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LuckyCharms

(17,472 posts)
Fri Jan 12, 2018, 02:17 PM Jan 2018

Question. What sound does a helicopter make?

Answer: Wop wop wop wop wop wop wop wop.

Question: Why can't Italians open a door?

Answer: Can't work a doorknob. Too much grease on their hands.

I'm 59 years old, and this is what I heard throughout junior high and high school. I lost some spectacular fist fights over this kind of stuff.

And then it kind of went away. Slowly, but it went away as comments like this became socially unacceptable.

Well, we are now going backwards 40 or 50 years.

12 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Question. What sound does a helicopter make? (Original Post) LuckyCharms Jan 2018 OP
we're going back a lot further than that. unblock Jan 2018 #1
I remember some of those ethnic jokes, too. The Velveteen Ocelot Jan 2018 #2
It is so damn disgusting what this ignoramus in the WH is doing! n/t RKP5637 Jan 2018 #3
I thought it was Fap Fap Fap Fap Fap Fap Fap Fap MineralMan Jan 2018 #4
Well, that's interesting, MineralMan! PJMcK Jan 2018 #6
I admire your diligence in researching the term. MineralMan Jan 2018 #8
I'm going to dago gibraltar72 Jan 2018 #5
Many of us grew up and realized the hurt this type of rhetoric was causing BoneyardDem Jan 2018 #7
Lucky, Ohiogal Jan 2018 #9
It used to be normal to walk into Waldenbooks Codeine Jan 2018 #10
I'm Polish and used to get a lot of dumb Polack jokes Luciferous Jan 2018 #11
Me too, I'm half Polish on my mother's side. Ohiogal Jan 2018 #12

The Velveteen Ocelot

(115,985 posts)
2. I remember some of those ethnic jokes, too.
Fri Jan 12, 2018, 02:23 PM
Jan 2018

But I think the last time I heard any of them was at least 30 years ago, maybe more. They did become socially unacceptable, at least in most places; but the underlying racism and bigotry never went away altogether, and now people who still think that way have been given permission by the Trumpistas to say those things in public again.

PJMcK

(22,072 posts)
6. Well, that's interesting, MineralMan!
Fri Jan 12, 2018, 02:37 PM
Jan 2018

According the online Oxford Dictionary, "fap" refers to a man masturbating:

https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/fap

Or perhaps you meant the medical condition (from Wikipedia):

Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is an autosomal dominant inherited condition in which numerous adenomatous polyps form mainly in the epithelium of the large intestine.


Then there's an obsolete Old English adjective meaning to be drunk.

I think I have too much free time today.

MineralMan

(146,351 posts)
8. I admire your diligence in researching the term.
Fri Jan 12, 2018, 02:39 PM
Jan 2018

Sometimes I get lost in Google, looking things up and following links. The Urban Dictionary is another excellent source for odd words.

 

BoneyardDem

(1,202 posts)
7. Many of us grew up and realized the hurt this type of rhetoric was causing
Fri Jan 12, 2018, 02:38 PM
Jan 2018

I and many of my era, were grateful to see hurtful racist name calling and joking become a parriah. Many vowed not only to do better themselves, but to raise kids their better. Not so much for the Trumps.

Ohiogal

(32,189 posts)
9. Lucky,
Fri Jan 12, 2018, 03:39 PM
Jan 2018

My father was a educated man with two advanced university degrees, yet his political views were like Archie Bunker's. I must have heard every racial epithet and joke there was, growing up.

One I got out from under my parents' rule, and saw the world for myself, my attitudes became the polar opposite of his. I sometimes wonder if he's spinning in his grave knowing that his daughter is a Liberal.

 

Codeine

(25,586 posts)
10. It used to be normal to walk into Waldenbooks
Fri Jan 12, 2018, 03:45 PM
Jan 2018

(remember Waldenbooks and B Dalton?) and find several books like “Worlds Best Polish Jokes” and “500 Italian Jokes”. My friends and I would read them and think it was hysterical. Now I cringe! I’m glad things improve over time.

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