Question

Discuss in Class

Read the following and have a discussion on which of these are fair and ethical to laugh at and which are not. Why?

Answer 1

1. Accidental or embarrassing situations:
   It is not fair and ethical to laugh at them. Because they involve physical and mention aspects of a person. They may be beyond his control at the moment.
2. Weird behaviour of animals and kids:
   We can laugh at them. Because we don’t harm them physically or mentally.
3. Culture and religion:
   It is not fair and ethical to laugh at other’s cultural values and religious beliefs. We must respect them. We must apprecidate diversity for unity.
4. Funny pantomimes and stand up comedies:
   We can laugh at them. They create fun. We don’t hurt them mentally by simply laughing.
5. Physical appearance:
   It is not fair and ethical to laugh at the strange or abnormal physical appearance of a person. We must empathize and not laugh. We harm mentally by laughing at physical appearance.
6. Language and dialect:
   It is not fair to laugh at the way a language or dialect is spoken. It is an identity. There is nothing to laugh at.
7. Humourous movies:
   We can laugh watching humourous movies. There are funny dialogues or situations that create laughter. This kind of laughter is harmless.
8. Friendly imitation and mimicry:
   We can laugh at them only if we ensure that it does not hurt one’s sentiments or beliefs.