[grumblestumble]

I'm generally perceived as a pretty funny guy, I joke around with both my reports and those I report to, and, yes, even with customers all the time. I've found that I don't need to diminish others to do this, there's plenty of other crap to joke about, like the quality of our products, how long it takes to get stuff done, the UX of the tools we share, dumb programming trends. It's easy to laugh without it being at the expense of others.

[eropple]

I'm glad that you wrote this, because "punch up, stupid" is just not that difficult a concept in humor.

[moistbar]

Joking about the quality of your products is hurtful to the people who made them. Joking about dumb programming trends is offensive to the people who find them useful. You're still happily diminishing people, only now you won't even do it to their faces.

[pshc]

Criticism of a product or trend is not the same as criticism of its creator or users--if it even is valid criticism rather than social noise

[grumblestumble]

I'm joking about the quality of the products I make, to be clear.

[rubatuga]

I would say it's actually hard to make jokes that aren't at the expense of others. Otherwise, everybody would be doing it.