From: utzoo!laura Newsgroups: net.jokes.d Title: Re: Ethnic jokes Article-I.D.: utzoo.2195 Posted: Mon Jun 21 04:47:18 1982 Received: Mon Jun 21 04:47:18 1982 References: sdcatta.450 There are many sorts of jokes, I know, but some of them fall under the broad category of 'funny' becuse they present unexpected information, or expected information at an unexpected time. 'charactiture' jokes usually are of the second type. Thus many jokes relying on the supposed 'weakness' of a group are funny, because, although we are aware that the stereotype exists, in the unexpected context of the joke it is surprising. Jokes for the most part form a pattern, which is why so many jokes can be made in the first place. If I need a pious person in a joke I dont want to give a character sketch of a person (my jokes are long enough anyway, more shaggy dog stories than anything else) I know that everyone will understand what I want if I use a rabbi or a nun. I know many nuns and rabbis who in no way fit the nun stereotype, but the stereotype is useful becuse if I had to do a complete character developement of all my characters my audience is likely to fall asleep before the punch-line. (Some do this *anyway*, I need all the help I can get!) I usually tell jokes to my friends who are *not racist*. I actually think that in all but a very few cases, a joke can not be discriminatory, it is only the listeners who can be so. Of course, this doesnt preclude me from objecting to any joke which I dont particularily like -- but then I think that some jokes are *bad* and some are *in bad taste* but I dont assume that their originator is intending to spread racism. So the final solution would be to have an exam given to all would-be subscribers to net.jokes to iliminate all the bigots and the racists who couldnt read jokes which they might take the wrong way. Frightening, isnt it? subscription list -- net.jokes.jew,net.jokes.fem,!net.jokes.california All in all i think that there is no satisfactory solution until there are no more racists ...(i know, im dreaming)...but it is unfair to call those who tell net.jokes.q jokes racist on that basis. laura creighton decvax!utzoo!laura