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Of course Dell apologises but people really need to get a grip. A comedian makes jokes, often adult jokes. If you want kids jokes hire a clown. Everyone is wel

Of course Dell apologises but people really need to get a grip. A comedian makes jokes, often adult jokes. If you want kids jokes hire a clown. Everyone is well aware of the technology stereotypes. If he called all the men <insert stereotype> would Dell have to apologize?

michh 14y ago
> If he called all the men <insert stereotype> would Dell have to apologize? No, because men aren't oppressed in our society and especially our industry. Saying stuff that contributes to an oppressive environment isn't okay, even if you package it as a joke. If you don't understand what I just said: congratulations, you're probably pretty privileged.
- bad_user 14y ago
  men aren't oppressed in our society and especially our industry Are you sure about that? Calling people out and giving them a bad rep over silly jokes sure looks like oppression to me. Jokes have been historically used by oppressed people to express their frustrations. Not saying it's the same thing here, but trying to ban humor, even if it is politically incorrect, is really not OK. The world would be a much better place if we smiled more.
  - michh 14y ago
    Jokes have been historically used by oppressed people to express their frustrations. Not saying it's the same thing here, but trying to ban humor, even if it is politically incorrect, is really not OK. Nobody is trying to ban edgy/dark humor. But there is a time and a place for that. A corporate event is not that place. The world would be a much better place if we smiled more. http://therealkatie.net/blog/2012/mar/21/lighten-up/ http://therealkatie.net/blog/2012/mar/21/lighten-up/
    - roopeshv 14y ago
      would every fucking body stop linking to lighten up. it's just as condescending to link to it every fucking time.
- johngalt 14y ago
  "Men aren't oppressed in our society..." how did you arrive at this conclusion? Majority of homeless: men Majority of crime victims: men Majority of workplace fatalities: men Majority of prisoners: men
vijayr 14y ago
1. Adult jokes are fine in a stand up comedy, not everywhere. 2. He targeted only women, if he made jokes targeted at both men and women equally, then this situation may be different. That said, there are enough places where sexist jokes are made at men - by both men and women. Nobody complains and nobody cares. That is just the way it is :(
- rimantas 14y ago
  Adult jokes are fine with adults. I don't get why do you want some sterile "professionalism". We are humans, at work or at home. Should we put wigs on to look even more professional? And jokes about some gender stereotype are not necessarily sexist. I, for one, welcome the world where nobody complains about jokes. It scary to think that we are coming closer and closer to Orvelian "thought crime" :(
  - nollidge 14y ago
    > It scary to think that we are coming closer and closer to Orvelian "thought crime" :( Oh for fuck's sake, it's not thought when words are uttered out loud. It's also not crime when free people freely protested the free speech of a free individual who has not been punished by any government. Godwin's Law should be updated to include Orwell's fictions because nobody seems to have a sense of perspective about them. > I, for one, welcome the world where nobody complains about jokes. And I would welcome a world where everyone thinks for two seconds about what it's like to be a constant target of said jokes, uses their basic human empathy to listen to said complaints, and then reasons about it for a while instead of defensively dismissing the complaints with a privileged wave of the hand.
    - liedra 14y ago
      Thank you, seriously. The slippery slope argument is just so infuriating when really all that's necessary is a little human decency.
      - nollidge 14y ago
liedra 14y ago
Are you serious?! This was a professional event. There is a known issue with lack of women in tech. Dell specifically has a site dedicated to encouraging women in tech. Women have come out again and again and said that these sorts of jokes are offensive and put other women off going into tech jobs. Why would anyone in their right mind deliberately go out of their way to make women uncomfortable?
theorique 14y ago
This didn't sound like an inclusive equal-opportunity roast, which could have been funny. If it had been, he would have been making fun of men in tech as well. As it stands, it seems like he was only making fun of the (few) women present, singling them out for ridicule. If they had hired a comedian who singled out men in tech as neckbeard virgin nerds, and played on stereotypes, I think it would be almost as unacceptable. "Unacceptable" because it's an obnoxious stereotype, "almost" because men are still the majority/power group in tech and can take it more easily than the outnumbered female minority.

michh 14y ago

> If he called all the men <insert stereotype> would Dell have to apologize? No, because men aren't oppressed in our society and especially our industry. Saying stuff that contributes to an oppressive environment isn't okay, even if you package it as a joke. If you don't understand what I just said: congratulations, you're probably pretty privileged.

bad_user 14y ago
men aren't oppressed in our society and especially our industry Are you sure about that? Calling people out and giving them a bad rep over silly jokes sure looks like oppression to me. Jokes have been historically used by oppressed people to express their frustrations. Not saying it's the same thing here, but trying to ban humor, even if it is politically incorrect, is really not OK. The world would be a much better place if we smiled more.
- michh 14y ago
  Jokes have been historically used by oppressed people to express their frustrations. Not saying it's the same thing here, but trying to ban humor, even if it is politically incorrect, is really not OK. Nobody is trying to ban edgy/dark humor. But there is a time and a place for that. A corporate event is not that place. The world would be a much better place if we smiled more. http://therealkatie.net/blog/2012/mar/21/lighten-up/ http://therealkatie.net/blog/2012/mar/21/lighten-up/
  - roopeshv 14y ago
    would every fucking body stop linking to lighten up. it's just as condescending to link to it every fucking time.
johngalt 14y ago
"Men aren't oppressed in our society..." how did you arrive at this conclusion? Majority of homeless: men Majority of crime victims: men Majority of workplace fatalities: men Majority of prisoners: men

vijayr 14y ago

1. Adult jokes are fine in a stand up comedy, not everywhere. 2. He targeted only women, if he made jokes targeted at both men and women equally, then this situation may be different. That said, there are enough places where sexist jokes are made at men - by both men and women. Nobody complains and nobody cares. That is just the way it is :(

rimantas 14y ago
Adult jokes are fine with adults. I don't get why do you want some sterile "professionalism". We are humans, at work or at home. Should we put wigs on to look even more professional? And jokes about some gender stereotype are not necessarily sexist. I, for one, welcome the world where nobody complains about jokes. It scary to think that we are coming closer and closer to Orvelian "thought crime" :(
- nollidge 14y ago
  > It scary to think that we are coming closer and closer to Orvelian "thought crime" :( Oh for fuck's sake, it's not thought when words are uttered out loud. It's also not crime when free people freely protested the free speech of a free individual who has not been punished by any government. Godwin's Law should be updated to include Orwell's fictions because nobody seems to have a sense of perspective about them. > I, for one, welcome the world where nobody complains about jokes. And I would welcome a world where everyone thinks for two seconds about what it's like to be a constant target of said jokes, uses their basic human empathy to listen to said complaints, and then reasons about it for a while instead of defensively dismissing the complaints with a privileged wave of the hand.
  - liedra 14y ago
    Thank you, seriously. The slippery slope argument is just so infuriating when really all that's necessary is a little human decency.
    - nollidge 14y ago

liedra 14y ago

Are you serious?! This was a professional event. There is a known issue with lack of women in tech. Dell specifically has a site dedicated to encouraging women in tech. Women have come out again and again and said that these sorts of jokes are offensive and put other women off going into tech jobs. Why would anyone in their right mind deliberately go out of their way to make women uncomfortable?

theorique 14y ago

This didn't sound like an inclusive equal-opportunity roast, which could have been funny. If it had been, he would have been making fun of men in tech as well. As it stands, it seems like he was only making fun of the (few) women present, singling them out for ridicule. If they had hired a comedian who singled out men in tech as neckbeard virgin nerds, and played on stereotypes, I think it would be almost as unacceptable. "Unacceptable" because it's an obnoxious stereotype, "almost" because men are still the majority/power group in tech and can take it more easily than the outnumbered female minority.