Joke Appropriateness Debate

Discussions center on whether a specific remark was intended as a joke, defenses against those who take it seriously or downvote it, and debates over the acceptability and tastefulness of such humor in Hacker News comments.

📉 Falling 0.3x Politics & Society
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Keywords

OP IMO FWIW BTW CEO AIDS joke humor jokes funny fun bandwidth asses recognize laughing thoughtful

Sample Comments

stronglikedan • Feb 4, 2022 • View on HN

people like to punctuate stories with topical humor sometimes. it's a joke, not a personal attack

stareatgoats • Nov 13, 2020 • View on HN

It is a joke. Some people may find it difficult to joke about (the desensitization problem), but not everyone evidently. As a joke, it has some sinister merit IMO.

pbhjpbhj • Nov 5, 2016 • View on HN

Personally I don't mind some jokes here but I can't see what the joke is you're trying to make. If it was a clearly funny comment it perhaps wouldn't fair as badly.

Khao • Sep 17, 2015 • View on HN

Because those who comment that it's bad simply missed the joke and are taking this seriously.

scott_s • Dec 4, 2013 • View on HN

It is possible for people to understand that you are joking, yet not like it and consider it conversational noise.

noobermin • Nov 27, 2015 • View on HN

Perhaps some people can't take a joke. FWIW, I upvoted you.

anjc • Aug 19, 2016 • View on HN

You don't have to find it funny. That doesn't make it not a joke.

philk • Sep 1, 2010 • View on HN

It is possible to maintain a sense of humor and joke about something without actually condoning it.

backspace_ • Dec 19, 2024 • View on HN

Careful, people here might look down on that kind of joke!

neilv • Jun 20, 2024 • View on HN

I clarified for people who didn't recognize the joke. Do you discourage that?