On Roasts

Last Friday I went to the roast of Sarah Gaare at the UG in celebration of her impending return to Georgia. Overall it was a good night but there were moments that got me thinking about the line between ridicule and ribbing. Some thoughts.

Women's physical appearance is off limits. Making fun of a woman for being overweight or unattractive is different than the same jokes being pointed at a man. There is weight and societal connotations that don't apply equally to the genders with comments aimed at image. The jokes don't appear in the playful spirit in which they may be intended, they appear bullying, belittling, petty, and in poor taste.

Mean jibes aren't jokes. The purpose of the roast is to be funny. Certainly an aspect is to poke fun at personal short comings but the ultimate goal is to get laughs. It's more important to construct jokes that solicit laughs than to make severe comments airing personal information. Biting remarks in and of themselves are not jokes, humor with intent should be present in every joke, even if the joke doesn't hit the construction will show forethought.

This isn't Comedy Central. With roasts in Chicago they are almost exclusively between friends. Feelings must be a factor when jokes are being written. The different levels of sensitivity of punchline recipients must be considered. Things said cannot be unsaid. It is an unpredictable thing what people take personally, what hits close to home, what nerves are raw. It is best to avoid striking too directly unless you are confident of the unflappability of the intended target.

Don't lose your temper, it's a roast. If you are participating in a roast prepare yourself to be the object of some mockery. Fortify yourself against any and all possible derisive comments which you can conceive. With the appropriate perespective you will be able to shrug off any comment however unfunny or personally upsetting. Losing your temper only proves a comment or comments have hit a nerve, you may speak out of turn on the defensive, reveal information best left hidden, become emotional and regret participation in the event as a whole.

Roasts should be fun and funny. General amusement should always take precedent over cutting taunts.