I find this sort of humour way too easy and therefore usually not funny.
Easy?
I have in mind people like Jews in 1930s Europe, Russians under the Soviet rule, or, to take a contemporary example, Christian Copts in Egypt. Oppressed people who don’t have an opportunity to change their lot through polite democratic process. Humor—biting, nasty, derisive humor—was and is very important for them. To fight back with, to keep their sanity, to feel as humans and not cattle. That humor’s point is to “indicate derision towards the Hated/Scorned enemy”.
I somewhat agree with this, but I had a much more casual interpretation in mind. The examples of jewish humour I’ve seen have all been quite witty, so they don’t really count as “just laughing at the subject”.
Just a data point: Your tone instinctively feels confrontational, and originally demotivated me from replying. Might be what turns off other people too. Is this intentional?
Somewhat. The point is not to demotivate or turn off other people, the point is to liven up the exchange, as well as provide some entertainment and motivation. I am not averse to poking people with sharp pointy objects :-D but I don’t object to being poked myself.
Easy?
I have in mind people like Jews in 1930s Europe, Russians under the Soviet rule, or, to take a contemporary example, Christian Copts in Egypt. Oppressed people who don’t have an opportunity to change their lot through polite democratic process. Humor—biting, nasty, derisive humor—was and is very important for them. To fight back with, to keep their sanity, to feel as humans and not cattle. That humor’s point is to “indicate derision towards the Hated/Scorned enemy”.
Yes, quite reasonable—but it can degenerate into the Book of Revelation.
I somewhat agree with this, but I had a much more casual interpretation in mind. The examples of jewish humour I’ve seen have all been quite witty, so they don’t really count as “just laughing at the subject”.
Just a data point: Your tone instinctively feels confrontational, and originally demotivated me from replying. Might be what turns off other people too. Is this intentional?
Somewhat. The point is not to demotivate or turn off other people, the point is to liven up the exchange, as well as provide some entertainment and motivation. I am not averse to poking people with sharp pointy objects :-D but I don’t object to being poked myself.
Ok, good to know. Livening things up is good. It’s funny how a simple acknowledgement can shift your view of a user agent sailing in bitspace.
You’d make a good surgeon. Just remember keep those objects sharp.