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Originally Posted by LovebirdsFlying
Now, about the reaction to the joke at the other site, I'm not quite sure I get you. Could you please explain it again? We were not condemning the joke. We joked back in the same spirit, and for *that* we were called "angry b...ches." I don't understand that at all. Unless, maybe the "angry b...ches" line was also meant to be a joke? In which case, I don't find it very funny. Nor do I find jokes funny when they put down men.
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With respect, YOU were not bashing the joke or the joke teller, you do not know the motivation of the other women. To be fair, neither did the men and I certainly don't condone their name calling. When I good naturedly tell my (hypothetical) Polish friend a Polish joke and he MUST come back with an American Indian joke rather than just laugh (if it is funny) or groan (if it is not) it is a mark of insecurity.
It is an indication of security to be able to take a joke without having to retaliate. In fact, when I find myself the butt of someones joke, I often exacerbate my predicament by adding to the punchline. It is crude, but it happened yesterday and it is fresh in my mind (and the reason I added the trigger icon). Someone joked about the size of my privates to which I responded, "I may be little but at least it's skinny." Yes, I know, but it was an immature audience - my point is, it was a joke designed to make people laugh. My response was geared to make people laugh harder (which it did).
The situation you described seems more defensive than it does the women trying to keep the laughter going. I can't imagine a woman saying, "But, but...how's the poor prince going to get his laundry done now?!" That is in keeping with the spirit of the joke, self-depricating in a manner similar to the way that I responded yesterday and yet - even subtly implies that the prince is helpless without a woman.
Jokes are a way to relieve stress. If every joke is going to be countered, it's no fun any more. Jokes naturally play upon stereotypes, it is part of the humor in them - when they are responded to with logic, takes all the funny out of them. Sometimes telling a joke is just about relieving stress and if that was someone's goal, then being confronted with insecurity - or even having to face their own, defeated the purpose.
Quote:
Originally Posted by LovebirdsFlying
You don't have to bash men in order to affirm women, or vice versa. You don't have to hate white in order to love color, or vice versa.
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Amen. I would add only that true strength doesn't need self promotion.