Taradash Types!

It occurred to me today that I can’t recall the last time I heard a new joke. Strangely enough, when I was in Japan I would hear and tell jokes with some frequency. Between classes, on the way to and from the izakayas, waiting for the trains; it sometimes seemed like jokes were a currency that kept our reserves of native language topped up against the drains of living and working in a foreign culture. In a place where an employer could, with a straight face, say they’d like to encourage “skinship” between staff and customers when they meant they’d like you to put up with and even encourage seemingly personal relationships to improve business, an intentional double entendre was a welcome relief.

But I don’t hear jokes so much these days, and it’s kind of a disappointment. I mean, if a man walked into a bar, I don’t think I’d expect him to say much apart from his drinks order. Which is kind of sad for a former class clown.

So, people in the US are upset about the prospect of… what? Creeping socialism and not being able to choose which doctor they can’t afford anyway? And people in the UK are upset because… why? Some people, most of whom already have top quality, privately provided health care, have said that they don’t want a health care system like the UK has?

Perhaps I’m oversimplifying things, but the debate in this form is beyond stupid… (more…)