Are Racist and Sexist jokes ok if they are used purely in a joking manner?

[Spade Lead]

Sometimes I make sexist jokes to my GF when she knows I am not serious but I just do it to annoy her heh heh.

I sometimes call my half-Jewish girlfriend a "Kike" in a joking manner. She knows I don't mean it, but with anyone who doesn't understand our relationship around, I won't say anything inappropriate. It isn't a good joke, except that it gets a reaction out of her every time, so I still do it, and yes, she knows I don't mean it, so it is acceptable, as long as I don't cross the line.

Is it appropriate? HELL NO. But do I do it anyway, yes. It has practically become my pet name for her.

 

[Vrex360]

i have nowhere near the time nor patience to write out everything you did, and yes i understand the concept of satire, but personally i never found the simpsons that funny as is, and if it was funny it wasn't a laugh out loud funny, it was a "har-har, haven't heard that one in a while i suppose."

and with your two examples at the end, honestly i found the cleaning lady funnier than most of the simpsons i have ever watched, and i would say i've watched a good 6-7 seasons of it (my family used to watch it all the time at dinner for a solid 5-6 years)

so i'm just getting at the fact that it's apples and oranges, something you don't like obviously is what lots of other people might or might not like, honestly i find family guy way more hilarious than simpsons, do i expect you to agree? nope, but jumping down my ass and acting on a high horse when i laugh at something immature, that was meant to be that way, doesn't make the situation any better.

I'm sorry, did I offend you? I wasn't trying to lash out against people who like Family Guy, only pointing out that to me at least, Apu from the Simpsons and the Cleaning Lady from Family Guy represent (to me at least) the best examples of the dividing line between stereotypes as small jokes and stereotypes as sole defining features.
Again, if you like Family guy, please don't take offence. I was just pointing out my view.

I guess what I'm saying is that I'm sorry if I offended you.

 

[gmaverick019_v1legacy]

i have nowhere near the time nor patience to write out everything you did, and yes i understand the concept of satire, but personally i never found the simpsons that funny as is, and if it was funny it wasn't a laugh out loud funny, it was a "har-har, haven't heard that one in a while i suppose."

and with your two examples at the end, honestly i found the cleaning lady funnier than most of the simpsons i have ever watched, and i would say i've watched a good 6-7 seasons of it (my family used to watch it all the time at dinner for a solid 5-6 years)

so i'm just getting at the fact that it's apples and oranges, something you don't like obviously is what lots of other people might or might not like, honestly i find family guy way more hilarious than simpsons, do i expect you to agree? nope, but jumping down my ass and acting on a high horse when i laugh at something immature, that was meant to be that way, doesn't make the situation any better.

I'm sorry, did I offend you? I wasn't trying to lash out against people who like Family Guy, only pointing out that to me at least, Apu from the Simpsons and the Cleaning Lady from Family Guy represent (to me at least) the best examples of the dividing line between stereotypes as small jokes and stereotypes as sole defining features.
Again, if you like Family guy, please don't take offence. I was just pointing out my view.

I guess what I'm saying is that I'm sorry if I offended you.

now i'm not sure if you are trolling hard on the whole offending thing or just being sincere, but no, to actually offend me? you'll have to probably kill a family member for me to actually get offended, let alone actually care, I was just pointing out the flip side of the line you were showing, in which the examples you just happened to pick those two shows, and like i said i could care less who likes family guy and who likes simpsons or who likes whatever, i was just following up on what you said in the examples on the flip side.

 

[Custard_Angel]

Racist and sexist and homophobic and tasteless jokes are all fine as long as everyone listening is comfortable with the content. Respect for the people around you is of utmost importance, not just in regards to what is acceptable or not, but for life in general.

If you're posting the same sort of material online where any number of people can see/hear/view it, that's ok too. The most effective content filter devised is an individuals own moral compass. If people don't like what they're hearing, its their own responsibility not to listen to it.

Even still, you should always filter your content to cater towards your audience. That's just logic.

 

[Vrex360]

Snip

Oh no, I was being sincere about apologizing. You just seemed to give off the impression that you thought I was judging you harshly and I apologized if I came across that way.

 

[Strain42]

I think it all depends on where you are and who you're with, and also it's important if people are ok with the joke.

I was at a party a few weeks ago and we all were just taking turns spouting racist, sexist or just plain horrible jokes. One of the jokes I gave that got a big laugh was

"How do we know Adam and Eve weren't Black?"

"Ever try to take a rib away from a black man?"

and it KILLED. Everyone was laughing, and yes, there were black people who heard it.

I'm not a big fan of the comedian but Carlos Mencia sort of brought up an interesting point on the matter.

Some people wouldn't have been comfortable telling that joke if there'd been black people listening, but does that make it better? If you can't tell the joke to anyone, you shouldn't be telling it at all.

So I think you have to pick and choose carefully. Imagine that whoever is listening is going to publish your conversation as an interview. Is the person going to add "he quipped" after your particular joke??

 

[gmaverick019_v1legacy]

Snip

Oh no, I was being sincere about apologizing. You just seemed to give off the impression that you thought I was judging you harshly and I apologized if I came across that way.

oh okay, hah sometimes can't be sure on the escapist, and oh nope, just meant it as food for thought more or less than wanting you to apologize or anything (you didn't even say anything wrong, opinion obvious is your opinion)

it also goes along with the lines that movies like starship troopers and robocop and expendables are much more enjoyable to watch than something like ferris buelers day off, monty python and the holy grail, or the big lebowski


i enjoy all of them for their own tastes, but just saying everyone enjoys things a bit differently for different reasons.(kind of relating to "cheesy/ism" jokes)

 

[TheGaukudix]

I remember a comedian saying that nothing happed to people who got offended, then backed it up with the line "Imagine a christian after a comedy show saying "Oh, they made a joke about god, and I was offended, and the next day, when I woke up, I had leprosy""
There are some areas of racism and sexism that should be avoided, as the only jokes that can be made are usually crass and in bad taste. Primarily though, it depends on the joke-maker themselves to make sure that, if the joke is intended to polarise, make it offensive, but if it is just meant for a laugh, then only make fun of the group that they are a part of, or how their group is affected by another group. It is always about self deprication, that is where good, honest comedy lies.

 

[Volkov]

Yes it's completely OK.

 

[neonsword13-ops]

All depeneds on the job. Comedians do it every day but who says they are not allowed to?

 

[KenzS]

My black girlfriend disagrees.

 

[SilentVirus]

Depends on who your with and who is listening. Jokes on touchy subjects are quick to arouse negative emotions in some and positive emotions in others.

 

[Cid Silverwing]

Never. Not once. It hurts sensitive people.

 

[Shio]

I don't find either topic funny, so no.

 

[Loonyyy]

If you're willing to be the butt of them as well: "Why does no-one play hide and seek with white people in the snow?"
"Because no-one can ever find them again."
Not particularly good, but you get the idea. As long as you are fair and the other person isn't sensitive about it, then it should be fine. Also, being a certain group does not entitle you to make jokes, and some things are never funny. Such as the N-word. Anyone using that, anyone who says it is just a word should go and try to work on a 1800's style cotton plantation for no pay.

 

[funguy2121]

I read from a joke book that jokes that can hurt people should only be done in the company of people who understand and will not be offended. Seeing as most places don't want you to say offensive things because of the wild variable of how random people might react (sure it's funny but a emotional scar is still none the less painful) it's always best not to do it unless your a shock jock comedian in which case. I guess make sure you come off intelligent less you be carlos mencia.

Was that book written by this guy?

People trying to teach comedy or go to school to learn punk rock. I swear, if we didn't have offensive comics, the suicide rate would be through the roof.

 

[funguy2121]

Yes, its fine.


As a comment though, the legal system is already biased in Favor of Women, so it isnt as funny as it may have been about two decades ago.

Where do you live? In Pakistan where a rape victim goes to prison for adultery because she can't furnish 7 witnesses, or in America where 15 out of 16 rapists never spend a single day in jail?

The dating system favors women. Some female-dominated fields dominate women. That's about it.

Source: http://www.rainn.org/statistics

Edit: This should say "favor."

 

[gyroscopeboy]

snip.

I like this guy. Particularly the bit he did on Health and Safety in that same sketch.

"How on earth did you not fall in that hole when there were no signs there?"
"Easy, my parents taught me not to be a dick."

This is the funniest bit i've seen in a long time..i laughed so fucking hard haha

 

[Kill the messenger721]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZ2tWdyiCdk&feature=related Sums up what I want to say.

 

[funguy2121]

I'm getting too chatty on this thread. I promise to simmer down and be a good boy after this post

On that note, I don't often hear about specific jokes targeted at rich, straight, white men (though I've often see them tell racist/sexist jokes). Perhaps I've just missed people saying them, but I think it's significant that jokes of that nature are far less prevalent.

Actually, I've heard quite a few. They don't bother me at all (and aside from the money, I fit the profile), for 2 reasons. 1. Maybe it's because there's so many straight white guys out there and we've hogged the collective discourse for so long, but it's impossible for me to feel like there's anything wrong with me for being straight, or being a guy, or being white. When I first heard that some gay people have an epithet for us ("breeders") (also a fantastic band), I laughed my ass off. My ex was telling me a story of her feelings being hurt (I was trying to be sensitive), and I told her she should be glad she's a breeder, 'cos that means she doesn't have to be treated like shit every day of her life. I have heard quite a bit of racist-toward-whites humor come out of the black community, and I don't mean good natured Chappellesque jokes. It just sounds every bit as ignorant as white-to-black racist humor, but it really doesn't offend me, probably because my ancestors came here by choice and this humor (at least as far as the audience is concerned) almost never involves a person in a position of power/fortune belittling a person without either. 2. Quite a lot of this humor is actually making fun of rich straight white male people for not having the same problems as everyone else. That's not mean-spirited, it's cathartic. And I love it. Driving past a punk rocker on the street one time, a black friend asked, "What the Hell?" I explained to her, "That's what white people who hate white people look like."

Damn, but that was rambly. Can't wait for Skyward Sword!