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Can of Worms: Does telling a racist joke make you racist?
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Post by
Squishalot
Hi guys!
This poll series is inspired by a new TV series being aired in Australia called "Can Of Worms". In fact, it's not just inspired by, it's blatantly ripping it off, to some extent.
The premise of the show is that it's a comedy panel that discusses ethical issues (i.e. opening up a can of worms, figuratively). Each week, it brings up two 'big worms' for discussion. There's only one rule - no fence sitting!
This is question 3 in the series (since I skipped a couple of weeks, as I started behind already) - does telling a racist joke make you racist?
Post by
donnymurph
No. I tell racist jokes all the time. I'm not racist.
Furthermore, a lot of the best racist jokes I have heard are told in a self-deprecating manner.
Post by
Jubilee
What makes deprecating humor funny is that there is a grain (or more) or truth in the joke which is usually exaggerated. The problem comes when these exaggerations start to be ingrained in people's minds. So I think great care needs to be taken, and that deprecating humor should not just be thrown around without a thought. If you aren't (for example) balancing gay jokes with actually looking into what it's like to be a gay person and what those issue are that are being made fun of, then I would say you have no business participating in those jokes. This is why I think most people recognize that it's more or less okay for a person to make fun of his own race/sexuality/and so on, because as a member he's already got first hand access to those issues and understands them.
So that's my long way of saying that the two have nothing in common (that is, being racist and telling "racist" jokes). They can exist in the person independently.
Post by
166779
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
Squishalot
It depends on the joke.
Why?
(Funny, I find that the 'it depends' responses often make for the best discussions.)
Post by
Thror
I don't think so. By the same logic, telling sexist jokes would make one a sexist. I love sexist jokes and I am not a sexist. Likewise, telling black jokes would probably make one a murderer or something. I like black comedy and I do not think I am exceptionally twisted.
Basically, I do not think you can really make a conclusion about a person by merely judging it's sense of humor.
Post by
138638
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Post by
204878
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
Squishalot
Interesting set of responses.
Who's the one person who voted 'Yes'? It'd be good to hear your views too. (N.B. I haven't voted in these threads.)
Slightly relevant video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkcUq1LBdaA
(##RESPBREAK##)8##DELIM##Squishalot##DELIM##
Post by
164232
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Post by
donnymurph
Are you talking about Tahu-gate?
Post by
164232
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
donnymurph
Well, Joey did say "You need to shut
the black c**t
down". Whether he was deliberately trying to insult Inglis based on his aboriginality or not, "the black c**t" is not a very highly looked-upon combination of words.
Post by
Squishalot
So why all the blackface uproar about the Hey Hey skit then, last time?
Post by
donnymurph
I'm not sure what you speak of.
Post by
Squishalot
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-10-08/hey-hey-red-faced-over-blackface-skit/1094878
Also, see the link earlier about the discrimination anti-discrimination ad from the Gruen Transfer last time as well.(##RESPBREAK##)8##DELIM##Squishalot##DELIM##
Post by
Haxzor
It's only racist on how someone perceives it
Post by
donnymurph
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-10-08/hey-hey-red-faced-over-blackface-skit/1094878
Storm in a teacup.
Post by
204878
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Post by
858862
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