Straight boyfriend:
this post was submitted on 17 Jan 2026
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"Joke's on you I'm into that shit"
The shit I'm actually into:
Is it okay to make a joke about keeping queers on a leash during straight events?
I think in the right context, yes. But when joking about a group that's in a very vulnerable position all around the world you have to be more aware of how the joke can have real world harmful consequences to those people (even if the intentions were good).
As a straight man I don't have to worry that some online banter might flow over into real world violence towards me.
Only during straight events? I though its okay to always keep queers on a leash.
I can’t believe that making a joke about a privileged majority is different than making that joke about a persecuted minority. I want to speak to the manager!
Yeah, their feelings don't matter!
Dick.
Look, in general mean jokes about people aren't good, but are you all seriously pretending there's not a difference between these two scenarios?
Because I know you all know there is a difference between punching up and punching down when it comes to joke telling.
Saying "yeah but if you turned it around to the less privlige group it'd be racist/sexist/hompobic/ect" is the exact same thing that affirmative action opponents say "oh if I only gave scholarships to white people its racist." like, yeah, context matters.
As a final thought?
your comment is literally... "oh my feelings dont matter? Dick."
Like, your feelings are hurt so youre name calling? Okay?
Is it really punching down when you punch at the straight guy who shows his bi gf support by joining events?
No. That's the point they're making.
Gay person joking about a straight person = punching up.
Straight person joking about a gay person = punching down.
So it is punching up when alienating people who wants to be allies to queer people? I see it as making the bi girls life harder when she feels she cant bring her partner to events without risking ridicule because the partner is the "wrong sex".
I'm just explaining where the presented argument was misunderstood. I for one think the joke is funny and works in either direction, but I tend to have a more "everyone is fair game" approach to comedy than "you can only make a joke if you, member of subclass A, are ranked below the target subject, subclass B, and societal context approves of your message". "Punching up/ down" only really matters IMO when all someone seems to know how to do is punch down.
I agree with that, I was questioning the direction of the punch since the person I responded to presented it as alright as long as its punching up.
Edit: I might also be a bit sensitive knowing trans straight people who gets flak from some community members due to being straight and passing
There's a difference, but not big enough to make one ok and the other not ok.
Giving a minority different treatment will cause resentment in the majority. Anything from a scoff because they don't get told off for telling a mean joke about you to a lifelong maga supporter if you think you did not get a certain job because of affirmative action.
I don't think anyone is better off in a more polarised society.
difference between punching up and punching down
That whole framework is kind of pretentious bullshit. Comedy has no duty beyond entertaining. Good comedy might test boundaries by teasing "correct" thought in all domains especially in our "sacred", arrogant assumptions. Ultimately, they're mere words & thoughts that at worst offend: anyone who imagines actual harms & not mere offense is a bit full of themselves & needs to learn humility perhaps through extra derision of their bullshit.
Eh I dunno, its less of a framework you should operate on, and more of a general rule of thumb. it's probably possible to tell offensive jokes about minority groups that youre not a part of in a funny manner, but idk.
It's like people are going to criticize me for judging people as distinct categories instead of individuals thereby disregarding egalitarian norms of a single universal category: WTF?
Yes (please)! I can make you a certificate for that.
Having done so, I find this decision humiliating, but also rather pragmatic. Turns out I get flirty with everyone when drunk.
What kind of leash?
A nice leather one. ☺️
Yes they can bring them on a leash but please tie them to a pole outside.
What does the people of Poland have to do with this?
They are very good leash minders, apparantly