m not sure that “offensive” is the right word; maybe “obnoxious” or “smarmily racist” is better, because you’re right, it’s lazy, and it’s not something I’d get worked up over; but I also would lose respect for someone who told it and thought I’d laugh. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_the\_Immortal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Max\_the\_Immortal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_the_Immortal)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2014, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-joke-offensive-morally-reprehensible/707659/63 "2014-12-21T03:23:48Z")
Offense is taken, not given. That said, the joke is not a good one. As **Jkilez** and **Mangetout** have already noted, the magic supertech chip is distracting, and screams “I have an agenda!”. Also, it’s a template joke that’s not even based on real events. “Leader of \ sent an insulting gift to leader of \. Leader of \ replied with a gift that demonstrates that \ is superior to \. HA HA HA!”. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2014, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-joke-offensive-morally-reprehensible/707659/64 "2014-12-21T03:47:49Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > The OP joke is directed at Palestinians and has the racist implication that Palestinians are subhuman savages whose best product is shit. I’m not sure that “offensive” is the right word; maybe “obnoxious” or “smarmily racist” is better, because you’re right, it’s lazy, and it’s not something I’d get worked up over; but I also would lose respect for someone who told it and thought I’d laugh. > [@Max\_the\_Immortal](#): > > Offense is taken, not given. > > That said, the joke is not a good one. As **Jkilez** and **Mangetout** have already noted, the magic supertech chip is distracting, and screams “I have an agenda!”. Also, it’s a template joke that’s not even based on real events. “Leader of \ sent an insulting gift to leader of \. Leader of \ replied with a gift that demonstrates that \ is superior to \. HA HA HA!”. These last two posts made reread the joke and imagine myself telling it to a Palestinian. I can’t imagine them finding it funny, regardless of their stance on Hamas or Israel. They would likely find it offensive, and understandably so. I don’t know why posters are acting like a joke can’t ever be offensive. Aren’t most offensive things intended to make _someone_ laugh? ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2014, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-joke-offensive-morally-reprehensible/707659/65 "2014-12-21T03:47:52Z")
> [@Busy\_Scissors](#): > > No such thing (for me) as an offensive joke, if it’s funny. > This one isn’t, IMHO - it’s such a weak, clumsy construction that I’d wince to hear anyone try and tell it (and reading it’s not much better). So I’d vote for a comedically reprehensible offence. Glad you typed that out so I didn’t have. I know humor is subjective but this joke is lame. Seriously lame. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2014, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-joke-offensive-morally-reprehensible/707659/66 "2014-12-21T04:04:34Z")
The English language definitely needs a word for "comedically reprehensible " How about PaulShorian? JimCaryian? ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Dracula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/54ee81/32.png) [@Count\_Dracula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Dracula)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2014, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-joke-offensive-morally-reprehensible/707659/67 "2014-12-21T04:19:58Z")
Offensive? No. Stupid? Yes. ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2014, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-joke-offensive-morally-reprehensible/707659/68 "2014-12-21T04:32:01Z")
> [@Eonwe](#): > > Who is Hamas? Hamas leadership? Anyone who voted for Hamas? People who kinda-sorta stand behind Hamas, even though they don’t like everything about it? People who are represented by Hamas, even though they didn’t vote for the party? This is stubbornly obtuse. It’s not healthy to twist logic in such a way as to maintain offense. It would be similar to asking if a joke about Republicans is actually about Democrats because a registered Democrat’s congressman might be a member of the GOP. Lighten up. Hamas is a terrorist organization. There is no need to try to broaden it further. ---
**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 21, 2014, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-joke-offensive-morally-reprehensible/707659/69 "2014-12-21T06:06:17Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > The Hamas/hand grenade jokes above aren’t a problem, since they’re directed at Hamas. The OP joke is directed at Palestinians and has the racist implication that Palestinians are subhuman savages whose best product is shit. I’m not sure that “offensive” is the right word; maybe “obnoxious” or “smarmily racist” is better, because you’re right, it’s lazy, and it’s not something I’d get worked up over; but I also would lose respect for someone who told it and thought I’d laugh. Where is the joke directed at Palestinians? It mentions “Hamas” all the way through. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2014, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-joke-offensive-morally-reprehensible/707659/70 "2014-12-21T06:18:07Z")
I heard Hamas has started selling bombs that look like prayer mats. Prophets are going through the roof. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2014, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-joke-offensive-morally-reprehensible/707659/71 "2014-12-21T10:54:20Z")
How on earth is it offensive? Not particularly funny but I can’t even see how it rates a thread. (And I realise the irony of my replying to it). ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2014, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-joke-offensive-morally-reprehensible/707659/72 "2014-12-21T14:58:45Z")
> [@Max\_the\_Immortal](#): > > Offense is taken, not given. Dunno - I think it can be either. People can intend something to be offensive or not, and people can take something as offensive, or not, making four permutations of intent/reception. > [@](#): > > That said, the joke is not a good one. As **Jkilez** and **Mangetout** have already noted, the magic supertech chip is distracting, and screams “I have an agenda!”. Also, it’s a template joke that’s not even based on real events. “Leader of \ sent an insulting gift to leader of \. Leader of \ replied with a gift that demonstrates that \ is superior to \. HA HA HA!”. Yeah, I find it just pitifully strained and goofy, but there will be people who find it offensive, and people who tell it with intent to offend. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2014, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-joke-offensive-morally-reprehensible/707659/73 "2014-12-21T15:37:31Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Where is the joke directed at Palestinians? It mentions “Hamas” all the way through. > [@andrea\_green](#): > > The accompanying note to the Hamas leaders stated very courteously… “Every leader gives the best his people can produce.” It references “his people.” In the context of the President of Israel, “his people” are clearly the citizens of Israel, unless we are to believe that this fantasy microchip was built by members of the president’s political party. Which we’re clearly not meant to believe: it’s bragging about the technological acumen of the people of Israel. And if that’s what “his people” means for the president of Israel, then surely “his people” for the leader of Hamas means Palestinians. I know I’m parsing closely here, but honestly it didn’t even occur to me that “his people” could mean anything else until people here started acting like it meant “members of Hamas.” Which it clearly doesn’t mean. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2014, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-joke-offensive-morally-reprehensible/707659/74 "2014-12-21T15:43:49Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > It references “his people.” In the context of the President of Israel, “his people” are clearly the citizens of Israel, unless we are to believe that this fantasy microchip was built by members of the president’s political party. Which we’re clearly not meant to believe: it’s bragging about the technological acumen of the people of Israel. > > And if that’s what “his people” means for the president of Israel, then surely “his people” for the leader of Hamas means Palestinians. > > I know I’m parsing closely here, but honestly it didn’t even occur to me that “his people” could mean anything else until people here started acting like it meant “members of Hamas.” Which it clearly doesn’t mean. When I first read it, I think my mind substituted “his people” with “he”, which is why the joke just registered as lame rather than offensive. Denigrating a leader is totally okay. But denigrating an entire people is almost always offensive. ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2014, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-joke-offensive-morally-reprehensible/707659/75 "2014-12-21T19:04:25Z")
> [@Busy\_Scissors](#): > > No such thing (for me) as an offensive joke, if it’s funny. > This one isn’t, IMHO - it’s such a weak, clumsy construction that I’d wince to hear anyone try and tell it (and reading it’s not much better). So I’d vote for a comedically reprehensible offence. I agree. I’ve always said that if the joke’s funny enough it’s not offensive. This one’s not funny. It’s so unfunny, in fact, that it has crystalized my thinking on exactly _why_ humor obviates offensiveness for me. I have, on extremely rare occasions, told jokes that could be construed as racist/sexist/etc. I’ve done it because I thought the joke itself (the setup, structure, etc.) was funny regardless of the content, and I couldn’t think of a way of recasting the joke to make it nonoffensive, and I was certain that the hearers were people who could separate the humor from the content. There are very few jokes that are funny enough that I want to tell them badly and that also can’t be recast about neutral parties, so it doesn’t happen very often, but the point is that my goal in such a situation is clearly the humor, and if anyone happens to be the target of the humor, it’s entirely incidental. This joke, OTOH, is so poor, and so badly told, so stilted and drawn out in the delivery, and so disappointing in the punchline, that I just can’t believe anyone was captivated by the humor and wiling to risk unintended offense for the sake of the funny. It seems much more to me like someone wanted to tell a joke about Palestinians and this was unfortunately the best they could come up with, or that they find the idea of insulting Palestinians so inherently funny that they were simply blind to how bad the joke is. Of course, that’s a completely subjective and possibly unjustified reaction on my part, but it explains why the fact that the joke wasn’t funny to me does in fact make it somewhat offensive to me. ---
**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 21, 2014, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-joke-offensive-morally-reprehensible/707659/76 "2014-12-21T19:38:01Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > It references “his people.” In the context of the President of Israel, “his people” are clearly the citizens of Israel, unless we are to believe that this fantasy microchip was built by members of the president’s political party. Which we’re clearly not meant to believe: it’s bragging about the technological acumen of the people of Israel. > > And if that’s what “his people” means for the president of Israel, then surely “his people” for the leader of Hamas means Palestinians. > > I know I’m parsing closely here, but honestly it didn’t even occur to me that “his people” could mean anything else until people here started acting like it meant “members of Hamas.” Which it clearly doesn’t mean. I did not get that impression at all. But then again, I don’t pick jokes apart to look for hidden meaning. Most jokes are about as subtle as a hand grenade in a barrelful of oatmeal. I either laugh or don’t laugh. I still don’t think it’s making fun of nationalities or ethnic groups. It’s making fun of Hamas, not the people they claim to represent. It’s just a joke and humor is subjective for the most part, although I do recognize that there are lines that can be crossed. IMO, this joke didn’t cross any. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2014, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-joke-offensive-morally-reprehensible/707659/77 "2014-12-21T21:02:30Z")
I really have trouble even calling this a joke, frankly. It’s painfully convoluted way of saying Israel is the shit and Hamas is just shit. It could only be funny if you were so eager to agree it overrode your sense of humor. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2014, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-joke-offensive-morally-reprehensible/707659/78 "2014-12-23T20:54:53Z")
OK, are _these_ joke morally offensive? What’s the difference between an abusive spouse and Israel?An abusive spouse at least lets you stay in your home. What did Netenhayu do when he first learned about Plymouth Colony?Ordered Mossad to research blanket technology. What’s the first thing an Israeli real estate developer does?Program the targeting computer. What’s an IDF private’s least favorite thing about pro-Palestinian protesters?The mess they leave in the nice, clean tank treads. ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2014, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-joke-offensive-morally-reprehensible/707659/79 "2014-12-23T22:25:23Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > I heard Hamas has started selling bombs that look like prayer mats. Prophets are going through the roof. I laughed. ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2014, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-joke-offensive-morally-reprehensible/707659/80 "2014-12-23T22:44:41Z")
As others have stated, I certainly didn’t get my dander up about the joke. Hell, I even found it to be somewhat funny, though the over-the-top description of the computer chip was unnecessary and could have been replaced with something more realistic. It was a joke in the “witty rejoinder” category- “I’ve just been sent a box of shit, how do I respond?” I didn’t particularly assign major HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS to the joke. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-joke-offensive-morally-reprehensible/707659.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-joke-offensive-morally-reprehensible/707659.md?page=5)