Every now and then someone of high social standing flouts this age's politically correct conventions and gets severely spanked in the media for it. The latest example is local lawyer Simon Watters, who apparently indulged in some off-colour humour while emcee of a recent quiz night.

I wasn't there to see what's been reported. Maybe it's a beat up as he and others have claimed. And it should be remembered that whenever humour's involved there's always the matter of tone. Sometimes people are trying to mock the attitudes they seem to be endorsing. You know the response: "Hey, I was being ironic, okay?" (That said, he seems not to have invoked that excuse here.)

In any case, the brouhaha does raise the issue of double standards. I note that one of the barrister's targets on the night was Gina Rinehart. She is a favourite hate figure of the Left and they routinely mock and deride her in the most vicious and misogynistic way imaginable. Yet no one in the ABC or Fairfax seems to care. The majority of journos in News Ltd don't seem too fussed, either.

Now, if Watters had restricted his jokes to Rinehart, and maybe a few other politically correct targets, I'll bet we wouldn't have even heard about the now notorious event at North Cottesloe Primary. But unfortunately for him he didn't. He committed the unforgivable sin of mocking Carmen Lawrence, along with gays and other groups deemed off limits for any kind of humorous treatment by the left-wing thought police (unless it's lefties themselves who are making exactly the same jokes, in which case it's all perfectly okay).

This double standard doesn't just apply to media coverage. It's also the rule in many professions, such the very one in which Watters practises

But Mr Kerloy said his actions could place Mr Watters in breach of the Legal Profession Conduct Rules.

"That is section 6.2 that says that a practitioner must not engage in conduct, in the course of providing legal services or otherwise, that demonstrates that the practitioner is not a fit and proper person to practice law; or may be prejudicial to, or diminish public confidence in, the administration of justice or may bring the profession into disrepute."

He said it would be up to the Legal Practice Board to act on any official complaints on the matter.

Gawd, half the leftie lawyers in the country could be considered guilty of such conduct! Just go on Twitter and read the rantings of legal eagles (cuckoos, more like) such as Julian Burnside. You almost never hear of any of them getting disciplined for their often ridiculous and obnoxious behaviour.