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Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!harpo!floyd!clyde!ihnp4!ihuxn!ewp
From: ewp@ihuxn.UUCP (Ed Pawlak)
Newsgroups: net.jokes.d
Subject: Spelling and why ethnic jokes offend
Message-ID: <401@ihuxn.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 5-Nov-83 14:53:31 EST
Article-I.D.: ihuxn.401
Posted: Sat Nov  5 14:53:31 1983
Date-Received: Mon, 7-Nov-83 04:53:02 EST
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, Il
Lines: 47

Huh?  I'd expect it to be "polak".  Few languages other than english would
represent the "k" sound by the letters "ck".  I'd expect "polack" to be
pronounced: "polatsk".

                                  -- Mark Rosenthal




The reason the word ends in "ck" is because *it is* an english word.  Polack
is a derogatory term for Poles, just as nigger is a derogatory term for blacks.
Both are english words coined by bigots to denigrate a group of people.

As long as I'm writing, the reason ethnic jokes are offensive is they help to
perpetuate stereotypes of people.  This is why it is fairly easy to recognize
the original ethnic group used, if it is changed.  Even though the stereotype
is taken to an absurdity, which is the basis of the humor, it reinforces the
stereotype.  People have a deep seated feeling that all myths, stereotypes
included, have some basis in fact.  ("How else did they start?")  When an
ethnic joke is told, it gives more "evidence" that the underlying stereotype
is true.  If the same joke is told, referring to a specific person, only
that person is offended.  If a specific person is indicated, but not clearly
identified, nobody is offended.  To illustrate, I will rephrase a recent
submission to net.jokes:




Do you know why hpcnoa!rdg doesn't have any ice cubes at home?

He lost the recipe.



or........


A friend of mine never has any ice cubes at home.

He lost the recipe.



I couldn't think of a funny signoff,
Ed Pawlak
ihnp4!ihuxn!ewp