Let's Discuss: Is A Joke Really A Joke?

    • Pallavi Shankar
    • Publish Date: Dec 2 2016 12:56PM
    • |
    • Updated Date: Dec 2 2016 12:56PM
Let's Discuss: Is A Joke Really A Joke?

Unrestrained comedy/humour/jokes - some find it okay, others think it’s irksome. Whether your ‘personal meter’ is hard-shelled or sensitive, there is no getting away from them. We debate on what is too much or not. 

John Abraham recently walked out of the popular TV show ‘Çomedy Nights Bachao’ after host Krushna Abhishek took a jibe at one of his films that happened to be close to the actor’s heart. So, how much of ‘harmless humour’ is fine or objectionable, be it in a TV show, everyday life or WhatsApp forwards? 

Humour is freedom of expression, believe comedians 

Many stand-up comedians and actors known for their comic timing believe that thinking about what may offend others before cracking a joke is un-creative. “It depends on how one takes a joke. While just being offensive (as it happens sometimes with comedy shows these days) is not actually funny, there shouldn’t be curbs on it, else it can be suffocating,” opines actor and comedian Cyrus Sahukar. Notably, John Denis Patrick Carlin, the American stand-up comedian and social critic was known for his dark humour and often took jibes at established norms. His memorable quote inspires humorists till date: “I think it’s the duty of the comedian to find out where the line is drawn and cross it deliberately.” 

One should draw a line, say others

On the other hand, some people feel that humour is a tricky zone and it’s not fun if it’s insensitive. “I don’t like it when someone makes fun of my classmates who are dark or overweight. It is not cool,” feels Angelica Nongmaithem, class VII, Pune. Humour is associated with quick wit and intelligence, it is powerful and therefore, if you take out sensitivity from it, it may be offensive to some. Child psychologist Ann Simi John feels that ‘non-empathetic humour’ creates problems in society, and people should be careful about cracking ethnic, disability, body-shaming and culturally sensitive jokes. She cites an example: “Calling a dark-complexion person “too tanned” may subject you to the receiver’s wrath in India while the same comment will be appreciated in western countries.” At the same time, we cannot protect ourselves from societal behavior and there will be jibes and jokes. So rather than internalizing the hurt when a joke offends you, it is best to convey to the person that you don’t like it. Also, countering it with a witty answer rather than aggression conveys your message well. 

Stay in the safe hunour zone by steering clear of jokes that belong to these genre. 

1. Making fun of someone’s physical features: Calling a dark-skinned person “coal” or a large person “haanthi” can hurt sentiments, and may create body image issues rather than providing entertainment. 

2. Taking a jibe at disability: “What you just said is so retard, go to a mental asylum,” is another common guffaw-inducing jibe. Not funny. Similarly, terms like andha (blind), behra (deaf), psycho, useless, should be used sparingly, if at all. 

3. Name calling family: Sample this: “Your dad is brilliant at Maths, and your brother flunked in the subject. Did your family get him from an orphanage, ha ha,” may not be amusing to the person who is the target of this joke.

4. Community/ethnic humour: This category can put you in serious trouble. Ideally, refrain from it; surely don’t crack them in public and don’t share them on common platforms/WhatsApp groups either.

5. Tragedy/calamity jokes: Tell a refugee some war and displacement jokes and you can get cold stares. Studies have shown that humour related to natural calamities and death and destruction seem funny when they are physically or socially distant. 

Comedy controversies that got prime time

Tanmay Snapchat controversy: Stand-up comedian Tanmay Bhatt’s Snapchat video, making fun of Sachin Tendulkar and Lata Mangeshkar got plenty of flak in the country. Political groups filed FIRs against Bhatt and the controversial video was debated on prime time television for a long time. Some people rooted for Bhatt and others criticised him. 

TV show roasts gone sour

  • Besides John Abraham, TV show ‘Comedy Nights Bachao’ invited the wrath of other celebs as well as regular people. 
  • Model Tannishtha Chatterjee stormed out of ‘Comedy Nights Bachao because she found the host’s jokes on her dark complexion unfunny. She wrote a Facebook post, “It began with ‘Aap ko jamun bahut pasand hoga zaroor! Kitna jamun khaya aapne bachpan se?’ And went on in that direction.” 
  • Comedian Kiku Sharda was arrested and sent to 14 days of judicial custody for his mimicry of self-styled godman Gurmeet Ram Rahim on the show. 
  • Actor Lisa Haydon was called a ‘kangaroo’ and ‘black African’ by the when she was on the show to promote her movie with co-actor Akshay Kumar. The comedy team was then interrupted by Akshay Kumar who suggested changes in the script of the roast. 

Students Speak

It is ok if comedians want to crack jokes on stage. But there should be a limit and no one should feel insulted. And that is how it should be in real life. Joke but within limits. 

Aryan Menon, class IX , Vasant Valley International, Delhi

How you take a joke depends on how you are as a person and the relationship you share with the person who is pulling your leg. If a close friend takes a jibe at me I won’t mind, if he is just an acquaintance I will not like it. 

Sanya Sinha, class VIII, Bal Bharti, Faridabad

What is too much to take for you? Do you think there should be a line drawn while taking jibes? Share your thoughts in the comments below...

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Onkarpreet Bhavan Vidyalaya

There is always a limit for everything. Taking jibes should also and always be under a line.

Onkarpreet Bhavan Vidyalaya

One so-called joke, about someone''s physical appearance is too much for me. Why comment?

Onkarpreet Bhavan Vidyalaya

Also, it depends on the way you say it. If someone you''re very close to says something, you obviously won''t mind. And talking of national television, it should always be under limits.

gandwaid sai sri jahnavi P OBUL REDDY PUBLIC SCHOOL

Never will few words which sound hilarious for few people make the whole world laugh, it may hurt few of them also. It is actually based on the way you take it. Few of them take everything serious and that mind set will be able to enjoy humor wherever it is, but humor also doesn''t mean commenting on everything you find weird in this world.. ONE SHOULD KNOW HOW TO CRACK A JOKE TO MAKE IT LOVELY AND OTHERS SHOULD KNOW HOW TO UNDERSTAND THAT ONE......

Himanshi Dhawan Saffron Public School

Everything in this world has limits. And anything in excess is harmful. A joke cracked will not be liked by everyone. Some will find it cheap, some will find it hilarious whereas some will find it boring! And one cannot expect others to act the way he/she wants them to do. So, a line should be drawn while taking jibes.

EKNOOR BHATTI Bal Bharati Public School

no... commenting or joking on ones physical appearance is fun for others but not for that person....


I think that comedy crosses its limits when it is overdone and starts to irk people by dominating or showing criticism to their physical features / likes / things close to their hearts etc. Comedy should be meant to only lighten spirits and not to dishearten them. So, it is quite essential that people implying with Comedians should ensure that comedy isn''t becoming a foe to emotions and so on.


Comedians are installed doing their work. There are much less comedians. So we must encourage them. Insulting is not a problem because at times they insult themselves.

B. Tulasitharini Amalorpavam Higher Secondary School - Puducherry

Jokes should not hurt others


Everything has a limit and so does comedy .One cannot go about telling everyone jokes, all the time while the other person is getting hurt inside.

Sachika Lala BGS National Public School

Whether is cracking jokes or doing naughty things, there is always a limit for everything and we must follow it. Cracking jokes on one''s personal feelings or appearances will never be appreciated.

Aadrit Banerjee Apeejay School Salt Lake

There''s a limit to everything. While cracking jibes beware that you don''t bring tears in someone''s eyes. Hurting someone is the gravest thing of all. Crack jokes which doesn''t criticize anyone or tend to threaten ones emotions and dignity. And frankly speaking, this particular comedy show does criticize very badly. I would have felt the same as the celebs if I had been there Also the tone of speaking matters. Humour should never be an insult but rather it should bring a wonderful smile.


Humor is an important part of a happy life but excess of everything is bad.The thin line between humor and harassment should be taken care of.

Palakshi S.Sinha Podar International School

Jokes can sometime be hurting when its beyond a limit. Jokes should be cracked bot not such jokes which would hurt someone''s feeling.

Ambuja Rani Ryan International School

Jokes are jokes till they don''t hurt anyone''s feelings




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