Are racist jokes ok?

[rev_kevin]

Have we bacome so thin skinned that we can’t even take a joke now a days?
I remember jokes about the Polish. Where I grew up was mainly Polocks.

 

[pnewton]

They are a tricky area. I do not know that it is possible to tell a joke in which race plays a major part of the humor without stereotyping. I do occassionally joke with my boss about characteristics specific to him, but not all black people. However, I do not do so in public and we have a relationship that spans more than two decades. We would do anything for each other.

As a rule I ban and do not tolerate racist jokes at work. At best, they are imprudent.

 

[mdrummer5]

Even if there’s “no harm intended” I wouldn’t consider them ok. You’re showing a great disrespect for whatever race may be the subject of the joke.

I would guess that the majority of people who think they’re ok or should be ok have never been part of a group that might be subject to such things. Growing up studying the Jewish faith I was often a punchline for many kids in school and subsequently made it a point not to discuss religion until I eventually got away from it entirely until recently.

I think the key is again in the intent. Life can be hard, you need to have a sense of humor. Telling these jokes with people who you know very well and know won’t take them the wrong way is fine.

If you know someone is sensitive, or you don’t know them well, don’t tell the joke. If you know the person well, than have a few laughs with them.

From a psychological perspective this is a thinking error. Telling a joke to someone who won’t take offense does not make the joke ok, it means you can “get away” with telling it. This is the thought process of a child. Not doing something because of a potential consequence or doing it because you won’t get caught. As we get older ideally we should learn morality over reward and punishment.

It is NOT about the intent. It is about how the person it might effect perceives it. So using the following example…

What do you call two mexicans playing soccer against each other??? Juan on Juan. Now come on is that racist??? Tell me how is that insulting to Mexicans???

Personally I wouldn’t find it offensive. But it’s not about you me or the person you’re telling finding the joke offensive. It’s about the fact that a Mexican may and the fact that you’re showing a great amount of ignorance and insensitivity as to how it may be perceived.

It reminds me of an episode of South Park regarding Token (the only black character on the show) him and Kyle go round and round about how Kyle doesn’t understand why a certain word would be offensive and he spends the entire episode trying to explain that he does get it until he realizes that he doesn’t… he never will because he’s never been subject to that kind of ridicule.

 

[PatriceA]

What if it’s offensive but there’s no meanness intended? For example, I have a black friend, and i sometimes joke about how he has to sit in the back if i give him a ride but other times he’ll make some joke about how since im white, i’m surely a weak, pampered little mama’s boy (or something of the sort).

We’re still great friends lol

Have you ever discussed the issue with your friend and if it might possibly upset him?

I think if the two people involved in the joke have a shared same sense of humor and know that they aren’t offending each other, then joke with each other. Be careful though of doing it publicly, in case someone does not understand your intent.

BUT, do not presume that someone else would not be offended by the same joke, especially if you do not know them very well. In general racist jokes are very, very offensive and its better to refrain from saying them to anybody, unless you’ve grown very close to that other person and they share the same sense of humor and you absolutely know they are not offended.

 

[StrawberryJam]

All people should be offered the same dignity no matter their race. This is the reason that racist jokes are never okay.
All racist jokes, at their center tear away dignity of another human person and group of human persons.
All of them are always unacceptable at all times, no matter the company you are in or circumstances. There is never a good reason to to loose reason.

 

[puzzleannie]

I’m wondering if racist jokes are ok to say (in proper company of course). I’m a college kid, and everybody I know has made some sort of racist joke here or there, with no harm intended.

?

no harm intended?
then what is the intent?
can you come up with any beneficial or even neutral intent for such speech?

 

[illmatic]

I’m wondering if racist jokes are ok to say (in proper company of course). I’m a college kid, and everybody I know has made some sort of racist joke here or there, with no harm intended.

So are jokes like that OK if theres no bad motive involved?

Not even almost okay. Don’t do it.