[ExI] Humour (was: Re: thinking about the unthinkable)

[spike at rainier66.com]

-----Original Message-----
From: extropy-chat <extropy-chat-bounces at lists.extropy.org> On Behalf Of Ben Zaiboc via extropy-chat

>
>>... To those who always draw back the shower curtain to make sure there is no boogey man hiding back there:  suppose one day you snatch back that curtain and there… he… is...    What, exactly, is your plan?


>...To be honest, that's never on my mind. I usually draw back the shower curtain in the breathless anticipation that there might be a nubile 19-year-old in there, soaping up (to be clear, I mean a 19-year-old female...

OK sure.  But Ben, what if... someday you do that, and THERE SHE IS!  Now what?  The answer isn't as clear as we like to imagine, for plenty of really good reasons.  My own reaction might be fairly similar to how I would react to a boogey man, for entirely different (but still good) reasons.

>...Yes, I'm straight and I'm proud!

Funny how we have been compelled to think of those terms as contradictory.

>...(I'm also an unashamed white male baby-boomer))...

I too have managed to escape the shame we are told to feel for these characteristics.  I had no control over 

...

>...Which brings me to a more serious question: Does anyone here think that there are subjects that are not, or should not, be fair game for humour?

Surely you jest, Mr. Zaiboc.  Humor is the truest indication of intelligence.  Sufficient intelligence enables innovative forms of humor.  Comedians are not stupid, they only act that way to entertain those less intelligent than themselves.  For profit of course.

>...I suspect that this is a concept that separates 'conservative' from 'liberal' world views. I have no hesitation in identifying as a 'social libertarian'. To me, that means (or at least includes) being able to laugh at rape jokes while still being horrified at the actual act of rape...

Oh ok, I didn't realize what that chloroform comment was about.  I have lived a most sheltered life.  As I understand it, the kids have a pill they put in their date's drink if that is their style.  Am I mistaken?  Never mind, no need to answer that.

>... I'm never really offended by people making jokes at the expense of Welsh people, but would be totally outraged if someone discriminated against someone because they were Welsh (just for the record, I'm not Welsh. No sheep-shagging for me! :D)...

Ben I just returned Friday from a family history tour of Kentucky and West Virginia where I found out I descend from the Welsh people.  The Jones family traces back to a Welsh immigrant in (we think) about 1750.  I don't think they were chloroforming sheep however, even back in those pre-BCP days.

>...I mean, what kind of world would it be if we couldn't laugh? At anything?

>...Pretty grim, I reckon.
-- 
>...Ben

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I am completely astonished at some of the things I found on my tour.  I found the house where my great great grandfather lived the second half of his life, the same house where his mother in law, my (great)^3 grandmother lived her last days.  The caretaker was there and allowed me to tour inside.  This was a mind blower.

On this same tour, I interacted for the first time in many years with several people who exist on the other side of the great digital divide (they don't have computers (or digital communications of any kind (many of them live where you can't get internet or cel phone.)))  I have a fun report, for later, but I will leave with the following.

One of my contacts was a first cousin to my father.  She had been mowing her 4 acres most of the morning, and was taking a break when I arrived.  We had only communicated previously by phone.  Hers is mounted on the wall, with a wire to a hand-held speaker/microphone unit.  Most of us remember those from the long time agos.  She appeared to be in good health (driving a tractor mower around for a coupla hours) at the remarkable age of 90.  She repeated one story, but her memory was sharp, and the details plausible, in perfect agreement with my vague childhood memories, with regard to her grandmother, who was my great grandmother.

spike