Did you follow the reader comments connected to my column titled, Westside Story – Too Many Loose Nuts Near Western State? If you did, you witnessed a fair amount of banter regarding my stab at humor. Some readers classified my effort as a pun.
Readers enjoyed my joke. Other readers did not enjoy my humor effort.
Five ladies are avid readers of Westside Story. They got the joke.
The entire discussion brings to mind what my mentor, John Vorhaus, a successful comedic writer, told me, and it is something to remember.
When all the puns are gone, only criminals will have puns.
I enjoyed it Joe. Some guy named Brenden took issue with the lack of political correctness so I responded using politically correct words. I thought he’d see the silliness of it all, but he didn’t.
Marty,
I appreciate your effort.
While I clearly recognise Brenden has a point as there are still some unnecessary problems in our world, there is also a lot of pendulum swinging silliness in the form of overreaction to the problem(s).
I also understand it is possible that Brenden’s personal life experience could give him a view that is significantly different from yours and mine.
Joseph Boyle
Mr. Boyle,
I believe my opinion and comments that were made the ither day are misunderstood. I take no exception to the joke you made. On the occasions I do find myself having a sip of the political correctness koolaid I make an effort to make sure i am not going too far down that path.
My comments related to your explanation of being chastised after you made the joke (pun). Herw us the rule of comedy a joke isnt funny if you feel like there is an audience you couldn’t tell it to. I think when you wrote your article and realizes anyone could read it, you felt you followes this rule. I also dint think you had any malice when you first said it.
My stance all along own what you say. Don’t be ashamed. I didnt try to correct anything you have said or anybody else has said, I won’t even correct my terminology.
And although I am not an avid reader of you column I do read it on a pretty regular basis. I jwas simply trying to express that there is no need to be apologetic,(although on a scale of one to ten that pun rates a 5)
And for the record I think people know they are in for some “dad jokes” and puns when they click on a column called Westside Story. Wouldn’t have made the comment if I knew people would take it wrong….yes I woukd have and now I know how you feel.
Brenden,
Thanks for your additional exercise of your use of your free speech rights.
I agree with your main point. if I say something, I should own it. Our point of agreement appears to be where the confusion originated.
I said it…”too many nuts loose by Western State.” I own it. I have always owned it. My name is printed right on the article. It’s mine; that’s for certain.
Had the wheel fallen off in front of Lakewood City Hall, would I have said, “too many nuts loose in Lakewood City Hall?” Wait, that is not a good example.
Had the wheel fallen off in front of the old vacant Tijuana Taco Restaurant, would I have said, “too many nuts loose near Tijuana Taco?” The answer is no, I would not have done that.
So, “too many nuts loose near Western State is what I consider a fun play on words. I am talking about lug nuts. I am not talking about mental patients from Western State.
It is in the mind of the reader where that connection happens. The readers mind leaps from lug nuts to mental patients. I get that. I admit to setting the reader up for that possibility. I did it for fun and laughs.
A reader from Amarillo, Texas would not make that mental leap because Western State would mean nothing to them thereby preventing them from making that alternate connection. They would not have the Western State reference.
There is a connection to truth in my words. Decades ago government decided to put mental patients on the streets and we have been suffering from that phenomonen ever since.
Then there is the play on words, which was my main focus.
My comment following the column was not meant to be an apology, nor was it meant to suggest I felt badly about my words.
My comment was to make it abundantly clear to those who practice extreme political correctness that my article was talking about lug nuts.
It has been my lifelong mission to help people laugh. I have historically accomplished my mission every day of my life.
In fact, some people got a good laugh with my play on words in this article.
Yes, Brenden, I own it. I agree with you on that.
Thanks for commenting.
Joseph Boyle
Brenden,
One more point. If you look carefully at my first comment on the original article it is dated August 2, 2019 at 9:58p. My comment was like a P.S. following my original article.
My comment was ahead of all other comments if you study the dates and thus way ahead of any criticiism regarding my words.
Joseph Boyle