Blond jokes...whether good or bad, something to think about...

[Beth Andrea]

So it seems blond jokes are commonplace, not just here but all over in real life. I understand some (most?) people don't mind them,  but I find them offensive, for the same reason I find all such ethnic jokes offensive...it stereotypes an entire group of people with a negative trait.

When I was growing up (early 70's) such jokes--primarily about "ni**ers"--were all the rage, but my mom would have nothing to do with them, and taught me to respect people for themselves, because that's the right thing to do.

Yet here it is, in tbe21st century, and the only "acceptable" butts of jokes are blonds, and white males.

And rich people.

May I ask, if you partake of these things, what it is you find funny about them? Do you--you, not famous comedians--deliver other ethnic jokes? Given that people find them offensive, why?

And don't mention "thin skins"...some ethnic joke punchlines are about critically important personal traits, like intelligence and work ethics. Such very personal traits deserve to be defended, thin skins be damned.

Open discussion otherwise.

[BunnyBee]

I'm blonde.   I don't mind them.  In fact I like being stereotyped as ditzy.  People put their guards down, and that is when I STRIKE!

[Shawn Sunshine]

I dunno its basically the same mentality of shows like South Park and Family Guy, make fun of everyone, and when everyone is made fun of, no one will be funny anymore. I like a good joke though as long as it doesn't harm anyone.

Black comedians can get away with making fun of white folks, because of the painful past of slavery and racism, I think.

But people do take it way too far, I personally do not find making fun of blondes to be funny, but I have brown hair and I can be a total air head sometimes and do something that people find funny.

[Joe.]

This is a difficult one. I find them funny, but I'm not too sure why it's based on blonde people as I don't actually know any stupid blonde people. People can be stupid regardless of their hair colour and I think that blonde just happens to be the colour that everyone has used for the joke. I can find jokes about other groups of people funny, it depends on the context though. Some jokes are funny, some just plain and simple go too far. I think the thing with humour is that everyone's is different. What one person finds funny can be very different to what another person finds funny, whether it's about a group of people or not. For example what people class as 'dirty jokes'. Some people find them absolutely hilarious and some people find them completely out of order. I think that humour is a very personal thing and if one person finds something funny, I think people should respect that. But it also goes the other way around. If someone doesn't find a joke funny, then you both leave it and you learn not to tell a joke like that again in the future. I have very different levels of humour and there are certain jokes that I would tell my friends because I know they'd find it funny but I wouldn't dream of telling my parents as they don't share my friend's humour. I've started to ramble on now. I hope this makes sense. I don't think you're wrong in what you're saying and I can see where you're coming from, but I don't necessarily think you're completely right either.
Joey

[BunnyBee]

I think an absolutely necessary component of ethnic or caste based discrimination is subjugation, therefore a non-oppressed class can never claim discrimination, imo.  Those words carry weight and feel like hate because they are loaded with a history of pain and suffering.  Also, the group in power can't be discriminated against, because, well, they have the power.  If you try to do anything to them, they'll just squash you.

So jokes about white men or blondes can't be put in the same category as racist or homophobic ones.   That's my opinion anyway.  I am sure some would disagree with me.

[Joe.]

So jokes about white men or blondes can't be put in the same category as racist or homophobic ones.   That's my opinion anyway.  I am sure some would disagree with me.

I think that jokes about white men can be put in the same category as racist and homophobic ones (White is a race). Not everywhere do white people have all the power.

Joey

[BunnyBee]

Where they don't have power I agree that they would be in the same category as other racist jokes, especially if in those places they have a history of being exploited or oppressed.

In the US and a LOT of places in the first world, no.

[Padma]

Interesting mention of South Park - who are the proximate cause of making many red haired people's lives more miserable, since they introduced their whole "gingers have no souls" thing into the cultural insult food chain. Personally, I don't like jokes that insult people anyway. I notice, incidentally, that blonde jokes don't single out blonds, just blonde *women*, so they're a handy vehicle for misogyny.
If you're the kind of person who isn't easily hurt by jibes and insults, be grateful and also cultivate some empathy for those who are not like you. I've been called all manner of things in my time for being, let's see: short-sighted, skinny, tall, Jewish, buck-toothed, smart, nerdy, not heterosexual enough, not homosexual enough, not a "proper man", not a "proper woman". It all hurt. Because it's meant to.

[BunnyBee]

I can see the misogyny aspect, but its really tangential.  The reason blonde jokes exist is because blondes have been generally considered to be attractive for some reason and therefore aren't known for having to use their intellect to get by, and I know some people like brunettes etc.  But that's where the idea of a dumb blonde comes from.

I think the way society values appearance in women over intellect is misogynistic, so I'm kinda with you, but society does value looks in women, so I wouldn't say the foundation of the joke is oppressive per se.  I don't know I don't find blonde jokes offensive, yet if you substituted the word woman for blonde in any of those jokes I would find them very offensive.  Weird, but it makes sense to me.

[Brooke777]

I love blond jokes! Mainly because my three sisters are blond. They don't fit into any of the jokes, as they are all really smart. But, it is still fun to tease them.

I also partake in jokes about Native Americans. But, I only do this around my family and close family friends because my dad's side is Native American. I am actually the first generation born off the reservation.

I find that when people make jokes about themselves or their families it is OK. However, I don't like it when they make ones about other people. I just find it tasteless for some reason.

[BunnyBee]

PS i don't think South Park with their ginger jokes or any of that stuff is funny in the least.

[Jamie D]

It is said the the essence of comedy is tragedy.

A man slips on a banana peel.  It is funny to everyone except the man.  So it goes with most jokes - somebody has to be the foil.

And life would be so dull without comedy, laughter, humor, and mirth.

Which reminds me...

There was a very successful blonde business woman, driving out in the countryside one weekend afternoon, in her convertible Mercedes.  As she rounded the corner of a tree-lined lane, she looked out in the field and saw a blonde farmgirl, sitting in a boat, trying to row!  On dry land!

This ditzy behavior made the businesswoman angry, so she stopped her car, and stood up, yelling at the farmgirl.

"It's dumb blondes like you that give all of us blondes a bad name!" she shouted.

"And if I knew how to swim, I swim out there and kick you ass!"



(I know - I'm bad.  But sometimes I just can't help myself!)

[Shang]

As long as the joke isn't being intended to be malicious, I'm okay with it.  I'll laugh and I'll make jokes and I don't get offended if people make jokes related to anything that I can be considered a part of and chances are I'll laugh and even joke about it as well.  Hell, one of my favorite jokes involves the trans* community.  But it's just a joke and nothing more. 

I don't understand getting offended at things like jokes unless it was quite obvious that the person was being malicious about it and/or really believes what the joke is saying.

Edit: 

Specifically on blonde jokes:  I have occasionally engaged in them, but primarily with my sister and mother [who are both blonde haired] who will laugh and then give a wickedly funny blonde joke back and/or give a brunette joke back [I'm a brunette].  I've only really done the jokes when my sister or mother are doing something that is stereotypically blonde.  We're a rather laid back family, though, and don't get all that offended at jokes unless the intent is to hurt.

[crazy at the coast]

I don't think you can compare a blonde joke to an ethnic joke. Blondes aren't really an oppressed group of people and not all blondes were born that way, some chose their blonde lifestyle.  I'm a mostly(ie "dirty") blonde person myself and I don't concern myself with blonde jokes as I don't see them as attacks or oppression, its just silliness. And I don't think people see a blonde and say "wow, there's one of them now, better not confuse them." 

[Elspeth]

I only know one person who tells blonde jokes (and from her I think they are funny) -- but she's a someone who went to med school with my ex. Context and delivery are everything.

[Beth Andrea]

I don't think you can compare a blonde joke to an ethnic joke. Blondes aren't really an oppressed group of people and not all blondes were born that way, some chose their blonde lifestyle.  I'm a mostly(ie "dirty") blonde person myself and I don't concern myself with blonde jokes as I don't see them as attacks or oppression, its just silliness. And I don't think people see a blonde and say "wow, there's one of them now, better not confuse them."

That is irrelevant. Ethnic jokes are a way of keeping a people "in their place", and making ethnic jokes against "those in power" are a way of removing that group from their place. Keeping people in their place, and removing people, are both egregious actions against whole populations.

If it's justifiable because of past evils (none of which were done by those presently living), then we could justify oppressing any ethnic group, based on past behaviors and actions, even if it happened thousands of years ago. One of the basic tenets of justice is "the son shall not incur punishment for the actions of the father"...yet we see that in action here.

There was a time when blacks also partook of self-hating "jokes"...that's the basic argument for why NO ONE should use the "N" word, even (especially!) black people. Yassuh, Massuh Suh, we's be dum n happy fo' Massuh...

If you want to be oppressed, accept and perform these things...if you don't want to be, then DON'T. If "being squashed" is in fact a real threat, face it head on! Squash back! It's been done before in history, where a small group (not 10 individuals, but perhaps 10 individuals who rallied AN ENTIRE SUBJUGATED PEOPLE) took on a great power and WON. If you're not willing to fight for your place, then perhaps you are, by nature, a subjugatable people?

Hey, did you hear about the blond...

Hey, did you hear about the Jew...

Hey, did you hear the one about the priest...

Don't want oppression in any form? Don't do "jokes" that are tools of oppression.

[peky]

So it seems blond jokes are commonplace, not just here but all over in real life. I understand some (most?) people don't mind them,  but I find them offensive, for the same reason I find all such ethnic jokes offensive...it stereotypes an entire group of people with a negative trait.

When I was growing up (early 70's) such jokes--primarily about "ni**ers"--were all the rage, but my mom would have nothing to do with them, and taught me to respect people for themselves, because that's the right thing to do.

Yet here it is, in tbe21st century, and the only "acceptable" butts of jokes are blonds, and white males.

And rich people.

and you forgot the and the jokes about the FAT PEOPLE

BWT they are still making ethnic jokes in the 21st century.


When you go to the dungeons of the rich people's house in the ruins of Pompeii you will see jokes written in Aramaic by the Jews making fun of their roman masters...

[crazy at the coast]

Ok, I'm sorry, but I'm starting to think I might just be a little too blonde to get this, but it just seems to me that you're really stretching things here where blonde jokes are concerned.

[Jamie D]

That is irrelevant. Ethnic jokes are a way of keeping a people "in their place", and making ethnic jokes against "those in power" are a way of removing that group from their place. Keeping people in their place, and removing people, are both egregious actions against whole populations.

If it's justifiable because of past evils (none of which were done by those presently living), then we could justify oppressing any ethnic group, based on past behaviors and actions, even if it happened thousands of years ago. One of the basic tenets of justice is "the son shall not incur punishment for the actions of the father"...yet we see that in action here.

There was a time when blacks also partook of self-hating "jokes"...that's the basic argument for why NO ONE should use the "N" word, even (especially!) black people. Yassuh, Massuh Suh, we's be dum n happy fo' Massuh...

If you want to be oppressed, accept and perform these things...if you don't want to be, then DON'T. If "being squashed" is in fact a real threat, face it head on! Squash back! It's been done before in history, where a small group (not 10 individuals, but perhaps 10 individuals who rallied AN ENTIRE SUBJUGATED PEOPLE) took on a great power and WON. If you're not willing to fight for your place, then perhaps you are, by nature, a subjugatable people?

Hey, did you hear about the blond...

Hey, did you hear about the Jew...

Hey, did you hear the one about the priest...

Don't want oppression in any form? Don't do "jokes" that are tools of oppression.

Beth Andrea, I have seen places where real oppression takes place.  I would not go so far as to compare jokes to political oppression and other forms of tyranny.  In fact, the comparison is offensive.

[Constance]

Beth Andrea, I have seen places where real oppression takes place.  I would not go so far as to compare jokes to political oppression and other forms of tyranny.  In fact, the comparison is offensive.

I think I'd have to agree with the idea that jokes can be "tools of oppression." Thoughts and words can lead to actions. What one person dismisses as humor or satire can be seen as "outrageous bigotry" to another.