The irony of jokes about mental conditions

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It seems like to me that when people joke about mental conditions people get offended by it. But when someone with a mental condition jokes about it, people find it funny, even people who share that condition.

I have noticed how people on here get offended by autism jokes but if one of us makes a joke about it, we find it funny.


Isn't it ironic? Why do people find a joke funny if the person has a condition but if a regular person tells a joke about it, people find it offensive?


Why is it like this? Does anyone else find it stupid or unfair or ironic?



I like joking about AS and my aunt finds it funny and my mother too but I sometimes wonder if they find it funny because I have it. My aunt is a special ed teacher and she works with autistic kids.

Maybe because they haven't experienced what we have so they don't have the right or maybe they mistake it for a insult.

think the reason for that or using certain terms relating to autism or as,is because people know it's not usually being used as abuse or discrimination if it's coming from someone else like them,they know that person has the real experience of it,rather than the ignorance through using it to abuse and discriminate.
obviously,that's not completely true,because there is so much ignorance and to lesser amount-hate on the autism spectrum towards groups that others are not in,and it can be just as equal to non autie/aspie using a term or quote or whatever when they've got just as much ignorance towards ASDs as non autists.

Eg,Cripple/crip,physically disabled people reclaimed this as their own word,but commonly wont take it off someone who does not have the same experience as them because they dont understand the history caused around the use.

So they joke about Jews or Catholics or black people or Poles or Irish or fat people or mothers in law.

So what? Deal with it.

I think people should just accept that they don't find something funny and leave others alone if they do.

Why should anyone be able to tell anyone else what to find funny.

I think it's kind of like you're allowed to joke about something because you know it. You know how it feels and you understand it.

It's like how you're allowed to moan about your family to other people, but if they were to insult your family, that would be wrong, because they don't have 'the right'.

He japes at scars, who never felt a wound.

ruveyn

I was going to say what NicksQuestions said, about how the N word is fair game if a black person says it.

I've no problem with AS jokes unless they are hostile or discriminatory ones.

Telling a joke which plays on literalism or hyperfocus is fine. Calling me an 'assburgler' is really not.

It depends on the intention behind the joke.

Often when a family member or close friend makes an aspergers joke, it is done in fondness.

When people will only accept jokes from one
of their 'own' ,it seems to me like a form of
discrimination in reverse. I don't see why we
should take offence if a regular person jokes
about autism,providing it's light-hearted.

Speaking of jokes,below are some guidelines
when phoning a 'Mental Health Hotline'
Hello,and welcome.
"If you have OCD,press 1 repeatedly.
If you have multiple personalities,press2,3,4
If you are delusional,press 7 and your call
will be transferred to the mother ship.
If you are paranoid - We know who you are
and what you want.Stay on the line so we
can trace your call.
If you are Dyslexic,press 9696969696969"

I do find it ironic. Although I guess it's because we're making fun of ourselves if we make jokes so it's not as bad. I make jokes about myself all the time and laugh at things that make fun of AS, never offends me.