# Racism for Caucasians **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 24, 2003, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racism-for-caucasians/150688 "2003-01-24T20:04:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racism-for-caucasians/150688/41 "2003-01-26T06:11:57Z")
> [@](#): > > The argument that it’s wrong for blacks to make fun of whites is a fallacy because of past oppression or even present oppression is a fallacy. Would that be the _post crow ergo propter crow_ fallacy? Just what _fallacy_ does that argument represent. (it may be a poor argument, but I’m not sure which logical fallacy you believe it exemplifies.) > [@](#): > > Indeed. You think its _racist_ to laugh at someone for clapping on the 1 and 3 counts instead of the 2 and 4 counts? Interesting. ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racism-for-caucasians/150688/42 "2003-01-26T07:39:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by monstro \* > \*\*If a comedian advocates beating whites to death or jokingly refers to them as white devils, then I will join you in feeling offended. > > But if a comedian makes fun of white people because they like egg salad or they clap on the 1 and 3, I will laugh. And laugh hard. If that makes me racist, then so be it. \*\* I don’t think that makes you racist. ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racism-for-caucasians/150688/43 "2003-01-26T08:00:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by monstro \* > \*\*If a comedian advocates beating whites to death or jokingly refers to them as white devils, then I will join you in feeling offended. > > But if a comedian makes fun of white people because they like egg salad or they clap on the 1 and 3, I will laugh. And laugh hard. If that makes me racist, then so be it. \*\* I just finished my race-relations training video, _Undercover Brother_, and that sort of humor was a staple of the movie. And damn, was it funny. ---
**Author:** ![erislover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/71e660/32.png) [@erislover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erislover)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racism-for-caucasians/150688/44 "2003-01-26T08:22:44Z")
I will get upset about white jokes when and if I get upset about black jokes. Jokes don’t bother me. Racism bothers me. I will get upset about women jokes when I get upset about men jokes. Jokes don’t bother me, gender subjugation bothers me. ---
**Author:** ![syncrolecyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f08c70/32.png) [@syncrolecyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/syncrolecyne)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racism-for-caucasians/150688/45 "2003-01-26T20:43:12Z")
Chris Rock is very critical (in a humorous way) of black attitudes and stereotypes about other people. Just because he mentions white people doesn’t mean he’s always bashing them, in fact there is something quite conservative about Chris Rock’s comedy. But, I have seen a lot of third rate black comedians on BET make dumb jokes about whites (as well as Asians, Mexicans, and others at times), I think that is more of what the OP complains about - and that is valid. Of course there are as many jokes about black people as well. It’s just we don’t see white comedy hacks on some cable channel as crudely make fun of “minorities”. On the other side of the coin, I have seen Robin Williams make jokes directed at black people…for instance in shows where he spots a sole black man in a nearly all white audience, he will riff on that guy…but as with Chris Rock, since he is genuinely funny in concert (some of their films are another story), he gets away with it. Also on Seinfled, there was a lot of politically incorrect joking at the expense of various ethnic, racial situations. ---
**Author:** ![Jus\_Checkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e480ec/32.png) [@Jus\_Checkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jus_Checkin)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racism-for-caucasians/150688/46 "2003-01-26T21:58:37Z")
\*Oginally posted by syncrolecyne \* **… in fact there is something quite conservative about Chris Rock’s comedy.** Conservative?! 😕 \*\* Also on Seinfled, there was a lot of politically incorrect joking at the expense of various ethnic, racial situations. \*\* [/QUOTE] Please tell me of any instance when Seinfeld was “politically incorrect”. I have yet to see that. In fact, in the Seinfeld episode where the newspaper reporter thought that Jerry and George were gay lovers, they made sure to add “Not that there’s anything wrong with that” after each time they said “We’re not gay” to make sure they were being politically correct. ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racism-for-caucasians/150688/47 "2003-01-26T22:17:28Z")
The “not that there’s anything wrong with that” phrase is used to poke fun at politically correctness, not uphold it. That’s where the humor comes from. You supposed to be laughing at the way Seinfield et al consistently throw out that disclaimer, not at their saying “we’re not gay”. **Jus Checkin** , have you ever watched Saturday Night Live? The show regularly pokes fun at black stereotypes. It’s hard to even think of an episode in recent history that doesn’t showcase somebody rapping or pimpin’ or talking loud and flagrantly “ebonically”. In fact, they rarely just have a black guy just being a normal guy. Race and culture always have to be associated with the punchlines. And the bad thing is the jokes aren’t even funny. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racism-for-caucasians/150688/48 "2003-01-26T22:52:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by robertliguori \* > \*\*you with the face: > Obviously, if Chris Rock is cracking jokes about black or white people, racism isn’t dead. \*\* I think Chris Rock gets away with it because he makes fun of both black and white people in the same bit. Besides, ever see his bit about the difference between black people and niggers? ---
**Author:** ![Jus\_Checkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e480ec/32.png) [@Jus\_Checkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jus_Checkin)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racism-for-caucasians/150688/49 "2003-01-26T23:50:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by you with the face \* > \*\*The “not that there’s anything wrong with that” phrase is used to poke fun at politically correctness, not uphold it. That’s where the humor comes from. You supposed to be laughing at the way Seinfield et al consistently throw out that disclaimer, not at their saying “we’re not gay”. > \*\* I saw a show on E!, I think it was, about the show Seinfeld. Talking about that “gay” episode, they said that they had to add the “not that there’s anything wrong with that” after stating they weren’t gay each time in order to be politically correct, not to poke fun at political correctness. Not that Political correctness doesn’t deserve to be poked fun at every now and then. ---
**Author:** ![syncrolecyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f08c70/32.png) [@syncrolecyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/syncrolecyne)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racism-for-caucasians/150688/50 "2003-01-27T00:13:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jus Checkin \* > \*\*\*Oginally posted by syncrolecyne \* > **… in fact there is something quite conservative about Chris Rock’s comedy.** > > Conservative?! 😕 > > \*\* Also on Seinfled, there was a lot of politically incorrect joking at the expense of various ethnic, racial situations. \*\* Please tell me of any instance when Seinfeld was “politically incorrect”…\*\* [/QUOTE] Well the “Puerto Rican Day” episode might be the most direct example. By conservative, I don’t mean Chris Rock is a black Rush Limbaugh…but Rock does savage what most conservatives criticise about minority groups, the culture of victimization. Chris Rock’s point seems to be “get over it!”. As for _Seinfled_, the show was heavily based on being politically incorrect. For instance, practically every “ethnic” character on the show was a broad, and rather irritating stereotype that one of the four main characters had to deal with. Babu the Pakistani restauranteur. The switchblade wielding gay Hispanic thug who bullies Kramer. The Hispanic cleaning lady who had sex with George. George’s foray into the cockfighting scene. Poppy. The Soup Nazi Kramers attempt to get “Cubans” ends up in getting “Dominicans” George’s attempt to befriend a black person. Donna Changstein aka Donna Chang…leading to a lot of hackneyed ethnic humor (“did you say ridicurous?”) Elaine thinking her boyfriend may be “black” due to some rather silly reasons. For the most part, except for the last season, Seinfeld was funny enough to get away with it. If _Friends_ attempted a lot of those situations, it would be pilloried. Actually, while Seinfled was highly rated among the general audience, many black people seemed rather cool to the show. Maybe it is just a culture clash, or maybe the show was offensive. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racism-for-caucasians/150688.md?page=2)