[Humour] Is this joke offensive?

[nickbrighton]

I think its quite funny-

Can I ask if the offended person was a little Kenyan? If not doesn't it then fall into the category of "i want to be offended on someone elses behalf"

I have encountered this plenty of times as a gay man. Someone making out that a harmless joke (along the lines of -" how do you know you have been burgled by a gay robber? -the washing is folded and there is a quiche in the oven" should make me outraged and then getting quite upset that I can laugh at myself (i fold my washing off the line and make quiche quite a lot)

Humor has always trod the thin line between what is acceptable and what isn't- , sometimes comedians get it wrong- there's even the "too soon?" line after someone jokes about an event, or situation

The joke in the OP falls firmly in the mildly amusing , not offensive category

 

[SAC]

It's not offensive.

What is offensive is that this is an old joke (it was published in a book of Dad Jokes) that someone was presumably passing off as their own.

 

[timbha]

“PLM”

 

[Is it PotG?]

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.

Damn, that's my 50p.

 

[el punal]

I resent the term ‘little’ to describe someone who is diminutive in stature. The correct terminology is ‘unbig’.

 

[Swansman]

Didn't read it but yes someone will always be offended.

 

[Tyrone Biggums]

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.

Kenya isn't a race, it's a nationality. There a lot of different cultures which exist within Kenya and the people are not all the same.

Any one of them could produce a good runner.

 

[Live by the sea]

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.

A lot of stereotyping is funny - that’s what makes the difference between people from different countries , as long as it’s done in a kindly way . We are not all the same . The French like their young children to be seen but not heard , the Germans have no humour , The Chinese all work in restaurants etc , the Irish are lazy and the Scots always drunk it’s all stereotypes but it’s not harmful if the humour is portrayed in an obvious way. Little Britain was great at doing that , everyone was stereotyped and it was hilarious.

 

[Is it PotG?]

Why does it have to be a 'bloke'?

Should be 'person'.

 

[Taybha]

Kinel

 

[METALMICKY]

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.

Really you are joking? So it's an insult to state a complimentary fact fact that Kenya have produced a lot of world class distance runners? My sister in law is from Finland so I'd better ignore any joke that references the fact that they historically they are hot at rally driving?

So let me guess " little Kenyan " is both heightist with a hint colonial slavery? For gods sake!

 

[Lenny Rider]

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.

No all the great Kenyan runners employed a pacemaker...…...

 

[Curious Orange]

I resent the term ‘little’ to describe someone who is diminutive in stature. The correct terminology is ‘unbig’.

Now you're just being biggist.

 

[Brovion]

Surely there's been a mix up between the GP and the hospital? I imagine what the after dinner speaker required was a medical device that generates electrical impulses delivered by electrodes to cause the heart muscle chambers to contract and therefore pump blood to regulate the function of the electrical conduction system of the heart? Still, I imagine the company will be nice.

I thought that Initially. I thought that either the man had completely mis-interpreted what the doctor said, or the doctor should be struck off immediately as that was very poor advice. However thinking about it perhaps the Kenyan who now accompanies him everywhere is a doctor specialising in cardiac care? Then if the poor man has a heart attack he will have expert help immediately to hand. As is so often the case with the Joke Du Jour we haven't been told all the information.

 

[zefarelly]

There are some people on this planet that make it their business to find offence in everything they possibly can.

I don't read this as a slur on doctors, Kenyans or little people.
Could of changed "Kenyan" for "Seb Coe" to smooth the snowflakes

Fixed

 

[Mackenzie]

I thought that Initially. I thought that either the man had completely mis-interpreted what the doctor said, or the doctor should be struck off immediately as that was very poor advice. However thinking about it perhaps the Kenyan who now accompanies him everywhere is a doctor specialising in cardiac care? Then if the poor man has a heart attack he will have expert help immediately to hand. As is so often the case with the Joke Du Jour we haven't been told all the information.

Trailing around after a (*guesses) fat middle aged bloke all day will surely impact the lads athletic career, that’s no way to train.

 

[LamieRobertson]

No……..I’m now out of this thread

 

[Guinness Boy]

Now you're just being biggist.

Surely this whole thread is runnerist.
[MENTION=15605]knocky1[/MENTION] must be fuming.

 

[Si Gull]

A lot of stereotyping is funny - that’s what makes the difference between people from different countries , as long as it’s done in a kindly way . We are not all the same . The French like their young children to be seen but not heard , the Germans have no humour , The Chinese all work in restaurants etc , the Irish are lazy and the Scots always drunk it’s all stereotypes but it’s not harmful if the humour is portrayed in an obvious way. Little Britain was great at doing that , everyone was stereotyped and it was hilarious.

The problem with stereotyping is it's insidious. It's a bit of a laugh until it's used to discriminate against someone. As individuals we have to decide if we want to condone incipient prejudice, or not.

 

[zefarelly]

The correct terminology is ‘unbig’.

Or

short arse
pip-squeak
vertically challenged

at least those of us who are normal height say so