Censorship

I draw the line at jokes about disabilities, but I don't mind posting the standard stereotypical jokes about the Irish, Scots and English, simply because we all know they are just stereotypes. I thought Frankie Boyle's 'jokes' about Jordan's disabled son was not only crass but unfunny. I don't mind jokes about sex, or body parts, but I tend not to post them as not every member is as broad-minded as I am!
The really good comedians (Morecombe and Wise, Billy Connolly, Les Dawson) did not need to be offensive about vulnerable people. I don't mind Connolly's swearing - it just seems so innocent coming from him!
I am open to criticism or comment about the jokes I post - but I can't restrict them to those that would be acceptable at the vicarage tea party.

I joke about my own disabilities but wouldn't joke about other people! Jolly bad form you know!

I agree that Frankie Boyles "joke" was very distasteful. However, this seems to be his stock in trade and there are those who actually enjoy his humour (not me - I have never been able to stand the man, totally unfunny).

I have Irish heritage and was married to an Irishman and have never felt offended by the jokes posted on here - some of the funniest Irish jokes I have heard have been told by the Irish themselves (wish I could remember them!)

Barrow, don't the Irish tell 'Kerryman' jokes?

…and the Germans tell Bavaria jokes in the same way.

In principle, I feel that no subject should be barred from being joked about but some comedy routines and jokes have made me feel very uneasy. For example,
"What do you say to a woman who has two black eyes? Nothing, you've already told her twice." I don't think that's funny – indeed, I find it offensive – but I have heard people laugh cheerily when it was told.

I think people telling in-jokes, Jews telling Jewish jokes, Irishmen on the Irish, Scots on the Scots, women on women (I saw a blonde shop assistant wearing a T shirt with the slogan ' Natural Blonde: Please speak slowly and clearly'. She said her children had bought it for her) is OK but I feel uneasy about outsiders doing the same. There is a lot of cruelty in humour, intended (Boyle) or unintended and also humour puts people down. Without the element of ridicule and humiliation a lot of jokes wouldn't exist so I think a little self-censorship is in order. I think the test, if you are white, is to say, would you tell this joke about a black person?

Leaving aside actual jokes, I find some people do not seem to recognise when it is inappropriate, insensitive and offensive to trivialise really serious or tragic threads with what they consider to be light-hearted banter.

If anybody finds any of the jokes I post offensive, please let me know. I reserve the right to make Irish jokes because of my Irish heritage. I have had many Jewish friends and they all enjoyed Jewish jokes, no matter who told them. Jokes about domestic violence do not amuse me, either.
Some apparent racism is, in fact, meant to illuminate the ridiculous nature of it - cf Alf Garnet. Unfortunately, some rednecks thought it was intended to be taken seriously. I remember an excellent satirical programme called The Day, but it was axed because so many people failed to appreciate the satire.

I do not think the members of Gransnet are shrinking violets who are offended by any mention of sexual activity - if you are, just don't open the joke thread.

How do you know they enjoyed them? Or were they just being good sports?

They told me - I trusted them. Apart from Jewish mother jokes, they mostly showed them in a good light, as shrewd and intelligent.

Just as a bit of an aside,on Tuesday night at 9pm on Channel 4, there is a programme called "Jewish Mother of the Year."

Is it just me? Somehow this doesn't seem quite right.

Perhaps it is a comedy?

No, it's a documentary/reality show!

"This ambitious competitive series follows The Jewish News as it scours every corner of the UK and the Jewish communities of Glasgow, Manchester, Leeds, Essex and London to find the Jewish Mum of the Year.

The competition will seek out the traditional, the overbearing, the cheek-pinching and the charming. The winner is out there somewhere in the land of the Jewish Princess and the over-pampered Bar Mitzvah boys, and no strudel will be left unturned in his quest to find the perfect Jewish mum. It's a television show with heart of gold.

This diverse mix of competitive mums will fight it out through a series of gruelling tasks to win the crown, including challenges to test their cooking skills, matchmaking, home-making abilities, event organising and, of course, how well they know their kids."

It sounds a bit like a Jewish version of My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding.
I only watched one episode of that - I disliked the hypocritical way that it was presented as a documentary, but was clearly having a laugh at the travelling community.

absentagran Spot on there about who can tell what jokes.

Jokes? I think they should be funny. Disability isn't. So it is not an appropriate subject for jokes. The same goes for illness, suicide, mental illness, infertility, loneliness, ......the list goes on.

I am still waiting to be told which subjects are suitable for jokes. It seems that somebody will take offence over virtually everything.

Carry on with the jokes Greatnan, it is the first thing I look at, and I am rubbish at telling them, so I appreciate someone who can. I am better at the one liner in conversation.

I am rubbish at telling jokes too - which is why I have just searched the internet for joke sites, which I copy and paste!

It's the way you paste them

Thanks, grannyeggs - I think!

Is old age funny?

Yes! I am surely allowed as an old person to make 'in-jokes' about it.