Why do people make jokes about Japan's earthquake?

A lot of people make jokes because they can. Only a small fraction of those people are truly assholes, the others just feel like nothing is off limits and everything can be funny. I haven't made a joke about the earthquake, it was terrible, but I understand people who do joke about extreme things because I have a tendency to do it and not mean a word I say. Often I just like to get a rise out of people.

Jokes About Earthquakes

That's not a joke. You should get over it. I know Japan can recover quickly. Now the real question is Did you care about the 80,000 dead in China when they got hit? Do you care about the starving children around the world? The homeless people out there that have to find shelter some way? I doubt it. Most of you start caring after a natural disaster happens and give prayers. Like that will do anything. What a sad race of humans.

First off, Jeff, you are an idiot. I lived in Japan for 13 years and found a lot to dislike, frustrate, even hate in Japanese society. No question there is a latent xenophobia in the country, often propagated by the media and government, feeding off the general ignorance of most of the population. The mayor of Tokyo, Ishihara, once stated Chinese and Koreans would have to be shot if an earthquake occurred to stem the tide of looting inevitable from other Asian immigrants. But to call Asians, or specifically Japanese people, barbaric is pathetic and blatantly racist. The vast majority of Japanese I met in daily life were basically very decent people, ten times more open and considerate than your average rural American and I've lived in that country too. England isn't exactly the warmest and most welcoming nation in certain areas either. You display exactly the kind of sentiment you seem so self-congratulatorily outraged by with your comments on WW2. Newsflash mate, EVERY side in WW2 performed atrocities, it's just that Germany and Japan did it on a vast scale, sanctioned by their governments and in the Japanese case, monarch. Don't get me started on the USA in Vietnam. As for the jokes, it's a coping mechanism for the most part. I'm from Northern Ireland and we've been making jokes about our own impressive array of violence, bigotry and ignorance toward each other for years. If you didn't laugh you'd cry etc.

that's because people are sick in the head they don't have problems like this even when the twin towers September 11th happened there was jokes all over the place even when 3000 + people died the people making the jokes is because it doesn't effect them that's whats wrong with this world people have so much hate and nastiness towards other people when things like this happen am wondering will japan get a good night sleep tonight are they going to get any horrible phone calls tomorrow saying there loved 1 was trapped and drowned there the things going through my head i am a caring person so wen i see any jokes like this on fb i put a nasty comment up about it i think these jokes should be banned and against the law they get on about weed been bad for you then they allow this wtf the way this world works is horrible i think they should let who ever wants to go out to japan and help the people rather than joke about them people need to stick together no matter where your from any good people i meet become a member of my family all the bad people can go to hell they deserve it a specially the 1s maken jokes hope it carms down in japan tonight or anywhere this is effecting but thats wat it comes down to people are sick in the head and need a life

What you really mean to say is 'I don't like this, and the first person to agree with my point of view gets ten points'...

People make jokes about disasters because of many different reasons: Because they know it'll annoy sensitive little souls like you; they like to think they're doing something daring; they don't give a fck; it's their way of dealing with it. People have a right to joke about this as much as they like, just the same as people have the right to be sad or angry...

(PS: I forget the comedian's name but on the day of nine eleven he did a stand-up gig where he said: 'Terrible what happened today, isn't it? But I brought a game to cheer us all up. Jenga!' Some people shouted at him, others walked out, but most just laughed. Because it is a joke...)

Are you actually asking, or making a one sided rant? "people die, get over it" is harsh, but has a ring of truth to it. I joke about things like 9/11, earthquakes and the holocaust, even racist jokes, but it doesn't make me a cruel person. A friend of mine lost his cousin in the 9/11 bombings and he makes jokes about 9/11. I asked him why and he said he felt it made light of a tragic situation, and I couldn't put it any better myself.

If I died in an earthquake, I'd be laughing my way into the afterlife at the resulting jokes.

People joke about things as a natural human response. What are people to do? Sit watching the tv thinking 'oh its a terrible world'. Or make a joke about it. The jokes mean nothing. It doesn't mean they don't care about the people who have died but life is harsh so people make jokes because if we couldn't laugh we would cry.

Cripe, all the whiny crybabies should get over themselves. There's nothing worse than phony, overly sensitive prats. Oh, and everyone can stop panhandling for disaster relief--There's nothing worse than a country that is perfectly solvent--running around looking for money. Hey, if they need human resources to help rescue and shelter and feed and clothe folks, that's one thing. I'm not giving up my money to a wealthy country like Japan when they are perfectly capable of providing the necessary financial support for rescue operations. As for the jokes?

"Hey, I just split up with my girlfriend but, don't worry--another one'll float by any minute!"

Heres One which I know Im gonna get killed over, because obviously there are alot on sensitive people out there here I go

What did one whale say to the other?

Whale 1: Hey did you hear about Japan?

Whale 2: Yeah mate

Whale 1: Yeah mate looks like we might have a fighting chance this year

Whale 2: Yeah mate