when should you not “make” a joke?

ok, i was stuck in the middle of an arabic conversation. i don’t really mind being in the middle of an arabic conversation. i found the languageso rich it’s just nice to listen sometimes and becuase i do talk in my language too and put someone in the middle of a tagalog conversation as well anyway..
i am a democratic person.. i believe in freedom of speech.

however, i don’t use my language to say bad things to anyone who can’t understand it.. i believe that what goes around comes around so i don’t do it.

but when you’re in the middle of an arabic conversation and you heard your name and they started laughing… what would you think?

me.. here’s what came to my mind:

1. oh! am i staring blank again?
2. oh! am i eating too slow?
3. oh! am i eating like a man?
4. oh! do i have some spinach now in my teeth?

bottom line is i thought it was everything i was “doing” that time.. which was eating my food and enjoying my ice cream.

BUT.. now here’s the but part of the story..
i looked at him to ask for sign “what are you talking about mate?”

and he just said “you don’t want to know”

now.. i don’t get easily offended by that.. i know how they play.. the main goal is to always piss me off..
which they actually successfully do sometimes.

but then the curious in me wanted to really know..

and so he told me..

i got the shock of my life?! the young one is saying that’s really bad.. and the one who said is trying to explain why he said it..

me.. i was still chewing it in.. the thing he said about me..

i kept my cool and smiled…after all, i am enjoying my food.

they’re kids i told myself..

but i felt hurt..so what does this means?!?!
No laundry and No ironing for them!
i play nice you see..

you treat me nice, i treat you nice..
you treat me not so nice, i still treat you nice BUT will teach you a lesson.

so when should you not make a joke?
when the joke is offensive..
how would you know it’s offensive? if you’re smart enough you’ll know..
 

~ by Sheryl on April 18, 2007.