when a stereotypical joke is funny. or is it?

Posted bycasey coombsPosted inI'm a Mormon!

It was  a beautiful day in Heaven.

All the new arrivals were loaded onto a bus at the pearly gates and taken on a tour of the many mansions in Heaven.

The bus driver, a surly man named Hank, welcomed everyone aboard and began the tour.

“On the right is the Catholics manion.” said Hank.

The passengers ooh’ed and ahh’ed over the ornate stained glass and gold staircases.

“Now up here on the left is the Southern Baptist’s mansion.” Hank said.

The smell of collard greens and fried fish was tempting to the hungry people on the bus, getting to Heaven is exhausting work.

Hank continued on showing off the Non-Denominational Christian mansion, the Seventh Day Adventist mansion and the mansion where people lived who didn’t really have a “religion” while on Earth. All were equally glorious, beautiful and ornate. Residents of each mansion milled about the beautiful grounds with residents from neighboring mansions.

It truly was Heaven.

Hank began to turn down a more secluded path, he killed the engine and put in in neutral. “Now I’m going to have to ask all of you to hold your talking for a minute right here and be reeeeaaaaallll quiet.” Hank said.

“Why?” whispered a small Rabbi from the back of the bus.

“Because,” Hanks voice was barely audible, “we’re about to pass the Mormons mansion and they think they’re the only ones here.”

*******

So this was told to me by someone whom I respect in my church. I think it’s funny. But with the recent “namecalling” debate what do you think? Is it okay because I’m the one telling it and am basically making fun of myself? Or is it worse because I’m the one telling it?

If it were coming from the mouth of someone who openly disliked the LDS religion would it cease to be funny?

Just curious.

DO YOU SEE WHY I’M SO PERPLEXED WITH ALL THIS PC GARBAGE PEOPLE?

57 thoughts on “when a stereotypical joke is funny. or is it?”

  3. That’s funny because growing up as a S Baptist, I would have heard that joke with a Church of Christ instead of Mormon mansion.

    Given the fact that there has been more tension about LDS lately, I think it’s really up in the air about what is appropriate. I think that since it was someone at your church who said it, it’s a joke and if people don’t understand that, then well they need to learn to laugh!

    Beccas last blog post..A plethora of updates

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  4. It’s funny. It’s funny if you’re Mormon and it’s funny if you know a Mormon. If you take yourself too seriously, it probably wouldn’t be funny. So in that way it’s actually kind of a good test. If someone doesn’t think this is funny, don’t trust them.

    badassdadblogs last blog post..tuesday and everything after

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  5. I think it’s funny.
    But.. do I think it’s funny because you told it or because it’s a really funny joke?

    I’m constantly befuddled by the PC and what’s okay, and what’s not okay and this is PC and that’s not but tomorrow it will all change again.
    I love that you ask, tackle and speak. <3you

    I probably would have heard it with Church of Christ, too because that’s more abundant down here than LDS 😉

    rachel-asouthernfairytales last blog post..A Painted Monkey

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  6. Religion has always confused me. I think as along as we all believe in God, that’s the most important part. I have always been interested in Mormons in a good way. When I tell people that, I get a weird look. I’d love to talk more about it with you if we get together (or even through email!)

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  8. I agree, if it was told by a friend or a member of LDS (or my dad, the Mormon Bishop) it would be funny. If told by mormon bashers, not so much

    mariahs last blog post..Amy

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  11. Hmm.

    I’ve always felt that stereotypes, though they can be negative,hurtful and inaccurate at times, help people to understand their world better by classifying different people. I don’t usually agree with them, but understanding human nature I actually can’t imagine a world without stereotypes.

    That being said, whether it’s offensive depends on who’s telling the joke and whether they whole-heartedly believe in the stereotype.

    Lauryns last blog post..Feeling blue.

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  12. um… i laughed. does that mean i’m going to hell?

    i agree with sarah, “it’s getting harder and harder to have normal conversations without offending people these days.”

    i think that’s unfortunate too… cuz there is some funny shit out there to be said.

    cheers!
    nic

    ps: yes, i grew up catholic and drink like it too!

    nic @mybottlesups last blog post..can’t do it

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  13. I think stereotypical jokes are hilarious, no matter who it pokes fun at–myself included. It’s funny because it’s usually true…and who doesn’t love a good ribbin’ every once in awhile?!

    With that said, I didn’t get the joke..,,..what’d I miss?! (I AM LDS)

    Jennifers last blog post..Raw Beauty

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  14. If my Bishop Father in Law said it, I’d laugh, knowing that he sees the flaws in the way the LDS think about themselves and others. If my Father, who is not LDS, said this joke, I’d laugh, knowing that he feels comfortable enough with me being LDS that he can make fun of my “people.” I have yet to have someone tell me a joke about mormons in a malicious way. I find it far more offensive when someone comes up to me in shorty-shorts and beer in hand and says: “I’m a ‘mormon’ too!!”

    Rachels last blog post..additions

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  16. I was raised in the “Church of Christ” and heard many variations of that joke growing up. My favorite got in a jab at the typically non-windowed church buildings with “why aren’t there any windows in that one?” “That’s the Church of Christ folks, they think they’re the only ones here.” The only thing that offends me about it is that I was really taught that we WOULD be the only ones there.

    Lisas last blog post..Greyhound Jellies

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  17. Well, I think it’s funny. and I get oh so tired of having to be so careful and politically correct. Then again, I also laugh at blonde jokes and I am blonde as they come. To me if it’s funny it’s funny, but I understand that’s not the case with everyone. The world is too complicated.LOL

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  19. I think one of the things we get bogged down in when we’re talking about race or religion or any of those sticky PC issue areas is talking about whether something is objectively offensive or if one SHOULD be offended by it.

    The way I see it (and of COURSE there are exceptions to this) it seems really, really hard to label a joke or something of that nature as objectively, across-the-board offensive because context is king, and the most important factor in that context is how whatever is said or done makes the person on the receiving end feel, what their gut level response is. I have a friend who’s LDS who I KNOW would love that joke, whether it was told to her by her best friend in the church or the checker at her supermarket, yet I’m certain there are people (LDS or otherwise) who’d be instantly offended by it.

    So what’s the answer? Do you take the gamble and tell the joke? Do you second guess every little thing you say because someone might be hurt? I guess the side I’ve decided to err on as a sort of blanket policy is to know that sometimes I’ll hurt people, no matter how good or innocent my intentions, and to try as best I can to practice compassion when I do offend.

    Um. That was long. Sorry!

    Laurens last blog post..I Like Things That Are Nice

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  20. ha! Good times. I used to guide whitewater and there were days those jokes were my bread and butter on the flats. The best part was when the rafters would suddenly get serious and ask (after hooting it up for a while): “wait — you’re not onah’dem Mormons, are ya?” The look on their faces when I told them I was? Classic.

    Which reminds me: why do you take two Mormons fishin’ with you?

    (I kid, I kid)

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  22. Personally, I think all jokes (as long as they’re not seriously crude or disgusting) are funny. I’m a Christian and I find Christian jokes hilarious, especially when coming from other Christian.

    Morgans last blog post..Back to blogging

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  23. I think often the listener chooses to be offended or not. Unless it’s super hurtful or personal, I think jokes like this are just funny and RELATABLE especially when you’re talking about religion. Church would be a lot more fun if more members could take a joke sometimes.

    Steph

    Adventures In Babywearings last blog post..The Spoons Are Winning

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  24. So, one time in high school I made a joke (more like a comment) about slavery to a black kid I knew well. He thought it was funny.

    I related the incident to another black friend, and she did not think it was funny AT ALL. Like, I seriously had to do some back-tracking and apologizing, and I felt like a big jerk.

    And all this is to say that some people find things funny that other people do not. I don’t know that there’s much we can do about it except to be sure we are no purposely trying to offend people.

    Sherrys last blog post..Review: Aquaretto

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  26. I’m offended because I’m southern baptist and we actually eat fried chicken, not fried fish…

    Ahem.

    I think it goes back to intent. Was the joke teller trying to be malicious? Or just share a funny story? I think it also depends on if the person can defend themselves-as I mentioned before, with “retard” jokes, the person at the center of the joke usually can’t defend himself. However, as a general rule, I think people take themselves WAY too seriously.

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  27. I was kidding, by the way, about being offended by the fish. I am an equal opportunity fried food eater. 🙂

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  28. Honestly? What’s interesting is not so much the punch line, but the part leading up to it.

    I have heard that joke before, but in the version I know the tour passes by Christian sects, Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus, Jews, etc. The punch line was always the Catholics in my version.

    The version you were told only mentioned Christian sects and people without religion. I’m surprised by that.

    Like others have said, I think it falls under the umbrella of making fun of yourself being OK, but someone else making the same joke about you not being OK. (Example, rappers of African descent can use the n-word while caucasians cannot.)

    SciFi Dads last blog post..Neglectimommy Volume 3

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  29. I’ve heard that joke before, but always with the Southern Baptists being the ones who thought they were the only ones there. Interesting how it apparently has different regional versions.

    Stereotypes are annoying. 😛

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  32. Well, on a humor level, I don’t really think it’s a funny *joke,* anyway — but maybe that’s because I’m not religious, and I’m sick of email forwards just like this that people keep sending me. But what stands out to me is that you can really replace “Mormons” with any other religion, and the joke doesn’t change. So, if my mom had forwarded this to me, it probably would have been about Baptists or something. If I were religious and if my religion was the one targeted, I don’t think I’d be offended. It’s very mild, and anyway, being able to laugh at yourself a little bit is a good thing.

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  33. If the punchline was about Baptists (Or MB, or Pentecostal) (All denominations which I have been a part of), I would laugh.

    Because we poke fun at ourselves in good humor (Left the “u” out for you)

    I think that if you are among fellow believers, jokes are all good and kosher.

    Um, even if you aren’t Jewish and kosher isn’t an issue.

    Angellas last blog post..Kickin’ It Old School

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  34. I didn’t think it was necessarily funny with any punchline, but that’s just me. I think that’s partially because some people think it’s true, and that sickens me a little.

    Also, on the Church of Christ topic, Growing up in a CoC in the northern region, I’m just beginning to be exposed to the fact that some members of the church (especially in the south, the branches of which weren’t even mentioned to me for over 20 years) believe they are the only ones “doing it right”. Gah.

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  35. I agree with Avitable. If it’s meant to be a joke and it’s understood by all parties that it’s a joke, then it’s fine. If it’s being said to be hurtful or by some random person who doesn’t know you, it’s tasteless (then again, that random stranger could just be trying to be funny)…

    It definitely depends on the context, or at least that’s what I think. Some people are way too sensitive.

    Elizabeth Kaylenes last blog post..Just do it, like Nike

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  36. I often find myself thinking that political correctness isn’t based on real life.

    I think that the bottom line is respect. The difference between one person telling this joke, and another person telling it is whether they respect other people and other people’s religions. Since you obviously have a great deal of respect for yourself and other Mormons, it doesn’t seem offensive if you say it. But if someone said it with a snarky tone of voice that relayed that those people are obviously dumb, that would be different.

    My Mom and I were just talking about this, because her therapist calls women “Gals” and she doesn’t really like it. When she asked what I thought I told her I didn’t mind if it was in a nurturing or affectionate way, but if it was said condescendingly it would really bother me.

    It’s all perspective.

    Rachaels last blog post..Haiku Friday: WTF Edition

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  37. I’m not actually offended in this case, because I think we all know it’s truly a joke.

    On the other hand, if you were calling yourself some kind of name that no one else was allowed to call you (or that would be considered offensive when you were called it), then I think it’d be not okay.

    Very slight difference, and totally only my opinion, for what it’s worth (no much!)

    Overflowing Brains last blog post..Farewell

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  38. I think it’s funny, but if I were telling it, I’d have Baptists as the punchline (because that’s the church I attend).

    I think it’s ok to make fun of yourself. I also think a lot of PC is people being offended on behalf of others, without knowing or asking if they find it offensive. For example, I’m shorter than most people (just under 5′) and make jokes about it, but I would be upset if someone started telling others not to make fun of my height because it might offend me, without asking me if I would be offended.

    Sorry, got right of the track there, but I found the joke funny.

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  40. Perspective rules all. If someone told me that joke and wasn’t a Christian of whatever denomination, and was making the joke to be intentionally derisive, it would probably irritate me. Coming from someon inside the family, so to speak, it might make me laugh.

    It’s a tough call, which is why I really try to avoid jokes based on race/religion/ethnicity.

    Having said all of that, in a version of that joke that highlights us Lutherans, there probably would have been jokes about Minnesota, green jello, or Garrison Keillor.

    (We Lutherans are a hoot!)

    Gunfighters last blog post..Pentecost Sunday – A Sermon

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  41. typically, stereotypical Jew jokes don’t offend me if told by a friend, Jewish or not. but I usually don’t find them funny either…

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  42. HA! I’ve never heard that joke before but it’s funny that SDA’s were included because they totally should have been the ones who thought they were the only ones up there. I know – I was raised SDA. And like the Catholic, I drink like it!! And yes, I’m also offended that I was actually taught that SDAs would be the only ones up there. A joke is a joke – no need to get your panties in a wad if someone is telling a joke to be funny.

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  43. “PC Garbage” says it all. Ugh. I also love the comment that alot of the PC stuff isn’t based in real life-funny!

    I think we all need to r-e-l-a-x a bit and enjoy the humor in life without getting offended about every little thing. Geesh. I thought it was a cute joke.

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  45. After reading what Lauryn (one of the first posters) said about stereotypes being useful and then what Annis (partway down) said, I was reminded of a quote I read quite some time ago that referred to we laugh when we perceive something unexpected… or something. Googling it did not produce the original article, but I found this, instead: http://www.humormatters.com/definition.htm
    I thought that is a GREAT explanation of what humor is (although some of the categories could have been reorganized as subsets of other categories).

    Anyhow, to kind of summarize the relevance and what I see as the issue with this: in general people look at this joke and see it as amusing because they recognize the exaggeration of the different stereotypes listed. Those who aren’t amused by it seem to be considering it more “true” and less exaggerated. Or perhaps, they assume that the joke-teller considers the descriptions to be true to life/accurate.

    Ugh, this isn’t coming out quite right.

    But ultimately, MOST stereotypes exist because there is something to recognize in them, whether it’s a mistaken common perception by those “outside” that stereotype, or whether it’s an accurate depiction. Finding a stereotype joke humorous requires the listener to recognize that the descriptions in the joke are (a) accurate in some way (or at least commonly assumed) and (b) exaggerated or put in a light that makes them seem absurd at the moment.

    If a person can’t perceive statements about… race/religion/sex/etc… as absurd – if the topic in question is too important or too “close” to their perception of reality, it’s not going to be funny.

    This is also why some things can be offensive and funny at the same time. If you have an open enough sense of humor to see the absurd even in something that is normally important to you (or see how someone else could think it’s absurd), you might find South Park or Carlos Mencia funny.

    (ps here is another article that was pretty good http://rickwalton.com/lang/whathumo.htm — particularly the part about “fields of ignorance”. My baby doesn’t think it’s funny when I put a diaper on my head, because he’s ignorant about hats v. diapers. If someone isn’t familiar enough with a topic to be “surprised” by a humorous statement about it, they might take that statement seriously instead of realizing it’s a joke.)

    Dellas last blog post..Not ME! Monday, June 1 Edition

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  46. That’s funny. That exact joke was told to me by my aunt when I was agonizing over being a convert to mormonism with mennonite roots. Only in her version, it’s “the mennonites think they’re the only ones here!”

    I think the joke is mildly offensive, but only because it excludes non-Christian and non-biblical religions like Islam, Buddhism, etc from heaven and assumes that only christians or non-religious people deserve a spot. That’s what I find irksome about all religion: the exclusiveness.

    A truly heavenly heaven, for me, would be just like earth, just with PEACE and MUTUAL LOVE for all people and from all people added in and all sorrow taken away.

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