Why are racial jokes funny?

Question

I know that racial jokes are funny when they are true, but why are they funny?

Answer 1

they are funny because they make light of social stereotypes ... and often some embarrassing trait that stereotype poses


the crime is that some people are stupid enough to take it personally

Answer 2

Some are funny because of the reaction. Some are funny cuz it's not about you. Others are funny cuz the person telling them gives them a soft spoken kindness saying" i'm not racist really, it's just a joke " Others are just plain funny because they are true. Like the redneck jokes and words, funny as hell....also Larry the Cable guy's jokes about southerners are funny.....i'm from mississippi fyi and some of that is true ...lol

Answer 3

maybe its the mixture of being true and blunt.
But all racial jokes are NOT funny, it can be offensive if done overboard and if the person means to be insulting-trust me it will show!

But the funny racial jokes are all a blunt obervation of a specific group of people- kind of like a funny Social commentary

Answer 4

Why would you think the populous agrees that racist jokes are funny? Some idiot posted one today as a matter of fact involving setting someone on fire. I don't find that funny at all and if it had been posted by the other ethnic group and regarded a white sheet they wouldn't have found it funny either.

Answer 5

In order for a joke to be amusing, a person would have to have experiences and insight into the subject. Therefore, a racial joke would be amusing if one had a racist mindset. What goes in, will always come out.

Answer 6

I like the one about the Chinese although I am also part Chinese, part Filipino and, part Indian. You see, there was a Russian, an American, a Chinese, and a Filipino in a near-capsizing vessel. To stop it from sinking was easy: all they had to do was to throw some of their stuff overboard to make the craft lighter, so the Russian threw away his crates of Vodka, the American, his crates of Hershey's, the Chinese, crates of noodle and the Filipino, the Chinese. The Russian and the American were surprised so they asked the Filipino why he threw the Chinese overboard and replied "Don't worry there's more of that from where I come from"! I agree with what you've said: I think it all depends on the context. Some are funny if its pointing out a stereotype. But I've heard some flat out mean ones.

Answer 7

I am totally against racism but it is really sad that you cannot have jokes involving race.

Most actually are not racist but explore the difference between people and some actually show a more intelligent side to it.

Try a Jim Davidson joke:

Irishman: "How much are your hot dogs?"
Seller: Two for a Dollar"
Irishman: "How much for one?"
Seller: "Dollar twenty five cents."
Irishman: "I will take the other one."

The Irishman comes out on top does he not? - so what is racist about that? Sadly the politically correct do not just rule the world at the moment they are causing severe damage to it!!!

Answer 8

Why are things that you thought back in the day were horrific funny now? Because sometimes the truth can be funny! I think that's why comics tend to be plentiful. Especially the ones who joke about facts.

Answer 9

because when the person says it it's like oh yeahh that's so true! Kind of like imitating someone. When they're rude jokes, I don't know, some people find them funny just because of the basic rule that it's funny when other people look stupid. I don't like them tho.

Answer 10

If you're the same race, religion, etc. I think a lot of times it's something you think but don't say, so it's kind of a release to hear someone else say it. If you're a different race than the joke's about usually it's b/c there's something about another ethnic group that you don't understand and it's easier to put someone down for being different from you than to try to understand where they're coming from.

Answer 11

The funniest racial jokes are the ones that point out how stupid racism is.