GameBanshee Forums

Originally posted by Darkpoet:
<STRONG>Then what do you call it if you make fun of someones religion or culture???</STRONG>

comedy.
there are jokes about every race, religion, creed, profession, etc. a joke is a joke.

Originally posted by Darkpoet:
<STRONG>Then what do you call it if you make fun of someones religion or culture???</STRONG>

Seeing as I don't know what Fas would have posted - it could be humor.
(Something like "a protestant(sp?) priest, a rabbi and a chatolic priest were in a rowboat" - kinda stuff)

And BTW make all the fun you want on my account - the world is a serious place and needs laughter, especially in these times
IMO.

Originally posted by nael:
<STRONG>comedy.
there are jokes about every race, religion, creed, profession, etc. a joke is a joke.</STRONG>

Well if it's jokes I think this is funny: I heard that the only things that come from Texas is steers and queers.

Originally posted by Darkpoet:
<STRONG>Well if it's jokes I think this is funny: I heard that the only things that come from Texas is steers and queers.</STRONG>

Full Metal Jacket IIRC

@Darkpoet-I have yet to meet a very passionate person who gets along with everyone.

Originally posted by Fas:
<STRONG>But i believe everybody is a racist.
It just depends how far you go with your prejudices.</STRONG>

We all have biases and make stereotypes based on generalisation. That's part of the human learning process. But if we say everybody is a racist, then the word "racist" sort of looses its meaning, doesn't it?

Where I live, racism is usually defined as "discriminating, degrading or disrespecting somebody because of they belong to a certain ethnical group". That's something much stronger than just having a bias. If we call everybody racist, what do you then suggest we call people who really believe a certain race is inferior to another for genetical and biological reasons?

posted by DP:
<STRONG>Then what do you call it if you make fun of someones religion or culture???

</STRONG>

If the jokes are degrading and imply that a certain group is inferior to another, I would say those are racist or culture racist jokes. But I also think there are different kind of jokes, and jokes that imply inferiority are IMO more racist than jokes that merely deal with stereotyping of traits that is not viewed as "less good".

Let me take an example, I will delete this if someone find it offensive:

There's this old joke, everybody has heard it, about the man who goes to the doctor to get a transplantation of his vital parts. The doc shows his one, and the man says "No, it's too small". The doc shows his a larger one, the man still says it's too small. Then the doc shows his this huge thing, and the man says "Yes, I'd like that one - does it come in white?"

Cleary, this is a joke based on the (erranous) sterotype that black men are more "well-hung". I don't think it's racist, since I don't think it's degrading or disrespectful, just a stupid sterotype.

Btw, I also think a person can tell a racist joke without being racist himself, if he clearly points out that it's a joke.

But, what about those who have small units like me. I'm offended.

Never say you are not racist.

Inmy 8th grade math class my teacher proved that everyone is prejudice, whether or not they realize it. It's built into your physce.

First to DP.
Yes as Xandax implied it was in reference to you calling me a racist.
And now don't tell me DP you have never commented on a people even a joke based on a generalization or stereotype?

CE ok here we go on a philly debate.
I believe every person on the face of this earth has basic prejudices and does discriminate.
There are levels to discrimination, with Mandela - a saint - on one side to Hitler on the other extreme.
And i believe every single person who has pasted his or her life here fits some where on that spectrum.
And there are variations of how prejudice you are.
My aim with using the word racist is to show whoever i meet or talk to on the subject that these feelings are a natural occurence in people, and it happens every where.
Everybody loves to say they aren't racist, yet they hold prejudices say against muslims - like they are all fundementalists (one example) - without even knowing one.
Or all arabs are filthy rich and spoilt.
These i believe are stereotypes and are a form of racism.
Most people are not racist like hitler, but they aren't gandhi or mandela either - which many think they are.
As for loosing its meaning, well it does lose the force it once held.
But the word also conveys that most people aren't like this.
Which again isn't true.
A great deal of muslims have been adversely affected by sept 11th.
That does not mean the people who committed the act are hitlers, but they are prejudiced and racists.

I personally don't like to associate with jews.
This is greatly to the policies that they take in Palestine.
And I KNOW that can't be fair to them as individuals - they might hate sharon and the actions - but i would be difficult for me to believe it.
Because i associate more closely with the arab people - lived in Cairo for 2 years, visted the area numerous times.

Does that make me a racists - under my definition i discriminate based on a groups action and not an individuals.
That makes me a racist abet not a hitler, i don't wish for them to die.
No innocents should die.
But i would not like to be the same room with a couple of them.

Hopes this makes sense.