Ep 19: When Humor Hurts: Jokes, Bias, and Hidden Harm

"It was just a joke."Someone at a work gathering made a comment about a marginalized group, delivered with a laugh. Most people laughed. One person, the only one from that group, went quiet.Later, someone asked if they were okay. "I'm fine. It was just a joke. I shouldn't be so sensitive."But they weren't fine. And it wasn't just a joke.This episode explores when humor crosses from connection to harm:"It was just a joke" as a shield against accountabilityHow humor reflects power, bias, and cultural normsMicroaggressions disguised as banterCrip humor, dark humor, and who gets to make the joke (positionality matters)Punching up vs. punching down: the jester's wisdomResearch: disparaging humor increases tolerance for discriminationWhat to say when a joke crosses the lineHow to repair when you're the one who made the harmful jokeHumor should create shared laughter, not isolate or diminish others.Intent vs. Impact, Episode 3