Is All Fair in Love, War….. And Comedy?

We've all heard the saying, "All is fair in love and war." But does the same stand true when it comes to comedy?I have always been a fan of comedy.  I love comedic movies as well as stand-up. I  remember watching "Comic View" on BET years ago when D.L. Hughley was the host. The show gave a number of comedians a platform to be seen and heard nationwide. However, I also remember HATING having D.L. as a host. The reason I didn't like him was because he always made fun of the people in the audience.  Granted, some of the jokes he made probably would have been whispered from one person to the next; but he made an open spectacle of those in attendance, those who'd paid money to be spectators rather than participants.

All of this came to mind this morning, when I watched this video.

A few weeks ago, I shared the story of an epileptic man who had a seizure while skydiving. Personally, I found the story to be a bit humorous.  It wasn't the fact that the person was facing death in the face, but the irony of the situation was funny.  However, it offended one of my friends who lost an epileptic loved one. I apologized to her for offending her, but that really made me think. We all make fun of certain things, some of which can be helped and some that cannot.

I shared with her how much I HATE when a comedian makes fun of asthmatics because I suffered with it as a child.  I remember struggling to breathe and how sore the muscles in my back became.  I remember visiting my baby brother in the hospital as doctors worked to get his asthma under control, and I'm reminded that I never got the chance to meet my great-grandmother who passed at a young age from an asthma-induced heart attack. At the same time, I know that it's pure ignorance of how serious the condition is that makes it a laughing matter to some. So, I generally overlook that portion of a show and enjoy the rest of it.  The reason it doesn't affect me as much as I could allow it to is because I know that I laugh when a joke is made to which I can relate, although it might be an issue from which another person suffers.

A stuttering joke might not be funny to a person who stutters. A fat joke might not be funny to a person struggling to get his/her weight under control. A skinny joke might not be funny to a person with metabolic issues that prevent him/her from gaining adequate weight. I've found that the funniest of comedians might include a bit of these in a set for the purpose of painting a picture in the minds of the listener, but the joke is mainly in the situation or life experience, not primarily a person's handicap or physical issue.  At the same time, I think most people make fun of others who face issues that vary from their own, but we are all prime candidates to be the butts of jokes.

What do you think?  Should comedians be more sensitive to the issues others face, or is all fair in love, war, and comedy?