I can't make jokes

[Korihor]

Remember that episode of Seinfeld where the one guy became Jewish so he could start making a bunch of Jewish jokes.

Well, apparently I'm far enough out that I can't make mormon jokes anymore (the non-offensive type) since I'm better known as an apostate than anything else. Even an innocent joke doesn't go over well because I'm not one of them anymore.

[RubinHighlander]

I can usually make sarcastic cultural remarks at the office if they are not offensive, because we have a culturally diverse population. As far as cutting to the bone, those are reserved for my NOM and NOMO friends when not in mixed company.

I think I see your point though, particularly when in the company of TBM family members, it's like you no longer have the right to make fun of the culture like they do because you have rejected it.

[2bizE]

Remember that episode of Seinfeld where the one guy became Jewish so he could start making a bunch of Jewish jokes.

Well, apparently I'm far enough out that I can't make mormon jokes anymore (the non-offensive type) since I'm better known as an apostate than anything else. Even an innocent joke doesn't go over well because I'm not one of them anymore.

So, who is getting offended? I make little jokes at work occasionally about polygamy or the magic rock. You do know using a magic rock in a hard in place of the magic 8 ball for decision making can be a great source of entertainment.

[Red Ryder]

My wife tells me I can't have an opinion about garments because I don't wear them anymore. So I joke about them instead.

[Raylan Givens]

My wife refers to me as not Mormon, so I guess I am out too.

I did ask my friend yesterday, when he didn't know what time something starts, if he consulted his Urim and Thummim (his iPhone). His wife gave me a death look. I'm not funny...

[Lady_Macbeth]

I can't even try to ease the tension...

I used the phrase 'bean water' to make light the coffee discussion... somehow that translated into I'm now using 'anti-mormon language.'

[Stig]

It's because you're an outsider, now. When you're an insider, you can say virtually anything you want, but not once you reject the tribe. This is a pretty common human occurrence; not just unique to the quirky LDS culture. But, it sure is annoying.

[SeeNoEvil]

But there is so much about Mormons to joke about it's hard to refrain! Last weekend my TBM 8 year old GS showed me a rock he bought in the gift shop of the lodge where we were staying for the wedding that looked just like the JS magic rock. I said, "Oh look, that looks just like the rock Joseph Smith ......". I stopped when I saw the look on my TBM daughters face. Then crickets. When I was a TBM we joked about Mormon stuff all the time. Now my TBM family won't admit it or even have a conversation about why I left. It's just not talked about. But it is clear I am no longer part of the Mormon tribe in their eye. No longer am I allowed to joke.

[blazerb]

I have not had to give up the jokes, yet. My wife stopped liking my jokes about the time one of our children decided they did not want to go to church anymore. Anything that detracted from the reverence for churchy things was inappropriate in her eyes. I still tell the jokes. My believing child still finds them funny. That may change as they get older.

I agree, there is so much funny about the church. Honestly, the jokes probably help people process the cognitive dissonance. That may help people stay in the church. It gives an outlet for thoughts that could only otherwise be expressed as opposition.

[document]

I have had very similar experiences.

In-crowd vs. out-crowd humor. People who previously had senses of humor when I was a believer suddenly do not.

A while back a group of us were chatting and someone mentioned a man in our city who has his medical license stripped because he was molesting patients. The local newspaper picked up that the man was Mormon and in my friend said: "Why do they have to bring up he was Mormon?" to which I responded "So people understand why he would slather himself in Jell-O before entering the room".

Yup, THAT was seen as "Anti-Mormon". A !@#%$ing Jell-O / Mormon joke.

*sigh*

[Linked]

Yeah, one of the things I will miss the most about being out about my disbelief is not being able to make inside jokes about church stuff. They were funny 3 months ago, not funny now.

Me joking about other groups I'm not part of isn't funny either, so it's not surprising, but it's still sad.

[achilles]

Remember that episode of Seinfeld where the one guy became Jewish so he could start making a bunch of Jewish jokes.

Well, apparently I'm far enough out that I can't make mormon jokes anymore (the non-offensive type) since I'm better known as an apostate than anything else. Even an innocent joke doesn't go over well because I'm not one of them anymore.

It's because you're an anti-dentite. And I'm totally serious here. Defectors are worse than regular enemies. We've betrayed them, simply by not believing anymore.

[LostMormon]

Remember that episode of Seinfeld where the one guy became Jewish so he could start making a bunch of Jewish jokes.

Well, apparently I'm far enough out that I can't make mormon jokes anymore (the non-offensive type) since I'm better known as an apostate than anything else. Even an innocent joke doesn't go over well because I'm not one of them anymore.

I would like to hear the joke that bombed on you, who was your audience?