You can’t shake the Devil’s hand and say you’re only kidding.

I think I’ve made an interesting navel-gazing discovery about my humor taste as of late.

I’ve ofter wondered why I like Steven Colbert, yet dislike the Colbert report. It took Borat to get me toward an idea.

Both kinds of humor attempt to portray, or satire through imitation that which they mock. An undercover satire if you will. Now, when it is “smart” absurdist in nature, as the Daily Show does (or self-deprecating) I have more tolerance. When overt and hurtful, I do not. (even some of the Daily Show segments make me uncomfortable).

I suppose I have softened over time, but this kind of “mean” humor is not funny to me anymore, only painful. The imitation of a blow-hard to show how blow-hards are wrong, or a racist to show how racists are wrong seems too much of a use evil against evil problem. I (until now) subconsciously expressed my disapproval in the form of an inability to find the kind of humor funny.

For “The Colbert Report,” this manifested itself as nagging worry on my brain watching the show: I knew intellectually that he should be funny, but I could not enjoy it. I knew I liked him, but his show I couldn’t manage to enjoy. I felt like I should like him: Cognitive dissonance.

I’ve recently come to the conclusion that it is OK for me do dislike this humor. You like what you like. And I can’t like The Colbert Report. Sorry Steve – you’re a funny guy. Hopefully I’ll be able to enjoy your next character.

And Borat? That’s the main reason I detest him. It’s sad when Mahir and Yakov Smirnoff are more genuine.