Not For Those Easily Offended

Whatever happened to that famous Scottish sense of humour? That ability to laugh at oneself or others no matter the situation.

Here's a few recent examples that have caused much concern to many.

Andy Goram being verbally abused in a Peterhead bookies.

Of course, there's nothing particularly funny about anyone being abused physically or verbally. And considering the sectarian nature of this latest incident I can understand the moral outrage shown by many.

Some Celtic supporters said it was disgusting and definitely not funny.

At least one Rangers supporter claimed it was worse than the alleged death threats directed towards Raith Rovers director Eric Drysdale and the arson threats about Starks Park.

Really?

I beg to differ.

Let me be clear. I'm not in support of anyone harassing others in any way. I don't find that funny in the slightest.

But the episode involving Andy Goram wouldn't look out of place in one of those America or Britain's Dumbest Criminals TV shows.

On the rare occasions I have seen such shows I couldn't help but laugh.

Watching these shows the humour isn't the acts themselves. One does not usually find armed robbery or drink driving particularly humourous.

The humour lies in the ineptitude of the protagonists.

Who doesn't find it rather funny when a burglar is captured on CCTV locking themself into the building they're supposed to be robbing?

This is how I viewed the Andy Goram incident.

The humour lay in the idiocy of the perpetrator who, in addition to committing his act of lunacy in full view of the bookies CCTV, decided it would also be a great idea to get himself into the video which was then shared via YouTube, thus increasing his chances of being apprehended in a timely fashion.

And judging by the media reports of his arrest it was a strategy that paid off.

So, no one was hurt in the making of that short film and the guilty party got his comeuppance.

What's not to laugh about that?

Fast forward to Swansea where a professional footballer paid many thousands of pounds every week kicks a ball boy in the guts.

How can that be funny I hear the morally-outraged scream?

An adult assaulting a child in full view of the world? What does that say about us as a nation if we find such behaviour even the slightest bit funny?

Yawn.

Get over yourselves is what I say.

The seventeen year old ball boy knew exactly what he was doing and had boasted about making a comeback for one final game as he was the time-wasting king.

Watching him trying to keep the ball off Hazard was both surreal and comical.

Of course, to some, his behaviour was nothing short of scandalous.

To others, wasting time is part and parcel of the game, although most admit he did take it more than a tad too far.

But as we watched the lad rolling around the ground and holding on to the ball as if it was his and bullies were trying to steal it what happened next took us all by surprise.

Hazard toe poked him while trying to kick the ball and the lad then rolled around like Jurgen Klinsman in his heyday.

And what was the first thing the lad done when he sat up?

Did he wipe away bucketfuls of tears and cry for his mammy?

No. He shouted and signalled to the ref as if he was actually one of the players.

Of course, the referee had no option other than to send Hazard off for violent conduct. It looked much worse than it actually was.

But the more I see it the funnier it gets.

Is it just me that sees it like that?

No, definitely not.

I discussed it last night with various friends, all at various stages of drunkenness, and discovered we all saw the funny side of what is obviously an embarrassing incident for those involved.

Mind you, we also find this footage of Pepe going nuts quite hilarious, so maybe we are not representative of the majority.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jKt4IBxD5oo

This week's third example of lost humour is perhaps the saddest of all.

Apparently, Dundee United fans are planning to wear Craig Whyte masks at the upcoming Scottish Cup game against Rangers.

This outrageous behaviour, according to Rangers fans, and I quote, 'shows their (Utd fans) hatred for Rangers is stronger than their love for the club they claim to support.'

Eh?

When it was pointed out that wearing Craig Whyte masks wasn't a sign of hatred but merely a form of banter the reply was 'it wasn't banter it was designed to belittle, provoke and antagonise.'

Wow!

Who it is designed to belittle, provoke and antagonise is beyond me. For there will be no, or very few, Rangers fans at that upcoming game due to a decision by fan groups and the club to boycott the game.

Now if this was an isolated incident it could perhaps be laughed off. But over the last year we have seen Rangers fans harass many, including The Guardian, to remove a cartoon depicting a demolished Ibrox (apart from the front of the Main Stand which is a listed building) and a queue of people lined up as if signing on the dole. The caption read, 'Rangers Isn't Working' in tribute to a famous Saatchi and Saatchi advertising campaign that helped get Thatcher into power in 1979.

As well as being extremely well drawn the message was clever and funny. Yes, funny. I said it. May God smite me for having a sense of humour.

However, the masses down Edmiston Drive circled their wagons before launching a concerted attack on the newspaper to have it removed, claiming making fun of the fact people may lose their jobs wasn't funny.

I despair for these people and others like them who appear to go through each day looking for something to complain about while seeking the mythical moral high ground.

Life could prove to be unbearable for them once something really serious happens.

Me? I'm glad to be able to laugh at almost anything, including myself. Especially myself.

Looking for the humour in the darkest of places helps me through each day.

As for those who get offended by everything and anything in these days of over the top political correctness.

Well, I'm glad neither me, my friends or family are like you.

You would do well to let your hair down,

Now, if you'll excuse me I have to go share a few laughs with my brother before the cemetery shuts for the night. He might be dead but he still as a better sense of humour than those whose favourite pastime appears to be being outraged.