# "Dumb man" jokes--lame rant **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 4, 2004, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-man-jokes-lame-rant/248542 "2004-06-04T00:14:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2004, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-man-jokes-lame-rant/248542/61 "2004-06-06T03:17:58Z")
> [@SimonX](#): > > How have the commercials you’ve cited have hurt anybody? I didn’t say the commercials hurt anybody, I said they were an example of the kind of sexism (“women and men have seperate spheres, and there can be no crossing over without disastrous results”) that hurts both men and women. I doubt any particular commercial ever did anyone much harm. I just think it’s odd that so many people in this thread are willing to complain about them being sexist against _men_ and ignore the fact that they also make use of sexist stereotypes about _women_. If you’re going to be bothered by these commercials at all, why focus on only half the problem? ---
**Author:** ![Cuckoorex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Cuckoorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cuckoorex)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2004, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-man-jokes-lame-rant/248542/62 "2004-06-06T04:40:35Z")
> [@avabeth](#): > > One thing I’ve noticed is that many of the women who seem to send these jokes are the ones who are fairly unhappy in their marriages and vent about their husbands often. They’re also the ones who replied “My condolences” to the email telling them I was getting married. :rolleyes: . What assholes!! Congratulations on your engagement; your fiancee sounds like a great guy. ---
**Author:** ![Lando\_Griffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f17d59/32.png) [@Lando\_Griffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lando_Griffin)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2004, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-man-jokes-lame-rant/248542/63 "2004-06-06T04:46:04Z")
> [@catsix](#): > > For another thing, is a joke about a black man being a crack addicted dead beat any less offensive if teller didn’t ‘mean it in any hostile manner’? Yes. In fact, if the teller is Dave Chappelle, then it’s fucking hilarious. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2004, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-man-jokes-lame-rant/248542/64 "2004-06-06T07:55:00Z")
> [@Lamia](#): > > I didn’t say the commercials hurt anybody, I said they were an example of the kind of sexism (“women and men have seperate spheres, and there can be no crossing over without disastrous results”) that hurts both men and women. I doubt any particular commercial ever did anyone much harm. I just think it’s odd that so many people in this thread are willing to complain about them being sexist against _men_ and ignore the fact that they also make use of sexist stereotypes about _women_. If you’re going to be bothered by these commercials at all, why focus on only half the problem? The commercials don’t hurt anybody, but they are an example of something that does hurt people? Is that what you’re saying? ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2004, 9:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-man-jokes-lame-rant/248542/65 "2004-06-06T09:45:55Z")
> [@SimonX](#): > > The commercials don’t hurt anybody, but they are an example of something that does hurt people? Is that what you’re saying? You want to back me into saying I think these commercials are terribly, terribly harmful just so you can argue with me about it, is that what you’re saying? Look, the reason why I’ve avoided making a clear statement as to whether or not these commercials are truly harmful isn’t because I’m sneaky or incapable of expressing myself clearly. It’s because _I don’t know_, and more importantly, at this particular moment _I don’t care_. The only statement I’m prepared to make on the subject is the one I already have, that I doubt any particular commercial ever did anyone much harm. The point I _was_ attempting to make is that if we’re going to discuss the sexism of these commercials then they should not be considered an example of “men dumb, women smart” sexism but an example of “men and women should stick to their traditional gender roles” sexism. This topic apparently does not interest you, so please feel free to ignore me rather than attempt to force me into being your opponent in a debate _I_ am not interested in. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-man-jokes-lame-rant/248542.md?page=3)