Gould,

Racial and ethnic humor is not necessarily evil, and those who find racial
and ethnic humor funny are not necessarily evil. I grew up in a very
racially and ethnical diverse neighborhood, and we loved making jokes about
each other and "stereotypes" concerning our different ethnic background. No
one's feelings were hurt because we were comfortable enough with our friends
and who we are to let a joke hurt our feelings. I have not known any ethnic
group who did not enjoy ethnic humor as long as it was not mean spirited. I
did not find this joke mean spirited (or particularly funny), but I don't
consider myself bound by Political Correctness.

Those who can not laugh at themselves, live a very boring life.


wrote in message
oups.com...
FI-FO-FI FO-FI-FI-FO
I always thought that was Jesse Jackson's

********************

This racist thread brought to you by wreck.boats :-(

Isn't this where we trot out the Chinese laundry jokes, or the tired
old saw about
telling a running back that the football is really a watermelon?

Will we ever get past dealing in racial stereotypes, or finding then
"amusing"?

Those who can not laugh at themselves, live a very boring life.


********************

You're right, assuming that JimH is black.

JimH, if you're black then you were merely disrespecting your own
ethnicity and not that of someone else. My criticism would still be
warranted, but my comment less than accurate if you are black. We have
no information upon which to base an assumption that you are white, and
it isn't important either way.

I often laugh at myself. I'm frequently pretty ridiculous, as are we
all.

The problem with this "joke" is that it perpetuates a myth that black
people are unable to enunciate well. Look at Tim's comment in this
thread. Jesse Jackson is very well spoken, but Tim was quick to hang
this demeaning racial stereotype on Jackson. One of the classic
idiocies in life is assigning stereotypes to a member of one group or
another merely because you might disagree with that individual's
politics or philosophy. Mike Tyson may not speak as well, (at least to
the "white" ear), as Jesse Jackson but that has nothing to do with
race. There are enormous differences in speaking ability among members
of any race.

The fact that the joke relies on a racial stereotype as a substitute
for humor can be demonstrated by the response accusing Jesse Jackson of
speaking as Mike Tyson is alleged to speak. There is little these two
individuals have in common beyond their ethnicity.

Stereotypes are always stupid. Doesn't matter whether one says
*All*.......conservatives are mean, hard-heartred
*******s.......liberals are socialist traitors.......black people like
to eat fried chicken and watermelon.....white people have small body
parts and can't jump......etc, etc, etc, etc......when one defaults to
a single statement intended to include all the members of any group it
simply shows that the person knows little, or could care less, about
any individual members of the group.

wrote in message
oups.com...
Those who can not laugh at themselves, live a very boring life.


********************

You're right, assuming that JimH is black.

JimH, if you're black then you were merely disrespecting your own
ethnicity and not that of someone else. My criticism would still be
warranted, but my comment less than accurate if you are black. We have
no information upon which to base an assumption that you are white, and
it isn't important either way.

I often laugh at myself. I'm frequently pretty ridiculous, as are we
all.

The problem with this "joke" is that it perpetuates a myth that black
people are unable to enunciate well. Look at Tim's comment in this
thread. Jesse Jackson is very well spoken, but Tim was quick to hang
this demeaning racial stereotype on Jackson. One of the classic
idiocies in life is assigning stereotypes to a member of one group or
another merely because you might disagree with that individual's
politics or philosophy. Mike Tyson may not speak as well, (at least to
the "white" ear), as Jesse Jackson but that has nothing to do with
race. There are enormous differences in speaking ability among members
of any race.

The fact that the joke relies on a racial stereotype as a substitute
for humor can be demonstrated by the response accusing Jesse Jackson of
speaking as Mike Tyson is alleged to speak. There is little these two
individuals have in common beyond their ethnicity.

Stereotypes are always stupid. Doesn't matter whether one says
*All*.......conservatives are mean, hard-heartred
*******s.......liberals are socialist traitors.......black people like
to eat fried chicken and watermelon.....white people have small body
parts and can't jump......etc, etc, etc, etc......when one defaults to
a single statement intended to include all the members of any group it
simply shows that the person knows little, or could care less, about
any individual members of the group.


Did you find my Indian joke racial also?

Like I said Chuck, get a life and a sense of humor. It was a joke and it
certainly was not racial.

Did you find my Indian joke racial also?

************

I missed that one.

Maybe a good thing.

wrote in message
oups.com...
Did you find my Indian joke racial also?

************

I missed that one.

Maybe a good thing.


Yes, definitely a good thing that you missed it...........a good thing for
this entire NG.

THAT'S RIGHT!!! MONKEYS DON'T LIKE IT EITHER!!!!

http://www.resist.com/CARTOON%20GALL...ig_image79.jpg

wrote in message
oups.com...
Those who can not laugh at themselves, live a very boring life.


********************

You're right, assuming that JimH is black.

JimH, if you're black then you were merely disrespecting your own
ethnicity and not that of someone else. My criticism would still be
warranted, but my comment less than accurate if you are black. We have
no information upon which to base an assumption that you are white, and
it isn't important either way.

I often laugh at myself. I'm frequently pretty ridiculous, as are we
all.

The problem with this "joke" is that it perpetuates a myth that black
people are unable to enunciate well. Look at Tim's comment in this
thread. Jesse Jackson is very well spoken, but Tim was quick to hang
this demeaning racial stereotype on Jackson. One of the classic
idiocies in life is assigning stereotypes to a member of one group or
another merely because you might disagree with that individual's
politics or philosophy. Mike Tyson may not speak as well, (at least to
the "white" ear), as Jesse Jackson but that has nothing to do with
race. There are enormous differences in speaking ability among members
of any race.

The fact that the joke relies on a racial stereotype as a substitute
for humor can be demonstrated by the response accusing Jesse Jackson of
speaking as Mike Tyson is alleged to speak. There is little these two
individuals have in common beyond their ethnicity.

Stereotypes are always stupid. Doesn't matter whether one says
*All*.......conservatives are mean, hard-heartred
*******s.......liberals are socialist traitors.......black people like
to eat fried chicken and watermelon.....white people have small body
parts and can't jump......etc, etc, etc, etc......when one defaults to
a single statement intended to include all the members of any group it
simply shows that the person knows little, or could care less, about
any individual members of the group.

On Sat, 11 Jun 2005 14:33:28 -0400, "Doug Kanter"
wrote:

Stereotypes are always stupid.

Yes, but then in lay the humor. Witness innumerable Polish, Italian,
Irish, Arab, Jewish, yada, yada, yada, jokes.

The thing about humor is that it is but one small, very tiny nanoline
away from hurting somebody who is "sensitive". Some of the best
lesbian jokes I've ever heard came from a former nun and some of the
best gay jokes I've ever heard came from a gay guy who I work with
from time to time. Most of the time, when I retell the joke, it's the
straight people who take offense FOR the "offended" parties.

Most of the time the "offended" parties enjoy the jokes.

Believe this or not, I have actually told the "Horse walks into a bar"
joke and had somebody take offense at it - I'm not kidding.

Doesn't matter whether one says *All*.......

conservatives are mean, hard-heartred *******s.......

Well, that's true actually.

liberals are socialist traitors.......

That's also true.

black people like to eat fried chicken and watermelon.....

God, I would hope so - I love fried chicken and watermelon.

white people have small body parts and can't jump......

Speak for yourself White Boy....

when one defaults to a single statement intended to include
all the members of any group it simply shows that the person
knows little, or could care less, about any individual members
of the group.

Hmmmm - so what you are saying is that I can't, in good conscience,
say anything about "blacks" because I don't know anything about
"blacks"? I can't judge the suitability of a joke because it involves
blacks?

That was poorly stated - allow me to try a different tack.

Let's say that there is an audience of one hundred people and Chris
Rock is the comedian. Chris tells a joke about black men - you know
black men, they'd put rims on a refrigerator if you let them.

Let's say that 75% of the audience thinks this joke is hilarious
because it's based in some truth and 25% don't think it's funny and
stereotypical.

Which side is the correct side? Should he have told the joke because
25% of the people could possibly be offended?

How about if Jerry Seinfield told that same joke to fifty whites and
fifty blacks and the white people were offended - is that reason to
call for Seinfield's head? Was he insensitive?

The PC rule is that ANYTHING that can be deemed offensive by anybody
at anytime is offensive and thus verboten.

And that, my friend, is just plain bull****.

I'll leave you with this joke.

This grasshopper walks into a bar and asks for a beer.

The bartender looks at the grasshopper and says "Hey, you know we have
a drink named after you?"

The grasshopper looks at the bartender and says "You have a drink
named Steve?"

Now, make something of that. :)

Later,

Tom

On Sat, 11 Jun 2005 14:33:28 -0400, "Doug Kanter"
wrote:

Stereotypes are always stupid.

Stereotypes Doug? The joke was about Mike Tyson and the way *Mike Tyson*
talks. If you think all black people talk that way that is your problem.
(Now I could use the Chuck Gould trump card and call you a racist. ;-) )

Sorry to post through you Tom but I have Doug killfiled.

Pretty funny joke BTW, even though you stereotyped all grasshoppers and
folks named Steve. LOL

Thanks for bringing some more common sense into this discussion Tom.

Jim



Yes, but then in lay the humor. Witness innumerable Polish, Italian,
Irish, Arab, Jewish, yada, yada, yada, jokes.

The thing about humor is that it is but one small, very tiny nanoline
away from hurting somebody who is "sensitive". Some of the best
lesbian jokes I've ever heard came from a former nun and some of the
best gay jokes I've ever heard came from a gay guy who I work with
from time to time. Most of the time, when I retell the joke, it's the
straight people who take offense FOR the "offended" parties.

Most of the time the "offended" parties enjoy the jokes.

Believe this or not, I have actually told the "Horse walks into a bar"
joke and had somebody take offense at it - I'm not kidding.

Doesn't matter whether one says *All*.......

conservatives are mean, hard-heartred *******s.......

Well, that's true actually.

liberals are socialist traitors.......

That's also true.

black people like to eat fried chicken and watermelon.....

God, I would hope so - I love fried chicken and watermelon.

white people have small body parts and can't jump......

Speak for yourself White Boy....

when one defaults to a single statement intended to include
all the members of any group it simply shows that the person
knows little, or could care less, about any individual members
of the group.

Hmmmm - so what you are saying is that I can't, in good conscience,
say anything about "blacks" because I don't know anything about
"blacks"? I can't judge the suitability of a joke because it involves
blacks?

That was poorly stated - allow me to try a different tack.

Let's say that there is an audience of one hundred people and Chris
Rock is the comedian. Chris tells a joke about black men - you know
black men, they'd put rims on a refrigerator if you let them.

Let's say that 75% of the audience thinks this joke is hilarious
because it's based in some truth and 25% don't think it's funny and
stereotypical.

Which side is the correct side? Should he have told the joke because
25% of the people could possibly be offended?

How about if Jerry Seinfield told that same joke to fifty whites and
fifty blacks and the white people were offended - is that reason to
call for Seinfield's head? Was he insensitive?

The PC rule is that ANYTHING that can be deemed offensive by anybody
at anytime is offensive and thus verboten.

And that, my friend, is just plain bull****.

I'll leave you with this joke.

This grasshopper walks into a bar and asks for a beer.

The bartender looks at the grasshopper and says "Hey, you know we have
a drink named after you?"

The grasshopper looks at the bartender and says "You have a drink
named Steve?"

Now, make something of that. :)

Later,

Tom

On 11 Jun 2005 11:23:51 -0700, wrote:

Those who can not laugh at themselves, live a very boring life.


********************

You're right, assuming that JimH is black.

JimH, if you're black then you were merely disrespecting your own
ethnicity and not that of someone else. My criticism would still be
warranted, but my comment less than accurate if you are black. We have
no information upon which to base an assumption that you are white, and
it isn't important either way.

I often laugh at myself. I'm frequently pretty ridiculous, as are we
all.

The problem with this "joke" is that it perpetuates a myth that black
people are unable to enunciate well. Look at Tim's comment in this
thread. Jesse Jackson is very well spoken, but Tim was quick to hang
this demeaning racial stereotype on Jackson. One of the classic
idiocies in life is assigning stereotypes to a member of one group or
another merely because you might disagree with that individual's
politics or philosophy. Mike Tyson may not speak as well, (at least to
the "white" ear), as Jesse Jackson but that has nothing to do with
race. There are enormous differences in speaking ability among members
of any race.

The fact that the joke relies on a racial stereotype as a substitute
for humor can be demonstrated by the response accusing Jesse Jackson of
speaking as Mike Tyson is alleged to speak. There is little these two
individuals have in common beyond their ethnicity.

Stereotypes are always stupid. Doesn't matter whether one says
*All*.......conservatives are mean, hard-heartred
*******s.......liberals are socialist traitors.......black people like
to eat fried chicken and watermelon.....white people have small body
parts and can't jump......etc, etc, etc, etc......when one defaults to
a single statement intended to include all the members of any group it
simply shows that the person knows little, or could care less, about
any individual members of the group.

Hey Chuck, how come no complaining about the anti-Catholic joke a few lines
earlier?
--
John H

"All decisions are the result of binary thinking."

Hey Chuck, how come no complaining about the anti-Catholic joke a few
lines
earlier?
--
*****

Didn't see that one, either.