Don't really like selectively quoting people, but this post would be crazy long if I didn't. The intention is to highlight the area I'm replying to, not change the meaning of anything said!!
Also, sorry for the topic digression again...
While I do see why some white cis heterosexual western men do feel a bit angry about being marginalised or even silenced by some of the public discourse, that is nothing compared to the marginalisation that the people at the other end of the power imbalance experience.
This is a great sentence, and one many would do well to remember. I'd like to add though, that they aren't being marginalised or silenced. Yes, some of our world is going through an uprising of non-white cis males, but this isn't about somehow punishing them for the past. It's simply about allowing everyone the comforts the white cis males have had. Showing society that it's not ok to segregate based on race, sexuality, culture etc. A gay person should be able to go about their day without having abuse shouted at them, bisexual people shouldn't automatically be branded as sluts, women should be able to go for a promotion and be judged based on merit, never mind be able to safely walk down the road at night without worrying about those males walking towards her. This fear of abuse, violence, rape etc. is very real to a lot of people and, for me as a white cis male, it's embarrassing, it makes me feel ashamed.
SM clearly doesn't go to any of these extremes, but as a community, we do show it's ok to joke about these things, which, via these subtle under tones, can be seen as saying it's ok.
To adapt an expression from a film director...calm down dear it's only an opinion!
To be more serious, you make the point that I am from a minority. It's to that end that I can speak with albeit a little more authority, as you say it's not something you have been on the receiving end of.
I'm perfectly calm. I'm not on a soap box, not shouting at my laptop, I see this as an opportunity to hopefully allow some to see things from the other side.
As I pointed out above, you being from a minority does not give you any more authority. Whether something offends is often down to the individual.
Plenty of Jewish folk would be livid at what you felt is acceptable. If you have to 'put up with something' that someone has said, or 'learn to ignore it' then there is a good chance that thing probably isn't right.
The world will be a much poorer and sadder place if we lose our sense of humour, and think a hundred times if what we say might cause offence to the myriad for potential areas of offence. ..
I 100% agree. You don't have to think a hundred times to figure out if you are making a joke at the expense of someone who can't do anything to (race, sex, sexuality, disability are the obvious areas), it takes even less time to think would I be ok with someone saying this about me.
There are many more who berate themselves and their own religion for the purposes of humour. I don't notice society vilifying Jackie Mason, who from orthodox Jewish family has made an enormously successful career joking about the very same Jewish people.
Agreed, but there is a huge difference between a Jewish (or other) comedian standing on stage laughing at the expense of their own religion and culture vs.
Also, to a degree, Judaism (and any other religion for that matter) is a choice. This doesn't make it completely acceptable, but it's not as bad as all the stuff I've discussed above.
In the same area, see also why it's not acceptable for white cis males to use the N word etc.
I can tell you it's easy to spot the difference between a true racist and somebody joking.
I maintain from what I've heard from people that Bernard Manning wasn't racist, was his act, that's it and I believe it to be true, so I concur.
But that plus the 70's in retrospect has labelled him.
I think these are both very much the same point, the problem is, the intent is irrelevant. It's all about whether or not it's offensive.
Saying something racist, then backing it up by saying you're not racist isn't acceptable.
It demonstrates that you are accepting of racism, that you feel its ok not just to say it, but also, in these cases, to laugh at it.
It is condoning of something that it is glaringly obvious that it will offend a large group of others.
So, was Bernard Manning racist? I have no idea. He was just another arrogant and uneducated cis white male in a time when that was the general consensus. When most were ignorant to the feelings of other races, not interested, maybe threatened by rising immigration or perhaps even blissfully unaware.
Does it really matter if he was racist or not?
No, the offence was caused regardless.
In a weak attempt to pull back on topic... NSFW is a great plan for all of the reasons others posted above, providing folk are willing to tick the box or whatever the implementation is.