Jo Brand caused a shit-storm this week and was one, little, pathetic, nanny-stated, overly-concerned, politically-correct moment away from police prosecution. For a joke. The comedienne (if you can still call them that, because there’s been no such thing as an ‘actress’ since 1974) said, on a radio show called ‘Heresy’ (ffs; in case anyone thought it was biblical readings or children’s hour), that people shouldn’t waste time throwing milkshakes over politicians when you can buy battery acid instead. The BBC edited the show (it wasn’t live even though it sounds like it; the Beeb aren’t quite that stupid) and passed the comment. On the basis that ITS A FUCKING COMEDY SHOW and a fairly ‘on the edge’ one, as its name might imply. It was not a ‘how to do violence better’ show, nor a ‘teach your children useful tips’ show. It is satirical comedy. Of the ‘humorous’ variety.

So why was Jo Brand’s commented investigated by the police. Who, because of their vast numbers and our total, national lack of any terrorist threats or knife crime, have so much time on their collective hands to waste vital resources on the hurumphing of a bunch of twin-setted, Home Counties retirees? (The single demographic of those ‘complaining about BBC radio’, in my mind.)

Because ‘she was inciting people to acts of violence!!!’. Bollocks.

In reality its because Jo Brand is very very dead-pan and dry and thus doesn’t give her punchlines with a BANG!!!!!! She’s subtle. Challenging. Saying ‘am I joking or is this real?’ And I love her for that. If not for the incessant left-wing politics, verging on actual Corbynism (the ultimate sin and unfunniest thing ever). So her comments need to be taken in context. That context being a comedy program called ‘Heresy’. Bit of a giveaway really. But not in the Home Counties. Where humour requires red noses and banana skins to remove any ambiguity between ‘funny’ and ‘real life’.

So did Jo Brand simply misjudge her audience? Who she possibly imagined were the midnight crowd above a pub in Shoreditch? Whereas in fact they were a mid-day radio 4 listening group who only tend to use the word ‘hip’ in conjunction with ‘replacement’.

I had a Jo Brand moment myself this week. Misjudging the tone of our little WhatsApp ‘group’, when a late night ‘chat’ got a bit boisterous and what some of us perceived as hilarious was viewed by others in a more personal and insulting way. Again, misjudging one’s audience.

Therefore you shouldn’t assume that everyone’s sense of humour is ‘on the same page’. Nor that everyone really likes insults and abuse in the same way that bizarre individuals like me do. Hard to take but some people actually have limits! Who’d’a thought? Though this should be easier to control or understand on a group chat than with a national radio show, I grant you.

Basically; LIGHTEN UP!!! Do as I do; treat EVERYTHING as a joke, except parking tickets and you won’t go far wrong. Won’t necessarily go far right either but that’s not he point.

Happy Anniversary Mel, you’ve put up with me for 33 years. Medals don’t suffice. Only medication.

A xxxx