# Racist Joke? Or am I overreaching? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 29, 2012, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racist-joke-or-am-i-overreaching/642510 "2012-11-29T21:03:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AngelSoft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/angelsoft/32/440_2.png) [@AngelSoft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelSoft)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2012, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racist-joke-or-am-i-overreaching/642510/1 "2012-11-29T21:03:21Z")
Ok, so I know the general rule of thumb is that if you have to ask ‘is this racist’, it probably is. But this is a bit of a disagreement between my dad and myself. We have very different views on society and usually the emails he forwards me I just delete. But today he specifically sent me one and told me to go read it because it was funny. The name of the joke is ‘Colin the Aborigine’. Of course the first words out of my mouth were ‘well that sounds completely PC’. He got a bit annoyed and assured me the joke was not racist and to just read it. So this is the joke: > [@](#): > > A rich man living in Darwin decided that he wanted to throw a party and invited all of his buddies and neighbours. He also invited Colin, the only aborigine in the neighbourhood. He held the party around the pool in the backyard of his mansion. > > Everyone was having a good time drinking, dancing, eating prawns and oysters from the BBQ, and flirting. At the height of the party, the host said, ‘I have a 15ft man-eating crocodile in my pool and I’ll give a million dollars to anyone who has the balls to jump in.’ > > The words were barely out of his mouth when there was a loud splash and everyone turned around and saw Colin in the pool fighting the croc, jabbing the croc in the eyes with his thumbs, throwing punches, doing all kinds of stuff like head butts and chokeholds, biting the croc on the tail and flipping the croc through the air like some kind of Judo Instructor. > > The water was churning and splashing everywhere. Both Colin and the croc were screaming and raising hell. Finally Colin strangled the croc and let it float to the top like a dead goldfish. Colin then slowly climbed out of the pool. Everybody was just staring at him in disbelief. > > The host says, ‘Well, Colin, I reckon I owe you a million dollars.’ > > ‘Nah, you all right boss, I don’t want it,’ said Colin. > > The rich man said, ‘Man, I have to give you something. You won the bet. How about half a million bucks then?’ > > ‘No thanks… I don’t want it,’ answered Colin. > > The host said, 'Come on, I insist on giving you something. That was amazing. How about a new Porsche and a Rolex and some stock options?’ > > Again, Colin said “No.” > > Confused, the rich man asked, 'Well Colin, then what do you want? > > Colin said ‘I want the bastard who pushed me in.’ Now, I can see how it’s a bit funny from the punchline but it just seems to have a lot of racist undertones in it. Mainly pointing out he’s ‘aborigine’(black) and the ‘only one in the neighbourhood’ (something you often hear about black families). The fact that he called the man ‘boss’ also kinda seemed a bit off key to me too. I’d like to also add, there was a photo attached of a very stereotypical aborigine man. My dad insists I’m being the ‘liberal PC police’ and that there’s nothing racist at all in that joke. While I agree it’s not a blatantly racist piece, it just kinda gives that vibe underneath it all. So what do you guys think? Am I right or am I just over thinking things? ---
**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2012, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racist-joke-or-am-i-overreaching/642510/2 "2012-11-29T21:07:50Z")
get over it why is everyone so hecking uptight ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2012, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racist-joke-or-am-i-overreaching/642510/3 "2012-11-29T21:12:58Z")
It isn’t racist. You could take the aborigine part out and the joke would still be funny but it is put in as a distraction. It gives the listener a reason to suspend disbelief about why he is beating the crocodile (because he extreme outdoor skills). You could tell the another version of the joke with a cowboy if it was an American fighting an alligator. ---
**Author:** ![DataX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@DataX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DataX)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2012, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racist-joke-or-am-i-overreaching/642510/4 "2012-11-29T21:14:35Z")
I think it’s borderline. I assume that joke is meant for Australian audiences. Not sure if that matters, and I don’t know what the stereotypes of Aborigines is. I assume it is being primitive - and that seems to fit with the joke. I don’t see Aborigine as being black. Maybe someone attached a racist picture, but without the picture - told to an American audience - I think it is not that bad. I think the aborigine part is needed to impart the idea of someone who has the skills to fight a crocodile. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2012, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racist-joke-or-am-i-overreaching/642510/5 "2012-11-29T21:17:04Z")
To me it sounds like the joke is just that you’re supposed to think Colin jumped into the pool when he was pushed. You’re laughing at that misunderstanding, not at Colin. So it doesn’t seem racist to me. But I will say it’s hard to evaluate something like that with a culture you don’t know anything about. ---
**Author:** ![AngelSoft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/angelsoft/32/440_2.png) [@AngelSoft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelSoft)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2012, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racist-joke-or-am-i-overreaching/642510/6 "2012-11-29T21:21:23Z")
Yeah, I realize that the joke is more at the fact he got pushed in over anything. But it just seems it’s a case of too much info. Like, where it wasn’t really necessary to put in a race? Given the spelling of ‘neighbour’ in the joke, it probably was started in Australia. As for the picture, [this was it](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v70/michellen/Colin.jpg), for those who are curious. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2012, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racist-joke-or-am-i-overreaching/642510/7 "2012-11-29T21:28:04Z")
Given the inclusion of his race, I assume I’m supposed to believe that he was pushed in specifically because of it. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2012, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racist-joke-or-am-i-overreaching/642510/8 "2012-11-29T21:31:20Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > Given the inclusion of his race, I assume I’m supposed to believe that he was pushed in specifically because of it. Right. And then Colin ended up getting the best of it in a couple of different ways. Not only does he kick ass, he’s humble enough not to want a reward. It’s almost anti-racist. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2012, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racist-joke-or-am-i-overreaching/642510/9 "2012-11-29T21:34:37Z")
Why do you need to know if it is racist? So you have permission to chastise your Dad? It’s definitely not PC. It hinges on racial stereotype assumptions or at least awareness, but the joke could have been told without race involved by substituting one of those famous naturalists or survivalists. And the use of “boss” sounds kind of racist to me, but I don’t know how it’s used in Australia so I can’t say. But it’s more derogatory of the person who is surprised because of their racial stereotype expectations getting overturned, than of the the aborigine in the story. So I’d call it more meta-racist than racist. The image itself isn’t racist, but its inclusion seems kind of odd and superfluous. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2012, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racist-joke-or-am-i-overreaching/642510/10 "2012-11-29T21:36:54Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > Given the inclusion of his race, I assume I’m supposed to believe that he was pushed in specifically because of it. I don’t think so. I have heard several different versions of that joke before and many of them don’t even include a non-white person. They just have some character that would have a semi-plausible reason to have such good skills. In some of them it is a cowboy, in others it is a Cajun. The Australian version is just modified to include people they have there. Sure, it is based on cartoonish stereotypes but they aren’t unflattering to the group in question (who wouldn’t like to be able to beat up a crocodile?). The character in the joke is just meant to lead people away from the eventual punchline. ---
**Author:** ![Noone\_Special](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noone_special/32/2863_2.png) [@Noone\_Special](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noone_Special)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2012, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racist-joke-or-am-i-overreaching/642510/11 "2012-11-29T21:37:12Z")
I think it’s reverse-racist in a sense – all throughout you’re waiting for a _denouement_ that will include something to explain _why_ Colin has to be an Aborigine; and it never comes. Sort of like a shaggy-dog version of "What do you call a black man flying an airplane?"A pilot ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2012, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racist-joke-or-am-i-overreaching/642510/12 "2012-11-29T21:39:33Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > Given the inclusion of his race, I assume I’m supposed to believe that he was pushed in specifically because of it. That would be my assumption. Change “aborigine” to Mexican, the setting to a town in Texas, and make the croc an alligator and see how the joke works. While the joke is racial in nature it isn’t exactly racist, since the aborigine gets the best of the situation in the end. It is a comment about the prevalence of racism in that society. It reminds me of the following joke (which doesn’t work out so well for the victim): An Englishman, a Frenchman, a Texan, and a Mexican are in a small plane trying to fly over the Andes in a storm. The pilot explains to the passengers that the plane is too heavy to make it over the mountains, and that unless someone sacrifices himself by jumping out they will all die. So the Englishman stands up, shouts “Long live the Queen!” and jumps out of the plane. The plane climbs and climbs, but still doesn’t have enough power. The pilot tells them that someone else will have to jump. So the Frenchman stands, shouts “Vive la France!” and jumps out. But it’s still not enough. The pilot says someone else will have to go. So the Texan stands, shouts “Remember the Alamo!” and throws the Mexican out. ---
**Author:** ![AngelSoft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/angelsoft/32/440_2.png) [@AngelSoft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelSoft)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2012, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racist-joke-or-am-i-overreaching/642510/13 "2012-11-29T21:41:37Z")
I’m glad to see all the different insight on this. I can definitely see what you guys are saying about it maybe offering a more positive view on the aborigine. I didn’t want to know just to chastise my dad though. It was more because he very often tells me that I’m way too PC and that I get offended over things that are completely innocent. So I was just wondering if perhaps this was a good example of that. It seems that, while I wasn’t completely off to catch some undertones, the mention of race wasn’t meant in any sort derogatory way. ---
**Author:** ![Rollo\_Tomasi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/58956e/32.png) [@Rollo\_Tomasi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rollo_Tomasi)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2012, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racist-joke-or-am-i-overreaching/642510/14 "2012-11-29T21:42:23Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > While the joke is racial in nature it isn’t exactly racist, since the aborigine gets the best of the situation in the end. It is a comment about the prevalence of racism in that society. Exactly. Aren’t the other party guests (or at least one of them) the butt of the joke? Not Colin? ---
**Author:** ![Max\_the\_Immortal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Max\_the\_Immortal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_the_Immortal)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2012, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racist-joke-or-am-i-overreaching/642510/15 "2012-11-29T21:59:25Z")
Is “Nah, you all right boss” a stereotypical speech patter for aborigines? I can see how that could be racist, but it’s not integral to the joke. One could certainly tell the joke in a way that isn’t racist (and still have Colin as an aborigine) ---
**Author:** ![phouka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c5a1d2/32.png) [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2012, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racist-joke-or-am-i-overreaching/642510/16 "2012-11-29T22:04:43Z")
> [@Noone\_Special](#): > > I think it’s reverse-racist in a sense – all throughout you’re waiting for a _denouement_ that will include something to explain _why_ Colin has to be an Aborigine; and it never comes. > > Sort of like a shaggy-dog version of "What do you call a black man flying an airplane?"A pilot Excuse me, but I believe the correct punchline is as follows: A pilot, you fucking racist. At least it was when my brother told it to me. ---
**Author:** ![Noone\_Special](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noone_special/32/2863_2.png) [@Noone\_Special](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noone_Special)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2012, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racist-joke-or-am-i-overreaching/642510/17 "2012-11-29T22:08:34Z")
> [@phouka](#): > > Excuse me, but I believe the correct punchline is as follows: > > A pilot, you fucking racist. > > At least it was when my brother told it to me. It is; I debated whether to leave it in or not and decided on the understated option of leaving it out. It’s possible to say just those two words with the right twist of the voice that the rest is implied 😃 ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2012, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racist-joke-or-am-i-overreaching/642510/18 "2012-11-29T22:13:22Z")
> [@jackdavinci](#): > > Why do you need to know if it is racist? So you have permission to chastise your Dad? This. The joke’s funny. That’s all that matters. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2012, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racist-joke-or-am-i-overreaching/642510/19 "2012-11-30T01:09:32Z")
> [@AngelSoft](#): > > I’m glad to see all the different insight on this. I can definitely see what you guys are saying about it maybe offering a more positive view on the aborigine. I didn’t want to know just to chastise my dad though. It was more because he very often tells me that I’m way too PC and that I get offended over things that are completely innocent. So I was just wondering if perhaps this was a good example of that. It seems that, while I wasn’t completely off to catch some undertones, the mention of race wasn’t meant in any sort derogatory way. Right. Humor is only offensive if it isn’t done well and that is pretty funny joke in it’s many incarnations and there are many for that one. I have a test for you to see if you are too PC. Have you ever seen the movie Airplane!? It is almost universally acclaimed as being one of the funniest movies ever made and a lot of the jokes depend on stereotypes based on very non-PC subjects. It is equal opportunity however. They present everything from the silly gay guy to the African tribe that can play NBA level basketball within a day of learning the game exists. They make fun of straight white men too. If you get offended watching something like that, then maybe you are way too PC. There’s Something About Mary is also a very non-PC movie that most people find innocent in its own way but also extremely funny. The only crime in humor is if it doesn’t work. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2012, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racist-joke-or-am-i-overreaching/642510/20 "2012-11-30T01:19:52Z")
For what it’s worth, I read the OP too quickly and spent the whole joke thinking Colin was an eggplant. It was still funny. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racist-joke-or-am-i-overreaching/642510.md?page=2)