Poll: Is it okay to make straight jokes?

[Woodsey]

Living in a society in which heterosexuality is seen as the norm, and everything else as lesser deviations from it, I'm not sure exactly how you could make an offensive joke about heterosexuality.

Exactly.

Sounds pretty funny for me, I'm not sure how they'd be offended by it in any way. In fact, I'd say they'd need a good slap if they were.

On the other hand, this is effectively like walking into a room with a few black people doing something stereotypically white and making some remark about them being "secretly white". I could definitely see people being offended.

That's a little different though, in that you're playing up to stereotypes - an equivalent situation with a gay person would be if they were really masculine/feminine, and you said they were acting like a straight person, if you can see where I'm making the distinction.

If a gay girl and a gay guy want to be left alone together, then they really are acting like they're straight.

 

[BRex21]

We have Way too many rules about when we can and cant joke. I think Dont do it maliciously and dont do it with strangers pretty much covers it.
I routinely mock my girlfriend that Filipinos aren't real Asians, what with the Spanish last names and all, she and her family didn't take offense because they know me and they know im a kidder.
I wouldn't go up to a random Filipino and say that but with friends almost anything goes.

 

[HentMas]

snip

ok, you make no sense was my option

first of all, (dont get offended, just read it and think) are you dumb enough as to going to a street filled with african americans, and start asking them all about the nearest "KFC"???

no?

ok, then, are you dumb enough as to go into a gay community center and say jokes about them??, no??

ok!

then, both of them are your friends?, PERFECT! would you say they were acting as if wanting to make out if both were straight and wanted to be left alone in a different room??

if so, then why did you stopped?? they are your FRIENDS

hell, i call my gay friends SEVERAL things, i tell my straight friends "you are acting really gay man, stop fondling my ass" if he was gay i would say the same thing, it wasnt an insult, it was a point of view "both are acting as if they were gay and trying to hide it from us"

being "OFFENSIVE" is just that, doing things to offend people "HEY SCUM! YOU ARE WORTH NOTHING BECAUSE YOU ARE GAY!!!" or things like that, just pointing out that their behaviour resembles that of the gay guys isnt enough to be offensive.

i dont know if you get what i am saying, prehaps its more in line with, if they are your friends, they can take a joke, if they are NOT your friends, why are you joking with them for??, and if they are gay, why would it be offensive to them?, you make no sense.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

White - Straight - Couldn't find any glasses jokes...

Can do some Epileptic jokes if you want...

 

[Shock and Awe]

I make jokes at everyone's expense, you think Im gonna stop myself making one at my own? Please...

 

[Jaime_Wolf]

On the other hand, this is effectively like walking into a room with a few black people doing something stereotypically white and making some remark about them being "secretly white". I could definitely see people being offended.

That's a little different though, in that you're playing up to stereotypes - an equivalent situation with a gay person would be if they were really masculine/feminine, and you said they were acting like a straight person, if you can see where I'm making the distinction.

If a gay girl and a gay guy want to be left alone together, then they really are acting like they're straight.

Yes, because clearly the reason they want to be alone is precisely the same one as the joke insinuates.

And, correct me if I'm wrong, but last I checked, fucking people of the opposite gender was a(/the) stereotypical straight activity.

As I said, I wouldn't have a problem with it, but that doesn't mean it isn't offensive - I just have a relatively high tolerance for offensive humour so long as it isn't mean-spirited.

 

[FalloutJack]

The straight man is always the butt of every joke.

*Rimshot*

Seriously, folks. Why are we asking this? To be ironic or does he actually want to know? But I'll tell you, you want a straight joke? Here goes.

A priest, a rabbi, and a nun walk into a bar. WHA-BAM! You think one of them woulda' ducked.

You're a beautiful audience! Good night, everybody!

 

[guntotingtomcat]

If feelings are being hurt, you should probably consider what side of the joking around/bullying line you come down on, regardless of the joke's content.

 

[WolfThomas]

I don't think it's wrong even to make homosexual jokes, except there's a catch, they have to not be homophobic. We have plenty of jokes about heterosexual sex and men-women interactions, isn't the ultimate acceptance/integration be if they were treated as the same sort of joke?

 

[Edge Hypermatter]

Go ahead. Fair's fair, right?

 

[GeorgW]

I'd say that it's okay to joke about everything at any time, I mean it's just a joke. Have we really not evoled past the fact that we can't take a joke? I can take any joke about me. The only time I'm offended is if it's inaccurate.
I hate political correctness, since it actually creates animosity rather than eliminates it. It may be because where I come from there is no past actions that can lie in the background and cause unintended double intendres.

So my thought on this is, say whatever the hell you want if you're with friends. If they're your true friends it shouldn't matter. If they're not your friends, then be a little careful, but censor yourself. The thing most people take offence with is being an exception. If you were to give the impression that you can't be yourself around someone because of their race or sexuality, that's when you're truly a racist. I'd take much more offence if people joked about me behind my back in stead of in front of it.

 

[kokonravin]

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[Galletea]

It's about knowing your audience. Well, that and the delivery. Accusing them of turning straight seems innocent enough, especially if they are the sort who makes gay jokes when they themselves are gay. If they are quite serious people then they might well just not get it.

So...there's nothing wrong with it in principle, but everyone's sense of humour is different,

 

[Zack Alklazaris]

I see nothing wrong with it as long as they are your friends. Though I could understand making homosexual jokes can be touchy to some people. They are getting treated pretty badly. Still it really depends on the friend. I remember being at a party with a gay friend and someone commented how hard he drew on cigarettes. (he could finish one in like a minute) I replied its because he's so good at sucking and he burst into laughter.

I know that your joke wouldn't offend me, in fact I would find it funny (and not in the pretend giggle kind of way). You don't think gays make fun of straights? Of course they do! (oooOOOooo watch out you might catch the gay!) There is nothing wrong with jokes and you seem to have a good idea on what type of people your friends are so I would say go with it.

The way I see it as long as they are your friend (so they know your true personality and beliefs) your fine. Even if you say something thats offensive, they will know you didn't mean it to be harmful.

 

[BeeGeenie]

Hmmm... I can think of a few ways that the joke could be worded better, but I don't think there was anything wrong with it. If you feel comfortable joking with them about it, that just shows that you don't think it's a big deal. There's nothing wrong with a little light-hearted teasing between friends.

 

[gazumped]

It's not really okay to make offensive jokes about anyone, it creates divides and hurts both parties. If your tone was to be 'snide' as you suggest, it gives the impression that you'd think there was something wrong with your friends being straight, which is similarly bad to someone making the original joke about two same-sexed friends trying to make fun of them by suggesting they're gay, therefore suggesting being gay is something to be ashamed of.

Even making group-ist jokes about your own group can be in a way detrimental (women making anti-women jokes to fit in with the guys, for example; encouraging sexism, even if it elevates her own social status.) However, if you weren't being snide about it, it could also be a thinly veiled gay joke, but not one about being gay or straight, but about being homophobic:

No, it isn't a veiled gay joke. That's like saying that a joke two straight people of the same sex walking into a room together and closing the door (joke being: to be "alone") isn't a gay joke, but a veiled straight joke.

The thing is, being in the closet is a pretty much strictly homosexual thing. If you turn it on its head, you're not really making a statement about straight people because straight people are never really in the closet. The (genuine) humour in your joke is that you've turned a ridiculous statement on its head to show that just because two people of whatever gender are in a room alone, it says nothing about their sexuality.
If you weren't actually trying to be a bit nasty about your friends, that is. Intent is a factor. But reception is a bigger factor, I think.