In the aftermath of 9/11, media shows responded in different ways. Jon Stewart broke down on camera. Talk show hosts were left speechless. In the first episode of “Saturday Night Live” since 9/11, Rudy Giuliani and first responders appeared in the cold open, in which Lorne Michaels asked, “Can we be funny?” to which Giuliani responded, “Why start now?”

This question, “Can we be funny?” is not limited to 9/11 or its aftermath. It applies to jokes about the KKK, slavery, poverty, the alt-right. Subjects which relate back to a sensitive or under-represented history should be dealt with cautiously. 

This topic isn’t easy to talk about. Satirical news shows, like the “Daily Show” or the “Late Show with Stephen Colbert” may have a different right to tell certain jokes than Fox or CNN does. After all, these shows have different roles – one shouldn’t go to Trevor Noah for the news or to Jake Tapper for jokes. 

Of course, there seem to be a few topics which are off-bounds. The Holocaust is rarely joked about, even if Hitler is the punch line for some elementary jokes. National disasters are taken very seriously. In general, tragedies are not jokes, and I can’t find fault with that. But this begs the question of where we draw the line on humor and tragedy. 

To some degree, this is on us, the consumer of their work. Comedians produce content that they think their audience will want to hear. 

At some point, people who do a humorous act – maybe it is an SNL skit, or a monologue for a late night show, or a standup act – decide that a formerly taboo and solemn subject is fair game. 

Louis CK has joked about masturbation and 9/11, pedophilia and the use of the n-word. Sarah Silverman also mocked 9/11 and has not shied away from abortion in her routine. Daniel Tosh joked about rape. 

While some comedians make jokes that are probably insensitive, or in a few cases, downright wrong, they stick around. Louis CK is one of the biggest names in comedy today, and while he received backlash for some jokes, audiences still line up to see him because they find lots of other parts of his show hilarious. 

To me, this is fine. An insensitive joke or two shouldn’t be career ending. Comedians try to gauge what will get the crowd to respond and they occasionally miss the mark. 

The danger is when lots of comedians feel comfortable making jokes about the same subject – if Daniel Tosh’s joke about rape had inspired other comedians to joke about the subject. There are some things which are just off-limits, and the only way to make this evident to comedians is to voice opposition when they screw up. 

Making jokes about tragedies and sensitive subjects will always happen. They will come from well-intentioned comedians and those harboring racist or sexist views alike. It is important to differentiate the two, and not accept the views which normalize dangerous behavior by joking about it.