Date: Mon, 24 Oct 1994 18:31:27 PDT From: "CAVEMAN -- San Bernardino, Calif. USA" Subject: Re: offending idiot I know I started the "offending idiot" thing with my apology to anyone I might have offended, but what happened to "offending idioms" that were being posted. I was rather enjoying them (in the privacy of my own home). IMHO, half the problem with these terms are that *I* can talk about my family, but *YOU* can't, hence African-Americans using the term "nigger" for example, while "white" people cannot. <== FOR EXAMPLE -- not meaning to offend anyone. Personally, I enjoy "white" people jokes -- usually I would be classified "white" as I don't look that American Indian -- I take jokes for what they are, jokes. If I can't laugh at myself, I certainly have no business laughing at others. I know that the jokes are offensive to others, however. I don't find "Indian" jokes as funny as "white" jokes, although I have 3 "white" grandparents and 1 "Indian" grandparent. (The two that met at Boulder Dam were both white, BTW.) I find many things humorous, but I know I am more "sensitive" to anything said about Indians, no matter who says them. I find white people on the reservations to be offensive (without knowng so) much of the time (see my genealogy is pror sentence) -- in ALL cases, before becoming offended, CONSIDER the source! Somebody that was educated -- as I assume to be the case with those on the list -- offends me less often that some who is uneducated, even though they can say exactly the same thing to me. Maybe this is human nature, or maybe my own quirk, but I take the educated person's remark as a joke, and the uneducated person's as bigotry. 'course what's said my influence whether I or not I consider a person educated. Just another 2 cents worth . . . now, back in my cage. Chuck Coker CJCoker[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]CSUPomona.Edu