"In discussions about the accusation of insulting, there is sometimes a disagreement space because the values underlying the protection against insulting have to be balanced against the value of free speech," says Harm Kloosterhuis from Erasmus University Rotterdam. So the perfect insult, in fact, is one where everyone understands how offensive the words are, but at the same time no one can formally complain.
The ancient peoples, by the way, believed that a direct insult to a person is the best way to receive not only a challenge to a duel, but also punishment from the gods. Therefore, the famous kennings among the Vikings - that is, the poetic names of things, are not just a literary device, but also a direct way to avoid retribution, both physical and divine.
At the same time, a bad joke is an excellent way to ruin your reputation to the core, even if you've spent your entire life building it up. By the way, here is a selection of real-life tales of people literally destroying their positive image in five minutes.
And if you just want some good humor, feel free to read our 30 best examples of Irish jokes. And of course, scroll to the very end of this post - the best is yet to come.
