It’s an interesting evolution in comedy.
Modern comedy has focused heavily on Irony. Seinfeld was a very good example of this. The entire “That’s a shame” meme — it means “I don’t think that’s a shame at all”. The blatant use of insincerity can be quite comedic.
Today, if you are in front of an audience and make a comment about some generic human being who fits certain descriptive parameters, someone will stand up and say, “I feel targeted. I am offended. You are attacking me because I am a member of that group. How dare you??”
The whole notion of “I don’t actually mean any of the things I’m saying, but I think they are amusing things to say” is completely out the window.
Think of Don Rickles — he wasn’t actually insulting anyone. Not really. He was just saying funny stuff while looking at somebody. There is a subtle difference there which appears to escape all PC people.
“Think of Don Rickles — he wasn’t actually insulting anyone. Not really. He was just saying funny stuff while looking at somebody.”
I’ve always loved Dom Irrera. He’d say the worst things about somebody/something (joking), and after the rant he’d say, “I don’t mean that in a BAD way.”
Basically, the PC police have murdered humor across the board. I can’t even imagine being in the workplace now. It was pretty bad when I retired 10 years ago, but it has to be so much worse now.