Is this casual racism? Along the lines of ching chong jokes?

[Cimcardishan]

I'm BBC (British born Chinese) and feel that it seems more permissible to be casually racist about Chinese than other racial groups. A few years ago there used to be a Chinese tea advert with a kung fu monk and really bad accent which just felt wrong to me. I don't think that kind of advert would have been made about jerk chicken or naan bread for example.

Someone just posted on my FB jokes with Chinese accent, one liners, eg.Tie my shoe Tai Mai Shu

OK, thats pretty rubbish but it was a long list of them. It wasn't to me personally.

I found it old fashioned and un PC. I feel if someone posted this with Jamaican or Indian accents it would be disapproved of.

Am I being oversensitive?

Casta
Have you asked me if i feel bullied for having my essex accent taken the piss out of in a daily basis?

I worked in the City of london for over 20 years before working local in Essex. The toffs and the essex ribbed each other terribly over differing accents. No offence taken by anyone.

Flat, I'm assuming nothing. I don't know your colleague. I am responding as an Irish woman who has lived in this country for longer than your colleague, and who has, on more occasions than I can count, had to choose between making a 'fuss'/looking 'humourless' or attempting to laugh off people taking the piss out of my accent and nationality.

I have plenty of self-confidence, but you tell me, how you do politely point out to one of the other godparents in the middle of a baptism ceremony in an enormous cathedral that doing what he perceived to be an imitation of my accent when making the vows on behalf of the baby was really not appreciated, without ruining the day for my close friend and her family? He probably also thought it was hilarious and what terribly, terribly good fun I was.

I can equally imagine that disrupting a work situation in an office might also be very difficult.

And, given that you're so sure this woman is fine with this, what about the next Irish person you meet socially or professionally? Do you gaily sail in again with the piss-taking about their accent, because, after all, your colleague thinks it's hilarious, so it must be fine? What about other people in your office with Essex accents who might not appreciate being viewed as mentally challenged and vacuous because of their accent?

And, with respect, I know a lot of people who work or have worked in the City. It's hardly a bastion of pleasant behaviour.

Casta
Our office environment is fun as well as professional. You can have both.
We all get along. We all join in the office banter. We all laugh and joke. Is,that so wrong. Im telling you all positives about our office environment but every comment of yours is filled with negativity on everything im telling you about myself and colleague/s. Why is that?
Accept that a lot of people can take the piss out of each others accents and laugh.
I wish more people would laugh. Would make the world a better place.

Casta
Just re read your comment about other colleagues being perceived as mentally challenged due to having essex accents.
See you are getting it!
Banter

Although I had hidden this thread as I wanted to see the posting history of particular poster who was wrongly being accused of being a troll on another forum I was looking for posts by that poster and saw she had contributed (very sensibly) on here. Having found that posters' posts I read on.

I'm astounded by FlatOnTheHill's and auryanne's posts, particularly in light of Flat's sanctimonious thread about charity donations. I was relatively supportive of Flat on that thread but I'm seeing a very different person here.

FlatOnTheHill

My friends step dad went into hospital and came out with all his toes removed. Long story and booze related!
When I went round their house to visit they were all taking this piss and laughing. Including her step dad who was laughing that at least his wife (my mates mum) wouldnt find his picked toe nails under the sofa cushions anymore. People need to lighten up

Can you really, really cannot see the difference between that and racist jokes? And jokes about rape?

I too was supportive in your other thread about the charity giving but like lass I'm surprised you have this type of 'sense of humour'.

So just wondering, are hospices and and people dying of long terminal illnesses also hilarious then? Seeing as everything's such a big joke and people need to lighten up?

So basically myself and my colleague taking the piss out of each others accents is totally wrong. Although neither of us have a problem with it or are offended. That is what you are saying?

And because of this i have portrayed myself in a different light to my other charity giving thread which has nothing to do with this.
Unbelievable!

And for the record i would not laugh at jokes about rape.

It's bad form to bring things from other threads to a current one and I think in the guidelines. It's definitely against the guidelines to talk about posters on a different forum then come back to MN and say that's what your doing!

Flat I get it, my dnan and me have the most hilarious time cracking jokes about her dying whilst she's going through chemo. Some people just love to feel morally superior and they won't get it on this thread. I have an absolutely hilarious Irish friend who says potatoes randomly to crack us up when we're drinking, me laughing at her doesn't make me or her racist.

Not everyone has to have thr same sense of humour but on this thread of you don't agree with the morally superior and only have their sense of humour your in the wrong I bet their circle of friends are white, English middle-class only.

If I told you the jokes my best friend who's black came out with I'd be hounded off MN or the Irish jokes my Irish friend comes out with or the Pakistani man's jokes in the corner shop about white people... And no they're not Jim Davidson type of jokes which are racist more like Kevin heart.

Stuttering - no would not laugh

Racist - if you are talking ie englishman, scottsman, irishman type jokes then yes of course. They are not racist or offensive just generally light hearted. Jokes referring to someone using language like the N word of course is bloody disgusting.
Trans - obviously depends on the joke.

Egosum
You get it. Glad someone has some common sense.

No its not having a group of white mc friends only and saying our way is best and only what we deem acceptable is ok for humour.

I personally have a Russel brand type of humour mixed with Kevin heart and a slight bit of Katherine tate. A lot of people think brands phone call and bin laden joke after 911 was awful, I found it funny. The answer machine message he left had me in stitches.

The problem with this thread is you cannot dictate what's funny to some and what's not and some posters are saying that the people cracking jokes and laughing at themselves are in the wrong.

Brand
Spot on.
It seems on here peoples morals are so high
One cannot have a light hearted joke without people picking the bones out of it.

Ego some posters are refusing to accept that the Irish friend cracking jokes at herself is really just making a joke and isn't just playing along so there isn't a scene.

No your just picking everything apart like a dog with a bone ego. They aren't the same poster and they might share one view but that doesn't mean they share every view.