Nice to be backed up by a whole table of people

[RB TexLa]

The other day at a business luncheon a guy I didn't know told a arab/muslim joke. After he was through an a couple of people laughed, I stood up and said I was going outside. The joke teller asked "why are you going?" I simply told him "well I'll go so you can tell your one about the "Mick" who drank too much before going home one night."

I went outside had a smoke and when I came back in he and the one person with him were the only two left at the table. I guess they all realized he probably had a joke about their heritage or race for when they left the table.

[democracyindanger]

1. Nicely done.

[MrSlayer]

2. Ethnic jokes don't bother me.

It's comedy, it doesn't mean you are in the klan.

[Horse with no Name]

3. It doesn't mean that you are in the klan

But it means that you find the idealogy amusing, which is just as reprehensible.

[bobbieinok]

4. FNightengale quote is especially appropriate for war today

[MrSlayer]

6. So, it's reprehensible to listen to Chris Rock or Bob Levy do comedy?

Or any comedian for that matter? They do racial jokes and stuff all the time.

Sometimes a joke is just a joke.

[democracyindanger]

7. And sometimes a bigot is just a bigot.

[MrSlayer]

8. Touché.

I just wouldn't judge a person's overall character based on a joke.

[democracyindanger]

9. Fair enough.

On a side note, seen "The Aristocrats" yet? There's an interesting observation made. I don't remember who said it, but he said, "Comedians don't tell jokes." Sure, there are exceptions, but for the vast majority of comics, it's true.

[RB TexLa]

10. A lot to do with situation

I don't mind it in humor, but when I turn on the TV to watch Dave Chappelle or Chris Rock I know what I am going to see. You are correct that many times jokes are just that jokes and can even be used to bring attention to various social situations. My problem with the guy I had to deal with was other than his friend no one at the table knew him, nor did he know us.

I look at this similar to the way I do cursing, I don't mind foul language at all and am guilty of using it myself, however I don't use it with people I do not know, unless I am using it in anger toward them with no intention of becoming better acquainted. To me if someone I don't know just starts using the F word or other words in the first conversation I have with them I find it insulting. Not because I am really appalled at the language but because they aren't close enough to me for us to speak like that with each other, a little weird maybe but just how I feel.

Also the joke wasn't just a racial joke it was a racially insulting joke.

[FlemingsGhost]

5. It's a shame closed minds, don't come with closed mouths. (n/t)

Flem.