The other day, a friend of mine posted a rather humorous item titled “Religious Truths” on Facebook along with the disclaimer: “I hope nobody will be offended by this post, which is only a joke.” The first thought that struck me was: what has this world come to when we have to hope that nobody’s going to be offended by a joke? The second thought was: what has this world come to when we have to inform people that a joke is “only” a joke? What’s the matter: isn’t humor a high form of art?
The increasing lack of a sense of humor in our society is no laughing matter.
The consequences of this lack can be deadly. Just look at what happened in Paris today: twelve satirists were killed by terrorists. There’s nothing more offensive, in my mind, than terrorism committed against humor, because the freedom to laugh is the freedom I cherish most. The freedom to boldly laugh out loud.
Vive l’humour.
[Disclaimer: the above text is a serious piece of writing that exclusively expresses the opinions of this blogger, and nobody else. It is in no way whatsoever intended to be humorous, funny, sarcastic or critical. If anyone is offended by this blog post, please call 1-800-FUCK-OFF. Operators are standing by.]
Criticalista 
Do you feel the same way about rape humour, or the anti-Semitic cartoons published in Der Sturmer?
Matthew, I feel that anyone should have the right to say whatever they want. That includes the right to criticize whatever someone has said or done. If that has to mean that cretins, idiots, racists, sexists, homophobes, bigots, rednecks, or even white European secular liberals should have the right to make racist, homophobic, sexist, or other kinds of despicable jokes, then so be it. I’d rather put up with bad taste than with totalitarianism.
Matthew, I do hope you realize what it means for an *architect* to say that they would rather put up with bad taste than with totalitarianism!