[Way OT] A Touching Story

[Pielorinho]

Things like this make me consider quitting gaming. This is not the example of gamers that I like and respect.

normally dissecting humor is a losing proposition. But in this instance, three different people have expressed disgust with the joke, and I'm baffled. Those of you that don't like it, would you explain why?

I'll get the ball rolling: I'll explain why I DO like it.

Enron's collapse left a lot of people in the lurch: employees, sure, but also people whose retirement funds were wrapped up in the company. Lots of little old ladies and men are suffering because of Enron. Their plight isn't funny: it's very sad.

Some people suspect that the higher-ups in Enron were responsible for the company's collapse, that they knew it was coming, that they knew how many people would suffer because of it, and that they didn't care. That's not funny: it's terrible.

But taking the best-known person in the company and placing him in a situation where he acts in a cartoonishly greedy fashion exagerrates what he's done and lets us laugh at his awfulness. That's funny.

Add to that the mental whiplash of the joke. It starts off reading like a true story, but quickly moves into glurge (who honestly believes that an impoverished mother would give two $100 bills to her kids to buy Valentine's day presents with?). We readers are at first open to the story, and then mildly disgusted with the vanilla moral that it obviously has coming up.

And then it has a totally surprise ending, with the swiping of the money. And then another totally suprising ending, with the signature. Surprises can enhance humor.

Okay, that's why I liked it. Why didn't Kender, Snofox, et al not like it?

Daniel

 

[Pielorinho]

If everyone was worried about other people we would never have jokes...except maybe knock knock jokes.

I was hoping someone would mention knock knock jokes! Here's my new favorite:

Knock, knock.
Who's there?
Knock, knock.
Who's there?
Knock, knock.
Who's there?
Knock, knock.
Who's there?
Knock, knock.
Who's there?
Knock, knock.
Who's there?
Knock, knock.
Who's there?
Knock, knock.
Who's there?
Knock, knock.
Who's there?
Knock, knock.
Who's there?
Knock, knock.
Who's there?
Knock, knock.
Who's there?
Knock, knock.
Who's there?
:
:
:
:
Phillip Glass

 

[reveal]

normally dissecting humor is a losing proposition. But in this instance, three different people have expressed disgust with the joke, and I'm baffled. Those of you that don't like it, would you explain why?

Daniel

Well, I'll tell you why I like it, mainly because I posted it:

Who in their right mind would take $100 dollars from a helpless child? Kenneth Lay, that's who.

The same man who sold almost all of his Enron stocks and then forbade his employees, those not on the upper management tier of course, to sell theirs. The man who's wife was on national television complaining how they were almost broke, forgetting to mention that they still had FIVE homes in the US, all worth at LEAST $500,000(US).

If this were just a story about a person who stole $100 from a crying child, I would have thought it petty and mean. But because the signature is Kenneth Lay... There's the rub!

I equate him in this letter to Mr. Burns on the Simpsons television show. Did anyone think it sick, or messed up, when he tried to steal candy from Maggie Simpson? Was it because she accidentally shot him? I don't know. All I know is that you see that, it's funny. You read this letter, it's not. How is it different?

Because you got suckered! You thought you were reading this sweet, innocent story about a child who's family is poor and you think to yourself "Poor kid. Wish I could help." And then you realize it's a joke and you feel stupid that you fell for it.

And then, instead of swallowing it and taking it in stride, you claim that it's "stupid" and "really mean" and that it should never have been posted and that you are "disgusted" by it. To that I say: It's a joke. Get over it. It's didn't hurt anything except maybe your precious ego.

And if you are "disgusted" by people who find this funny, maybe you need to do a little less finger pointing and a little more soul searching.

 

[Eben]

I think it's hillarious! First the shock and then the absurdity of the whole situation sinks in! Monthy Python could have done this!

BTW, Christian: great link, my favourite would be "The Coffee Shop"

 

[Randolpho]

Randolpho labels Snofox, Hejdun, and The Kender morons.

Look, it's ok to find a joke not funny because it's not funny, or overused, etc. It's not ok to condemn a joke because it makes somebody the butt of the joke. Get over yourselves. You probably laugh long and hard at every "Bush is dumb" joke you ever hear, yet that makes somebody the butt of the joke.

Wah, wah, wah, somebody told a joke that offended my delicate sensibilities.

 

[The Crimster]

Things like this make me consider quitting gaming. This is not the example of gamers that I like and respect.

This should be entitled "A Sad, Sad Tale"

I've read The Kender's posts before, and I've never seen anything that lead me to believe he/she was prone to going off the deep end. Here. Take this quarter. Go somewhere and see if you can buy a sense of humor.

 

[Wicht]

You know - this would be better if we could keep the personal insults out of it. Humor is a subjective thing.

 

[Pielorinho]

You know - this would be better if we could keep the personal insults out of it. Humor is a subjective thing.

I agree. I'm actually really interested in knowing why people were offended by this, if they're seeing something I'm not. If folks call Snofox et al names, the thread's likely to get closed down; even if it doesn't, I'll still not get my question answered.

Please play nice, even if you disagree with folks.

Thanks!
Daniel

 

[Henry]

Reveal:

You might be DOUBLY disappointed with me, then, because I tried to get the thread closed. I did this because I knew from the first read what insults and hurt feelings were going to result from this thread, taken to its conclusion.

I also found it unfunny, but I knew even more that this issue was going to cause more posters here to be cheesed off than laugh.

If you wish to talk about Ken Lay, please post all the facts before doing so. I feel very strongly about politics myself and many current issues, but if I ever badmouth any major figure I back it up with evidence. Later in your posts, you did, and I thank you for that. But I also want to note that, just because someone thinks a joke is unfunny, doesn't mean they "lack a sense of humor." I do not judge you in that fashion for posting this joke, and I would hope you don't judge me.

I've posted my share of "bombs" on this site, but I can promise this: I've always understood if someone found them inappropriate.

 

[el-remmen]

Ok, this thread got ugly pretty quick. . .

Let me say this again, personal insults and political discussion are NOT ALLOWED HERE.

Take it elsewhere.