Xerxys

^^ In that case, I hereby classify myself as a racist against everyone with type AB blood, doesn't matter positive or negative, I just hate you.

I don't understand how making fun of someone (or many people, even an entire race, in this case) is racist. Exactly how does it affect them? I classify racism as actively denying rights and equality to someone who needs it at the time. You can hate all you want but as long as that is all you can do then meh? Who cares?

spindles

Well, I did say I didn't find it funny in the OP and I don't find it racist. There is still huge underlying racism in Oz, some at Asian, some at the native Aborigines and some at pretty much anyone not white. I'm amazed at some comments I hear that are cringe worthy in general day to day life and wonder whether the people saying them realise how racist they sound.

I suspect Dlish could give us a better insight into growing up in Oz as part of a minority, and I can't really - I'm a white Aussie after all.

In any case, I can't see any benefit in telling comedians/satirists what they can do comedy about. This is the thin edge of the wedge and would stifle the creativity of these people. Sure, some people will be offended, but I'd rather have comedy with all the warts than to have comedy within strict boundaries.

In answer to the types of acts on this show usually - firstly, this show is part of a couple of reunion 'specials' and prior to this, there hasn't been an episode of Hey Hey Its Saturday since 1999. This segment (Red Faces) is a 'talent spotting' segment and ranges from comedy to singing to dancing to whatever. There have been blackface acts but I'd say (from memory) that they are in the minority.

---------- Post added at 10:54 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:52 AM ----------

Kamahl hits back at Hey Hey

Yep, Doctors and just about all from 'minorities'. Still, doesn't make it any funnier

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Punk.of.Ages

Wasn't really trying to say it made it funnier...

The fact they're doctors was just the only thing I found relevant to my interests in this whole matter.

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"The fact is that censorship always defeats its own purpose, for it creates, in the end, the kind of society that is incapable of exercising real discretion..." - Henry Steel Commager

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spindles

or maybe they should stick to their day jobs.

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dippin

The reason humor can be (im not saying it was in this case) racist is because there is a step that precedes actively denying rights and equality to someone. And that step is dehumanization, the denying of the humanity in a group of people. Before native americans were enslaved and massacred by Europeans, some in the church made it alright by claiming they had no rational souls and were thus natural slaves.

Humor can be dehumanizing, and thus racist. Black face humor in the US was constantly used to depict blacks as inferiors.

Again, didn't even see the case in hand so Im not commenting on that, but that is an example.

And I must say that I agree wholeheartedly with MM in noting the contradiction in being culturally offended by cultural sensitivity.

And the whole "rapper" bit used to deny racism is just precious.