Stereotype jokes

[Parce_Domine]

Are you talking about jokes that make fun of a group of people or jokes that make fun of misconceptions about that group?

When I tell redneck jokes, I’m not poking fun at people, but at the idea that all white Southerners are inbred, stupid, poor, illiterate racists. As a white Southerner, I find the idea that people believe all that as amusing as the jokes, sometimes. But I still don’t tell such jokes indiscriminately because there are people who don’t see the difference in the two types of jokes.

I don’t take offense at redneck jokes, although according to the descriptions here some of you would consider me one. Even so, jokes that make fun of prejudice, that expose the absurdity of such ideas, can be funny.

Jokes that make fun of the group rather than common misconceptions about that group are not so funny. The line between the two can get pretty thin, and there are always people who believe stereotypes and tell both types of jokes with equanimity. Redneck Darth Vader: Luke, I am your father, and your uncle. Does this joke make fun of people or of the stereotype that rednecks are all inbred?

The best advice so far, IMO, seems to be not to tell any jokes that could be taken as an attack on a group, even if the joke makes fun of a ridiculous idea about the group rather than people–unless you really know your audience and they do NOT hold the prejudices you’re making fun of.

 

[chevalier]

In your opinion, are jokes that poke fun at stereotypes sinful? Say a redneck joke or similar- not like a joke that targets a race.

1. I don’t think a redneck joke is much better than a racial joke. You can argue people choose to live in the country or act like a “redneck” but they don’t choose to be white or black or Asian, but ultimately the difference is little. It’s mostly that the culture thinks racial jokes are bad, redneck jokes are funny.
2. Intention, as has been said. Intention to hurt someone’s feelings is bad. Perhaps some of those jokes fall under denigrating those people who are the targets of the jokes. Some may simply be slander. But a joke which is meant in a funny way is not such a serious thing. I’ve recently got a book with jokes about Jesuits assembled by one of them. Some of the jokes involved lines like a Jesuit asking “and what’s a novena?” or saying, “and my greatest virtue was my modesty.” Those folks can laugh at themselves, apparently.
3. You can hurt people uninentionally. That is problematic if it results from lack of consideration for others’ feelings. In that case, the problem is a failure in being considerate (a form of being charitable), not really in telling jokes per se.

 

[ericka1701]

I personally know quite a few raunchy and very stereotypical jokes, that if told in the wrong context can be considered very rude at best, and very prejudical and bigoted. I used to tell them without a censor from my brain to my mouth. I don’t know how many people I’ve hurt and offended over the years…

While it’s not really the same subject, I recently overheard someone (and I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop, they happen to be a very loud talker) mention that they didn’t think their Catholic friend was a Christian because they cussed like a sailor. Granted, I didn’t know the whole context of the conversation, but overhearing that comment has made me resolve to reform my language, by not cussing all of the time (and now it’s usually a word here or there… used to be every sentence, and sometimes it was multiple times in a sentence ), and to make sure if I tell a joke, it would be something I could tell to my 9 year old niece. I do see improper usage of language (either by cussing or telling morally objectionable jokes) as a scandal, and maybe even a stumbling block to our fellow Christians, Catholic or not.

God Bless,
Ericka

 

[DaveBj]

I was just reminded of what some of my military friends told me–they were in technical school when the military ban on ethnic jokes came down, so instead of saying “Did you hear the one about the Pole/Norwegian/Whatever who…”, they would say, “Did you hear the one about the Ethnic who…”

DaveBj

 

[JuanCarlos]

I’ve since given up stereotype joking , or at least am in the process of cutting back. I consulted with a priest, who told me that these kinds of jokes are sinful, albeit only venial sins . In his words, “They don’t edify”- thus they are inappropriate for a Christian.

 

[DaveBj]

I’ve since given up stereotype joking , or at least am in the process of cutting back. I consulted with a priest, who told me that these kinds of jokes are sinful, albeit only venial sins . In his words, “They don’t edify”- thus they are inappropriate for a Christian.

That, I believe, is a very important point.

DaveBj

 

[Starwynd]

I don’t like them and don’t use them period. They are not meant to be funny and are meant to put people down for being different in some way shape or form.

This is an intolerant world that does not tolerate uniqness.

 

[Matrix_Refugee]

I differentiate between the two. A joke based on a stereotype is just something we laugh at. An attack based on a stereotype is bigotry.

Just because someone takes offense at something doen’t necessarily mean they were attacked. Every joke will offend someone, that doesn’t mean they were attacked.

Best argument in this thread! You summed it up perfectly :: Thumbs up::

As a good for-instance, there is a tee-shirt with the slogan “Autistics rock!” which I am trying to get, mostly because I’ve been identified as autistic and I love the pun involved in it. Not all of us folks with autism actually rock back and forth (as an odd sort of coping mechanism when we’re stressed), but it’s a common aspect of the condition.

Contrast that with Denis Leary in his book “Why We Suck”, where he launched a diatribe against autistics, thinly disguised as humor. One of the milder quotes was something to the effect that people with Asperger’s Syndrome (one of the sub-forms of autism, and the one that specifically affects me) are “stupid deleteds who hog the conversation.” Not true, as many of us have above-average IQs and since we’re not the most socially adept, when talking about what interests us, we sometimes launch into monologues about subjects that may not interest the average listener. Reid, one of the characters on the crime drama “Criminal Minds”, does this, with a kind of dead-pan comedic effect; it’s kind of funny and wince-inducing to see this, since it’s something I’ve been guilty of doing myself, but I’ve learned to laugh at it.

 

[Parce_Domine]

I’ve since given up stereotype joking , or at least am in the process of cutting back. I consulted with a priest, who told me that these kinds of jokes are sinful, albeit only venial sins .*** In his words, “They don’t edify”- thus they are inappropriate for a Christian.***

That, I believe, is a very important point.
DaveBj

I agree, DaveBj–a very important point.

The intention of whether or not we mean to hurt anyone with the joke is irrelevant in this light. Thank you, JuanCarlos. I think I’ll attempt to follow your example.