Jokes About Race, Sexuality, Sex, Disability, Etc.

[ShyGuyInChicago]

Do you think making jokes about race, sexuality, sex, disability, and etc. is every justified? Do you think making such jokes are OK as long as malice is not intended? For the most part I try to avoid making such jokes.

[Mr. Awesome]

I think it depends on the context of the jokes, my dad will make the odd joke, but he would not have any hate or anything behind it, we'd have a laugh and then forget about it

[Fiction]

I don't think there is a problem with these jokes as long as they are not inteded to offend someone. I get sexist jokes all the time and i don't really care... And i have a close friend who is half black who i make racist jokes to alot and she makes them back. We both know it's a joke and there is no problem with it.
Although disablilty i'd say is the odd one out here. Disability is an illness, not something that occurs naturally like the others.

[Sith Lord 13]

Is there malicious intent? If not, there's nothing wrong with it.

[Azunite]

It shouldn't be a problem in my opinion.
Though if the nation gets offended by the joke, it is better not to talk about it anymore

[The Dark Lord]

It's political correctness gone mad. Jokes are only offensive if said to malice. We've probably all made a sexist/bigoted/racist joke before, but nobody mentally same actually thinks women, christans or black people are inferior

[ltimm]

I make some sexist jokes hut never racist. Race is just too touch a subject. Especially when I know a lot of racist people. They make racist jokes to me and they know I hate them. And there is misfortune directed to the different races. I know black and Asian people who make jokes about themselves. And that's ok. I know they're joking.

The difference is that some people actually don't take them as jokes, but what they want to happen

[Ender]

People need to be able to laugh at themselves. Now if the joke is really personaly, or harmful keep it to yourself. However humor is great when appropriate, no matter the topic.

[Azunite]

Sure they have to laugh at themselves but we are talking about jokes that may carry any humiliating and rascist meanings

[The Dark Lord]

Sure they have to laugh at themselves but we are talking about jokes that may carry any humiliating and rascist meanings

surely all humour is humiliating in some way?

[Fact]

surely all humour is humiliating in some way?

Agree. There is not one type of humour I can think of (I had an inward debate with myself) that does not include the humiliation of SOMEONE. The very definition of jokes/humour is something about taking pleasure from someone else's discomfort/disadvantage etc.

I'm half black, I get nigger jokes all the time and I find it truly hilarious, because as a lot of people above me have said - if there's no malice, it doesn't matter :]

[Amnesiac]

Is there malicious intent? If not, there's nothing wrong with it.

Agreed. There's no need to be offended over a joke.

[Perseus]

Is there malicious intent? If not, there's nothing wrong with it.

My exact thoughts. I find white, black, etc. jokes hilarious, personally. :P

[ShyGuyInChicago]

Does anyone think it is possible to go too far with jokes even if one does not mean to offend?

[Mr. Awesome]

Does anyone think it is possible to go too far with jokes even if one does not mean to offend?

Yes easily, id be one who youd make sexist jokes with some close friends, and i have pushed the boundrarys on a few occasions, closely followed by an apology from me and groveling

[Clawhammer]

I think they're fine as long as you're not serious. I'm not racist, I'm just not politically correct. :) You just need to know when to keep your mouth shut.

[Bougainvillea]

I make them all the time. But nothing too...malicious. It's always stereotypical. And carefree. My friends don't mind. I think people take them too seriously sometimes. But if I do offend someone, I apologise. Some people need to understand that its a joke. It's not like I really think like that.

[Korashk]

My black friends tell the funniest black people jokes.

[Jess]

if they don't intend to offend anyone...no I don't see the problem with them...I avoid making them still

[mranderson]

Omfg, i fucking hate these joke, i used to say things were gay,fags, shit like that and seriously, whenever i hear it now i get so man, there is no reason to say something is gay and stuff, your pretty much saying being gay is wrong and if someone is gay and they hear it, they could be very offended, I think the exact same with race and sex. Its [email protected]#$ing sickening how teenagers and adults can talk like this, i hear these jokes every day i get so pissed off at the people saying them

[Scooby Dooby Drew]

to an extent they are okay I suppose

But you can cross the line
For example I have a friend (I hesitate to even call him a "friend") who tells Helen Keller jokes.....

[The Dark Lord]

Omfg, i fucking hate these joke, i used to say things were gay,fags, shit like that and seriously, whenever i hear it now i get so man, there is no reason to say something is gay and stuff, your pretty much saying being gay is wrong and if someone is gay and they hear it, they could be very offended, I think the exact same with race and sex. Its [email protected]#$ing sickening how teenagers and adults can talk like this, i hear these jokes every day i get so pissed off at the people saying them

it depends on your defination of gay, it has 3.

[Syvelocin]

I just think it's better to avoid them altogether, unless it's with a set group of people who you know will not take offense to it or will joke along with you. However, I've never made a joke about another race, a sexuality, or a disabled person. I'm a sensitive person however.

I've made Christian jokes, but I've never been with Christians like that when I tell them, and when a Christian friend does hear them, they know I don't mean it. But caution should be taken when you don't know how a person will react. That's why, like I said, I usually avoid telling them.

[dead]

Honestly I rarely find them funny.

[KillerKing]

I thought the whole idea of a joke is, it's a joke. There's no meaning behind it. It usually just emphasises a certain irony in certain situations between people of different abilities, sex race or sexuality.If I were to say a black joke which only ever refered to the person as 'a black man/woman' or something like that then I wouldn't class it as being directed at someone with the intention of offending, but if I were to use someones name who is black then yes, I could see why they would take offence if the punchline is there ugly or something. My point being people need to loosen up and get over themselves, not eveything is directed at them.

[brennaluvv]

I think it would be alright if the person of the race, sexuality, gender, etc. was not around to hear it. And as long as it wasn't too bad, I mean things like "Screw that n*gg*r." are unacceptable. I don't think anyone would be stupid enough to say something like, "That's gay!" with a homosexual around.

Even so, I don't think these "jokes" are very nice, but if it's not meant to slander someone, then it's just okay. I don't personally find them funny but teens are not going to stop using them, so we mind as well just live with it.

[Korashk]

I think it would be alright if the person of the race, sexuality, gender, etc. was not around to hear it. And as long as it wasn't too bad, I mean things like "Screw that n*gg*r." are unacceptable. I don't think anyone would be stupid enough to say something like, "That's gay!" with a homosexual around.

Even so, I don't think these "jokes" are very nice, but if it's not meant to slander someone, then it's just okay. I don't personally find them funny but teens are not going to stop using them, so we mind as well just live with it.

Why would it be okay to say them only if [insert group here] is not represented? If it's not okay all the time then it's not okay. If a person takes offense at am insensitive joke then that's their problem. In comedy nothing is off limits.

[Church]

I crack these kinda jokes all the times, and I have Mexican and black friends who crack white jokes back and we all have a good laugh.

I dont see a problem with it, there just jokes.

[closed]

As jokes i find it O.K. but the problem is that it can lead to racism, because people (and mostly children) may interpetate the joke differently, and then will scream to the whole world that homosexual people are cannibals which is completely untrue. Obviously, joking about stuff like that can hurt those people, so it's not recommended.
I don't think those jokes should be forbidden, but everyone has to use them in a responsible way.

[Daniel_]

I think a joke is a joke.

I'm white. I tell black jokes, jew jokes, WHITE JOKES, mexican jokes, everything in the book.

Am I serious about it? No. It's just crude humor, and if it offends you, don't listen to it. I'm not the least bit racist. Not at all.

[Strength]

i love racist jokes and making fun of peoples disabilties :D after all, god put them here for normal peoples amusment. :yeah:

[Continuum]

Humor is humor, I guess. No matter how offending for some, it's still a joke.

Some people remain insensitive at their jokes, especially if one person aside from him relates directly to the situation being exclaimed. In that case, it is better to avoid than to get flamed at.

[Sith Lord 13]

Omfg, i fucking hate these joke, i used to say things were gay,fags, shit like that and seriously, whenever i hear it now i get so man, there is no reason to say something is gay and stuff, your pretty much saying being gay is wrong and if someone is gay and they hear it, they could be very offended, I think the exact same with race and sex. Its [email protected]#$ing sickening how teenagers and adults can talk like this, i hear these jokes every day i get so pissed off at the people saying them

Why? Why is their right to not be offended greater than the joke teller's right to freedom of speech? The constitution contains freedom of speech but not the right to not be offended by other's speech.

[Peace God]

Why is their right to not be offended greater than the joke teller's right to freedom of speech?
It's even more puzzling that someone would chose to be more offended than the people that the joke was aimed at.