The Richtofen scale

**doodab** · 15 March 2011, 19:40

Richthofen

But I'm inclined to agree. It's not a laughing matter.

**xoggoth** · 15 March 2011, 19:46

Hey! You're are a very wise chap EO!

**Old Greg** · 15 March 2011, 19:46

Originally posted by EternalOptimist View Post

The Richtofen scale is a bit like the richter scale. its a measure of how soon after some disaster its ok to fly a joke about it.

So, the storm at moushole was a 2 on the richtofen scale, because the place had a funny name.
Heysel was a four , because we all hate scousers, (except me, because Im a scouser).

The Faklands war was a five, it was ten years before a wargame based on the falklands was published, any sooner was 'bad taste'

its a minefield. except princess Di jokes about minefields are a 1 on the Richtofen scale.

So what are the Richtofen rules ?

Dont ask me. I dont know.

But I do know when I will make a joke about sh1t.

If it happens to my city or country - fair game
If it happens to an organisation that I am or was a part of - fair game
If it happens to my family - fair game
If it happens to a country that I have spent a lot of time in - fair game
If I have ever been in a tsunami - tsunamis are fair game
etc

basically, if I have a close attachment, I can take the p1ss, and I can stand having it taken

but if its a place , incident or horror that I have no experience of, I feel the need to zip it.

I have never been in an earthquake, tsunami or nuclear meltdown, or spent 10 tears living as a jap.
so I will bow out of this one and zip it

It's an interesting concept, and new to me, so thank you. The other category is (as you hint):

If it happens to Princess Di, it's fair game.

**Pondlife** · 15 March 2011, 19:48

Originally posted by Old Greg View Post

It's an interesting concept, and new to me, so thank you. The other category is (as you hint):

If it happens to Princess Di, it's fair game.

Ditto on the concept.

As for Princess Di. I think if the scale of faux media anguish is so widely out of proportion then it's fair game.

In this case (Japan) it isn't.

**doodab** · 15 March 2011, 19:50

Originally posted by Old Greg View Post

It's an interesting concept, and new to me, so thank you. The other category is (as you hint):

If it happens to Princess Di, it's fair game.

Well, famous people generally are fair game, esp if they are being twattish, although I think I would draw the line at someone's kids dying or something like that.

**cailin maith** · 15 March 2011, 19:54

Originally posted by xoggoth View Post

Hey! You're are a very wise chap EO!

Well, he is...... for a scouser

**Old Greg** · 15 March 2011, 19:57

Originally posted by doodab View Post

Well, famous people generally are fair game, esp if they are being twattish, although I think I would draw the line at someone's kids dying or something like that.

I think there's something about power differential. It's OK for the powerless to mock the powerful. I found the Russell Brand / Andrew Sachs incident distasteful because Brand used his position of power (access to broadcasting media) to laugh at Sachs's expense.

**TimberWolf** · 15 March 2011, 20:00

Originally posted by Old Greg View Post

I think there's something about power differential. It's OK for the powerless to mock the powerful. I found the Russell Brand / Andrew Sachs incident distasteful because Brand used his position of power (access to broadcasting media) to laugh at Sachs's expense.

For which he got the sach.

**shaunbhoy** · 15 March 2011, 20:22

Originally posted by TimberWolf View Post

For which he got the sach.

Que??

The Richtofen scale