# When is it in bad taste **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 12, 2011, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-it-in-bad-taste/567345 "2011-01-12T14:57:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zyanthia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Zyanthia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyanthia)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-it-in-bad-taste/567345/1 "2011-01-12T14:57:01Z")
to make jokes about people dieing? For example the old joke, > [@](#): > > “What do you call 32 lawyers at the bottom of the Ocean” > > “A good start” Well, I modified it to be “What do you call 12 politicians shot in the head” and was told that it was in very bad taste. I also remember NASA meaning Need Another Seven Astronauts. How long after a tragedy before you can make jokes about it and not be in bad taste? ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-it-in-bad-taste/567345/2 "2011-01-12T14:58:53Z")
Judging from the examples you’ve given, I’d say _you_ should refrain from joking about death. Ever. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-it-in-bad-taste/567345/3 "2011-01-12T15:02:46Z")
The number one rule of comedy is Know Your Audience. Obviously, you didn’t, thinking they would like such jokes. ---
**Author:** ![Dave\_Hartwick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@Dave\_Hartwick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dave_Hartwick)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-it-in-bad-taste/567345/4 "2011-01-12T15:05:50Z")
You should ask an adult, such as your parents, a teacher, or a construction worker. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-it-in-bad-taste/567345/5 "2011-01-12T15:11:57Z")
The lawyer joke is an anonymous poke at a profession; the others have specific connotations that aren’t funny. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-it-in-bad-taste/567345/6 "2011-01-12T15:12:04Z")
Also, avoid jokes that are mere rehashes of older jokes. The 12 politicians is a remake of “a hundred lawyers on the bottom of the ocean” from about 10 years ago. ---
**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:** [January 12, 2011, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-it-in-bad-taste/567345/7 "2011-01-12T15:16:28Z")
Do you really not see the differences between “32 lawyers at the bottom of the ocean” and “12 politicians shot on the head”?? Let me spell some of them out for you: Lawyers at the bottom of the ocean has an element of absurdity to it, which is what makes the joke funny (if in fact it is). Politicians being shot is something that can and does actually happen. Your version could easily be interpreted as urging an act of violence toward particular people, or as celebrating a recent event that most people agree was a horrifying tragedy ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-it-in-bad-taste/567345/8 "2011-01-12T15:24:43Z")
Too Soon. ---
**Author:** ![seanchai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@seanchai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seanchai)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2011, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-it-in-bad-taste/567345/9 "2011-01-13T22:37:27Z")
Perhaps the ‘shot in the head’ jokes aren’t appropriate - say - when the news story (six killed, several wounded) is still fresh? an seanchai ---
**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:** [January 13, 2011, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-it-in-bad-taste/567345/10 "2011-01-13T22:43:28Z")
> [@Zyanthia](#): > > How long after a tragedy before you can make jokes about it and not be in bad taste? 7 minutes. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-it-in-bad-taste/567345/11 "2011-01-14T00:15:24Z")
It depends on whether or not they are good jokes. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-it-in-bad-taste/567345/12 "2011-01-14T00:41:57Z")
According to South Park, [22.3 years](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jared_Has_Aides). ---
**Author:** ![fuzzypickles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9d8465/32.png) [@fuzzypickles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fuzzypickles)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-it-in-bad-taste/567345/13 "2011-01-14T03:12:19Z")
I agree that the OP shows incredibly bad taste & judgment, at this current time…but… “Other than _that,_ Mrs. Lincoln, how did you enjoy the play?” ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-it-in-bad-taste/567345/14 "2011-01-14T06:55:19Z")
Offensive jokes are always in bad taste. Immediately after the precipitating event, they can only be told to the very narrow audience of those who revel in offensiveness, and those who hate the target group enough to approve of it. Eventually, the audience will expand to include those who revel in mere bad taste, and those who lack the empathy to be offended. Finally, such a joke’s popularity will plateau, as those who sort of enjoy feeling uncomfortable will give it a laugh. Your joke, being (a) an obvious rip-off and (b) extremely topical, will never be that popular, as it’s got nothing going for it that will last past the first stage. ---
**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:** [January 14, 2011, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-it-in-bad-taste/567345/15 "2011-01-14T18:45:06Z")
All jokes are fine if they seen for the humor. Jokes about recent events may evoke an emotional response to the actual event. Someone will be offended by any joke, but you can use common sense to determine if enough people will see the humor. If they groan though, just say ‘What? Too soon?’