Poking fun at ...

[Joe Varo]

On Thu, 20 Feb 1997, Henry M wrote:

> [...]
> I therefor find the inability to see the difference between "poking
> fun at African-American dialect = BAD (unless the person poking is
> also an A-A) and exaggerating a  Norwegian-American's accent (a la
> Fargo)" likely to be disingenuous. You'd have to be pretty thin
> skinned to feel that Fargo suggests that Norwegian-Americans are
> basically inferior, or that they should conform to coastal norms.
> [...]

IMHO, it all depends on HOW it is done.  I honestly believe that you can
make a joke without being offensive or tastless.  Context does have to be
considered.

One of the most tasteless bits I've ever seen was done by Martin Lawrence
(an oppressed minority person) when he hosted Saturday Night Live a few
years ago.  It had to do with cunnilingus, female odor, and tic-tac breath
mints.  Tasteless, but I don't think it was hate-speech.

Joe