In an increasingly global society the line between the taboo and tolerable in media has become blurred. In a time where everything is sacred and being politically incorrect is met with force, at least one subject remains free game for journalists and public: the Toronto Maple Leafs.
You cannot issue criticisms against North Korea or risk provoking all-out war. The Supreme Leader tends to get pretty sensitive about these things, so keeping things civil is a priority. Big information companies like Sony can be similarly testy, so shutting up is a great idea unless you want your personal information leaked on a regular basis.
So no ISIS jokes allowed, not even Putin is risking that. Putin is not a soft target though; mess with him and he’ll pay a visit to your home with a few of his goons. He will hold a vote for “Who owns this house” and spoiler alert: you lose the referendum by 90%.
We beat them in the World Juniors though, and Canada’s PM was in attendance. I can’t harp on Harper because this author is a Macedonian Raptors fan and Harper support both, so call it bias.
It is futile to crack a zinger about Obama, the man has seen it all and probably does not care. He will either create a law outlawing your humour or cart you off to Guantanamo Bay.
In fact, all of America is off limits. What a mess that is, with civilians killing cops and cops killing civilians.
But the lowly Leafs remain our loyal punching bags, and even encourage it with their antics. When the team did not salute their fans the press and public bit into them like ravenous wolves. Back in Russia, the metaphor gets a lot more literal.
Tabloids and sports sections salivated over the firing of the Leafs head coach midway through the season, with a chance to project a “the ship is sinking and on fire” narrative. Try to give China the same attitude and see how far you get. Bareknuckle censorship is a journalistic specialty over there, and there are no Internet message boayou will find no Internet message boards for people to support you in impotent rage.
This is where a joke about Boko-Haram and their cowardice comes in, but no matter how satirical or well executed it might have been, there will still be a group of people taking offense.
There are no limits to Leaf bashing, but it’s because people want positive change out of the team. So, as we can only mock the Leafs these days, perhaps they will finally improve.
Or not.
