are "racist text message acceptable now?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Dang. That's a great line

But ... Bed Bath and Beyond went bankrupt?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Dang. That's a great line

But ... Bed Bath and Beyond went bankrupt?

You must be fun at parties.

I'm starting to see that the difference in opinions on this thread is less about tolerance of racism and more about presence of a sense of humor

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just make sure your kid knows that it’s not ok to make dog-eating jokes to Asians other than his “best friend.” A lot of us don’t think that’s funny. And the fact that he has an Asian best friend doesn’t give him a pass.

Dog eating is not funny. Bad drivers jokes instead?

I prefer jokes about small penises and slanted vaginas in my post-racial utopia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Dang. That's a great line

But ... Bed Bath and Beyond went bankrupt?

You must be fun at parties.

I'm starting to see that the difference in opinions on this thread is less about tolerance of racism and more about presence of a sense of humor

Umm, that was a joke.

I agree that sense of humor, or lack thereof, is a huge part of this topic. So many people have earnestly lost their sense of humor. Also, doesn't come across the same online as on person, which kids today (or some on this thread) may not realize.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's interesting that so many people are worried about statements being recorded or possible college admissions blow back. How about just raising a decent human being who conducts themselves with integrity and treats people with respect - like most of our parents taught us?

They don't care that they are racists, they only care that people knowing they are racist will negatively affect their lives. Hence these parents think it's fine to say all this stuff, just don't post it on twitter or your college might see and rescind your admission. Keep that racism on the DL!

This is so stupid.

Most regular people disagree with your premise. Joking about race, even in a “offensive” way, doesn’t constitute “racism.” Deal with it.

At the same time, we’re also pragmatic and care about the welfare of our kids, so we don’t want them subjected to this Scarlet Letter BS (typically at the hands of some middle-aged white lady or a “DEI professional”); so yes, they should learn to keep certain comments private.

+1000 we joked all the time about race growing up in the 90s. Dave Chapelle was hysterical. My Filipino friend always got called Chinese by ignorant people so we called him our Chinese friend as a joke. My Jewish friend was one of the cheapest people I’ve ever met and we would all rag on him for it and he would make fun of himself. Everyone once in awhile someone would cross a line and get corrected. Racism used to be actually hating or looking down on another race as inferior. Making jokes about cultural differences and stereotypes is not even close to the same thing.

And yeah I would 100 percent get cancelled these days. Probably could never run for office.

I’ll never forget when I was in college a group of us were walking through Bed Bath and Beyond, and it was during the holidays. There were tons of Christmas displays and decorations, and just one lame shelf of Hanukkah stuff. I said “I feel so bad for the Jewish people - they get shafted with one half hearted holiday display.” My Jewish friend leaned over and whispered in my ear “don’t worry - we own the store.”

Dang. That's a great line

Right?!? I mean he’s a funny guy in general (we’re still very close - he married my BFF) but I still remember that, 25+ years later.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've long since left behind trying to educate people about why these jokes are harmful. People who seemingly don't understand really don't want to understand. This was always the case, they were just more covert in recent past.

And yet I still get sucked into posts like this. You'd think I would have nearby now.

We all know you say many unflattering things about other people behind closed doors, if not to their faces. That's why they don't listen to your "education". You're insincere and holier than thou.

I mean that’s kind of how most of these people are. They’re all for equity in schools, until it affects their kids school. They’re all about diversifying the area, but not their specific neighborhood (we paid a premium to live here!). They’re pro illegal immigration because who else will clean their house and pick their fruits and veggies? As long as those same immigrants don’t live by them…

They’ve become a parody of themselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just make sure your kid knows that it’s not ok to make dog-eating jokes to Asians other than his “best friend.” A lot of us don’t think that’s funny. And the fact that he has an Asian best friend doesn’t give him a pass.

Dog eating is not funny. Bad drivers jokes instead?

Not funny TO YOU.

Very funny to this friend group.

And if you're comfortable with bad driving jokes but not with dog-eating jokes, then you're really not that much different than these boys; its only a question of scale

And scale is important. Tropes that trade on the weirdness and foreignness of Asians are more insidious than jokes about driving skills. If all the kids like these jokes, ok fine. But the fact that you as the adult seem to revel in their freedom to make race-based jokes is very curious. Do you wish you could make racist jokes with impunity?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just make sure your kid knows that it’s not ok to make dog-eating jokes to Asians other than his “best friend.” A lot of us don’t think that’s funny. And the fact that he has an Asian best friend doesn’t give him a pass.

Dog eating is not funny. Bad drivers jokes instead?

Not funny TO YOU.

Very funny to this friend group.

And if you're comfortable with bad driving jokes but not with dog-eating jokes, then you're really not that much different than these boys; its only a question of scale

And scale is important. Tropes that trade on the weirdness and foreignness of Asians are more insidious than jokes about driving skills. If all the kids like these jokes, ok fine. But the fact that you as the adult seem to revel in their freedom to make race-based jokes is very curious. Do you wish you could make racist jokes with impunity?

DP
If I could be as funny and brilliant as Chapelle, yes, I wish I could

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just make sure your kid knows that it’s not ok to make dog-eating jokes to Asians other than his “best friend.” A lot of us don’t think that’s funny. And the fact that he has an Asian best friend doesn’t give him a pass.

Dog eating is not funny. Bad drivers jokes instead?

Not funny TO YOU.

Very funny to this friend group.

And if you're comfortable with bad driving jokes but not with dog-eating jokes, then you're really not that much different than these boys; its only a question of scale

And scale is important. Tropes that trade on the weirdness and foreignness of Asians are more insidious than jokes about driving skills. If all the kids like these jokes, ok fine. But the fact that you as the adult seem to revel in their freedom to make race-based jokes is very curious. Do you wish you could make racist jokes with impunity?

Asians are like 60% of the world population. Why are they acting so put upon? I thought punching up was always ok?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just make sure your kid knows that it’s not ok to make dog-eating jokes to Asians other than his “best friend.” A lot of us don’t think that’s funny. And the fact that he has an Asian best friend doesn’t give him a pass.

Dog eating is not funny. Bad drivers jokes instead?

Not funny TO YOU.

Very funny to this friend group.

And if you're comfortable with bad driving jokes but not with dog-eating jokes, then you're really not that much different than these boys; its only a question of scale

And scale is important. Tropes that trade on the weirdness and foreignness of Asians are more insidious than jokes about driving skills. If all the kids like these jokes, ok fine. But the fact that you as the adult seem to revel in their freedom to make race-based jokes is very curious. Do you wish you could make racist jokes with impunity?

Asians are like 60% of the world population. Why are they acting so put upon? I thought punching up was always ok?

Are you really this dense? Asians are like 2 percent of Americans. We are talking about American kids. The nation has a history of excluding Asians for being weirdo foreigners. White people making Asian jokes is not punching up. If you think so then you need a history lesson.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just make sure your kid knows that it’s not ok to make dog-eating jokes to Asians other than his “best friend.” A lot of us don’t think that’s funny. And the fact that he has an Asian best friend doesn’t give him a pass.

Dog eating is not funny. Bad drivers jokes instead?

Not funny TO YOU.

Very funny to this friend group.

And if you're comfortable with bad driving jokes but not with dog-eating jokes, then you're really not that much different than these boys; its only a question of scale

And scale is important. Tropes that trade on the weirdness and foreignness of Asians are more insidious than jokes about driving skills. If all the kids like these jokes, ok fine. But the fact that you as the adult seem to revel in their freedom to make race-based jokes is very curious. Do you wish you could make racist jokes with impunity?

Asians are like 60% of the world population. Why are they acting so put upon? I thought punching up was always ok?

Are you really this dense? Asians are like 2 percent of Americans. We are talking about American kids. The nation has a history of excluding Asians for being weirdo foreigners. White people making Asian jokes is not punching up. If you think so then you need a history lesson.

They are not 2% in every area. Or in schools. White kids are minority in schools.

[Anonymous]

You think it’s ok for white kids to make black jokes if they are the minority in a majority-black school? You think that counts as punching up? Ok you try that out and see what happens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just make sure your kid knows that it’s not ok to make dog-eating jokes to Asians other than his “best friend.” A lot of us don’t think that’s funny. And the fact that he has an Asian best friend doesn’t give him a pass.

Dog eating is not funny. Bad drivers jokes instead?

Not funny TO YOU.

Very funny to this friend group.

And if you're comfortable with bad driving jokes but not with dog-eating jokes, then you're really not that much different than these boys; its only a question of scale

And scale is important. Tropes that trade on the weirdness and foreignness of Asians are more insidious than jokes about driving skills. If all the kids like these jokes, ok fine. But the fact that you as the adult seem to revel in their freedom to make race-based jokes is very curious. Do you wish you could make racist jokes with impunity?

Asians are like 60% of the world population. Why are they acting so put upon? I thought punching up was always ok?

Are you really this dense? Asians are like 2 percent of Americans. We are talking about American kids. The nation has a history of excluding Asians for being weirdo foreigners. White people making Asian jokes is not punching up. If you think so then you need a history lesson.

They are not 2% in every area. Or in schools. White kids are minority in schools.

+1
My kids are in Blair. It’s 77% minority. They are all ragging on each other.

[Anonymous]

Of course people can "take jokes" better from very close friends and family members than acquaintances and strangers. That's because they should KNOW each other well enough to know what will hurt, and also because people are more likely to give the benefit of the doubt when someone screws up (which still happens) so they don't lose the relationship. These are very much the exceptions, not the rules.

That doesn't make saying anything OK in a big group of teenage boys (...yikes, you guys seriously think they're making racist jokes as a form of post-racial enlightenment?), or on the internet. Especially on the internet, geez.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You think it’s ok for white kids to make black jokes if they are the minority in a majority-black school? You think that counts as punching up? Ok you try that out and see what happens.

That was your takeaway?

Adults have a very hard time with these conversations, as shown. Some kids at least are over it.