Legitimate targets

There are legitimate targets to aim humour at. Traditionally, politicians and anything to do with the establishment are OK to attack. However, attitudes change all the time, and what was a legitimate target a few years ago, might not be now. Racism and sexism are obvious examples, but there are other less obvious ones; for instance, not long ago there was a new crop of stand-ups doing variations on 'I hate old people because', which we don't seem to get now. Ginger hair has lost favour as a target.
So what are the targets which have only recently lost legitimacy?

Iraq?

Erm..I can't think of any. You may have covered them all.

Are there any targets that weren't acceptable but become so?

Quote: Afinkawan @ February 13 2009, 4:27 PM GMT

Erm..I can't think of any. You may have covered them all.

Are there any targets that weren't acceptable but become so?

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Back in t'old days, Peter Cook mocking the Prime Minister springs to mind, in Beyond The Fringe.

Quote: NoggetFred @ February 13 2009, 4:23 PM GMT

There are legitimate targets to aim humour at. Traditionally, politicians and anything to do with the establishment are OK to attack. However, attitudes change all the time, and what was a legitimate target a few years ago, might not be now. Racism and sexism are obvious examples, but there are other less obvious ones; for instance, not long ago there was a new crop of stand-ups doing variations on 'I hate old people because', which we don't seem to get now. Ginger hair has lost favour as a target.
So what are the targets which have only recently lost legitimacy?

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I think that Sexism & especially Racism are ripe for ridicule these days.
I don't mean being Sexist or Racist, but some of the intolerance shown in the name of tolerance these days is breathtaking.

Jade Goody is pretty much of the agenda now.

Quote: Matthew Stott @ February 13 2009, 4:30 PM GMT

Back in t'old days, Peter Cook mocking the Prime Minister springs to mind, in Beyond The Fringe.

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Good call!

Quote: Smithy @ February 13 2009, 4:38 PM GMT

Jade Goody is pretty much of the agenda now.

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It will probably only be a matter of time before you can get away with Jade Goody cancer jokes.

Nuts (or was it Zoo?) seemed to think this was acceptable:

Unless they just didn't get the reference when they asked me if they could use it in their shitty rag.

Perhaps I inadvertantly made a football joke.

More the question are there any illegitmiate targets?

Quote: sootyj @ February 13 2009, 7:42 PM GMT

More the question are there any illegitmiate targets?

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Paula Yates? It turns out Hewie Green was her dad.

Quote: NoggetFred @ February 13 2009, 4:23 PM GMT

There are legitimate targets to aim humour at. Traditionally, politicians and anything to do with the establishment are OK to attack. However, attitudes change all the time, and what was a legitimate target a few years ago, might not be now. Racism and sexism are obvious examples, but there are other less obvious ones; for instance, not long ago there was a new crop of stand-ups doing variations on 'I hate old people because', which we don't seem to get now. Ginger hair has lost favour as a target.
So what are the targets which have only recently lost legitimacy?

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Jews?

Quote: NoggetFred @ February 13 2009, 4:23 PM GMT

Ginger hair has lost favour as a target.

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I hope blonde jokes go the same way. Just f**king annoying.

Quote: Dolly Dagger @ February 13 2009, 7:43 PM GMT

Paula Yates? It turns out Hewie Green was her dad.

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Do you mean that most sincerely?

Regarding legitimate targets, everyone and everything is legitimate.

What matters is how sensitive or offensive the material is.

I think intention has a lot to do with it. Why are you telling the joke?

Is the point of the joke that a segment of society is dumb/smelly? Or is it targeting a specific dumb/smelly person?

Is the target of the joke in a helpless minority, or an empowered majority?

Humour has to come from a good place, I think. Nasty humour provokes a laugh, maybe with a tingle of "oh my god, I can't believe they said that!" but if the intent is mean it leaves you feeling stupid and mean afterwards.

Quote: Dolly Dagger @ February 13 2009, 7:47 PM GMT

I hope blonde jokes go the same way. Just f**king annoying.

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Don't get annoyed just get someone to explain them to you!