h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

p.s.s. just for those less observant then me (lol) the subject from the begining aka non-subjective comedy, has changed from meaning, comedy without a subject, to comedy without subjegating someone to offence

God, isn't that as claose you can get to a non-subjective comedy?

I mean,God is the joke

Maybe there is a way to create a non-subjective joke by writing one that is insulting every ethnic minority/majority, religious,cultural and social phenomena, every lifeform that exist, has existed or could possibly exist and every single thing that people could possibly be offended by. If the joke is equally degrading to everyone, then maybe that's IT. (or maybe not, anyway, i'd like to read it/hear it :o))

Yes, well I suppose that if their was a joke that insultued everything everywhere, that was, is, or will, ever exist, than technically it's non-offinsive because of the simple fact that it is immpossible to do that, I mean geez, isn't it a little difficult to insult an amoeba, or for that fact a rock, or even a super intelligent being that is so far above us that it would be utterly immpossible to insult despite the most degrading comments we could offer? If anyone can see how this would be possible, please, do inform me.

HEY! I didn't say it would be easy:o)
But still, you don't have to include the things that can't offend anyone in any way, 'cause that's pointless. Alright, I admit that the
whole thing is pretty stupid, but IMHO so is the whole idea about non-subjective humour in the first place. And I do think that the joke is THEORETICALLY possible, and that's enough for me.

What's red and invisible?
No tomatoes

Only 6 words ... but a very deep and meaningful joke

Not subjective ... the tomatoes are invisible (ie. don't exist)

Not offensive ... I think

Come on, let's have your comments then!

Davee Wibble

I don't get it.

I did.

I think.

Dear RaL

It doesn't have to be 'red' ... another colour will do

But most people think of tomatoes as that colour

Does that help?

Dear Emily Ultra ... (etc)

Yes

But do you think it's non-subjective or what?

Nice tomato smiley

Dear Ciderman

I'm sorry, the evil point I was trying to prove was that if I don't get a joke, it's not funny, and if it's not funny, it's not humour (At least I think so,but judging by the quality of some of the TV sitcoms you get these days one gets the impression that some may have another opinion.)

So the truth is that I got the point, or so I think. I just sometimes get this urge to be difficult, as in this case.

And anyway, I guess you're quite right, It may not be totally non-subjective humour, and it may not be the funniest joke I've ever heard (no offense meant), but I'd say you're very, very close. Maybe some hardcore philosphers may find it to be more irritating than funny, and start a discussion about if something that does not exist can be invisible or not, but I would say that most other people will find it amusing or at least humourously (?) neutral

And that's IMHO as close as anyone can get (until they write the ultimate joke which insults every insultable being) :o)

Dear RaL

Good to see it's got you thinking!

There must be a less philosophical one ...

... but it escapes me at the moment

That wasn't a joke by the way

Talk soon

"Why did the unidentifiable and unnamed object cross the road?"
Because SETI was after it?....

The joke that insults every insultable being? Well, this one might work, if suitably adadpted:

An Englishman, an Irishman, a Welshman, a Scotsman, a Frenchman, a German, and American, a Russian, a Chinese man, a Sumalian, a blind woman, a deaf child, a dog, a chicken, and a small furry thing from Alpha Centuri walked into a bar and the bartender said "Is this a joke or something?"

I think the major point here is that jokes about inanimate objects are less likely to offend. Take for example this joke, which I love, because it personifies an inanimate object, and finishes with a pun.

A piece of string walks into a bar. The barman says,
"Are you a piece of string?"
"Yes," the piece of string replied.
"Sorry, we don't serve pieces of string here."
The piece of string leaves, twists himself about, messes up his ends and returns to the bar. The barman says,
"Are you a piece of string?"
The piece of string replies,
"No, I'm a frayed knot."