Jokes. Sometimes a person will laugh at them. Sometimes a person will get offended by them. But can we really use jokes as an excuse to bully, torment, or otherwise punish a person, especially if he does not have a sense of humor.

One reason a person will take a joke seriously is because he will like in fear of that joke somehow becoming real. Such jokes will include those based on a person's physical appearance. In another situation, a person will try to have a serious conversation, and somebody wants to make a joke during said conversation, but that person just does not have time for said joke, so he flips out.

It depends, I guess. If you really offend someone who doesn't agree with your sense of humor it doesn't mean they don't find things funny. I can see someone getting into trouble doing or saying something that they think is funny if it causes harm or really offends someone else.

One question is: Are we expected nowadays to laugh at every joke no matter what, especially is it's directed at you or your family? I've been thinking about this ever since the Will Smith-Chris Rock slapping incident at the 94th Academy Awards last March.

Chris Rock made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith's alopecia areata (stating that he'll be seeing Ms. Pinkett-Smith in G.I. Jane 2). Mr. Smith said after the slap to Mr. Rock: "Keep my wife's name out your f#$&ing mouth!". Mr. Smith has since resigned from the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, and received a ten-year ban from attending all Academy events.

I'm not sure whether that would count as a bad joke or not. What if that had been an "I hope you or your family get cancer or a disability" joke? Would you have reacted the same way that Mr. Smith did then?

Oh, but don't you see? "My" insults are witty, and clever, while YOUR insults are just mean spirited and reactionary.....

Thats where a lot if ill feelings seem to take root. It's all fun and games until someone gets their feelings hurt.