Even more Wankery that we find acceptable...

[sandwichwarrior.livejournal.com]

While I generally disagree with his politics I think Mr. Savage raises an excellent point.

Now consider this...

Bill Maher and NYT's David Carr the "Middle Places" and "Low-Sloping Foreheads".

I apologise for linking as I seem to be having trouble embedding the video.

Now I would assume that both men in the second video consider themselves to be reasonably intelligent and enlightened men. If accused of being racist or bigoted I would imagine that they would be properly offended.

Which is why I'm going to ask an uncomfortable question, why is it ok to disparage one socio-political/ethnic class as stupid, dangerous, useless, ect... but not another. Would his comments have been more or less offensive had he been talking about "Fags" "Twats" "Spics" "Wops" "Chinks" or *Gasp* "N*ggers"?

Discuss.

Comments

[eracerhead.livejournal.com]

There is a difference in making fun of a group characterized by what they are vs a group characterized by common modes of behavior. In the latter one can always claim not to be a member of said group.

[sandwichwarrior.livejournal.com]

Does that mean that black black jokes that focus on watermelon, basketball, and affirmative action are ok?

[eracerhead.livejournal.com]

No because as a black person you cannot claim to be not-black.

[sandwichwarrior.livejournal.com]

But a religious person can claim to not be religious?

[eracerhead.livejournal.com]

Yes.

[sandwichwarrior.livejournal.com]

There are those who would disagree but I don't feel like invoking Godwin at this juncture.

[geezer-also.livejournal.com]

Interesting.

[eracerhead.livejournal.com]

Just like an atheist can pretend to be religious. There is no way to read anyone's mind.

[yes-justice.livejournal.com]

how you know?

[yes-justice.livejournal.com]

Inside the USA? You mean Italians, right?

[anfalicious.livejournal.com]

That's an interesting statement. Where I come from there are plenty of people who are culturally black, but can easily pass for white. They identify as black because they went through the same policies of apartheid as the ones who look black did. There is something to be said about a shared suffering.

Having said that, given that shared suffering, it's hard for them to not be black.

[eracerhead.livejournal.com]

If they do not look black, they could claim not to be black.

[sandwichwarrior.livejournal.com]

So your solution would be to tell people to shut up an conform?

Likewise, are you saying that if it were advantagous for me to pretend to be jewish (to gain access to a scolarship for example) it would be permitable for me to do so?

[eracerhead.livejournal.com]

No, you are misreading just about everything so far.

[mrbogey.livejournal.com]

'There is a difference in making fun of a group characterized by what they are vs a group characterized by common modes of behavior.'

Being white and living in a rural area is a mode of behavior?

What about being black and being in an inner city area?

[eracerhead.livejournal.com]

Being white and living in a rural area does not mean you are a redneck.
Being black and living in an inner city area does not mean you are a gangsta.

[mrbogey.livejournal.com]

So if I was to joke "how do you stop five gangsta from raping a girl?"

... it would be okay?

[eracerhead.livejournal.com]

depends upon whether the punch line alluded to the the gangstas being black or the gangstas acting like gangstas.

[mrbogey.livejournal.com]

Throw out a basketball.

Hilarious and totally not racist!

[eracerhead.livejournal.com]

No that is racist because gangstas aren't known for being good as basketball.

Keep digging.

[foolsguinea.livejournal.com]

What's so black about roundball?

[sandwichwarrior.livejournal.com]

Being white and living in a rural area does not mean you are a redneck.
Being black and living in an inner city area does not mean you are a gangsta.

And yet those generalizations are often made...

[eracerhead.livejournal.com]

Yes, and those generalizations would be deficient.