Are Racist and Sexist jokes ok if they are used purely in a joking manner?

[Elfgore]

A few weeks back I was in Social Studies with my friend and I see this vocabulary word. The word was Equal Rights Admenment. (The one for women). I then go "Hey wanna see a good joke." And then I point at the word. Is this okay that I did this. I don't think there is anything wrong with equal rights with women. I just thought it was funny. So opinions?

 

[Radeonx]

Yeah, if it is completely in jest.
But continuously spouting out sexist/racist jokes gets annoying and stupid after a while.

 

[SageRuffin]

It's a bad joke, but a joke nonetheless. I think ultimately it comes down to the subject in question and the joke being made. Any subject can be sensitive, and any joke based on said subject can be in poor taste.

At least, that's how I see it (speaking purely for myself, of course).

 

[Risingblade]

As long as no one gets offended

 

[Professor M]

No, I'm of the view that there's nothing wrong with it when used in this manner. Ya see, if something can't be joked about, then it's just completely ignored as if people pretend it doesn't exist. You have to be able to joke about these types of things, or it's just political correctness gone mad.

Obviously there are still some limits, but my point stands.

 

[Wierdguy]

Meh - beeing able to laugh at serious issues can be quite healthy (in moderate ammounts ofc), so cracking the odd racist/sexist/homophobic/ect joke is actually good. As long as youre not actually supproting the oppinion behind the jokes but that goes without saying.

 

[Clive Howlitzer]

Sometimes I make sexist jokes to my GF when she knows I am not serious but I just do it to annoy her heh heh.

 

[The_Puppy_Prince]

Context.
Its all about context

 

[Total LOLige]

Of course it's ok it's a joke after all, and not an attack.

 

[The Unworthy Gentleman]

Yeah, if it is completely in jest.
But continuously spouting out sexist/racist jokes gets annoying and stupid after a while.

As does every other joke. That's how those 'your mam' and 'so's your face' jokes died.

OT: Completely. The very essence of some of the best jokes are discrimination, if you take that away then you can't joke about a lot. By saying that sexism and racism are not okay to joke about, you emphasise the borders between people and enforce differences. By joking about those topics, you can come together as people who can laugh as one. Of course, if you can't laugh at jokes made at your expense you have little right to make them at others.

As long as no one gets offended

I disagree entirely. If they are offended at your joke then it is courteous to stop, apologise and explain that you were merely joking and that you meant no offence. However, it isn't wrong to make a joke at someone who has poor character and cannot laugh at him or herself, that is their own fault to fix and not yours.

 

[Giest4life]

If there were such a thing as offensive joke police, I'd be doing life right now. Amongst friends, I really don't hold back with racist/sexist jokes. But given that, I don't crack them in public or with people I know are sensitive...and in front of my parents.

 

[GaryH]

That's how those 'your mam' and 'so's your face' jokes died.

I wish this was true...

 

[Thaluikhain]

If they are used "purely" in a joking matter, than perhaps, with care.

But "I was only joking" is used to excuse all sorts of stuff that isn't a joke.

 

[Meatspinner]

Not really. I can perpetuate actual racism.

 

[Layzor]

As long as it's funny, any joke any time is okay.

 

[Falconcry]

jokes are only ever ok if they pass but one rule : Is it funny......... that is all

 

[DEAD34345]

Yes, it's perfectly acceptable to make a joke about anything in my opinion, as long as it is completely in jest. However, if you make a joke around someone who does not know that it is completely in jest, then they will likely react very badly.

 

[LooK iTz Jinjo]

It's all about the context of the situation, but if you're making a joke it's generally fine.