Should I be offended at Jewish jokes?

[DuchessOfDisaster]

Two of my FB friends run a comedy page - one of them is a professional comedian. Old school type, mother in law jokes and so on. One of them regularly posts Jewish jokes. There are never any racist, sexist, homophobic or ableist jokes or jokes about Muslims. But he posts Jewish jokes, often about Jewish mums, Jews being mean and tight, etc. I have to be honest - some of them are funny though I don't comment nor call him out. I am Jewish. Am I letting the side down?? I actually don't feel offended. I don't really care much. But should I? As one of those tiresome overused social media phrases goes "you are part of the problem" Am I?

@Travielkapelka

Oblomov21 Some posters on this thread say it's ok. Others say it isn't. Clearly it's not clear.

It’s very clear. It’s wrong. No grey line

This. It is clear. For those that want to see.

Why am I not surprised to see @Oblomov21 defending anti-semitism?

I'm not defending it. I don't support it. But it's very complex what some people see as it, and what others don't.

@Oblomov21

I'm not defending it. I don't support it. But it's very complex what some people see as it, and what others don't.

Some racists don't see racist jokes as racist. Yeah, very complex.

I'm Jewish too, and I love a good Jewish joke - I'm usually the first to tell them! I've only ever given the death stare when a 'joke' is outright anti-Semitic and/or cruelty disguised as 'humour'.

11 posters said :

"Jewish people telling Jewish jokes = fine.
Non-Jews joking about Jews being mean = not fine at all.
I agree with this. "

Many of those 11 posters said they were Jewish themselves and not offended.

@Oblomov21

11 posters said :

"Jewish people telling Jewish jokes = fine.
Non-Jews joking about Jews being mean = not fine at all.
I agree with this. "

Many of those 11 posters said they were Jewish themselves and not offended.

I see nothing to indicate the people mentioned in the OP are Jewish.

I wasn't referring to the OP.

20+ posters have said it's categorically not ok.

Jewish "jokes"are also racist. Imo.

@Oblomov21 Many Jewish posters have said it depends a) on who’s telling the joke, and b) the joke itself. Surely that’s not hard to understand?

Ballpoll I understand that this is what they said and meant.

But the 20+ posters who think it's anti Semitic and racist don't agree. I do of course understand their POV.

My interest is in the 2 sides and how they see it so differently.

Well as long as you're counting. 🙄

Why does that bother you ssl?

You don't like the facts? That roughly 11 posters, done of which are Jewish said it didn't bother them.

20+ posters said it does bother them in wrong and racist.

Argue the case with the 11 who said it doesn't bother them.

One of my parents was Jewish. I would find this offensive. Glad someone above has pointed out the history of money lenders and the "mean" stereotype.

If you are generally appalled by racist jokes but not jokes about Jews, I suggest you ask yourself why that is (this is aimed at no-one in particular, not the OP btw).

I second the recommendation for Jews Don't Count by Baddiel too.

@Oblomov21

Why does that bother you ssl?

You don't like the facts? That roughly 11 posters, done of which are Jewish said it didn't bother them.

20+ posters said it does bother them in wrong and racist.

Argue the case with the 11 who said it doesn't bother them.

I bothers me that you are obsessivly counting posts to try and pretend that there's nuiance behind peope making blatanly anti-Semetic jokes.

It's not like you don't have form. I remember you repeatedly using an anti-Semetic slur on the David Baddiel thread.

@Oblomov21

Ballpoll I understand that this is what they said and meant.

But the 20+ posters who think it's anti Semitic and racist don't agree. I do of course understand their POV.

My interest is in the 2 sides and how they see it so differently.

Sure.

I don't consider it anti Semitic. I know some do. I know plenty of Jews who don't. I regret using the word on mn. I could have made my point not using it. I wish I had.

I am a big lover of Jewish history. And have studied it extensively.

@Oblomov21

I don't consider it anti Semitic. I know some do. I know plenty of Jews who don't. I regret using the word on mn. I could have made my point not using it. I wish I had.

I am a big lover of Jewish history. And have studied it extensively.

Really?

@Oblomov21

I don't consider it anti Semitic. I know some do. I know plenty of Jews who don't. I regret using the word on mn. I could have made my point not using it. I wish I had.

I am a big lover of Jewish history. And have studied it extensively.

The word you used, the one beginning with y, is an anti Semetic-slur. Whether you consider it to be means fuck all. And yet you still continue to defend it l, and anti-Semetic jokes, while spouting patronising shite about "loving Jewish history".

Oh I see @Oblomov21 has inserted herself badly into another antisemitism thread. Why am I not surprised.

Does anyone think that 'jokes' about 'Jews being mean and tight' are ever ok?

I've not counted, but seems like most people can make the distinction between genuinely funny 'cultural' jokes and nasty stuff.

Tell them you’ve handed their names over to Mossad.

If they look worried, tell them it’s a joke.

@Nandakanda

Tell them you’ve handed their names over to Mossad.

If they look worried, tell them it’s a joke.

Fucking hilarious. 🙄

I think it's the same as with Irish jokes or any other nationality. If your joke genuinely relates to Jews themselves, then it might be funny, if maybe edgy. But if you could insert Poles/Ukrianians/Scots/Fresians or any other minority into the joke just to show how stupid or tight they are, then it's unacceptable.

Some jokes should best be told by Jews. Ashley Blaker is very funny on Radio 4, and his shtick couldn't be given by anyone else.