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From: bob@plus5.UUCP (Robert E. Simpson)
Newsgroups: net.jokes.d
Subject: labels and "Offensive" jokes
Message-ID: <153@plus5.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 3-May-84 12:40:55 EDT
Article-I.D.: plus5.153
Posted: Thu May  3 12:40:55 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 4-May-84 04:08:24 EDT
References: <3207@fortune.UUCP>
Organization: Plus Five Computer Services, St. Louis
Lines: 42

>	From ...ihnp4!fortune!crane (John Crane)
>
>		"... the reason why such jokes are offensive is that
>	they tend to enforce stereotypes and encourage the habit we
>	humans ALL sometimes have of taking something we can't confront,
>	handle, understand, or deal with and putting a label on it. Then
>	we can look at the label, and not the person."

		I was under the impression that humor was based on pain.
	In one way or another all jokes hold some individual or group up
	to ridicule.  Seen in this light, all jokes become "offensive".

		But labels are not a bad thing.  EVERYONE uses 'labels'
	to identify the unknown.  As long as this is not the limit of
	your perception, this works just fine.

		You might start having problems when, once categorized,
	you stop thinking of something/someone in an individual nature
	and just as the "id tag" you are using.

		Who hasn't gone to some social function and the next day
	could only remember half of the people there? And of that half,
	weren't most remembered along the lines of "The tall blonde
	woman with the throaty voice" or "The pudgy guy with glasses
	and a beard"? These are useful and acceptable labels.

		Me? I'd rather know the blond's name.  But until then,
	my label works fine, thank you.
-- 
                                        ~bj

   Plus Five Computer Services                           ...!ihnp4!plus5!bob
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                        [ Copyright 1984 Bob Simpson ]

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