[Humour] Is this joke offensive?

[carlzeiss]

If just one person is offended then the Joke is offensive to them . Only solution I can see is to ban all humor - comedy without exception .

 

[MJsGhost]

Then job done, who gives a **** what a few fragile folk on this site think [emoji106]


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Starting a thread to ask the opinions of the NSC faithful suggests there’s at least one person on this thread that cares what others think. Or am I missing how this works?

 

[Baldseagull]

Attended a dinner in London night.

One of the Comedian's gags was...…

"I went to the Doctors last week and he said I've now got to have a pacemaker, so I've a got little Kenyan bloke comes everywhere with me now"

As one of the organisers of the dinner I was approached at the end and told by a guest they found that gag had crossed the line.

No doubt I will get flamed on here by some, but sorry with all that's currently going on in the country and the world in general, are we danger of becoming a little too precious?

If mild casual racism offends you, it's offensive, if it doesn't, it isn't.

 

[Brovion]

Of course a few years ago the joke was:

"I went to the Doctors last week and he said I've got to have a pacemaker, so now I've a got an annoying Scouser following me around going: 'Ferreee 'cross the Merseeee'"

 

[Brovion]

In my opinion it's a racist "joke" and you're not going to change my mind just like I'm not going to change yours because some of your reasoning and morals are different.

It's not complimentary, it is racial stereotyping. It's punching down not up. That is also what Little Britain was which is why both Walliams and Lucas have apologised for the show.

Hmm. At one level I can see where you're coming from, and I'm sure some Kenyans would agree with you. On the other hand Kenya is a big country and I'm sure some wouldn't, so it just a matter of opinion as you say rather than the joke being 'offensive' per se. Indeed if I wanted to be a bit mischievous I could argue that your attitude smacks a bit of 'White Saviour'.


EDIT: I've run it past a Nigerian friend of mine who didn't find it racist, and added "It's nice that the Kenyans are good at something!"

 

[kentgully]

Loooooooooooooooooooool

 

[heathgate]

Attended a dinner in London night.

One of the Comedian's gags was...…

"I went to the Doctors last week and he said I've now got to have a pacemaker, so I've a got little Kenyan bloke comes everywhere with me now"

As one of the organisers of the dinner I was approached at the end and told by a guest they found that gag had crossed the line.

No doubt I will get flamed on here by some, but sorry with all that's currently going on in the country and the world in general, are we danger of becoming a little too precious?

It has nothing in it to be offended about.

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[BN9 BHA]

It's racial stereotyping, so yes it's an offensive racist joke that you'd expect to hear from Jim Davidson and it's depressing that no one else can see it.

Depressing? I think it’s quite funny that with your username it’s only you that can see it.

 

[Bold Seagull]

If just one person is offended then the Joke is offensive to them . Only solution I can see is to ban all humor - comedy without exception .

Maybe open the other eye?

 

[Guinness Boy]

A top Kenyan athlete is currently being treated in A&E having been shot at close range by a starter pistol.

Police believe it was race-related.

Is a better joke than the one in the OP and probably just as old.

 

[birthofanorange]

Hmm. At one level I can see where you're coming from, and I'm sure some Kenyans would agree with you. On the other hand Kenya is a big country and I'm sure some wouldn't, so it just a matter of opinion as you say rather than the joke being 'offensive' per se. Indeed if I wanted to be a bit mischievous I could argue that your attitude smacks a bit of 'White Saviour'.


EDIT: I've run it past a Nigerian friend of mine who didn't find it racist, and added "It's nice that the Kenyans are good at something!"

Is that a new aftershave?

 

[Baldseagull]

It’s is 100% NOT offensive, even in a PC context (acknowledging every joke is offensive to someone somewhere on this planet but that’s their problem)

What has provoked the approach from your ‘friend’ is the moronic default thinking created by decades of PC propaganda that any joke referencing anyone non white MUST automatically be racist. And consequently decried as such. Youngsters are especially prone to this, they’ve been brainwashed and are terrified of their own shadows never mind telling such gags. Idiots essentially. Just ignore him/her Harty

Many jokes depend on a stereotype, some of those are nasty stereotypes, some of them are sexist, racist, ageist, poke fun at disabilities, mock victims of disaster etc.
If the joke relies on a stereotype of your race or nationality, it is racist, even if it isn't nasty, and some people will be mildly offended that the comedian didn't take the time and effort to have made a better joke, without racial stereotyping.

 

[Deleted member 37369]

It's not a racial stereotype. It's a sporting one.

Brasil are good at football
USA are good at basketball
Sweden are good at Curling

If you make a joke about any of those sports it's not racist. But in your views it would be?

Precisely ... some on here are making something of it by bringing colour into the conversation.

Have a quick look at wikipedia on Pacemakers - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacemaker_(running)

Virtually all of the names mentioned as pacemakers are Kenyan. Why? I guess because they have proved to be more reliable than runners from other nations maybe? And what do you want from a heart pacemaker ... reliability maybe!

If the 'joke' had mentioned a country with a majority caucasian population ... would those same people be up in arms about it being racist

 

[wellquickwoody]

But it IS based on a racial stereotype. Of course it is. Goodness me...

The "joke" is implying that all Kenyans are good runners and that that's all Kenya is known for. It's reinforcing the stereotype that if you're a Kenyan, you must be a good runner. It's racist nonsense.

BS. It is implying that some Kenyans are good runners, perhaps a higher percentage than most other NATIONALITIES. At no point is it inferred that it is the only trait that Kenyans have. It does not at any point infer that ALL Kenyans are good runners.

As an aside, ALL stereotypes carry a grain of truth otherwise they would not exist.

 

[Baldseagull]

BS. It is implying that some Kenyans are good runners, perhaps a higher percentage than most other NATIONALITIES. At no point is it inferred that it is the only trait that Kenyans have. It does not at any point infer that ALL Kenyans are good runners.

As an aside, ALL stereotypes carry a grain of truth otherwise they would not exist.

Like Aussies being sexist, racist and generally stuck in the past?

 

[wellquickwoody]

Like Aussies being sexist, racist and generally stuck in the past?

Yep, at the very least a grain of truth in that. But is it racist to say it if true?

 

[Hamilton]

It really is that simple. The joke is on the person telling it, not the Kenyan contained within it.

I'm afraid you are 'wrong off the bat' there though. The 'little Kenyan' reference is an essential part of the joke. It is the visual humour. You have to be able to see the two characters in your mind's eye to appreciate the idea that this is not a heart pacemaker, so the Kenyan character is active.

Do we need to even reference his nationality? For example...

"I went to the Doctors last week and he said I've now got to have a pacemaker, so I've a got this little bloke in running shorts in front of me everywhere I go."

 

[A mex eyecan]

Why does it have to be a 'bloke'?

Should be 'person'.

i object to the word person …

 

[A mex eyecan]

If just one person is offended then the Joke is offensive to them . Only solution I can see is to ban all humor - comedy without exception .

to be really certain we should ban all speaking, written word so that then just leaves thinking. Still
i’m sure some berk would find a way to be offended at that as well

 

[Baldseagull]

Yep, at the very least a grain of truth in that. But is it racist to say it if true?

Depends on how you say it.