If I overreacted then I apologize, especially to Joost. But I don’t think his comment was funny, and I don’t like comments that denigrate others. If I see one, I will shoot it down - and yes, I’m fully aware of the irony of “doing onto others what they do [to me/others]”. But I work on the assumption that a taste of their own medicine might be helpful.
I also realize that some things can be funny even if they are racist, sexist, or snobbish. But are they funny to both sides? Or at the expense of one side? For example the following is a good sexist joke by Mark Twain [a man]: “The average woman would rather have beauty than brains, because the average man can see better than he can think.”
both sexes can laugh at that one, and women have the last laugh - even though it might take some men a while to catch on
I worked in Academia, and I worked on building sites (mostly to finance my studies). With blue-collar workers you got the occasional choice words, but it was always straight at you, and then it was done and dusted. In Academia, you got smiles and back-stabbing and endless grudges. I know which one I prefer. And one issue that has always been close to my heart is that white-collar workers are not “better” than blue-collar workers, even though most seem to think so and take great pride in being “more intelligent” than the “worker bees”
that always irks me.
Well, truly intelligent people know two things:
(1) they know the difference between achievement and privilege. They didn’t earn their intelligence. It’s nothing to be proud of that you are born more intelligent, taller, whiter, blonder, American/Russian/Chinese, straight/gay/lesbian etc etc. - but you CAN be proud of things you achieve,
(2) they know that it is only through the efforts of others that they can do what they do, and should be more grateful than arrogant. For example I can isolate genes, purify proteins, modify cells, but I can’t repair a car or the oven, make a pen, or live of the land without poisoning myself. Without thousands of others I wouldn’t be able to do what I am doing - I’m truly standing on the shoulders of giants.
So anyone feels like being racist, sexist, or a snob, then I’m happy to be the brick-wall they run into. Consequences be damned.