The Demise of Common Sense

The Demise of Common Sense

At a seminar where I delivered a lecture, a participant asked a question on the seeming lack of "space" in Singapore even though our former PM and now SM Mr Goh CT had told Singaporeans to be able to "laugh at ourselves".

The participant commented that even a seemingly innocent joke can be taken to be offensive. He made a few other additional comments in reference of the apparent lack of expression space. So his question to my boss and two other panellists is, "How do we know if a joke is ok, because the friends whom we are with may not be offended but how do we know it is ok, given the (political, racial, and religious) sensitivities around us?"

I VERY NEARLY DROPPED OFF MY SEAT.

Anyhow, one panellist gave him a protracted answer and my boss did not reply.

On our way back to the office, I hitched a ride from my boss. We talked about the episode and agreed.

Our answer: Use your common sense. Look at the situation you are in and observe the OB markers. If you are within friends, then don't propagate the joke beyond the circle of friends. And by all means, "laugh at ourselves" (i.e. make yourself the butt of the jokes), and not at other races', religions' sensitivities.

COMMON SENSE is REALLY NOT COMMON these days.