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He did not threaten any senator. He made a joke and argues it fits in the context of a discussion running at the time. The joke was, with respect to the shootin
by Confusion 14y ago
He did not threaten any senator. He made a joke and argues it fits in the context of a discussion running at the time. The joke was, with respect to the shooting of Gabrielle Giffords:
1 down, 534 to go. It is absolutely, absolutely
unacceptable to shoot 'indiscriminately'. Target only
politicians and their staff, and leave regular citizens
alone.
Now you can argue this is in bad taste or, if you feel it was meant seriously, you can argue it is a reprehensible opinion, but there is no reason to arrest someone over this. If we start doing that, we can rest half the worlds population. I've made worse jokes in my life, where it was firmly obvious from the context, tone and body language that I could not possible be serious. Making jokes is a way of dealing with incomprehensible tragedies. Pure text is an unfortunate medium for such jokes, because it lacks tone and body language. People that know you may interpret it correctly; others may interpret it otherwise. Especially if taken from its narrative context.
I would not like to be arrested over some joke overheard by a passing policeman who didn't understand the context and neither do I even remotely understand or accept this guy being arrested.
- carbocation 14y agoThat lacks one of the key elements of a joke: humor. I'd need to see the rest of the conversation to understand if somehow the context makes it funny, but out of context it looks quite serious.
- cglace 14y agoI thought it was funny.
- Confusion 14y agoThe following sequence is generally considered to be humorous and is used by comedians often and to great effect: * something generally considered 'bad' happens or is relayed * the comedian remarks that that thing should not have happened * then unexpectedly follows up with something that would actually make it worse, placing the previous remark in a new light * all this while it is obvious, from his tone and body language, that he actually truly strongly disapproves of the original 'bad' thing The sequence usually contains toying with expectations, seemingly contradicting yourself, obvious sarcasm and generally putting the audience on the wrong foot by making ludicrous statements you couldn't possibly be serious about.
- jlgreco 14y agoBeing funny is a poor quality to require of something in order to consider it a joke. Firstly, because it is subjective, secondly because unfunny jokes are still considered jokes (why did the chicken cross the road...)