I believe the oyster story could use some editing. "Big city Midwestern hick" strikes me as an oxymoron. I suppose there may some small, finite number of Midwestern hicks that live in a big city, but why not just say "Midwestern hick"? But you probably perceive most Midwesterners to be hicks so that would make that phrase a redundancy. Why not just say "hick"? They grow hicks outside of the Midwest. If you want to specify a regional hick then you could figure out where oysters is pronounced as "eyesters" and use that region, but I don't think it will be the Midwest. I say "yes", negative stereotypes can be hilarious.
"Rube" in its present use, would have been my choice, assuming there was a choice in retelling the joke. Interesting (for me and two others here...) both "hick" and "rube" originated as nicknames: "hick" for Richard and "rube" for Reuben.
The idea that an overtly racist joke can still be funny, (IMO) depends on who tells it and how. But, in your casual display of superior perceptiveness, you also raise something related that continues to bother me. Being neither gay nor Black, for example, it may well be presumptuous of me to say that hearing the "n-word," even uttered by Black folk and "fag" or "queer" tossed around by gays (though I know the use of "queer" is now widely accepted in the LGBTQ+ community) sets my teeth on edge. I find it hard to accept the theory that continuously using what is a pejorative or slur somehow lessens the "power" it has over us. And I likewise remain unconvinced that use of these terms by those at whom they, as blatant slurs, are usually directed by others, are somehow "reclaiming" them from this bigotry.
While this may be liberating for some, I can’t help but feel they are still hurtful to many others and using them may also unwittingly give license to those outside of these communities to do likewise. That bothers me — although, of course, as I said, not being part of either community, it’s not for me to say what their members choose to call themselves or each other. I just have a problem with any negative characterisation, be it racial, ethnic or related to sexual/gender orientation, whatever the intent. Overly sensitive? Perhaps. Or perhaps it is a generational thing.
"I just have a problem with any negative characterization." What if the characterization isn't negative? For instance, the Lone Ranger/Tonto joke that ends with"'What you mean 'we,' white man?" To me, the only slur is in the in the "pidgin English;" otherwise, Tonto is getting the better of the Lone Ranger.
First off, the joke is in the use of "we," not "me," as in, "What you mean 'we,' white man?" So there really is no characterization since they're supposedly surrounded by hostile fellow Indians. But, even with the correct pronoun, there is an echo of racism, just not from Tonto, if you care to look for it
Thanks, I meant to write "we" not "me" -- fixed it. As for the rest of the comment, if you mean the racism is coming from the Lone Ranger, I agree. But Tonto still wins out in their exchange.
I went with "no" on the stereotype racist joke, because your phrasing indicates that one has to accept the stereotype as true within the confines of the joke. Whereas if it's a joke about the person who accepts the stereotype as being true, that could work, but that is assuming new material that is not in your question.
Living in Texas when I moved there from California at age 13 and later on in the Army and all, I never laughed at these "jokes" and they were not funny. How about a candy that was poison. Did it taste good, too?
A racist joke can be funny if it's clever, such as if it involves a word play. However, even though I've been retired from the government for ten years, I'm aware that laughing at something inappropriate can get someone into trouble at work. When I heard funny racist jokes at work, I used to respond, "Don't tell jokes like that -- it's racist!" all the while trying not to laugh. BTW, I believe jokes that make fun of racists are fantastic. What better way to end racism than to make it ridiculous?
The original Steam version is way more famous than the Bananarama version, but we can't ask the guy which he was singing.
I believe the oyster story could use some editing. "Big city Midwestern hick" strikes me as an oxymoron. I suppose there may some small, finite number of Midwestern hicks that live in a big city, but why not just say "Midwestern hick"? But you probably perceive most Midwesterners to be hicks so that would make that phrase a redundancy. Why not just say "hick"? They grow hicks outside of the Midwest. If you want to specify a regional hick then you could figure out where oysters is pronounced as "eyesters" and use that region, but I don't think it will be the Midwest. I say "yes", negative stereotypes can be hilarious.
Agreed. An unnecessary imprecision.
"Rube" in its present use, would have been my choice, assuming there was a choice in retelling the joke. Interesting (for me and two others here...) both "hick" and "rube" originated as nicknames: "hick" for Richard and "rube" for Reuben.
The idea that an overtly racist joke can still be funny, (IMO) depends on who tells it and how. But, in your casual display of superior perceptiveness, you also raise something related that continues to bother me. Being neither gay nor Black, for example, it may well be presumptuous of me to say that hearing the "n-word," even uttered by Black folk and "fag" or "queer" tossed around by gays (though I know the use of "queer" is now widely accepted in the LGBTQ+ community) sets my teeth on edge. I find it hard to accept the theory that continuously using what is a pejorative or slur somehow lessens the "power" it has over us. And I likewise remain unconvinced that use of these terms by those at whom they, as blatant slurs, are usually directed by others, are somehow "reclaiming" them from this bigotry.
While this may be liberating for some, I can’t help but feel they are still hurtful to many others and using them may also unwittingly give license to those outside of these communities to do likewise. That bothers me — although, of course, as I said, not being part of either community, it’s not for me to say what their members choose to call themselves or each other. I just have a problem with any negative characterisation, be it racial, ethnic or related to sexual/gender orientation, whatever the intent. Overly sensitive? Perhaps. Or perhaps it is a generational thing.
I'm with you there. As a woman I don't wish to be called bitch even as a term of affection from my best female friend.
"I just have a problem with any negative characterization." What if the characterization isn't negative? For instance, the Lone Ranger/Tonto joke that ends with"'What you mean 'we,' white man?" To me, the only slur is in the in the "pidgin English;" otherwise, Tonto is getting the better of the Lone Ranger.
First off, the joke is in the use of "we," not "me," as in, "What you mean 'we,' white man?" So there really is no characterization since they're supposedly surrounded by hostile fellow Indians. But, even with the correct pronoun, there is an echo of racism, just not from Tonto, if you care to look for it
Thanks, I meant to write "we" not "me" -- fixed it. As for the rest of the comment, if you mean the racism is coming from the Lone Ranger, I agree. But Tonto still wins out in their exchange.
In his autobiography, Richard Pryor wrote that he regretted ever saying the word.
I went with "no" on the stereotype racist joke, because your phrasing indicates that one has to accept the stereotype as true within the confines of the joke. Whereas if it's a joke about the person who accepts the stereotype as being true, that could work, but that is assuming new material that is not in your question.
Living in Texas when I moved there from California at age 13 and later on in the Army and all, I never laughed at these "jokes" and they were not funny. How about a candy that was poison. Did it taste good, too?
A racist joke can be funny if it's clever, such as if it involves a word play. However, even though I've been retired from the government for ten years, I'm aware that laughing at something inappropriate can get someone into trouble at work. When I heard funny racist jokes at work, I used to respond, "Don't tell jokes like that -- it's racist!" all the while trying not to laugh. BTW, I believe jokes that make fun of racists are fantastic. What better way to end racism than to make it ridiculous?
Was that picture taken locally? By you?
Death and the oyster or, the "Bye-bye bivalve." Ever eat a bad one? You'll know the feeling.
Thanks for that pearl of wisdom.