Jokes About Dead People
Posted on June 27, 2009 - Filed Under Music | 8 Comments
I was going to post an old YouTube video of Chris Rock making fun of Michael Jackson, and I’d written a few paragraphs justifying the idea that it’s okay to make jokes about well-known people who’ve recently died, but in the course of writing it I changed my mind about the matter. My shift in opinion had more to do with the death of Steve Irwin and my reaction to it than anything related to Jackson. Initially, I lapped up all the dumb internet jokes about him and stingrays and so on, but then a few months later I saw him on TV again and instantly felt ashamed of myself. Irwin did a lot of great work to promote public appreciation for some of the world’s least popular animals, and he also seemed like a genuinely nice person. I had watched hours and hours of his television show, and then after he died I somehow sat my computer guffawing like an idiot as I read tasteless joke after tasteless joke.
I’d like to think that I’m a better person now, that I’ve matured somewhat, and that my sense of humour is a little more refined and wholesome. When you’re young it’s quite easy to fall into the trap of thinking that cynical and cruel jokes about helpless figures are somehow funny, and that other people only disagree with you because they lack your ‘dark’ sense of humour. I’m glad I don’t think like that anymore and I’m a little embarrassed that I ever did.
Michael Jackson was not the most sympathetic of public figures, and I’m not seeking to defend him from slurs against his character. However, I very much doubt that Michael Jackson sat around cracking jokes about other people when they died, and it would be pretty damn ungrateful of me, someone who loved his Moonwalker game on the Sega Mega Drive as a kid, to do that to him now that he’s dead.
So if you were looking for dead Michael Jackson jokes, I’m sorry, go indulge your worst instincts elsewhere.
Comments
8 Responses to “Jokes About Dead People”
Leave a Reply
Moonwalker?
Dear sweet Dawkins.
Anyway, I still love jokes about dead people, I just happen to think that there haven’t been many decent Michael Jackson ones yet, which is surprising, since he should be a goldmine for good material.
If you’re not careful you’ll develop a conscience. I recommend eating more meat.
Post the few paragraphs.
Here’s a good one, via Jason:
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has just released a statement on the news that Michael Jackson is dead…
“No he isn’t”.
What about jokes concerning still-living former British Prime Ministers who suffer from dementia?
Hello Cian. I had a similar experience as yours regarding Michael Jackson’s death and am somewhat humbled by your honest self examination and impressed by the stand you have taken publicly. I chanced upon your blog while my daughter Cian (pronouced Cee anne) was setting up a web page. By the way, she left uni after a dismal first year at medical studies and is considering philosophy. Go figure
Regards, Julie Hall
PS We’re Aussies, so the Steve Irwin bit hit home also.
What I find is that the jokes about MJ are more about child abuse, which is not at all funny…