# White man makes fun of blacks, everyone laughs **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 6, 2003, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-man-makes-fun-of-blacks-everyone-laughs/153114 "2003-02-06T02:45:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Pucky\_Schumer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/74df32/32.png) [@Pucky\_Schumer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pucky_Schumer)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-man-makes-fun-of-blacks-everyone-laughs/153114/81 "2003-02-08T04:21:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by you with the face \* > **Why are stuck on trying to prove something with this line of argument?** **Why?** Because you asked for it in this post: > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by you with the face \* > \*\* > Okay. Your next step is to show that a comparable act has been done by a black comedian, with no negative reaction. \*\* > [@](#): > > Not only is it not helping your case (i.e. that blacks bash whites but whites can’t bash blacks), but these two things are not comparable! Please cease telling me what my “case” is and answer the question I have asked repeatedly. > [@](#): > > Ted Danson made a fool of himself because he made something that shouldn’t have been racial, VERY racial. Unflatteringly racial. He was trying to be satirical, but the satire was overwhelmed by the inappropriateness of his “costume”, giving the occasion and the environment. I actually don’t think he meant anything bad by it, but that still doesn’t excuse the insensitivity of his actions. Spike Lee portrayed race-rioting sympathetically in “Do the Right Thing” and sneared at mixed-race children as “mixed nuts” in another movie. I’m not condoning Danson’s blackface, but I’d say Lee has a lot more to answer for. ---
**Author:** ![Pucky\_Schumer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/74df32/32.png) [@Pucky\_Schumer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pucky_Schumer)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-man-makes-fun-of-blacks-everyone-laughs/153114/82 "2003-02-08T04:28:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by pizzabrat \* > **What rule!? I’m going to disprove a rule because there was none!** So what was your original post about? As you might recall, you said: > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by pizzabrat \* > \*\*Tonight on Comedy Central’s Comic Groove, a white commedian got on stage in front of a black audience and proceeded to make jokes about blacks. One example is the advice he have to black clubgoers covered in jewlrey, “if you bought your platinum at a liquor store, it’s probably not real”. Another his commentary on black slang “brothers can speak an entire sentence without saying anything”. But did anyone in the audience boo or get huffy? No, they laughed. Well, everyone, looks like your What-it machines were broken the whole time. A white commedian made fun of blacks and nobody rioted! Many times I hear “double standard. Blacks are racist! They can make fun of white people but whites can’t make fun of blacks”. Once again, it seems that the “oppressed white male” (and his Chinese sychophant) is shown for what he is, a baseless whiner. \*\* You said you heard a double standard and you were posting to refute it. Except you haven’t refuted it. > [@](#): > > Again, give examples of white COMEDIANS getting in trouble for making jokes about blacks, I have. Read the thread. Still waiting for either one of you to cite another white comedian who insults blacks unscathed. > [@](#): > > Otherwise, you’re just a whiner who wants to pathetically ride the oppression train. What does this tell us about people who scream oppression? ---
**Author:** ![pizzabrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9c0ed/32.png) [@pizzabrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pizzabrat)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-man-makes-fun-of-blacks-everyone-laughs/153114/83 "2003-02-08T15:32:36Z")
> [@](#): > > You said you heard a double standard and you were posting to refute it. Except you haven’t refuted it. I said I heard accusations of a double standard, and I have refuted it because the double standard has never been demonstrated in the first place. > [@](#): > > ## quote: > > ## Again, give examples of white COMEDIANS getting in trouble for making jokes about blacks, > > I have. Read the thread. No you haven’t. You haven’t gave a single parallel example. You gave examples of movies and shows that were accepted in their time. You gave examples of non-commedians making fun of non-blacks (what does judge Ito have to do with this topic). And you gave just plain incorrect interpretations of Spike Lee’s movies. > [@](#): > > Andrew Dice Clay was routinely condemned for his jokes about minorities and women. We’re not talking about women and minorities. We’re talking about blacks. ---
**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:** [February 8, 2003, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-man-makes-fun-of-blacks-everyone-laughs/153114/84 "2003-02-08T15:43:16Z")
> [@](#): > > Please cease telling me what my “case” is and answer the question I have asked repeatedly. What part of SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE don’t you understand? I’ve said it about four times already and it’s making me wonder if you read what I write. If you have a problem with that example, just say so and why. And secondly, I wouldn’t have to tell you what your case is if you would just do better job establishing it. You’ve implied the existence of an unfair rule, which I question, therefore you need to provide some evidence that this rule exists. You have to go beyond just pointing out examples of white comedians getting in trouble for the black jokes they make; you also have to show that blacks DO NOT get in trouble for saying COMPARABLE things about WHITES. I already explained why Ted Danson and Bamboozled are not valid examples. So your case still has not been made! Until it has, your insistence that the OP represents an “exception” will remain without basis. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-man-makes-fun-of-blacks-everyone-laughs/153114/85 "2003-02-08T17:24:33Z")
Let’s see if we can clear things up a bit. **The Rant** : All these whiny whities complain that black commedians can make jokes about white poeple, but white commedians can’t make jokes about blacks. This isn’t true-- here’s an example of a white commedian making fun of black people _in front of a largely black audience_ with no serious repercussions. **Pucky’s picayune** : White people _can’t_ make fun of black people. Look at the laws against a hostile work place! Look at what happened to these people when they said blacks are inferior to whites! Look what happened when this white person who made fun of white people pretending to be black! **The Black Contingent** : White commedians make fun of blacks without serious repercussions all the time. Look at SNL and Mad TV. Look at these angry white commedians whose whole shtick is laughing at minorities. **Pucky’s Whitie Whine** :See! I told you! You can’t refrute my evidence! Here’s a movie about racism in the past! Nobody’s laughing! **Biggirl’s Response** :There, there Pucky. You are so right. White people are repressed on the commedian front. The white majority power of oppresion are being eroded left and right. Soon a white person will not be able to appear in blackface without someone thinking it offensive------ WAITAMINT! That already happened! HOLY SHIT. Where the hell is the ACLU when WHITE people need them? Soon the writers of SNL and Mad TV, and Andrew Dice Clay and those up and comers on Comedy Central WILL BE UP AGAINST THE FUCKING WALL!!! Waaa waaaa whiney white whine! . ---
**Author:** ![Pucky\_Schumer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/74df32/32.png) [@Pucky\_Schumer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pucky_Schumer)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-man-makes-fun-of-blacks-everyone-laughs/153114/86 "2003-02-08T21:46:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Biggirl \* > **Let’s see if we can clear things up a bit.** By misconstruing other people’s statements? Not a chance. > [@](#): > > **Pucky’s picayune** : White people _can’t_ make fun of black people. See what I mean. Not what I said. I wanted pizzabrat, et al, to cite more than one example. You haven’t. > [@](#): > > **The Black Contingent** : White commedians make fun of blacks without serious repercussions all the time. Look at SNL and Mad TV. Look at these angry white commedians whose whole shtick is laughing at minorities. Yes. And look at the condemnation directed at those comics. Q.E.D. > [@](#): > > **Biggirl’s Response** : (Which is hardly the response of a big girl …) > [@](#): > > There, there Pucky. You are so right. White people are repressed on the commedian front. The white majority power of oppresion are being eroded left and right. Soon a white person will not be able to appear in blackface without someone thinking it offensive------ WAITAMINT! That already happened! > > HOLY SHIT. Where the hell is the ACLU when WHITE people need them? Soon the writers of SNL and Mad TV, and Andrew Dice Clay and those up and comers on Comedy Central WILL BE UP AGAINST THE FUCKING WALL!!! Waaa waaaa whiney white whine! If you support the bashing of an ethnic group, you support racism. If you are hostile towards whites – and you clearly are – you are a racist. ---
**Author:** ![Pucky\_Schumer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/74df32/32.png) [@Pucky\_Schumer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pucky_Schumer)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-man-makes-fun-of-blacks-everyone-laughs/153114/87 "2003-02-08T22:10:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by pizzabrat \* > **I said I heard accusations of a double standard, and I have refuted it because the double standard has never been demonstrated in the first place.** My kid sister would back you up. She also believes that when she closes her eyes, things go away. > [@](#): > > You gave examples of movies and shows that were accepted in their time. Those movies and cartoons still exist. Profit-driven corporations own them. But they won’t release them for fear of the backlash. This is not a matter entirely in the past. It is in effect today. > [@](#): > > You gave examples of non-commedians making fun of non-blacks (what does judge Ito have to do with this topic). Read the title of the thread. > [@](#): > > And you gave just plain incorrect interpretations of Spike Lee’s movies. Yeah, justifying a race riot is all about love and peace. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-man-makes-fun-of-blacks-everyone-laughs/153114/88 "2003-02-08T22:23:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Pucky Schumer \* > \*\*By misconstruing other people’s statements? Not a chance. \*\* I don’t think you’re misconstruing anything. I think you are being deliberately dense. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Pucky Schumer \*\*\* > See what I mean. Not what I said. I wanted pizzabrat, et al, to cite more than one example. You haven’t. \*\* SNL. Mad TV. Andrew Dice Clay. Sarah Silverman. These are were all mentioned in this thread. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Pucky Schumer \* > \*\* > Yes. And look at the condemnation directed at those comics. > Q.E.D. \*\* What condemnation? We keep asking for examples of this condemnation and you never deliver. Put up or shut up. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Pucky Schumer \* > \*\* > If you support the bashing of an ethnic group, you support racism. > If you are hostile towards whites – and you clearly are – you are a racist. \*\* And if you support commedians, the terrorist have already won. What? That makes as much sense as what dear **Pucky** said. ---
**Author:** ![Pucky\_Schumer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/74df32/32.png) [@Pucky\_Schumer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pucky_Schumer)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-man-makes-fun-of-blacks-everyone-laughs/153114/89 "2003-02-08T22:25:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by you with the face \* > \*\*I guess you missed where I submitted for your approval Saturday Night Live. > > So I will say it again: That show habitually employs “look at how funny black people behave…they’re CRAZY!” type of humor. It’s coming on tomorrow night. Take a critical look at it.\*\* Oh, I’m aware of the humor. But that humor _is_ criticized vociferously. > [@](#): > > As a skinny girl myself, I don’t like it when people make fun of my physique (particularly my chest and ass), but it would be a lie for me to say that I feel hurt by comedians making fun of the Calista Flockhart’s of the world. However, I’d be willing to bet my life savings that overweight folks take it a lot more personally when comedians make fun of other fat people. And this is my point. Fat people are more likely to take offense at fat jokes than skinny folks take offense at skinny bashing. This disparity in response is not because skinny people are more stoic and fat people are more whiny. It is because, at the end of the day, who has it easier? Fat people or skinny people? Our notions of correctness are often driven by which groups are the most organized and which get the most media exposure. Today, the plus-size groups are more organized and vocal. Tomorrow, someone else will be. Once it was fairly common to bash gays and lesbians. Then they organized. Today, Hispanics seem to be getting cast a lot as the bad guys. I’m sure protests will be made. I disagree with the idea of “at the end of the day, who has it easier.” It takes away individuality and assigns us rights by our membership in grievance groups. ---
**Author:** ![Pucky\_Schumer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/74df32/32.png) [@Pucky\_Schumer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pucky_Schumer)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-man-makes-fun-of-blacks-everyone-laughs/153114/90 "2003-02-08T22:29:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Biggirl \* > \*\* > SNL. Mad TV. Andrew Dice Clay. Sarah Silverman. These are were all mentioned in this thread. \*\* And **all** of these comics have taken heat for what they’ve said. So the idea that “white person makes fun of blacks and everyone laughs” is **not** holding up. > [@](#): > > We keep asking for examples of this condemnation and you never deliver. Put up or shut up. You’re kidding, right? ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-man-makes-fun-of-blacks-everyone-laughs/153114/91 "2003-02-08T23:08:46Z")
> [@](#): > > You’re kidding, right? Probably not. You have _asserted_ that the white commedians who have had black targets have “taken heat” for their humor. You have provided no evidence to support your assertion. I can remember Clay taking a lot of “heat” for being a jerk. I do not remember any great outcry against his humor for being aimed at blacks. Complaints might occasionally include “…and he’s a racist,” but the thrust of the criticism was against his crudity, not his perceived racial humor. Given that none of the people named have been forced out of the business or forced to change their routines, it would seem that there is no reason to suppose that they are in any danger from being shut down by the PC crowd. Do you have any _ewvidence_ that the folowing assertion was not simply pulled out of your hat? > [@](#): > > And besides, I’ve read numerous articles about people and companies being sued for making jokes about protected classes. For example, can you name one? ---
**Author:** ![Pucky\_Schumer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/74df32/32.png) [@Pucky\_Schumer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pucky_Schumer)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-man-makes-fun-of-blacks-everyone-laughs/153114/92 "2003-02-08T23:21:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tomndebb \* > **Given that none of the people named have been forced out of the business or forced to change their routines,** What does that have to do with the OP’s contention that no one found their material objectionable? > [@](#): > > Do you have any _ewvidence_ that the folowing assertion was not simply pulled out of your hat? For example, can you name one? \*\* Ewvidence? Sure: here you go. From you yourself. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tomndebb \* > \*\*… I can remember Clay taking a lot of “heat” for being a jerk. I do not remember any great outcry against his humor for being aimed at blacks. Complaints might occasionally include “…and he’s a racist,” but the thrust of the criticism was against his crudity, not his perceived racial humor. "Complaints might occasionally include “…and he’s a racist,” Thanks for the backup. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-man-makes-fun-of-blacks-everyone-laughs/153114/93 "2003-02-08T23:45:57Z")
No one has claimed that there has nevcer been a complaint. The point is that we see frequent posts, here, that claim that whites are _not allowed_ to direct humor at blacks. Who has been prevented from doing that. The actual statement of the OP was that > [@](#): > > Many times I hear “double standard. Blacks are racist! They can make fun of white people but whites can’t make fun of blacks”. There was no claim that some whites would not suffer some complaints from some people over humor aimed at blacks. There was the note that the claim is made that they _cannot_ do so. (Are you simply practicing for the Disingenuous Olympics?) ---
**Author:** ![Pucky\_Schumer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/74df32/32.png) [@Pucky\_Schumer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pucky_Schumer)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-man-makes-fun-of-blacks-everyone-laughs/153114/94 "2003-02-08T23:57:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tomndebb \* > **No one has claimed that there has nevcer been a complaint. The point is that we see frequent posts, here, that claim that whites are _not allowed_ to direct humor at blacks. Who has been prevented from doing that.** You could see frequent posts on that. I’m not the one making them. I am merely challenging the Opie’s contention that everyone finds such humor acceptable today. I do not think that’s the case. As for not being allowed to do it, it is more a case of self-censorship. Also, no major network would put on a show with the type of humor that was permissable, say, thirty or forty years ago. > [@](#): > > The actual statement of the OP was thatThere was no claim that some whites would not suffer some complaints from some people over humor aimed at blacks. There was the note that the claim is made that they _cannot_ do so. (Are you simply practicing for the Disingenuous Olympics?) \*\* No, am am actually _reading_ the original post. It is reposted here so you can read it as well. The quotes you just invented are clearly false and dishonest. If you’re comfortable acting that way, so be it. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by pizzabrat \* > \*\*Tonight on Comedy Central’s Comic Groove, a white commedian got on stage in front of a black audience and proceeded to make jokes about blacks. One example is the advice he have to black clubgoers covered in jewlrey, “if you bought your platinum at a liquor store, it’s probably not real”. Another his commentary on black slang “brothers can speak an entire sentence without saying anything”. But did anyone in the audience boo or get huffy? No, they laughed. Well, everyone, looks like your What-it machines were broken the whole time. A white commedian made fun of blacks and nobody rioted! Many times I hear “double standard. Blacks are racist! They can make fun of white people but whites can’t make fun of blacks”. Once again, it seems that the “oppressed white male” (and his Chinese sychophant) is shown for what he is, a baseless whiner. \*\* ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2003, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-man-makes-fun-of-blacks-everyone-laughs/153114/95 "2003-02-09T00:18:53Z")
First you claim: > [@](#): > > The quotes you just invented are clearly false and dishonest. Then you repost the OP, including the exact sentence I quoted: > [@](#): > > Tonight on Comedy Central’s Comic Groove, a white commedian got on stage in front of a black audience and proceeded to make jokes about blacks. One example is the advice he have to black clubgoers covered in jewlrey, “if you bought your platinum at a liquor store, it’s probably not real”. Another his commentary on black slang “brothers can speak an entire sentence without saying anything”. But did anyone in the audience boo or get huffy? No, they laughed. Well, everyone, looks like your What-it machines were broken the whole time. A white commedian made fun of blacks and nobody rioted! **Many times I hear “double standard. Blacks are racist! They can make fun of white people but whites can’t make fun of blacks”.** Once again, it seems that the “oppressed white male” (and his Chinese sychophant) is shown for what he is, a baseless whiner. Now that we have cleared up just who is being dishonest. . . . ---
**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:** [February 9, 2003, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-man-makes-fun-of-blacks-everyone-laughs/153114/96 "2003-02-09T00:35:29Z")
> [@](#): > > Our notions of correctness are often driven by which groups are the most organized and which get the most media exposure. Today, the plus-size groups are more organized and vocal. Tomorrow, someone else will be. Offensiveness isn’t dictated by PC-ness, however. And offensiveness is what we are really talking about. Playfully tell a girl she’s as skinny as a rail and she’s probably not going to complain too much. Playfully tell a girl she’s a Holstein heifer, however, and prepare to run. This disparity in response is what makes it more acceptable to tell skinny jokes than fat ones. Not some nebulous concept of PC-ness. And personally, I don’t put a lot of stock in the PC concept. It irritates me when, in one breath, people whine about how obnoxiously PC everything is, and in the next breath, they start complaining when Chris Rock uses the word “cracker” on stage. What is it that they want? > [@](#): > > I disagree with the idea of “at the end of the day, who has it easier.” It takes away individuality and assigns us rights by our membership in grievance groups. It’s reality, though. Ask an average obese teenager how much they’d give to be skinny. Now ask an average underweight kid how much they’d give to be obese. Do they equal out? > [@](#): > > Oh, I’m aware of the humor. But that humor is criticized vociferously. I haven’t seen the criticism. Apparently it hasn’t been too “vociferous”, since they keep on with the same tired format, weekend after weekend. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2003, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-man-makes-fun-of-blacks-everyone-laughs/153114/97 "2003-02-09T00:37:51Z")
> [@](#): > > I am merely challenging the Opie’s contention that everyone finds such humor acceptable today. I think you’re just as guilty of misconstruing posts as you believe we are regarding yours. ---
**Author:** ![Pucky\_Schumer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/74df32/32.png) [@Pucky\_Schumer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pucky_Schumer)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2003, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-man-makes-fun-of-blacks-everyone-laughs/153114/98 "2003-02-09T01:43:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tomndebb \* > \*\*First you claim: Then you repost the OP, including the exact sentence I quoted:Now that we have cleared up just who is being dishonest. . . . \*\* Indeed we have. Your post, quoted below, was never in the OP: > [@](#): > > The actual statement of the OP was thatThere was no claim that some whites would not suffer some complaints from some people over humor aimed at blacks. I’m not seeing that “actual statement of the OP.” ---
**Author:** ![Pucky\_Schumer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/74df32/32.png) [@Pucky\_Schumer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pucky_Schumer)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2003, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-man-makes-fun-of-blacks-everyone-laughs/153114/99 "2003-02-09T01:48:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by you with the face \* > \*\*Offensiveness isn’t dictated by PC-ness, however. And offensiveness is what we are really talking about. Playfully tell a girl she’s as skinny as a rail and she’s probably not going to complain too much. Playfully tell a girl she’s a Holstein heifer, however, and prepare to run. This disparity in response is what makes it more acceptable to tell skinny jokes than fat ones. Not some nebulous concept of PC-ness. \*\* Fifty years ago it was acceptable for whites to do blackface. Some degree of social sanction applies. Today, it’s often labeled PC. Whatever you call it, it still operates. And under U.S. law, any such comments about a woman’s appearance could very well lead to sexual harassment complaints, job termination, lawsuits, etc. > [@](#): > > And personally, I don’t put a lot of stock in the PC concept. It irritates me when, in one breath, people whine about how obnoxiously PC everything is, and in the next breath, they start complaining when Chris Rock uses the word “cracker” on stage. What is it that they want? Fairness? Lack of hypocrisy? Doing unto others as you would have them do unto you? ---
**Author:** ![Pucky\_Schumer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/74df32/32.png) [@Pucky\_Schumer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pucky_Schumer)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2003, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-man-makes-fun-of-blacks-everyone-laughs/153114/100 "2003-02-09T01:51:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by monstro \* > \*\*I think you’re just as guilty of misconstruing posts as you believe we are regarding yours. \*\* Most people who have challenged me on this seem to insist on bringing up arguments that **other** people have raised. And I still have not seen any one of you cite a white comic who ridicules black people “and everyone laughs.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-man-makes-fun-of-blacks-everyone-laughs/153114.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-man-makes-fun-of-blacks-everyone-laughs/153114.md?page=6)