| Is this racist? 10:50 - Jul 20 with 22156 views | Dolly2.0 |
A mate of mine is black and we joke around a lot, often about stuff that's close to the knuckle (for example he jokes about when he doesn't want to do something he's going to 'black me up' and send me instead).
The other day I made a joke (he wasn't around at the time). We were talking about Black Friday and I said "is that when X (my mate) goes shopping?"
Is that racist?
The people I said it to were sort of 'mock' offended and one told my mate (again in a 'mock grassing me up' way). He seemed to laugh it off but I got the impression maybe I went a bit far this time.
I dunno, maybe I'm overthinking. He seems fine since.
I might be a bit old fashioned but I tend to think if something isn't said with malice and doesn't actually denigrate someone because of their race, then it's not racist. Am I right or out of touch? |  |
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| Is this racist? on 10:53 - Jul 20 with 10322 views | blue_oyster |
It isn't now, but give it another few years of nonsensical shouting and fingers in ears until rational debate is of no use, then it will be. |  |
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| Is this racist? on 11:01 - Jul 20 with 10276 views | unbelievablue |
An interesting one. What is most likely now is that which could have been kept between friends and remained 'tongue in cheek' may actually become offensive to some folks on this forum. |  |
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| Is this racist? on 11:02 - Jul 20 with 10263 views | giant_stow |
The line's tricky innit - think it depends on your audience. |  |
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| Is this racist? on 11:12 - Jul 20 with 10188 views | Dolly2.0 |
| Is this racist? on 11:02 - Jul 20 by giant_stow |
The line's tricky innit - think it depends on your audience. |
You've hit the nail on the head there for me - well the first bit at least. The line is rather tricky. But surely something is racist or it isn't, regardless of the audience? The audience will determine if anyone's offended - but the joke could still be racist even if no-one who heard it was offended. | |
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| Is this racist? on 11:13 - Jul 20 with 10180 views | chicoazul |
Don't ever change Dolly. |  |
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| Is this racist? on 11:15 - Jul 20 with 10161 views | Dolly2.0 |
| Is this racist? on 11:13 - Jul 20 by chicoazul |
Don't ever change Dolly. |
I know it's fun for you to patronise me but care to enter the debate? Other's in the thread seem to think it's a reasonable question. | |
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| Is this racist? on 11:15 - Jul 20 with 10156 views | Reuser_is_God |
No, not racist. |  |
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| Is this racist? on 11:16 - Jul 20 with 10143 views | chicoazul |
| Is this racist? on 11:15 - Jul 20 by Dolly2.0 |
I know it's fun for you to patronise me but care to enter the debate? Other's in the thread seem to think it's a reasonable question. |
Why not ask your mate if he thinks it's racist? | |
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| Is this racist? on 11:17 - Jul 20 with 10129 views | giant_stow |
| Is this racist? on 11:12 - Jul 20 by Dolly2.0 |
You've hit the nail on the head there for me - well the first bit at least. The line is rather tricky. But surely something is racist or it isn't, regardless of the audience? The audience will determine if anyone's offended - but the joke could still be racist even if no-one who heard it was offended. |
me and my mates are a fairly mixed bunch racially and to be honest, some of the gibes that float around on drunken nights would shock alot of people. But it's not for their ears - its for ours so anyone listenning can fck off. | |
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| Is this racist? on 11:19 - Jul 20 with 10105 views | RoyKeanesDog |
It may sound like an oxymoron, but I see it as a racist joke that is acceptable.
If you had said it to a black man you had only just met then it would've been racist. It's the same joke so you can't say it isn't. It's the context that makes it acceptable.
Generally I find racist/homophobic/sexist jokes unnecessary, even if tounge in cheek. If a group of friends have a minority in their group, and it goes down well- it's none of my business to get offended by that.
There's definitely enough in it to call it a grey area, but I wouldn't worry about it. If he makes the jokes himself, he's not likely to get offended by something like that. |  |
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| Is this racist? on 11:26 - Jul 20 with 10062 views | Dolly2.0 |
| Is this racist? on 11:16 - Jul 20 by chicoazul |
Why not ask your mate if he thinks it's racist? |
I may well do. I may have done already. I'm asking the good people of TWTD what they think.
Other threads are available if you don't like this one. | |
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| Is this racist? on 11:35 - Jul 20 with 10008 views | tcblue |
As always, context is key, as it happens I do actually think it is racial prejudice but it's so mild and obviously among friends that there's no need to worry.
Here's where context is a mofo, as is the internet army who like to get offended on behalf of others though, anyone without context of friendship could misconstrue this as negative racial prejudice; that you think black people only can afford / are tight with their money and that's why it's called Black Friday.
In summary: stop worrying and don't let the internet decide for you if something you say between friends is offensive. Literally everything I say to my friends is offensive. |  | | |
| Is this racist? on 11:36 - Jul 20 with 9998 views | Seablu |
| Is this racist? on 11:15 - Jul 20 by Dolly2.0 |
I know it's fun for you to patronise me but care to enter the debate? Other's in the thread seem to think it's a reasonable question. |
You only wrote this to show us you've got a black friend, didn't you? And it's others not other's. Good job you don't write for a living. |  | | |
| Is this racist? on 11:38 - Jul 20 with 9978 views | legal_blue |
Yes, it was racist. Your 'joke' relied upon your friend's race (ethnicity), so it is, by definition a racist comment. Your intention is irrelevant.
You also said it at work, and could be liable for disciplinary proceedings. Your friend could make a complaint and your employer would be obliged to take action against you.
Friendly advice: make a fulsome apology to your black colleague and quit racial-based 'humour'. | | | |
| Is this racist? on 11:40 - Jul 20 with 9960 views | bluelou |
Given the context I would say it was in poor taste.
You said it without him being present, potentially to people who don't know about the in-jokes between you and him and could therefore also be offended and, worst of all, it was dreadfully unfunny, like sub-Jim Davidson unfunny.
You're probably naive rather than out of touch and I'm sure you're not a racist, but it was something that could be career limiting and lose you a mate. | |
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| Is this racist? on 11:40 - Jul 20 with 9942 views | RobTheMonk |
| Is this racist? on 11:19 - Jul 20 by RoyKeanesDog |
It may sound like an oxymoron, but I see it as a racist joke that is acceptable.
If you had said it to a black man you had only just met then it would've been racist. It's the same joke so you can't say it isn't. It's the context that makes it acceptable.
Generally I find racist/homophobic/sexist jokes unnecessary, even if tounge in cheek. If a group of friends have a minority in their group, and it goes down well- it's none of my business to get offended by that.
There's definitely enough in it to call it a grey area, but I wouldn't worry about it. If he makes the jokes himself, he's not likely to get offended by something like that. |
More of a black area... ZING. |  | | |
| Is this racist? on 11:41 - Jul 20 with 9941 views | GlasgowBlue |
I would say no. You don't consider white's superior to blacks. You don't discriminate against your mate in any way based on the colour of his skin. And your mate has offered his skin colour as a topic of humour to you in the past. |  |
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| Is this racist? on 11:41 - Jul 20 with 9935 views | Dolly2.0 |
| Is this racist? on 11:35 - Jul 20 by tcblue |
As always, context is key, as it happens I do actually think it is racial prejudice but it's so mild and obviously among friends that there's no need to worry.
Here's where context is a mofo, as is the internet army who like to get offended on behalf of others though, anyone without context of friendship could misconstrue this as negative racial prejudice; that you think black people only can afford / are tight with their money and that's why it's called Black Friday.
In summary: stop worrying and don't let the internet decide for you if something you say between friends is offensive. Literally everything I say to my friends is offensive. |
I'm not worried I just wanted to provoke a debate.
Certainly didn't occur to me about the cheapness. It was literally the word "black". He's actually very wealthy, so Black Friday being for him because he can't afford regular prices wouldn't make any sense.
Interesting, though, that it could be interpreted that way. | |
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| Is this racist? (n/t) on 11:42 - Jul 20 with 9921 views | GlasgowBlue |
| Is this racist? on 11:26 - Jul 20 by Dolly2.0 |
I may well do. I may have done already. I'm asking the good people of TWTD what they think.
Other threads are available if you don't like this one. |
[Post edited 20 Jul 2017 12:18]
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| Is this racist? on 11:43 - Jul 20 with 9920 views | Pendejo |
Context and recipients.
No malice and about someone with whom you share banter.
HOWEVER
To the wrong set of ears you are a card carrying, cross burning Klansman.
One of my colleagues used share banter with another colleague that was FAR FAR worse than that. "This banana for you boy!" 
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| Is this racist? on 11:44 - Jul 20 with 9897 views | Dolly2.0 |
| Is this racist? on 11:36 - Jul 20 by Seablu |
You only wrote this to show us you've got a black friend, didn't you? And it's others not other's. Good job you don't write for a living. |
Wow. | |
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| Is this racist? on 11:45 - Jul 20 with 9890 views | monytowbray |
The comment itself is racist, but the context of the comment it not (mates joking about), therefore it isn't being racist. However with the context removed (IE. in a room of people when he wasn't around or with strangers) that context is removed and therefore it could be seen as racist by those who don't have said context.
For me it goes to show that it's easier to not make said jokes full stop, or at least not in situations where the context isn't quite clear. |  |
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| Is this racist? on 11:49 - Jul 20 with 9841 views | Dolly2.0 |
| Is this racist? on 11:38 - Jul 20 by legal_blue |
Yes, it was racist. Your 'joke' relied upon your friend's race (ethnicity), so it is, by definition a racist comment. Your intention is irrelevant.
You also said it at work, and could be liable for disciplinary proceedings. Your friend could make a complaint and your employer would be obliged to take action against you.
Friendly advice: make a fulsome apology to your black colleague and quit racial-based 'humour'. |
Where have I said I said it at work? | |
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| Is this racist? on 11:50 - Jul 20 with 9830 views | hype313 |
| Is this racist? on 11:41 - Jul 20 by GlasgowBlue |
I would say no. You don't consider white's superior to blacks. You don't discriminate against your mate in any way based on the colour of his skin. And your mate has offered his skin colour as a topic of humour to you in the past. |
It's racist, regardless of his friend offering his skin colour in the past.
To make a joke out of someone's skin colour is racist, no matter what caveats are involved.
I'm flabbergasted both you and Dolly are even questioning this |  |
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