[Humour] Is this joke offensive?

[Is it PotG?]

If you believe that you knew that Kenya was famous for its pacemakers, then yes

Tea, wonderful tea.

 

[carlzeiss]

And Kenyans have ran as pace makers recently. Thus a statement of fact.

How about this cheeky chap! Rather funny what he did.



https://www.the-star.co.ke/sports/2...e-pacemakers-code-to-run-away-with-top-prize/

Nice to hear that he had a " change of heart "

 

[Baldseagull]

Whoever that Englishman, Irishman and Scotsman are they are now out of work and can't afford to go to a bar to catch up any more it seems.

You are right that these jokes depend on stereotypes, and no malice is intended, usually, but some damage is done because some idiot will believe, or at least be more suspicious that, an Irishman might be thick, or a Scotsman might be tight. How many of these do you know where it is the Englishman that is the butt of the joke in this format?
Do you think that no one could be offended by one of the typical, thick Irishman, jokes?
https://www.irishcentral.com/opinio...h-jokes-and-how-they-impacted-irish-worldwide
It becomes even more of a problem where the group being limited by the joke, is a group that is even more disadvantaged by prejudice and discrimination.

https://www.irishcentral.com/opinio...h-jokes-and-how-they-impacted-irish-worldwide

 

[Peacehaven Wild Kids]

It’s only a minute and half long

https://youtu.be/gsxMirHcG9k

 

[Sirnormangall]

Oh, indeed, very successful, but having had a chance to perhaps consider the question, I would be interested in your thoughts.

I don’t really have anything to add other than I think it’s great to recognise Kenya’s success in middle distance running. They’re probably the best at pacemaking so that’s what makes it work for me - when pacemaking is mentioned I immediately think of Kenya. I accept that others might have an alternative view.

 

[Tyrone Biggums]

You are right that these jokes depend on stereotypes, and no malice is intended, usually, but some damage is done because some idiot will believe, or at least be more suspicious that, an Irishman might be thick, or a Scotsman might be tight. How many of these do you know where it is the Englishman that is the butt of the joke in this format?
Do you think that no one could be offended by one of the typical, thick Irishman, jokes?
https://www.irishcentral.com/opinio...h-jokes-and-how-they-impacted-irish-worldwide
It becomes even more of a problem where the group being limited by the joke, is a group that is even more disadvantaged by prejudice and discrimination.

https://www.irishcentral.com/opinio...h-jokes-and-how-they-impacted-irish-worldwide

My Grandfather was Scottish, can confirm he was a tight arse.

I know there were jokes about Englishmen and bad teeth and whinging aplenty when I was growing up.

As for the Irish part, having an Irish Grandmother and playing Gaelic football for 25+ years I am well versed on that history.

But let's not forget that one of the most popular TV shows form Ireland bot in Ireland and around the world is Father Ted, still is. It's just one big running gag about what you raised.

 

[BadFish]

I don’t really have anything to add other than I think it’s great to recognise Kenya’s success in middle distance running. They’re probably the best at pacemaking so that’s what makes it work for me - when pacemaking is mentioned I immediately think of Kenya. I accept that others might have an alternative view.

Interesting article, especially the stuff about the self depreciation and furthering their own stereotype.

I find these stereotype jokes lazy and a bit dull. There is so much good comedy and jokes around these days that this stuff is unnecessary.

My own experiences as a pom in Australia are that some people love a pom joke, most stop them after you know them for a while (especially when I point out I am a 'chosen Aussie' and them mere 'accidental Aussies lol). Many just can't let it go and it gets boring quite quickly.

Why not add a bit of imagination to your jokes ? Doesn't take long to realise there is so much more to take the piss out of me about than some stale two bit English stereotypes.

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[Baldseagull]

My Grandfather was Scottish, can confirm he was a tight arse.

I know there were jokes about Englishmen and bad teeth and whinging aplenty when I was growing up.

As for the Irish part, having an Irish Grandmother and playing Gaelic football for 25+ years I am well versed on that history.

But let's not forget that one of the most popular TV shows form Ireland bot in Ireland and around the world is Father Ted, still is. It's just one big running gag about what you raised.

Father Ted is all Irish Characters, it doesn't rely on a stereotype that Irishmen are less intelligent than the average human. Every character in sitcoms is a bit daft usually, with one extra dafty in the mix. In only fools and horses it's Triggar, but all the characters are the butt of one gag or another. In Father Ted it's Father Dougal, in The Vicar of Dibley it's Alice.
In Ireland they might tell the same jokes about a Kerryman, some Kerrymen or Irishmen could justifiably be offended on hearing one though, if you are going to tell a joke that might offend someone, don't be too surprised if someone is offended, no one is suggesting anyone should be going to prison for telling the Kenyan Pacemaker joke, or an Englishman, Irishman, Scotsman joke, but someone could be a bit offended.
The question that kicked all this off was "Is this Joke offensive" the answer is, to some yes, to others, no.
I can understand why the joke does not offend you, it doesn't particularly offend me, but I can understand why someone could be, and personally I would clean it up to avoid that.

 

[pastafarian]

Some may wet the mattress at the following
context is key

 

[Peacehaven Wild Kids]

But let's not forget that one of the most popular TV shows form Ireland bot in Ireland and around the world is Father Ted, still is. It's just one big running gag about what you raised.

Personally, I believe “Are You Right There Father Ted?” is the funniest episode of comedy I’ve ever seen

 

[Neville's Breakfast]

My Grandfather was Scottish, can confirm he was a tight arse.

I know there were jokes about Englishmen and bad teeth and whinging aplenty when I was growing up.

As for the Irish part, having an Irish Grandmother and playing Gaelic football for 25+ years I am well versed on that history.

But let's not forget that one of the most popular TV shows form Ireland bot in Ireland and around the world is Father Ted, still is. It's just one big running gag about what you raised.

I once saw a programme about these kinds of nationality jokes. Seems a lot of countries make stereotypical jokes about people from neighboring countries. I vaguely remember Scandinavian countries being a prime example. It really isn’t anything to get precious about and most people probably don’t.

 

[DavidinSouthampton]

I once saw a programme about these kinds of nationality jokes. Seems a lot of countries make stereotypical jokes about people from neighboring countries. I vaguely remember Scandinavian countries being a prime example. It really isn’t anything to get precious about and most people probably don’t.

By far the funniest Irish joke I’ve ever heard was from an Irishman, who was at the same college as me and on the same course at Oxford. He got a first class degree in Modern Languages, so he certainly wasn’t stupid - far from it.

And the French equivalent of Irish Jokes is Belgian Jokes, I believe.

But if such jokes risk offending or affecting in some other way people from that background, they are wrong. If the Germans, for example, had “English” jokes, it wouldn’t bother me unduly, but someone less stable could be tipped over the edge by it.

 

[Neville's Breakfast]

By far the funniest Irish joke I’ve ever heard was from an Irishman, who was at the same college as me and on the same course at Oxford. He got a first class degree in Modern Languages, so he certainly wasn’t stupid - far from it.

And the French equivalent of Irish Jokes is Belgian Jokes, I believe.

But if such jokes risk offending or affecting in some other way people from that background, they are wrong. If the Germans, for example, had “English” jokes, it wouldn’t bother me unduly, but someone less stable could be tipped over the edge by it.

Yeah, and I can certainly see that point. I would never take the risk but like you I don’t get unduly bothered if others do. The main reason these jokes are obsolete is that they were done to death in the 1970s. Ironically, many people these days are quite happy to call others stupid without even hiding behind jokes.

 

[BadFish]

By far the funniest Irish joke I’ve ever heard was from an Irishman, who was at the same college as me and on the same course at Oxford. He got a first class degree in Modern Languages, so he certainly wasn’t stupid - far from it.

And the French equivalent of Irish Jokes is Belgian Jokes, I believe.

But if such jokes risk offending or affecting in some other way people from that background, they are wrong. If the Germans, for example, had “English” jokes, it wouldn’t bother me unduly, but someone less stable could be tipped over the edge by it.

Come to Australia, there are plenty of pommy joke.

Offensive? Not really

Old stale and based on out dated stereotypes? Mostly

Funny? Occasionally.

Thing is though these kind of jokes are stil being told the youth just don't seem to need to add a nationality to them.i got told a joke today that I heard years ago as 'Paddy . . . .' today it was 'This bloke . . . ' I don't think it lost anything without the Paddy.

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[Neville's Breakfast]

Come to Australia, there are plenty of pommy joke.

Offensive? Not really

Old stale and based on out dated stereotypes? Mostly

Funny? Occasionally.

Thing is though these kind of jokes are stil being told the youth just don't seem to need to add a nationality to them.i got told a joke today that I heard years ago as 'Paddy . . . .' today it was 'This bloke . . . ' I don't think it lost anything without the Paddy.

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My daughter and friend went on a boat trip a few years ago to the Great Barrier Reef. Someone on the boat asked if it was safe to swim. The bloke replied ‘only for the English.’

 

[DavidinSouthampton]

Come to Australia, there are plenty of pommy joke.

Offensive? Not really

Old stale and based on out dated stereotypes? Mostly

Funny? Occasionally.

Thing is though these kind of jokes are stil being told the youth just don't seem to need to add a nationality to them.i got told a joke today that I heard years ago as 'Paddy . . . .' today it was 'This bloke . . . ' I don't think it lost anything without the Paddy.

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Totally agree:

Have you heard about the stupid brain surgeon who specialised in haemorrhoid transplants?……..

That’s the joke that cracked me up over 40 years ago from an Irishman. Others probably won’t laugh, but it just struck me as funny on so many levels.

 

[SeagullinExile]

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.

Why is that racial stereotyping? Kenyans are incredible distance runners.. fact.

 

[Sirnormangall]

Interesting article, especially the stuff about the self depreciation and furthering their own stereotype.

I find these stereotype jokes lazy and a bit dull. There is so much good comedy and jokes around these days that this stuff is unnecessary.

My own experiences as a pom in Australia are that some people love a pom joke, most stop them after you know them for a while (especially when I point out I am a 'chosen Aussie' and them mere 'accidental Aussies lol). Many just can't let it go and it gets boring quite quickly.

Why not add a bit of imagination to your jokes ? Doesn't take long to realise there is so much more to take the piss out of me about than some stale two bit English stereotypes.

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Very good. I agree with your last sentence and let’s ignore how great Kenya is at producing world class athletes.

 

[birthofanorange]

Very good. I agree with your last sentence and let’s ignore how great Kenya is at producing world class athletes.

Who's ignoring it? Can't see anyone on this thread ignoring nor disputing it. Why are you fixated on keep mentioning how good they are at running, yet failing to say why you think it's important to the joke?

 

[McTavish]

Why is that racial stereotyping? Kenyans are incredible distance runners.. fact.

All of them?