that is actually NOT a Helen Keller joke. (and it is not funny). You're missing the point.



simply put, there are jokes that are funny, pathetic, and offensive.

pretty much anyone can be made the butt of a joke, and depending on the nature of the joke, and the joke-teller, anyone can be amused OR offended.

And there are jokes that only a few might find funny, and pretty much everyone else offended.

One of my favorite illustrations of the limits of ethnic humor, and I've used it in Mudcat before is the following:

    - - - - - - - - - - -

A: "Hey let me tell ya this Muleskinner joke, it'll make ye split yer sides."

B: "Naw, my father and my uncle were muleskinners, I don't hold with no such tripe."

A: "Ah, sorry 'bout that podner, I don't want to offind ye none, tell yer whut, I'll make it about carriage drivers, will that make yer feel bedder 'about it?"

B: "Sure, thank ye, frien, so tell me this 'ere 'carriage driver' joke"

A: "Okay, see, there's these carriage drivers, see,"

B: "okay"

A: "And they're sitting around, see,"

B: "yeah"

A: "And they're skinnin' this mule-"