Where is the humour?

[Peikko 1,575]

How could a child come to the conclusion that it is funny to vandalise a synagogue with Swazi stickers without having some understanding of what a Swazi sticker stands for?

Discuss.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Depends on how well educated the child is on the situation...

Some people take humor in things that others do not, even adults do...

[The_Dude 1,142]

I would say more than education, the child's age would matter more. If he's like 8 years old, then no, he probably doesn't know what it means and he's undoubtedly mimicing an older sibling. If he is like 12 years old, then I would say that he does have some semblance of an idea what it means, especially if you're putting it on a synagogue.

[Peikko 1,575]

Depends on how well educated the child is on the situation...

Some people take humor in things that others do not, even adults do...

What 'situation'?

What would make any child even consider painting a Swazi sticker, let alone particularly on a synagogue? What is inherently humerous about a Swazi sticker? I am struggling to find it humerous in any context, let alone one that is innocuous so please, help me out here.

[Peikko 1,575]

I would say more than education, the child's age would matter more. If he's like 8 years old, then no, he probably doesn't know what it means and he's undoubtedly mimicing an older sibling. If he is like 12 years old, then I would say that he does have some semblance of an idea what it means, especially if you're putting it on a synagogue.

It's unlikely that any child would independently come up with the idea of painting Swazi stickers on anything at all, something would have to have drawn their attention to them in some way. As to the level of understanding, sure, an 8 year old is not going to have much of a clue as to meaning where as an older child, and certainly by age 12 could grasp the concept.

[The_Dude 1,142]

It's unlikely that any child would independently come up with the idea of painting Swazi stickers on anything at all, something would have to have drawn their attention to them in some way. As to the level of understanding, sure, an 8 year old is not going to have much of a clue as to meaning where as an older child, and certainly by age 12 could grasp the concept.

Something like that happened to a synagogue around where I grew up. The first time it happened, it was a 7 year old kid who it turns out, he was just copying the symbols he saw in his older sister's room and was trying to show off for her. The second time that it happened, it was a 12 or 13 year old kid. He knew what the symbol meant, but he didn't really grasp the severity of it. The reason that kid did it? He was mad that he didn't get invited to some other kid's Bar'Mitzvah. Kids do stupid sh!t, I would be more surprised if the kid was genuinely depraved and did it out of pure hatred.

Edited October 15, 2010 by Rob & Mel

[SMOKE 1,426]

How could a child come to the conclusion that it is funny to vandalise a synagogue with Swazi stickers without having some understanding of what a Swazi sticker stands for?

Discuss.

if the kid truly doesn't know what the swastica symbolizes. then IMO he either thinks it funny to get a rise out of people or its funny to vandalize others property. either way my answer is bad parenting.

[Peikko 1,575]

Something like that happened to a synagogue around where I grew up. The first time it happened, it was a 7 year old kid who it turns out, he was just copying the symbols he saw in his older sister's room and was trying to show off for her. The second time that it happened, it was a 12 or 13 year old kid. He knew what the symbol meant, but he didn't really grasp the severity of it. The reason that kid did it? He was mad that he didn't get invited to some other kid's Bar'Mitzvah. Kids do stupid sh!t, I would be more surprised if the kid was genuinely depraved and did it out of pure hatred.

Each of the incidents you illustrated the kid had an agenda that involved the use of the symbol in a way that had specific meaning, even if it wasn't racial hatred, the choice of nazi symbolism wasn't accidental. I find it odd that a parent would allow any child to decorate their room with nazi symbolism unless they themselves approved of the greater message which doesn't auger well for the first kid's development. As to the second incident, that's kind of an odd way to get back at a kid they thought slighted them unless he wasn't Jewish himself? Was he?

[Peikko 1,575]

if the kid truly doesn't know what the swastica symbolizes. then IMO he either thinks it funny to get a rise out of people or its funny to vandalize others property. either way my answer is bad parenting.

How could you 'get a rise' from someone unless you understand the symbolism at some level? Sure, I get the point that some people find vandalism itself 'funny' regardless of what form that takes and at a pinch I guess a kid could assume that all vandals use Swazi stickers as part of vandalism - it's a bit of a stretch but I can just see that.

[The_Dude 1,142]

Each of the incidents you illustrated the kid had an agenda that involved the use of the symbol in a way that had specific meaning, even if it wasn't racial hatred, the choice of nazi symbolism wasn't accidental. I find it odd that a parent would allow any child to decorate their room with nazi symbolism unless they themselves approved of the greater message which doesn't auger well for the first kid's development. As to the second incident, that's kind of an odd way to get back at a kid they thought slighted them unless he wasn't Jewish himself? Was he?

The 7 year old didn't pick the symbol for any reason other than the fact taht he thought it would impress his sister. If it was Hello Kitty, would we still be talking about this?

The 12 year old was not Jewish. He clearly knew what the symbol meant, but he really didn't understand the gravity of his actions. He knew it would piss off the person who he felt slighted by, but not the true symbolism of it.

[mawilson 2,133]

How could a child come to the conclusion that it is funny to vandalise a synagogue with Swazi stickers without having some understanding of what a Swazi sticker stands for?

Discuss.

What's a Swazi sticker?

A bumper sticker that says you're proud to be from Swaziland?

[Peikko 1,575]

The 7 year old didn't pick the symbol for any reason other than the fact taht he thought it would impress his sister. If it was Hello Kitty, would we still be talking about this?

The 12 year old was not Jewish. He clearly knew what the symbol meant, but he really didn't understand the gravity of his actions. He knew it would piss off the person who he felt slighted by, but not the true symbolism of it.

There's the thing, as regards the 7 year old what was it about the Swastika that he knew his sister would find impressive? It's not innocuous and it wasn't done to be amusing and one has to question what kind of parent would allow their daughter to have such things in the bedroom in the first place, at least I would. As to whether graffiti by Hello Kitty would start a conversation? Probably not, but you never know.

I get that the 12 year old didn't get the gravity of it, but he didn't think it was 'funny'. He knew it was going to piss someone off, not make them laugh, that's why he did it.

Edited October 15, 2010 by Madame Cleo

[Peikko 1,575]

What's a Swazi sticker?

A bumper sticker that says you're proud to be from Swaziland?

Apparently it is

My apologies, I am of course referring to swastikas.

[SMOKE 1,426]

How could you 'get a rise' from someone unless you understand the symbolism at some level? Sure, I get the point that some people find vandalism itself 'funny' regardless of what form that takes and at a pinch I guess a kid could assume that all vandals use Swazi stickers as part of vandalism - it's a bit of a stretch but I can just see that.

if he doesn't 'know' what it means, he may know jewish people don't like the symbol. maybe an older kid told him it would upset people at the synagogue. something tells me the kid knew what it means or someone that does know put him up to it & he went along in an effort to impress them. why else would he choose to put a nazi symbol on the synagogue? just a coincidence? i doubt it. and i still say bad parenting.

Edited October 15, 2010 by SMOKE

[scandal 951]

What 'situation'?

What would make any child even consider painting a Swazi sticker, let alone particularly on a synagogue? What is inherently humerous about a Swazi sticker? I am struggling to find it humerous in any context, let alone one that is innocuous so please, help me out here.

Nazi imagery, including swastikas, have been and can be used in humorous settings, e.g. Mel Brooks "Springtime for Hitler" from the Producers.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/19/theater/19abroad.html?_r=1&hpw

It depends on context. I am offended by swastikas which are meant to glorify Nazism, condone antiSemitism, deny the Holocaust, etc.

I am comfortable with swastikas that are used to mock the Third Reich and what it stood for - particularly when it's done with sensitivity and understands the irony of its own message.

Mel Brooks is funny.

Swastikas on a synagogue are NOT. Any defacement of a place of worship is wrong. Swastikas are a particularly, awfully, wrong.