Being Racist

[Robin11]

Is it ok to be racist if you mean it as a joke? For example; I turn up late to the pub and meet 6/7 of my closest (White) friends and the first thing I say to them is "Yo Ni66ers, how we all doing?" They usually laugh. Is this inappropriate behaviour?

[Peter Pedant]

Yes it is inappropriate. It is also against the law and if someone doesnt laugh but objects, it will get you into trouble. If you do it at work, it is grounds for firing you (after the usual kangaroo court called a disciplinary hearing of course) Honestly it is better to tell proper jokes. Yeah I know I am terminally sad and a party pooper, but if you're gonna get into trouble, why not do it by.....donning a batman suit and hanging up side down like a bat above Big Ben or something?

[Yinzer]

I joke like this with my peop's all the time. Yes, it's a bit racist but true racism is only when you act out of spite. Just don't do it around any real Ni66ers. Ha Ha!! I also love making racist jokes just because it can be so WRONG! Also be sure to make fun of other races, including your own. The occasional joke about british dentistry, american everything, russians and their vodka, smelly mexicans, oriental pronunciations of "R" and "L", colombian drug dealers,... the list can go on... I myself am colombian and "african american" and married to a russian so I am especially entitled to insult all four.

[zgma]

Yes, I'd say it's inappropriate, as are sexist jokes. If you were to joke about "the old ball and chain" or some other sexist "joke" for instance, and I were in the room, I'd likely be insulted. I may not say anything, but I would surely think less of you, and always have in my mind that you were sexist. Jokingly being racist or sexist is almost worse than being serious about it, because what you are doing is assuming that the prejudice is so much a part of the culture that it is a given - it is assumed to be the truth. When racist or sexist messages are part of the cultural atmosphere, the messages get in subconsciously. Then people feel like they are true, and act accordingly. On the other hand, if people hear respectful messages about other people, they are so much more likely to treat each other respectfully. I am not a killjoy - I have a sense of humor. But I do not tolerate jokes about prejudice because 1)they aren't funny and 2)they are harmful.

[WiccanKitten]

Personally, i think that we have gone WAY TOO FAR with the whole racist deal.
People like Hitler - burning the jewish to create a 'Purified race' - that was RACIST.
Forcing coloured people into immediate slavery
-That was RACIST.
Inforcing a partide on public transport
- That was RACIST.
The murder of Damilola Taylor (bless his soul)
- That was RACIST


I also think that for coloured people to refer to themselves and eachother as ni66ers, and then kick up all hell when 'white' people do the same is pretty damn RACIST of them!

I fully understand if it is being use as a deliberately derogatory term, that people have the right to complain, but if it is such a negative term - why do coloured people make use of the word so freely?

I don't think that your behaviour is innapropriate Robin, i do think its pretty reckless, but thats only because of our societies insecurities.
I think our fear of being 'racist' has shown us, as a society to be just that. Why worry so much about offending people....and why get so offended about everything? Surely that is a prejudice in itself.

For example, British people are more then happy to crack jokes that stereotype americans...and vice-versa. That is deemed acceptable.
I know that the history of racism has been horrendous, and in some extreme cases today, it can be awful, but why are we so afraid of offending...its making us solitary, paranoid and unsociable. I'm not suggesting anybody go out with the intention of offending, but i think we need to open up!
What is this world coming to? x