Predictably, the pandemic is a source of gallows humor. There are critics who take umbrage or feign umbrage at satirical observations about the pandemic. What if a friend or relative of yours was stricken by the virus? Would you still think it's funny?
However, gallows humor, and humor in general, is a standard coping strategy to release stress. It's not essentially disrespectful.
Moreover, what's suitable for one person may not be suitable for another person, but that doesn't mean we should always avoid saying anything that might ever offend anyone. If a loved one of mine succumbed to the virus, I wouldn't find the gallows humor amusing. I might even resent it. But it wasn't directed at people in my situation, and rationally, I should take that into account and have the detachment not to expect the entire world to be tailored to my situation.
Furthermore, the objection is typically raised, not by those who've actually suffered a loss, but by sanctimonious critics who presume to speak on behalf of the bereaved. And it's less about showing compassion for the bereaved than giving the critic a chance to act morally superior.
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