About one and half years ago Heath Ledger died. There is no doubt that this was a sad event as the world lost a gifted young actor and, way more importantly, a young girl lost her daddy. So it was serious business. It was shocking and, to an extent, tragic. Yet, as everyone know the formula for the best jokes goes Tragedy + Time = Comedy. Given this, when is it okay to start making Heath Ledger jokes?
Now, I bring this up because recently I saw a commercial for a new television series based on the movie, 10 Things I Hate About You. My first reaction to seeing this commercial was, "I wonder if one of the Olsen Twins is going to be in it." This was quickly followed by, "I wonder who's going to play the 'rugged bad boy' role .... OH NO! Keep him away from the sleeping pills!"
I chuckled to myself and then moved on to tamer jokes such as "Does it take place in Gotham City?" and "Are they really going to make a TV show about a movie that came out 10 years ago without any of the charisma of the young cast? Oh, and look, they're keeping the Dad, it's really been a rough 10 years for
Larry Miller."
Then, seizing upon the ridiculousness that this television show is occurring I wanted to start making fun of it with my friends. The problem with that was I didn't know people's thresholds for Heath Ledger jokes. I tend to not get offended by things so I'm not sure at what point it becomes okay to make fun of things.
South Park claimed in its wonderful AIDS episode that it takes 22.3 years for something to become funny. However, they've broken their own rule again and again. It's thanks to shows like South Park and the invention of the internet that the time in which something becomes comedy has been irreversibly shortened.
It's no longer easy to tell when it becomes okay to joke about something and everyone has different limits. For example 9/11 jokes are becoming more and more common and I certainly make some in the safety of my group of friends, but I tread ever so lightly about posting one on this blog.
I sneaked one in a while ago, but did so with great trepidation.
In a recent post I threw in a Heath Ledger joke (and purposely avoiding any example that referenced 9/11) expecting outrage, but to my surprise there was no backlash. So, Mancouch, you beacon of morality and good taste:
Is it okay to start making Heath Ledger jokes?
Comments (19)
wuzzit evur not ok hahahahahahahaha omigawd
I've already heard some good Michael Jackson jokes. I suppose it's "not ok" but it's still funny.
Hahahaha, as soon as my friends find out about anything horrible they always have jokes. It all depends on choice of expression.I think It's safe to say some things offend others more so than most(:
Is it ever okay to make fun of dead people? I don't think so. -_-
To each their own.
=/ It's not okay though some of the jokes at dead people are funny.
Meeeh, I loved & still love Heath Ledger<3 It's still hard to believe that he's gone.
Go for it.
dude, it's ok to start making michael jackson jokes. (i never stopped, sorry! >_<)
the day he died a newsanchor said, "michael jackson touched so many..." and i was beside myself.
making jokes about celebrities, dead or alive, no matter how long dead, is always in good taste. making jokes about real life tragedies, like 9/11, i don't think that becomes in good taste for a looooong while.
i never get why people get so upset over celebrity's deaths. it's not like you knew them at all, and if you had ever seen them in person it's not like they even cared about you! i don't think you should be upset over a death unless you personally know them, or it's a horrific tragedy. if some random person on the street came up to me and said, "hey, my friend died." i'd say, sorry bro! in my mind i'd say, who cares bro! and celebrity's are, basically, random people on the street because we don't know anything about them. seriously.
You have my blessing.
my friends and i usually give tragedies about two weeks to blow over before we start making jokes...
sometimes we even break that rule...
it gets kinda bad, cause we live in VA, and if someone makes a joke about some occurrence at VAtech, people might kill us. but we do it quietly anyways...
It's always ok to say anything at anytime you want to.
Seriously.
Since he decided to O.D. and orphan his daughter, I think you should feel free to treat him as spitefully as you please.
@aiinos@xanga - Seriously!
Talented and sexy is not that common of a combo even in Hollywood.
Tragedy jokes = not funny imo.
Whatever floats your boat.
@MissPixieGlitter@xanga - ...i heard something like that on TV too and i had mixed feelings. should i chuckle or should i be embarrassed for the speaker as it wasn't the most appropriate way to say something?
i chuckled.
It was okay as soon as someone made the joke, "I'm pissed that Heath Ledger didn't show up to pick up his award for best actor. He's dead to me now."
MJ jokes are okay too. Anyone who says otherwise is kind of ridiculous. Did you know MJ or Heath Ledger personally? Didn't think so. So it shouldn't offend you if I make fun of them.
It depens on how cruel the jokes are..I am a hardcore fan of heath ledger, and yes, i didn´t kow him, but I admire him so much and when i heard about his death it hurt me like he was a close friend.
But I think you can make jokes of him or dead celebrities any time, you just have to be sure if the person you´re talking to would feel ok with it =)
Heath Ledger jokes, sure. 9/11 jokes aren't okay or funny. 3000 people dying for no reason is never funny.
It's never OK but does it get a laugh? Yeah.