BLOG: Bad Joke, Bad Idea?

by Melanie — September 30, 2008

The contents of these blogs are not authored by Apathy Is Boring. Apathy Is Boring is a non-partisan organization and statements made reflect only the views of their authors.

Politicians are constantly being scrutinized by the public eye and since we rarely get to know them personally, their public image becomes something we are concerned with since they are involved in running our Country. Being critical is one thing, but how far is too far? For instance, is a poor sense of humour simply that, or is it a representative of a person’s true values and attitude? Does a bad joke imply social unawareness and associated negative qualities?

Canadians everywhere are currently debating whether or not Stephen Harper should ask agriculture minister Gerry Ritz to step down, after making an off-colour joke about the recent listeriosis epidemic. The joke, when asked about the outbreak described it as, “death by a thousand cuts- or should I say, cold cuts”. Given the nature of Ritz’s position, should Harper consider dropping him? Where is the line drawn between appropriate and offensive, not funny and dangerously tasteless?