File spoon-archives/marxism-international.archive/marxism-international_1996/96-11-13.154, message 31


Date: Sun, 10 Nov 1996 16:13:23 -0500 (EST)
From: Gerald Levy <glevy-AT-pratt.edu>
Subject: Re: M-I: jokes, language and sexism, etc.


A triple reply to Scott, Jon and Louis P:

Scott Mc wrote:

> Racist, sexist, homophobic, etc. "jokes" *AREN'T FUNNY*!
> Which is a problem.  The judgement is refuted by the fact that people do 
> laugh, even people who are hurt by them.  I don't know what to do about 
> this.

This was also the basic point made by Jon. It is certainly true that some 
of the victims of these kinds of offensive jokes often also both 
appreciate that humor and partake in it themselves. Yet, what any society 
views as "funny" tends to reflect ruling class ideology even when it is 
also embraced by the masses. We can't end this type of behavior by 
ourselves but we *can* change our own behavior and we *can* raise the 
issue at appropriate times with others. 

> And not, in any case, 
> the sort of neither/nor, personality-driven polemic that seemed to thrive 
> on M-1.  Please not that . . .   

Yeah, that would be nice. On a related matter, Louis P asserted that M-I 
is "m1 without the crap" and asked me if I really want to be here 
(presumably, meaning talking to former m1ers). To be perfectly honest, 
I'm not sure. I have no desire to communicate with some former m1ers, 
but there are others .... There are some encouraging signs of life on this 
list, but a lot of b.s. as well, IMHO. Plus, the disparaging comments 
about m2 do not help. 

As for Louis, I'm prepared (as I have stated numerous times before) to 
bury the hatchet with him if he will do likewise. This doesn't mean that 
I won't respond to the content of his posts, but I'll take the high road 
if he will as well.

Jerry 




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