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What do you think? Joke I found offensive.

(132 Posts)
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bellsisabelle Sat 31-Dec-16 19:43:54

Was at a panto with daughter this afternoon. It was put on by a children's theatre group, ages about five to seventeen.

One of the jokes went like this:

Young boy enters stage, preceded by a smoke "bomb". Says "I'm a fairy". Other character says "Oh. Is that what the poof of smoke was about?". Young boy says "Not that kind of fairy".

I think that's homophobic and a disgraceful example to children.

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LumpySpacedPrincess Sat 31-Dec-16 20:48:53

PC brigade, bingo!

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thatbags Sat 31-Dec-16 20:47:21

I don't think the joke is homophobic; I think it's homoteasing. I'm fine about my sexuality being teased in a silly, jokey, pantomimish, naughty, on the edge, non-aggressive manner.

In short, it's a joke. There's nothing sacred about any kind of sexuality that jokes can't be made about it.

And it's a pantomime joke. The best pantos contain jokes for all ages from young kids to very elderly folk. That's why panto is so great when well done.

I think we need to stop being so precious.

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rafichagran Sat 31-Dec-16 20:47:12

It's panto, panto has never been PC, I am sure it has not made the children homophobic, they have probably enjoyed the production and thought no more about it. It's the fact that the daft PC brigade go on about it that gives it more attention than intended. Enjoy the panto and stop looking for things to be offended by.

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LumpySpacedPrincess Sat 31-Dec-16 20:46:30

Gay men happily use those terms about themselves!

In reply to this comment.

seriously This Is Not Hard, Gay describes someones sexuality. Gay as an insult is wrong, poof and fairy are insults.

<head - desk>

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Ana Sat 31-Dec-16 20:42:38

No one was talking about 'gay' being used as an insult until you mentioned it, FarNorth.

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LumpySpacedPrincess Sat 31-Dec-16 20:42:24

D'ya know I sit through pantos every year and they have all managed not to be homophobic, or racist, or misogynistic, it's a miracle really.

Gay people are bullied and victimised throughout our society, calling them poofs and fairies is pathetic.

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Ana Sat 31-Dec-16 20:41:02

That's not what you said originally.

You said 'It's okay if someone who is gay uses the term, not anyone else though' lumpyspacedprincess.

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annsixty Sat 31-Dec-16 20:40:59

I find that pantomime now is not for children but is full of innuendo, homosexual or not. I haven't been this year but a friend took her GGS and wasn't at all happy. Why must everything be dumbed down or sexed up?

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FarNorth Sat 31-Dec-16 20:38:17

Ana if you don't know that children and teenagers use gay as an insult, I wonder what planet you are on.

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LumpySpacedPrincess Sat 31-Dec-16 20:38:05

No one expects a panto to be homophobic.

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LumpySpacedPrincess Sat 31-Dec-16 20:37:06

It's not that hard Ana, gay is descriptive of someones sexuality, gay, red haired etc. Poof and fairy are insults, also using gay as an insult is wrong.

That's soooo gay, is an insult. Bob is gay, descriptive.

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Antonia Sat 31-Dec-16 20:36:21

No-one expects a panto to be PC.

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DaphneBroon Sat 31-Dec-16 20:34:41

No I don't bellsisabelle panto (cross dressing dames, cross dressing principal boys, double entendres every where you look, ) is the least PC form of entertainment out.
That is why it is funny

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LumpySpacedPrincess Sat 31-Dec-16 20:33:35

I meant the term poof and fairy, gay people are allowed to use those terms, other people are not. The term gay was not used in the panto, poof and fairy were.

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Ana Sat 31-Dec-16 20:33:04

What stuff? I think you're both barmy!

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Ana Sat 31-Dec-16 20:32:33

So what would you call a gay person? A homosexual?

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bellsisabelle Sat 31-Dec-16 20:32:09

Adults should be stamping that stuff out.

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LumpySpacedPrincess Sat 31-Dec-16 20:31:02

Kids use gay as an insult and it's horrible, I would go loop de lah if my daughter used it.

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Ana Sat 31-Dec-16 20:30:47

Eh? People use the term 'gay' all the time - what planet are you living on lumpy? confused

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bellsisabelle Sat 31-Dec-16 20:30:21

Don't you think a joke like that, written into a script for children to perform, could encourage homophobic bullying amongst young people?

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LumpySpacedPrincess Sat 31-Dec-16 20:28:00

It's okay if someone who is gay uses the term, not anyone else though. The joke is offensive.

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Ana Sat 31-Dec-16 20:27:31

Gay isn't an insult.

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FarNorth Sat 31-Dec-16 20:22:04

Poof, queer, gay etc are common insults among children and teenagers. I'm sure they all understood it.

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glammanana Sat 31-Dec-16 20:16:27

I'm sure some of the gay men or women in the audience would have found it funny I know for sure my gay friends would have,do you not think people who are hetrosexual tend to complain more than our gay friends do,hasn't "Peter Pan" been slapping his thighs for years in Panto and nothing has ever been said about the actress playing the part.Just enjoy the Panto and be thankful the children are all open minded and laugh.

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Antonia Sat 31-Dec-16 20:12:51

I'm with DaphneBroon on this one. It was not in the best taste, but as Judge Rinder said on Strictly, " if you think that's homophobic then you haven't experienced homophobia."

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