9. The racist "joke" does its work, in other words, by drawing the line between the in-group and the out-group (constructing identities) -- those who accept the racism and those who reject it. And the fact that it draws these lines means it is never "just" joking. - ThreadSky

profsteed.bsky.social • 4 days ago

9. The racist "joke" does its work, in other words, by drawing the line between the in-group and the out-group (constructing identities) -- those who accept the racism and those who reject it. And the fact that it draws these lines means it is never "just" joking.

Comments

profsteed.bsky.social•4 days ago

10. My original thread was written in response to Trump's "jokes" about assassination or armed revolt. I said that when Trump "jokes" about these ideas, he's asking the in-group to assimilate these ideas. Because that's what jokes do.

profsteed.bsky.social•4 days ago

11. (Little did I know, in 2016, that my claim would later be supported by an actual armed revolt staged by Trump's in-group on Jan 6, 2021.)

profsteed.bsky.social•4 days ago

12. Now -- not for the first time -- Trump is "joking" about being king. Those who dismiss it as "just joking" are failing to recognize the work that these "jokes" are performing. Trump's in-group has been assimilating the idea of Trump-as-dictator for some time now. Lines are being drawn.

profsteed.bsky.social•4 days ago

13. To dismiss these statements as "just joking" is a mistake. Jokes matter. Humor performs a social function. It does social work -- and in this case it's the sort of work that should be condemned. Vigorously.

profsteed.bsky.social•4 days ago

14. In fact, to accept "just joking" as a defense is to be passively complicit in the assimilation of the ideas being conveyed by the "joke." This is why it isn't ok to let racist "jokes" go unobjected to. And the same should be true of "jokes" about armed revolt or being king.

ellinst.bsky.social•3 days ago

Hence the defence of the bully, should anyone object to their joshing, is always "wassamatta? Can't you take a joke?"

profsteed.bsky.social•4 days ago

15. Of course, humor can be complicated. Sometimes what superficially appears to be racist humor is actually parody or satire -- designed to actually alienate (reject) racism by mocking racist humor. So interpreting humor can get tricky.

lyns84.bsky.social•3 days ago

As usual, Trump puts it out there, calls it a joke but is really testing the waters.

jennie63.bsky.social•3 days ago

And ‘Dictator on day one.’

moredrumz.bsky.social•2 days ago

He is a total threat to all that we are… Sad

mischamiksa.bsky.social•3 days ago

I completely agree. These statements should not he dismissed

nopoopforyou.bsky.social•3 days ago

Nor should those fivking asmr videos

my2centstoo.bsky.social•3 days ago

A very important, and chilling, thread.

kristinsewell.bsky.social•3 days ago

Absolutely. Nothing humans do is simple. A joke is never just for giggles. A gift is never just a token. A favor is never just altruism. Shows are never just entertainment. Everything has social meaning. In this case, calling it a joke gives Trump deniability, gets clicks, and signals "we" won.

zaeff.bsky.social•4 days ago

A classic passive aggression act. That's my perception of it. Perception is everything and everyone perceives things uniquely, que the difficulty of a peaceful experience for society. Will we ever evolve?

Comments

Posting Rules

Reply