Ask Amy: Navigating the Fine Line Between Humor and Hurt in Relationships

In the "Ask Amy" advice column, a reader expresses frustration with their partner's mean-spirited jokes, such as calling them an "old bag," which the partner believes to be funny. Amy consults comedian Josh Gondelman, who explains that humor at someone's expense is only funny if the audience (in this case, the partner) is amused. Since the reader is not, the joke is a failure. Gondelman suggests that the partner is being annoying and not considering the reader's feelings. Amy advises the reader to reassess their sensitivities, share the comedian's perspective with their partner, and disengage while the partner rethinks their approach to humor.