If someone tells a joke you find racist or otherwise offensive, would you laugh and play along or say something to the joke-teller?

For me, there are two options here: If I know the person (by "know them", I mean have spoken to them at least once before and know their name. That's all it takes...), then I will say something immediately, tell them it's offensive and that I can't talk to someone who speaks like that. For example, someone I know comes from Burnley in Britain, which is a very racist part of the country in general.

I think he feels that he can use this as an excuse and maybe other people let him get away with it, but he has used the P word in front of me and the N word too (it literally makes me feel sick to even think of those two words - I'm white, so it doesn't offend me in a personal sense, but that doesn't make any difference. It offends me because I know how much people have suffered at the hands of the kind of people who use these derogatory terms). He tells a lot of racist jokes but also uses this sort of speech in everyday life.

I told him, straight away that it was unacceptable and I haven't spoken to him since. He hasn't been round here, so either he's VERY busy or VERY embarassed... If it's a stranger, then I would simply get away from them as soon as possible. I wouldn't entertain a single thing they said, neither positively or negatively.

For example, there's a guy on my college course who uses the words mentioned above in the jokes he tells. I've never heard him use them in a serious conversation or scenario. This makes me think that he genuinely is simply quite uneducated (socially, rather than academically).

I have no interest in speaking to him, ever, but if I ever have to for college matters then I would be civil, but not friendly. I hope I've made sense - I have such strong feelings about this and tend to ramble :s.

I wouldn't play along at all. If I would, the feeling of shame would last far longer than any temporary amusement I'd gain. I'd act rather irritated, maybe frowning, certainly not laughing or smiling.As far as blatantly saying whether I'm offended or not, it would depend on how often it happens -- I have less patience for repeat incidents -- who's talking -- I tend to be more lenient with close friends, although I might speak to them in private, and a lot less lenient among strangers or people I don't like -- and what kind of mood I'm in -- if I'm in a bad or ornery mood, I'm much more likely to say something.

I wouldn't laugh or go along. If we were in company, I would either just frown or keep my face perfectly blank, in order not to create an uncomfortable situation for everybody. But if someone chose to ask why I didn't find it funny, I would make it clear how I felt.

If we were alone, or later, I would express my displeasure over what was said.

It really hurts others feelings to say something that is striking to them. But if you feel that you don't like the joke his making and is hurting your feeling, you better tell that person that he's not funny anymore..

I surely wouldn't laugh and play along if I didn't think it was funny whether I was offended or not. Whether I would say something would depend on how offended I was. Do I pipe up every time I feel something someone has said is painfully stupid?No.

Would I say something if the joke was not fact based, furthered a stereotype that was hurting someone or someones in an effort to bring enlightenment to the masses, you betcha nothing I love doing more.

I think that regardless who tells the joke, it is never okay to laugh along with the crowd just to fit in or be liked. It is important to challenge people ignorant to diversity and find out what their true views regarding the issue are or why they find the joke funny. Do they really believe in the message of the joke?

Do they generally hold prejudices against people of other cultures or racial groups? If so, where do those beliefs originate from? Did family instill the beliefs while the person was growing up or did he/she adopt the belief at some point during his/her life (maybe he failed to achieve a certain goal and believed it was the fault of a racial minority and thus came to view people of that race in an unfavorable light)?

Rather than criticizing your friend or the person telling the joke for his/her distasteful sense of humor, keep a serious face and try to find out why people who laughed think it is acceptable to make fun of a racial minority group based on whatever trait was the object of the joke. Racist jokes only survive because many individuals find it hard to stand up to their beliefs and challenge the person telling the joke, especially if that person is their friend or an individual of perceived importance such as a colleague or even boss. If nobody laughs about these jokes anymore, however, there will be no incentive to tell them in the first place.

What I usually do about racist or sexist jokes is to call them out by asking "Is that how you really feel, because I've always found that jokes are often a disguise for people who are uncomfortable expressing their true feelings about something. " It puts the spotlight on them, and either they'll get angry and say that is how they feel, or they'll back down and be embarrassed. If they do get angry, I simply say "I was just asking, no need to get angry.

I just was surprised to hear that come out of you. I must have misjudged you.

While I don't play along, I still express my disapproval with a smile. You can usually say something like "Well, that is definitely an interesting way to look at it" or "Gee, don't hold back, why don't you tell us how you really feel? " They usually get the message, and are happy you chose to be a little more kind about it.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.