The Fine Line of a Punchline The Fine Line of a PUNCHLINE

Written by Abi Schonberger

By Tatiana McComber

Some people — artists — can write songs and get their feelings across … I think jokes can do that, too.” entertaining political discourse and even point out hypocrisy. It is a comedian’s job to play with the line — to test their audience and see what they can get away with.

A joke has the ability to not only excite an audience, but unveil and disrupt power dynamics. These power dynamics are a key component when determining what makes something truly funny.

We all enjoy a good joke. Whether it be dark, witty, “yo mama” or of the dad variety, everyone knows the roar of a belly laugh from a solid joke. We are also all familiar with the pit that plummets in your stomach when a joke crosses the line. The class clown does anything for a laugh, sometimes at the expense of others, or even themselves.

We all enjoy a good joke. Whether it be dark, witty, “yo mama” or of the dad variety, everyone knows the roar of a belly laugh from a solid joke.

We are also all familiar with the pit that plummets in your stomach when a joke crosses the line. The class clown does anything for a laugh, sometimes at the expense of others, or even themselves. As kids, we witnessed them get kicked out of class or sent to the principal's office, but what happens when they’re all grown up? What happens when we are now the adults tasked with deciding whether something is funny or not?

The three roles that make up these dynamics include the comedian, the audience and the “butt.” Every joke must be told by someone to someone about someone, or something. You cross the line when there is any obvious “butt” to the joke and when that target is also in a less powerful position than the comedian and/or their audience. You want to make people laugh, not be the playground bully.

As kids, we witnessed them get kicked out of class or sent to the principal's office, but what happens when they’re all grown up?

What happens when we are now the adults tasked with deciding whether something is funny or not?

We’ve all heard the sentence, “You just crossed the line.” This intangible act, even if committed as a naive accident, or in the blind pursuit of making one laugh, comes with consequences. Depending on how forgiving your audience is, these consequences could range from gut wrenching silence to, in the worst cases, the ending of relationships. We have a common understanding to approach this line with caution and to do our best to respect it. But what are the conditions surrounding this elusive line when it comes to our sense of humor?

We’ve all heard the sentence, “You just crossed the line.” This intangible act, even if committed as a naive accident, or in the blind pursuit of making one laugh, comes with consequences. Depending on how forgiving your audience is, these consequences could range from gut wrenching silence to, in the worst cases, the ending of relationships. We have a common understanding to approach this line with caution and to do our best to respect it. But what are the conditions surrounding this elusive line when it comes to our sense of humor? Your audience, whether you're a stand-up comedian or conversing with friends, is who decides where the line is at any given moment.

Your audience, whether you're a stand-up comedian or conversing with friends, is who decides where the line is at any given moment. Everyone has a different sense of humor. In personal relationships and social interactions, as you are a commoner and not an SNL cast member, you’re obligated to be aware of this line.

“I don't want more people to feel sad than happy after hearing a joke I do,” says Glaser. “I don't think jokes that are just making fun of someone for something they can't help are funny.”

“Jokes can be ways to communicate your feelings about something that you can't just say, without lacing it,” says Glaser. “It's kind of like a song. Some people — artists — can write songs and get their feelings across … I think jokes can do that, too.”

Always be considerate of the “butt” because if they are left unamused, your audience, depending on their empathy etiquette, will follow suit. This precursor is a must, according to Glaser.

“Every single time you tell a joke you’ve got to kind of do that math in your head of, ‘is this going to cause more damage than it's going to make people happy?’”

So sure, there is a line that we all communicate in constant apprehension of. Though this line has no permanent placement, it moves with both who is delivering the joke and the audience receiving it.

Everyone has a different sense of humor. In personal relationships and social interactions, as you are a commoner and not an SNL cast member, you’re obligated to be aware of this fine line.

Of course, it is up to your discretion how flirtatious you’d like to be with it while partaking in playful banter. We all know the rush that comes when a room erupts in laughter from something you’ve said. This boost of serotonin and validation can blur your conscience — a feeling familiar to all comedians, like Nikki Glaser.

The three roles that make up these dynamics include the comedian, the audience and the “butt.” Every joke must be told by someone to someone about someone, or something. You cross the line when there is any obvious “butt” to the joke and when that target is also in a less powerful position than the comedian and/or their audience. You want to make people laugh, not be the playground bully.

“I don't want more people to feel sad than happy after hearing a joke I do,” says Glaser. “I don't think jokes that are just making fun of someone for something they can't help are funny.”

The stand-up comedian and former resident-roast mean girl says, “I've made that mistake where I just get greedy, and I'm like, ‘Oh, I think this is funnier.’ And then it hurts someone's feelings. It feels terrible to do that, and it's not ever what I want to do,” says Glaser.

Of course, it is up to your discretion how flirtatious you’d like to be with it while partaking in playful banter. We all know the rush that comes when a room erupts in laughter from something you’ve said. This boost of serotonin and validation can blur your conscience — a feeling familiar to all comedians, like Nikki Glaser.

Always be considerate of the “butt” because if they are left unamused, your audience, depending on their empathy etiquette, will follow suit. This precursor is a must, according to Glaser.

Comedians are known to push the limits of what is politically correct or, overall, acceptable to be said. Comedy can be smart social commentary, entertaining political discourse and even point out hypocrisy. It is a comedian’s job to play with the line — to test their audience and see what they can get away with.

The stand-up comedian and former resident-roast mean girl says, “I've made that mistake where I just get greedy, and I'm like, ‘Oh, I think this is funnier.’ And then it hurts someone's feelings. It feels terrible to do that, and it's not ever what I want to do,” says Glaser.

“Jokes can be ways to communicate your feelings about something that you can't just say, without lacing it,” says Glaser. “It's kind of like a song.

Comedians are known to push the limits of what is politically correct or, overall, acceptable to be said. Comedy can be smart social commentary,

So, sure, there is a line that we all communicate in constant apprehension of. Though this line has no permanent placement, it moves with both who is delivering the joke and the audience receiving it.