# What do you think of Trevor Noah's inside joke at the Oscars? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 25, 2019, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-trevor-noahs-inside-joke-at-the-oscars/830214 "2019-02-25T23:47:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2019, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-trevor-noahs-inside-joke-at-the-oscars/830214/61 "2019-02-27T17:35:56Z")
> [@Mr.Nylock](#): > > It’s not really good or bad - just sort of ignorant in the way people use the term ‘darkie’ sometimes. You should address this at blindboyard. He used the term; I was quoting him sarcastically. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2019, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-trevor-noahs-inside-joke-at-the-oscars/830214/62 "2019-02-27T17:41:26Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > I’d explain this basic concept of humor to you, but, y’know. Well, he questioned why we would be talking about Apartheid\* in the context of Trevor “Born a Crime” Noah. So two things where fighting ignorance has fallen flat. \*Is Apartheid normally capitalized the way Jim Crow is or lower-cased the way slavery is? ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2019, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-trevor-noahs-inside-joke-at-the-oscars/830214/63 "2019-02-27T17:45:29Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > I’d explain this basic concept of humor to you, but, y’know. But, you aren’t all that good at it. You think a childish one liner is hilarious. Enough people agree with my opinion that it was all of one piece that I am unworried about missing your explanation. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2019, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-trevor-noahs-inside-joke-at-the-oscars/830214/64 "2019-02-27T18:15:52Z")
Thinking about it, your interpretation is more of a prank than a real joke. “Ha ha, I made you clap for something that was actually an insult. The internet will let you in on the joke tomorrow.” ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2019, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-trevor-noahs-inside-joke-at-the-oscars/830214/65 "2019-02-27T19:15:40Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > You should address this at blindboyard. He used the term; I was quoting him sarcastically. I’m addressing the sentiments expressed in the exchange much more than the semantics. I am reading it that you think racial jokes and language that are condescending or paint white people as a whole as an “other” should not be criticized. Am I interpreting the sentiments expressed in the exchange correctly? ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2019, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-trevor-noahs-inside-joke-at-the-oscars/830214/66 "2019-02-27T19:19:26Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > So “digs” at entire races are ok sometimes, depending entirely on which race is being “dug”? Yep. Digs at the historically and currently globally dominant race by the underclass are ok. For the same reason that “nigger” and “cracker” aren’t morally equivalent terms. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2019, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-trevor-noahs-inside-joke-at-the-oscars/830214/67 "2019-02-27T19:31:04Z")
> [@iamthewalrus\_3](#): > > Yep. Digs at the historically and currently globally dominant race by the underclass are ok. > > For the same reason that “nigger” and “cracker” aren’t morally equivalent terms. So, in your view of history, Catholics, Jews, Italians, and Irish have been part of this globally dominant race. Interesting, tell me more. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2019, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-trevor-noahs-inside-joke-at-the-oscars/830214/68 "2019-02-27T19:34:10Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > \*Is Apartheid normally capitalized the way Jim Crow is or lower-cased the way slavery is? Generally, I’d capitalize when referring to the specific period in South African history, but not when referring to the concept. But I’m not consistent with it. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2019, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-trevor-noahs-inside-joke-at-the-oscars/830214/69 "2019-02-27T19:37:19Z")
> [@Mr.Nylock](#): > > Interesting, tell me more. Don’t do it, **walrus** … ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2019, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-trevor-noahs-inside-joke-at-the-oscars/830214/70 "2019-02-27T19:38:11Z")
> [@Mr.Nylock](#): > > I’m addressing the sentiments expressed in the exchange much more than the semantics. > > I am reading it that you think racial jokes and language that are condescending or paint white people as a whole as an “other” should not be criticized. Am I interpreting the sentiments expressed in the exchange correctly? Nope. I’m saying that this particular joke was funny. Also that there’s a long tradition of punching up in jokes that make them more allowable than punching down jokes. And context. Context is important. This context is the Oscars, which has a long history of not valuing black achievements. Any time anybody in this thread would like me to explain humor further, I’ll take time from my busy schedule as a race traitor to elucidate. ---
**Author:** ![Covfefe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ee7513/32.png) [@Covfefe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covfefe)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2019, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-trevor-noahs-inside-joke-at-the-oscars/830214/71 "2019-02-27T19:54:56Z")
I disagree. Making real groups of people the butt of a joke is always punching down. If I were Noah, I would have said the Xhosa equivalent of, “Whitey McWhite-Person doesn’t know I’m lying.” Inventing a whimsical sounding name would probably have been less of a hit, but it’s a smarter joke with dual fictional properties. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2019, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-trevor-noahs-inside-joke-at-the-oscars/830214/72 "2019-02-27T20:08:44Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > Nope. I’m saying that this particular joke was funny. Also that there’s a long tradition of punching up in jokes that make them more allowable than punching down jokes. White people = up. Black people = down. Got it. So punching white people is more acceptable than punching blacks/minorities. I don’t see any inconsistency with my previous interpretation. You obviously think it’s fine to lump a varied group of people into a skin color - I disagree with those views, I find them bigoted and ignorant. I don’t think you need to waste any more of your time discussing this with me. ---
**Author:** ![Covfefe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ee7513/32.png) [@Covfefe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covfefe)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2019, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-trevor-noahs-inside-joke-at-the-oscars/830214/73 "2019-02-27T20:10:36Z")
FTR, I am not offended by Noah’s joke and would roll my eyes if anyone out there is. Just calling a spade a spade. He was punching down - at the tame end of the punching down spectrum. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2019, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-trevor-noahs-inside-joke-at-the-oscars/830214/74 "2019-02-27T20:14:40Z")
> [@Covfefe](#): > > I disagree. Making real groups of people the butt of a joke is always punching down. If I were Noah, I would have said the Xhosa equivalent of, “Whitey McWhite-Person doesn’t know I’m lying.” Inventing a whimsical sounding name would probably have been less of a hit, but it’s a smarter joke with dual fictional properties. That’s not a smarter joke, and I’m pretty loath to tell one of the most famous comedians on earth how to tell a smarter joke. As for “punching,” how hard a blow is it to suggest that most white folks don’t speak Xhosa and will nod along with a black dude speaking an African language? Given that the audience he’s mocking is overwhelmingly white liberals, there’s a piece in it of teasing white liberals for loving to agree with a black person calling for unity instead of division. That is a gentle joke if ever I heard one. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2019, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-trevor-noahs-inside-joke-at-the-oscars/830214/75 "2019-02-27T20:29:24Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Don’t do it, **walrus** … You don’t think **Walrus** would be able to enlighten me with his views of history? It’s not very nice to underestimate a fellow doper like that. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2019, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-trevor-noahs-inside-joke-at-the-oscars/830214/76 "2019-02-27T20:41:22Z")
> [@Mr.Nylock](#): > > You don’t think **Walrus** would be able to enlighten me with his views of history? It’s not very nice to underestimate a fellow doper like that. I notice a pattern in your posts: 1. Quote someone. 2. Paraphrase them in a way that makes them look stupid. 3. Criticize them for the paraphrase. That is–lemme put this in forum-appropriate language–not conducive to productive conversation. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2019, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-trevor-noahs-inside-joke-at-the-oscars/830214/77 "2019-02-27T20:54:44Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > I notice a pattern in your posts: > > 1. Quote someone. > 2. Paraphrase them in a way that makes them look stupid. > 3. Criticize them for the paraphrase. > > That is–lemme put this in forum-appropriate language–not conducive to productive conversation. Which post or posts are you specifically talking about? There may be room for discussion if you want to have a conversation - but if you just want to do do a general vague drive by about “patterns” that’s OK also. I myself do not see the pattern you are talking about, but maybe you will be able to show me where there is a weakness in my reasoning. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2019, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-trevor-noahs-inside-joke-at-the-oscars/830214/78 "2019-02-27T21:04:30Z")
67, 72, and 75 – the majority of your posts in this thread–follow this pattern. Granted, 75 actually involves telling the other poster what they’re thinking, which is a step beyond paraphrasing them, but in the same vein. Maybe don’t try to paraphrase people, and don’t criticize them based on your imagination of what they’re thinking. Or, y’know, keep on keeping on. I’ve said my piece about this and won’t say more; if you don’t see the pattern, I’ll discuss it in another thread you start if you’d like. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2019, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-trevor-noahs-inside-joke-at-the-oscars/830214/79 "2019-02-27T21:42:09Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > 67, 72, and 75 – the majority of your posts in this thread–follow this pattern. Granted, 75 actually involves telling the other poster what they’re thinking, which is a step beyond paraphrasing them, but in the same vein. > > Maybe don’t try to paraphrase people, and don’t criticize them based on your imagination of what they’re thinking. > > Or, y’know, keep on keeping on. I’ve said my piece about this and won’t say more; if you don’t see the pattern, I’ll discuss it in another thread you start if you’d like. You can open up another thread if you like or PM me, I don’t agree with your use of the word paraphrasing. What I am doing is challenging the concept of what it means to be “white” in modern society and I am also disagreeing with the idea that views that categorize disparate people based upon skin color should be a concept that goes unchallenged. I guess 75 could be considered paraphrasing, but the point is to express my sentiment that grouping people by skin color is what is happening, which I think the post clearly shows. If you would like to pit me for these views of course you can do that, it could be an interesting pitting - I know my views are not popular here and am not as intelligent or highly educated as most on these boards, so probably I would agree with most of the personal insults posters would care to hurl at me. I am, however, almost certain that nothing would convince me that the habit of grouping people by skin color is something that should ever go unchallenged. Alternatively, you could also try to have a discussion with me that does not assume I am a bad person but seeks to fully explore these ideas and not assume that they are based upon me being a faulty or ignorant human being. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2019, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-trevor-noahs-inside-joke-at-the-oscars/830214/80 "2019-02-27T21:59:10Z")
> [@Mr.Nylock](#): > > I disagree with those views, I find them bigoted and ignorant. I don’t think you need to waste any more of your time discussing this with me. > [@Mr.Nylock](#): > > Alternatively, you could also try to have a discussion with me that does not assume I am a bad person but seeks to fully explore these ideas and not assume that they are based upon me being a faulty or ignorant human being. So you want others to have a discussion with you but you are not willing to have a discussion with others. And you’re willing to call others bad people but we shouldn’t assume that of you. Got it. I would not presume to explain to you how a racial joke works in South Africa. I can assure you, nonetheless, that in American joke telling the concept of punching up is well known, well understood, and well accepted except by those who are bigoted and ignorant. Since you’re not American you can be excused as ignorant on such subtleties. But not on the name calling. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-trevor-noahs-inside-joke-at-the-oscars/830214.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-trevor-noahs-inside-joke-at-the-oscars/830214.md?page=5)