can equality be measured by how we react to jokes?

Question

i've been doing some research and have discovered that we can not yet make jokes about black people or gay people without causing offence. Equality has not yet been reached, but we must keep making that effort so that one day i can ridicule and joke about anyone and everyone equally. I wonder what sort of response i would get if i made a joke about a gay black man?

However on a more positive note we can now make jokes about women and them belonging in the kitchen without causing too much offense, which is good!. It has long been acceptable to make jokes about christians but if you make a joke about a muslim you just get a tirade of abuse about how all muslims are terrorists (which of course they are not and just shows how far society still has to go).

Answer 1

Depends who you tell it too! My Black gay friend would laugh, my politically correct sister wouldn't. Unfortunately there are more PC morons than people with the ability to laugh at themselves.
Do you know any 'Little People' jokes? I love them and I'm 4ft 9ins!
Offensive no, True to life very often.
Equality should mean making a joke about others without taking offense when they are about you.

Answer 2

that's an interesting theory.

I wonder, though... you could argue that your career chances as a black man are not inferior to those of a white woman. But if a white person uses the N word, it's a very major slur.

Think I will dwell on your idea and see if it seems to be playing out in practice (without cracking any offensive jokes, of course)

Answer 3

I think part of it depends on your relationship with the person you're 'teasing'. Like you can tease and be rude to a good mate but not to someone you don't know well, or don't get on with.

You have to earn the rapport which lets you make those jokes, and so far, maybe white British culture hasnt quite managed to be good enough mates with Muslims or ethnic minorities for us all to have a great laugh together.

maybe one day...

Answer 4

Why not strive for the day when those kind of jokes will not be seen as funny? Isn't that the better focus? Woman's jokes are also very offensive...woman just don't react the same. You don't have many dates though, do you?

Answer 5

Quite often it seems that white people get offended ON BEHALF of black or Asian people. How nice of these patronising folk.

Answer 6

You're on to something here. Lenny Bruce had much the same concept.