So here's the scenario, a small group of friends are hanging out, one guy brings a new girlfriend who is mixed race and during the conversation she mentions her father is from Africa, and one guy asks after hearing he is from Africa (somewhat sarcastically although not sure if that matters) "So is he a thin man?". Was this offensive?
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Was this offensive? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Mitchie
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jvdesigns2002
Footballguy
It’s certainly of poor taste and if it was intended to be a joke—it definitely missed imo. Offensive is such a subjective term. As others have mentioned—it’s probably more stupid and ignorant than offensive—but I could see how some could be offended by it.
CletiusMaximus
Footballguy
Maybe offensive to someone with a sense of humor just due to the dumbness.
ignatiusjreilly
Footballguy
Count me among those who completely don't get the joke. What was he even trying to say?
I think in general, when it comes to strangers or people you just met, you should keep the humor as broad as possible, since you have no shared understanding to fall back on. I'm reminded of this old SNL skit where Michael Keaton plays a guy trying to fit in on his first day on the job.
This was the first impression the guy made on his friend's new girlfriend. If she now thinks less of him, that should matter far more to him than what a bunch of Internet randos who weren't even there think
I think in general, when it comes to strangers or people you just met, you should keep the humor as broad as possible, since you have no shared understanding to fall back on. I'm reminded of this old SNL skit where Michael Keaton plays a guy trying to fit in on his first day on the job.
This was the first impression the guy made on his friend's new girlfriend. If she now thinks less of him, that should matter far more to him than what a bunch of Internet randos who weren't even there think
mr. furley
Footballguy
been trying to figure out how this relates to the movie, but i've got nothing.
Pip's Invitation
Footballguy
I voted extremely offensive because I have no idea what he was even trying to say, and making a wisecrack about heritage to someone you just met is an extraordinarily dumb thing to do. If it was clear what the guy was trying to go for, I might have voted for one of the lesser degrees of offensiveness.
fruity pebbles
Footballguy
Don’t really find it offensive. Also don’t find it funny. Guys just kind of an unfunny idiot.
krista4
Footballguy
Definitely need a "stupid and possibly offensive?" option. I don't even understand the whole thing.
Also, was the girlfriend fat or thin? That might affect the answer.
Don Quixote
Footballguy
Before I answer, was the father’s name William Powell or Nick Charles?
bigbottom
Footballguy
Yeah, maybe she was slender and he was just asking if her dad was slender.
The General
Footballguy
Count me as in the “I don’t get it“ group.
ShamrockPride
Footballguy
Enough to do a double take when he says it, but not enough to hone in on it and derail the line of conversation.
Dr. Octopus
Footballguy
It’s a terrible joke but I don’t understand how people aren’t getting the implication. It’s a joke based on the “USA for Africa” movement of feeding the poor. No one remembers all the images of bone thin famished Africans in the old commercials?
modogg
Footballguy
Urgent action needed to stem the rising trend of obesity in Africa
Urgent measures such as taxes and restrictions on sugary foods and drinks are needed to stem the rising trend of obesity in Africa, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned.
www.news-medical.net
Count me in the group that doesn’t get if it meant to be offensive or just uneducated and dopey comment for the dude. I would put in a category either way as socially awkward because who asks about someone’s dad when you first meet them
Juxtatarot
Footballguy
It would have been more obvious back in 1985.
Dr. Octopus
Footballguy
You still see similar commercials once in a while.
Thanks for replies, maybe I should've included this in the initial post, when guy was asked about it after he said he wasn't trying to make a joke but was just making conversation and that was what popped into his head.
And to answer the question above, the girl was thin and attractive.
And to answer the question above, the girl was thin and attractive.
AAABatteries
Footballguy
Null vote - I don’t understand.
Oracle
Footballguy
What? The guy asked if the girls father was skinny because she was thin?
Based upon your above answer, I am more confused. Why would he use sarcasm to ask that question?
Mister CIA
Footballguy
"So, is your mom hot?"
I don't think it was because she was thin, I guess i'm not positive exactly why he asked the question, i think the association was with him being African but think it was more of him just making conversation without thinking about it too much.
Cowboysfan8
Footballguy
Grahamburn
Footballguy
Implying he's an elite marathon runner?
jvdesigns2002
Footballguy
In a perfect world, she would have replied by asking if his folks were fat *sses. That’s certainly become a generalization that is somewhat representative of our population—and it would have matched the offensive level and inappropriateness of his comment.
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Leroy Hoard
Footballguy
At least that would have been funny.
massraider
Footballguy
Then he should be counseled by his friends how making conversation works, because right now, he doesn't quite grasp the concept.
Scoresman
Footballguy
Yeah this is my take, and in this case, it's incredibly offensive. Might as well have thrown out the N word.
Ministry of Pain
Footballguy
If you have to ask...
Scoresman
Footballguy
It's akin to asking someone from Poland if their father has a low IQ or asking someone from Israel if their father hates the smell of gas. Or asking a Native American how if their father still has his scalp. All terrible jokes especially when just meeting someone, all really offensive.
Dragons
Delusions of Grandeur
Agreed that it's a dumb comment, but maybe he just meant that Americans are fat.
AAABatteries
Footballguy
Maybe he thought she looked like Manute Bol.
Zow
Footballguy
Yeah that's where my mind first went, too.
This is just a really, really dumb attempt at a joke because the insinuation are that people from Africa are poor and therefore skinny?
I think this is going a step too far these days though. People are so afraid of offending someone or being misconstrued that joking around is losing it's place. People do not take jokes anymore regardless of what the joke is. Too many people are looking to be offended at anything rather than just taking a joke as a joke.
Pip's Invitation
Footballguy
"And you landed on McLovin'?"
Dr. Octopus
Footballguy
It’s a socially awkward person (in this instance at least) trying to break the ice with a joke but turning it into stereotype.
It would be akin to her saying her dad was Irish and him asking “so he’s a drunk?””. Not terribly offensive but a dumb thing to say.
AAABatteries
Footballguy
Dr. Octopus
Footballguy
I think he was clearly trying to make a joke and then tried to cover it up after he realized his error.
It makes no sense that that popped into his head otherwise. It would be like asking “How big are your dad’s feet?”.
AAABatteries
Footballguy
Yeah but I'll point out that most of us in here (you being one exception) don't even see it as a joke. Even with the explanation it's odd - I will say either it's wildly racist and he's an idiot or he's just an idiot.
Dr. Octopus
Footballguy
Actually, most people don’t seem to get the joke. It’s a racists joke for sure - how much offense you take depends on your tolerance.
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AAABatteries
Footballguy
That's fair - I didn't get it but that's what I meant by don't see it as a joke. And I'm not defending the guy - he may be a huge racist or just a moron.
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