So Paddy Walks into a Pub…

So Paddy Walks into a Pub…

I have learned that in this blogging thing you have to be very careful not to offend certain groups or people with specific traits.  If you are going to make a joke or denigrate a specific group or ethnicity you had better be a part of that group.

For instance if you are not a black comedian it is a bad idea to make a joke about a black person.  The same is true of Jewish people or a person from virtually any ethnic background. 

The exception to this is the Irish.  For some reason anyone is allowed to make a joke about the Irish.

A Jew can refer to the Irish as heavy drinkers and the Irish in the audience will laugh, “Oh sure tis true you know we are terrible drunks.”

A black comedian can tease the Irish about their reputation of getting into fights and the Irish in the audience will laugh, “Oh sure tis true you know we will make a fist at the drop of a hat…especially if we’ve had a bit of the drink.”

Make a joke about Irish women nagging their husbands and the Irish in the audience will laugh, “Oh sure tis true you know, the lassies are terrible nags, but then the lads just pay no mind.”

You can make fun of their arms-at-the-side step dance, belittle their kilts, joke about their lack of culinary skills, even make reference to the “Irish Curse” (it’s a manhood thing) and the Irish will not take offense.  “Oh sure tis true, we do dance funny, we go commando under the kilts, we bile the piss out of everyting, and there is a fookin curse...for some of us."

I don’t know why, but you cannot insult the Irish.  You can piss them off if you disrespect their favorite team, you may start a fight if you catch them in a lie and call them on it because the Irish never lie, they only embellish. 

Other than berating their sports team or challenging their story telling veracity, you cannot insult the Irish.   

Maybe it's because at least one day of the year, everyone is Irish.