Hey! That's not funny.

Everyone loves a good laugh; which explains the popularity of joke books and funny fiction and non-fiction literature.

That said; an author must be very careful when writing what he/she may think is real funny stuff; especially when injecting a bit of humor into a tense or stressful situation.

One must always remember that what some readers may think is hilarious, others may interpret as an insult; especially when a story deals with a serious social, cultural, or religious theme.

Almost all religious texts (regardless of which religion) include some varation of, "Treat others as you would like to be treated". Good advice; even if you don't happen to be religious yourself.

Rule of thumb: Before you write something that you think is funny, think about it for awhile. If there is the slightest doubt in your mind whether or not it may be offensive to someone, seek a third party's advice. Just make sure that the third party is not an insensitive idiot.

Some may say, "Hey! If you don't like it, you don't have to read it." This is true. But it is also true that talented, skillful writers can always find a way to accomplish their purpose without deliberately hurting anyone in the process. If you can't or won't, maybe it's time to consider a career change.