Low Humor

It turns out no event is too dreadful for the Aflac Duck to joke about. Gilbert Gottfried, whose comic niche seems to be Annoying Voice, has been fired from his talking duck gig for exceedingly tasteless tweets, but I suspect that the incident will be good for his career in the long run. There's probably a new spot for him on satellite radio somewhere. And here's an article about the absolutely least important question now facing mankind.

Then again, tasteless jokes have their place. In the midst of a terrible event, the constant, relentless seriousness can be overbearing. At some point a little imp whispers in our ears, "Enough! Make a joke."

Most people can resist the urge, but not everyone. Much later, the jokes aren't so offensive. Of historic interest, almost. Like one I heard not long after the Challenger accident. What does NASA stand for? Need Another Seven Astronauts.