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Path: utzoo!dciem!mmt
From: mmt@dciem.UUCP (Martin Taylor)
Newsgroups: net.jokes.d
Subject: Re: offensive jokes
Message-ID: <451@dciem.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 27-Oct-83 16:57:18 EDT
Article-I.D.: dciem.451
Posted: Thu Oct 27 16:57:18 1983
Date-Received: Thu, 27-Oct-83 17:26:04 EDT
References: <1341@utcsstat.UUCP>
Organization: D.C.I.E.M, Toronto, Canada
Lines: 41

There is a distinction between "offensive" and "damaging" jokes, although
it is not always clear to the author to which class a particular joke
belongs. I think ethnic jokes aimed at a truly vulnerable group are
quite likely to be damaging rather than offensive. Someone (sorry, I
didn't keep the article) pointed out that jokes portraying blacks as
dumb and talking funny are likely to reinforce that stereotype among
readers already inclined to think of blacks that way. On the other
hand, the jokes about armless-legless people or Hellen Keller are
unlikely to damage anyone, although they may be offensive.

Last year I submitted a couple of flames about leper jokes, because
I think lepers are a class likely to be damaged by reinforcement of
a false stereotype. Few enough people know what leprosy really means,
and the disease has been regarded with horror throughout the ages.
The propagation of leper jokes *may* make it harder for a leper to
function in normal society, even though there should be no reason
for difficulty. Hence, I ask people not to submit leper jokes.
Racist jokes aimed at other groups that are not vulnerable may be
offensive, but they may also be funny. A stereotype may be built
for the purpose of joke-making, and the group concerned may be quite
obviously different from the stereotype, or may have the moral force
to fight back. Such jokes are fine in my book (but probably should
be rot13'd anyway).

Racist jokes aimed at one's own group fall in a peculiar class. The
English make quite savage jokes about themselves, and I think Jews
do as well. But woe betide an outsider making the same kind of joke!
In a heterogeneous net such as this one, I think that the group
identity of the author should be considered irrelevant. Even if you
are making a joke against your own group, consider it from the
viewpoint of a reader who thinks the joke is written by an outsider.

So: Dictator MMT's rules:
  (i) Think carefully whether your joke might be truly damaging to
someone.
  (ii) If it is non-damaging but offensive, send it (rot13).

  Sub-rule: Try to find an old usenetter to see whether your submission
will be well known before you send the 23rd copy of something.

Martin Taylor