I think it's the intent, Flower. It's usually quite clear whether that's malicious or done in the spirit of telling a joke or having a laugh.
Having said that, I don't like racist jokes at all, regardless of the situation.
Odd that you should start this today- I was having a convesation with a Chinese woman earlier, whose favourite episode of Father Ted is "Are you right there, Father Ted?"
And a certain black forumite sends me racist jokes from time to time...........
it does sometimes make me uncomfortable, but then if I asked myself would I find a joke which took the p*ss out of my ethnic group funny, the answer would be well, yes- if it was funny.
So to that end, I guess I'm a little weird, really.
To make my point- there was a sketch once in "Goodness Gracious Me" in which Asians took the mick out of Brits in a restaurant setting- I found that really funny- even though it was taking the mick out of my "type"
Wow.... bloody hard one that!
I cannot speak for everyone but to me I would be bloody uncomfortable if someone told a for want of a better word a 'black' joke
The reason I would feel very uncomfortable is because I did not know that person - yet if you was with me & my home boys in the car the other night we were calling each other every racist name & derogatory stereotypical comments were flying about left right & center!
If I went to a social, club, bar & the same language was used in front of me with strangers laughing then yes I could mistake that as a personal attack.
I get sent 'racist' jokes from friends, I also send 'racist' jokes to my friends
If I send out an Irish Scotsman & Englishman joke is that still not racist?
yet I don't get any comments
But if I send out a 'black' joke I get many surprised comments to what I sent - why should that be?
I have an Irish friend that does not wish to hear Irish jokes - so I don't send them to her, yet she loves the 'black' ones I send
Many peeps are very aware of social etiquette in what they should & should not accept in front of another person.
Comments & views can be misinterpreted in front of strangers
It's when your among friends & in your comfort zone that the issue of racism does not exist
Us humans have so many attributes & idiosyncrasies that are weird & wonderful
If we cannot laugh at our own and other peoples then please stop the planet so I can get off.
Despite me earlier nailing my PC-credentials firmly to the mast, I do accept that in certain contexts jokes can be funny.
For example, as a Merseysider born and bred, I will often have a wry smile and chuckle about Scouse jokes - especially when told by Scousers themselves, as they can often be delivered with typical Scouse wit and self-deprecation. If however, I was at a dinner party and all the rest of the guests were Southerners or Mancunians for that matter (in case I offend the southerners amongst us!), and they were telling jokes that perpetuated offensive Scouse stereotypes in an overtly derogatory manner, I would not find that amusing at all.
I suppose my initial response to Flower's thread was because I pictured that sort of set up - the reference to everyone finding something funny conjured up images of all the guests laughing in a derogatory manner at "others." That, to me, would be offensive.
As for Winchwench's comment about the 'Goodness Gracious Me' sketch, that is one of the classic comedy sketches of the 20th century - imho. This is because of the way it very cleverly subverted stereotypes.
Right, I'll stop waffling!
Nola x
OMG this is SO spooky, i have wondered for a few weeks about starting a thread entitled...bad taste jokes....is it ok to laugh??
My mate sends me alsorts of jokes by text...infact the bulk of my messages are jokes from her, and are usually what others would deem in very poor taste, yet I still laugh as I know that she tells them without any malice whatsoever.
She is a Scouser of Irish/catholic descent, liberal lesbian, single parent, and I could go on about the minorities she fits into...
Someone once called her racist, and her reply was "I'm certainly not a racist, everyone is fair game in humour, with myself at the front of the queue!"
She has sent me jokes on all manner of things race, sex, gender, religion, and including current/recent news stories (not saying which in case I cause a riot)
Is it because I know her that I feel 'comfortable' in her telling these jokes, and know her well enough to know that she doesnt mean anything by them?
flower....we must be soooo intune...I cant believe you posted exactly what i wanted to.....
so is it ok to laugh???
pssssst flower...wanna hear some of my jokes???? :twisted:
and whats not ok to joke about??? anything totally ??
ooohhh i dont know if I DARE test the water and PM you with a few jokes Mr Flower sir.......you might take HUGE offence and I would be horrendously mortified¬!!!!! :shock:
LOL....ok u asked for it!!
Incoming PM!!!!
i can only imagine it is racist when you dont know the guests well enough to know it wouldnt offend them,,,as redpantherman said, and i agree wholeheartedly, the familiarity of ones company can allay fears of racism.
Someone somewhere will always be offended, perhaps the trick is to know your company before you open your gob.
Humour that reinforces your own prejudices is very appealing, easy to understand and very easy to create.
Humour that challenges your beliefs and makes u think requires mental processing capacity and is harder to find.
Its no surprise that the former is more popular.
I see no reason to snigger at a joke about a black man at a dinner party if you wouldnt feel comfortable telling the joke to a black friend.
I also think that bad taste jokes 'thrive' in certain places.
For instance, I know for a fact that hospital/ambulance/funeral personnel have rather black senses of humour and find the oddest things funny, and i think thats from the nature of the jobs they do day in day out....i think it helps them to deal with stress and keeps them sane.
And Flower....if i did offend you last night....I am truly sorry :rose:
I have some very racist jokes sent to me by a black friend of mine on a daily basis! I'm not racist, sexist or anything-ist. I will laugh if a joke is funny whether it's about irish, blacks or even welsh!
saying that, I do find jokes about disabled people offensive
are gipsy there own race???
finished me off for the night it did 
