[Humour] Is this joke offensive?

[Baldseagull]

Yep, at the very least a grain of truth in that. But is it racist to say it if true?

I could say there is a section of Australian society that is racist sexist and stuck in the past, or even a large section, if I had some evidence to back it.
But just stating Aussies are racist and sexist is clearly a generalisation that is unfair and untrue. We all do it, me included, but we shouldn't.

 

[dsr-burnley]

I'm afraid you are 'wrong off the bat' there though. The 'little Kenyan' reference is an essential part of the joke. It is the visual humour. You have to be able to see the two characters in your mind's eye to appreciate the idea that this is not a heart pacemaker, so the Kenyan character is active.

Do we need to even reference his nationality? For example...

"I went to the Doctors last week and he said I've now got to have a pacemaker, so I've a got this little bloke in running shorts in front of me everywhere I go."

But why do you object to the pacemaker's nationality being mentioned, but not his size or his gender? Surely rather than "a little bloke in running shorts" it should be "a person in running shorts"?

 

[Hamilton]

But why do you object to the pacemaker's nationality being mentioned, but not his size or his gender? Surely rather than "a little bloke in running shorts" it should be "a person in running shorts"?

I was deconstructing it one part at a time. In removing the reference to nationality I have introduced gender.

I don't think gender is an issue here. If the joke is funny then the gender is interchangeable and not reliant on how the runner identifies their sex.

The 'little' could be removed entirely and the joke would still function. It would of course depend on how it is delivered.

So, it would now read:

"I went to the Doctors last week and he said I've now got to have a pacemaker, so I've a got someone in running shorts just in front of me everywhere I go."

 

[Binney on acid]

A Gerry and the Pacemakers fan might be offended by this joke. Who knows ?

 

[Pavilionaire]

Really you are joking? So it's an insult to state a complimentary fact fact that Kenya have produced a lot of world class distance runners? My sister in law is from Finland so I'd better ignore any joke that references the fact that they historically they are hot at rally driving?

So let me guess " little Kenyan " is both heightist with a hint colonial slavery? For gods sake!

This reminds me of the exchange in "The Office" between David Brent and his boss Jennifer about the black man's cock joke.

"I can see how someone would find that offensive," says Jennifer. "It's not racist though, I didn't say anything BAD about black people," says David in a voice that sounds like: "God, you can't say anything nowadays!" Jennifer says incredulously: "It's about a black man's cock!" David claims it could be a white man's cock just as well. "No, you're using the ethnic stereotype that all men have large penises, because you think that makes it funnier," says Jennifer. David stares at her, furrowing his brows like he just doesn't get it. David claims it's more of a compliment than an insult. Jennifer is too smart to miss the condescending tone of David's remark, and she sounds quite offended by it when she replies: "So what you're saying is that black people should be flattered that their only achievement in this world is having oversized genitalia?"

 

[carlzeiss]

Maybe open the other eye?

I don't have 3 , just the usual 2 .

 

[dejavuatbtn]

What this thread does is identify the problems many people are having in coming to terms with modern life and how to conduct themselves in a multicultural world and society. It’s a challenge considering how people will feel before opening one’s gob at times, but one that has to be met.

 

[bluenitsuj]

Anyone offended by that is a woke snowflake that needs to get a life.

 

[portlock seagull]

Many jokes depend on a stereotype, some of those are nasty stereotypes, some of them are sexist, racist, ageist, poke fun at disabilities, mock victims of disaster etc.
If the joke relies on a stereotype of your race or nationality, it is racist, even if it isn't nasty, and some people will be mildly offended that the comedian didn't take the time and effort to have made a better joke, without racial stereotyping.

You undo your faux outrage yourself by stating ‘nasty’ stereotypes! Exactly. Being well known for producing the worlds greatest athletes isn’t a “nasty” stereotype. It’s a glorious trait!

Unless of course you’re looking for offence and controversy. Which I suspect you are, so I’ll stop biting your bait.

 

[Neville's Breakfast]

Blimey, I expected this would have been sorted one way or the other by now. I’m a bit offended now that the pacemaker has to be Kenyan. We have quite fast runners over here as well. Not me, admittedly.

 

[WATFORD zero]

Having read through all this, the one observation I can make is that it seems there are far more offended by the prospect of anybody being offended by the joke than those that have actually been offended by the joke.

The funny thing is that is far funnier than the joke

 

[Greg Bobkin]

Attended a dinner in London night.

One of the Comedian's gags was...…

"I went to the Doctors last week and he said I've now got to have a pacemaker, so I've a got little Kenyan bloke comes everywhere with me now"

As one of the organisers of the dinner I was approached at the end and told by a guest they found that gag had crossed the line.

No doubt I will get flamed on here by some, but sorry with all that's currently going on in the country and the world in general, are we danger of becoming a little too precious?

I see what they did there...

I also see that you're 'offended' by people saying they're 'offended'

 

[Lenny Rider]

I see what they did there...

I also see that you're 'offended' by people saying they're 'offended'

Apologies Greg bored semi retired pensioner sees an opportunity to highlight what a crazy mixed up world we live in ��

 

[DavidinSouthampton]

It's racial stereotyping, so yes it's an offensive racist joke that you'd expect to hear from Jim Davidson and it's depressing that no one else can see it.

This.

I saw something on the BBC website today from Troy Deeney, saying that when he was at school the only black role models people could quote were for athletes/sportsmen Linford Christie, and for musicians Bob Marley. That’s a slight exaggeration, but his point was that he has two daughters, so where are the role models of black female scientists, doctors or others who could change the world.

 

[DavidinSouthampton]

Anyone offended by that is a woke snowflake that needs to get a life.

Does that include little Kenyan blokes?

 

[clapham_gull]

Other Jim Davidson DVDs are available.

 

[DavidinSouthampton]

Would the comedian have thought twice about telling that joke if Mo Farah had been in the audience, or guest of honour, even?

 

[Bold Seagull]

Anyone offended by that is a woke snowflake that needs to get a life.

Eyes down...NSC bingo cards at the ready...

 

[Greg Bobkin]

Apologies Greg bored semi retired pensioner sees an opportunity to highlight what a crazy mixed up world we live in ��

But your post doesn't really do that, does it? It's just a story about someone who didn't like a comment as part of a joke, that's all...

 

[Comrade Sam]

I woke the book and find it inoffensive but just a bit weak!