Quote: David Bussell @ January 22 2012, 5:48 PM GMTI don't think it's a "harmful" joke at, I'm just saying, like it or not, that it's a paedo joke. Without the audience knowing what grooming is there is no joke. No paedos = no gag. You can act like it's a joke about dogs as much as you like but that's not the part the audience are going to respond to.
My suggestion that this might not be the best gag to open with (or tell at all) is based on having seen way too many fledgling comics play the "edgy" card and fall flat on their face. It sounds like you've seen enough of it too. Why would a new comic looking to make a name for themselves want to swim in the same waters as so many others? I say reach for the second joke that comes into your head and see where that takes you.
Fine, but are you saying the same to Tony?
By the way, I like Tony's gag. But it relies much more on a direct link to child sex than anything in the original post.