Hi, I've been posting the random crap jokes that appear in my inbox to a blog. Today I got a message about one of that that says: 'i think i'd love this joke if the name was like "steve" or something else less ethnic.' See here for the joke: http://terriblejokes.blogspot.com/2005/06/every-one-of-them-called-leroy.html Would you say the joke is wrong? Should I have change the name to pick on another culture or class?!?! It never occured to me that Leroy applies to one Ethnic group (and searching on google images for Leroy shows an equal spread of races from all over the world for people called Leroy. I realise full well that it's picking on a certain "class" of person - otherwise it wouldn't actually really make sense. But still, I can't understand why the comment poster would say that. Is it suddenly funny if I'm picking on someone "less ethinic" (WHAT EVER THAT MEANS!!!) "Sorry mate, you're not ethnic enough for my liking". Anyways... Cheers Chris
I don't see any harm in it. Why would 'Steve' be more appropriate than 'Leroy'? Either could be seen as racist or whatever if you go looking for it.
Bwhahahahahahahahahahahahaha. (Mella seal of approval). The guy that left the message was probably called Leroy or something. Forgeddabout his comment... It was a good joke.
Here in the US Leroy is tradionally thought of as a "black" name blackbug. To be more accurate it's like a country name that is the majority of the time thought of as an American American name. When I read the joke I pictured a bunch of black kids. But to be honest I didn't take it as a racial joke. I think that's someone reading into it too much. I liked it.
Some people have a stick inserted too far into their butt. I find it hard to believe someone wasted time writing the comment.. Besides George Foreman named all his kids George, so its almost a true story
Fantastic. Cheers guys. So I haven't suddenly turned into a mad racist The thing that tickles me the most about their comment is the "I think I'd find it funny" part... as though they have some PC filter preventing them from thinking for themselves. Cheers Chris
When it comes to humor, as with religion or politics, almost anything you find funny will probably offend somebody somewhere. It's really not worth your time to worry about it... if the reader didn't like the joke, he or she could just stop reading your blog. What I find more distressing is the need people like that have to censor the net. We're not talking about porn, hate literature, or terrorism here... we're not even talking about racism. We're talking about something many people would find amusing and at least one person doesn't, with the implication that if there is a single offended person we should eliminate it from public viewing. That attitude is especially offensive to me because the joke is published on a BLOG (!)...
I'm offended when people are offended personally, so people should not be allowed to be offended by things
"Hey! We don't take kindly to folks who don't take kindly to things around here!" "Now, Skeeter... he ain't hurtin' no one..." -- South Park
Years ago I worked in a Fleet Club in Hong Kong where the US Marines came in to do their gift shopping. One black guy came in and was cracking on, making jokes and stuff. It was close to closing and there was a bell which sounded. It meant 10 minutes and lights out. You had to get the hell out and lock up. Outside the unit the corridor lights would get shut off soon and this guy was nowhere near making his mind up. I said, Sir, we`ll be closing soon. I´ll need to start closing down, putting off the lights and locking up. He said, Well Honey, I wouldn`t put off the lights if I were you. You wont see me in the dark. I said, that´s okay Bud, just smile and blink your eyes and I´ll see you just fine. The girl who worked with me was horrified and said I´d get reprimanded for a rascist remark the next day. But you know, that guy just thought I was funny and was back with his mates the next day to buy up stuff for their gilrfriends back home. I don´t take offense if anyone calls me Jock or Shorty and don´t see why being black is any different from being white, short, tall, fat or thin. It´s just an outer characteristic and those who are offended by jokes which are about being black (or Jewish, Scottish, Chinese or Dutch) are the true rascists because they are excluding whole races from normal banter.
I thought it was funny. But if I was to hang out in a group of African Americans, I would probably pretend to be offended as well. Dang if you do, and dang if you don't
I told it at work and everyone including blacks whites and spotties had a good old chuckle. but that might just be because I tried translating it into dutch.
It really all depends on where you're at. If there is racial tension, it would be a bad idea to tell it. If everyone is cool with each others regardless of race, why not
I suppose. I was at work though and told it to my customers. Could have gone differently? But in Holland I could annouce to the bar I had hot passionate caveman no strings attached kinky sex on the table they are eating off, last night and i'd probably get a round of applause.
Yeah that joke didn't go over too well at the Black Panther's meeting. I wonder what that sounds like in Dutch?