Damn, meara. I know this one, a little bit.
What I do in these kind of situations is to tell a joke/say something offending "humorously" about the joke's teller race/culture/hairstyle etc. and then give them a "not amused by you, fucker" look. Usually start the joke/statement with "yeah, ha? But that's really not as bad as *enter joke/statement*".
Just to show them that no one is immune.
Michael Scott's a lesbian?
IIRC, Polish jokes were a Nazi thing, a propaganda tool to help them feel superior, and make the invasion/killing of Poles that much easier. When I called my dad a Nazi, it was then that he finally got the clue that racist jokes were not cool in my company.
...the sort of intellectual discussion about privilege and grey areas that is hard to have late at night in a noisy bar. But also that although I have read extensively about, and totally GROK, I have a very hard time VERBALIZING.
Wow, *I* could also really use this wisdom, for upcoming family-based holiday gatherings.
Bonus points if someone can come up with a retort for someone who pokes fun at you in a mean-spirited way, and then when you cry foul, pulls the "I was JUST KIDDING! Geez, can't you TAKE A JOKE???"
"I can if it's told by someone who can actually deliver it. Leno, you ain't."
Bonus points if someone can come up with a retort for someone who pokes fun at you in a mean-spirited way, and then when you cry foul, pulls the "I was JUST KIDDING! Geez, can't you TAKE A JOKE???"
Oooh, pick me, pick me!
My dazzling retort is....YOU PUNCH THEM IN THE NUTS! And when they object, you say it's slapstick! A tried and tested comedy style! And, hey, the bit where they doubled up in pain and made little retching noises sure made everyone else in the room giggle - comedy GOLD, baybee! Where's their sense of humour?
Geez, can't you TAKE A JOKE???
The answer is NO. And then Fay's kicking them in the nuts suggestion.
[edit: Oh, my bad. Punching them in the nuts, not kicking.]
Mental note, no borderline jokes on physical presence of Fay, unless wearing a cup.