Ian Darby: You're right that the passage of time is one factor in the acceptability of humor about tragedy, but it's not the only factor. Take a look at this old thread: SONG CHALLENGE Part 33 – Who Left Uncle Harry in the Bushes?

That song challenge was issued only five days after the story broke that human remains, in the form of cremated ashes, under a bush. In that case, no one batted an eye about poking fun at the situation, and several parody songs were written.... but there are differences between that Song Challenge and this one: (a) the scope of the problem – nearly 200 bodies in GA and counting; (b) an obvious perpetrator (Ray Brent Marsh) at whom to be angry, instead of an anonymous remains-dumper; (c) the international exposure that the GA story is receiving; and (d) the fact that the GA discovery was made after 9/11/01and that everyone seems much more sensitive about black humor these days.

Speaking of sensitivity and black humor: When I posted my parody song about the situation in Georgia (linked in an earlier post on this thread), I was concentrating on meeting the challenge to write a satirical song. What I posted was admittedly insensitive, though satire isn't supposed to be sensitive. Apparently, my posting resulted in some people being outraged at me, when what I'd intended to express was outrage at Marsh for his despicable crime, through outrageous satire. Oh well, I am by no means a master of the art form of satire; oddly enough, I've been advised privately not to attempt to write a serious song on the subject, lest it be taken by others as an attempt at humor. But others here have stated their opinions that the horror of this situation should be expressed in song; I can only hope that someone more skilled than I will try his or her hand at it.


Here's a link to a page on www.law.com discussing current (and proposed) Georgia law as it applies to this case: law.com – Questions Grow with Georgia Body Count

Sharon