You probably rememebr very well how making fun got some well-known personalities and comedians into trouble - Jay Leno or Sasha Baron Cohen. What's funny for some people, maybe offensive for others. Are there topics not to be laughed at? Where are the limits of harmless comedy and bad taste.
There are jokes about everything, covering religious groups, foreigners, minorities, policemen. We willingly make fun of other people based on hair color, weight, height, age, deficiencies, ailments. What commonly considered politically incorrect or simply bad taste is allowed in full in sitcoms or comedies. But even here there seems to be a double standard. Catholics are made fun in a popular animated TV series but Muslims never. Some people or nations present more distance to themselves than the other. Based on their background, people also tend to possess a diverse sense of humor.
I have always believed and supported the notion of equality in all aspects of our lives. I used to tell my parents, you either give all your children equal amount of care, attention, love and presents or you give nothing so that no one feels 'a child of worse God.' The same should apply to comedy. I love to laugh and do it often. My blond hair inspire so many people telling me jokes about dumb blondes. Some are funny and I really has nothing against them. A good job - no matter who or what is being made fun of - is invaluable. But please, let for more equality in this area too, and poke fun at everyone and everything, or no one and nothing.
I wonder what makes me laugh so sincerely at any good joke and truly appreciate it, be it a joke about a Catholic (I'm the one) or a woman driver (I do that for living). I guess it's a matter of distance to yourself, being happy with your life, and free of any complexes. Hearty laugh is good to mental health and well-being. Of course, I'm aware that there are issues and aspects of reality that are sensitive to some people more than to others. However, my idea is that, even some hard subjects like death or illness, which are the part of our existence, seem more bearable if smartly made fun of. I dislike putting the 'taboo' label on making death a topic of jokes. My colleague from a web services agency I work at (Pozycjonowanie Inc.), keeps on saying: "Whether or not you like the idea, death id an integral part of life." Jokes are being invented to make us laugh, have fun and relax not to offend.
Professionally, I work for Pozycjonowanie Poznan agency. Privately, I'm a fervent advocate of healthy eating habits and quality life, blogging about good foods, cooking, lifestyle and relationships.