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Making fun of accents

Skeptic Bob said:
I was watching some standup comedy tonight and it got me to thinking. What accents is it ok to make fun of and why?

I knows that French accents are a go. Chinese accents are a no-go. Are Mexican accents bad but Spanish (from Spain) accents ok? What about Northern accents vs Southern accents?

Just a wonderin’.
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I don't care what people think, but making fun of a Hindi (Indian) accent is knee slappin' funny.
 
ecofarm said:
Such an amazingly stupid and ignorant statement. What nazi taught you that garbage?

You need a basic education in what privilege means and what the social differences are between the power majority and minorities. Basically, you need Sociology 101 because the above is one of the most inbred stupid ignorant garbage posts to ever hit this forum. My God, man, have some self respect.
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"Privilege" means someone is a mark to take from. Hitler railed on and on about Jewish privilege.
 
SDET said:
"Privilege" means someone is a mark to take from. Hitler railed on and on about Jewish privilege.
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You have no clue what privilege means in a sociological context. How can one babble on about something they know nothing about. Amazing.

You are claiming whites are like Jews in Nazi Germany. So disgustingly ignorant. The ultimate dumbass white-boy victim-card.
 
Skeptic Bob said:
I was watching some standup comedy tonight and it got me to thinking. What accents is it ok to make fun of and why?

I knows that French accents are a go. Chinese accents are a no-go. Are Mexican accents bad but Spanish (from Spain) accents ok? What about Northern accents vs Southern accents?

Just a wonderin’.
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I had folks make fun of my southern accent. But that was a long time ago. In return I or we made fun of those from Boston. You know the dirty dirt and a turd sounding folks for the thirty three and a third. When I was in the army there was this guy from Boston whom I could never understand what he was saying. I would only nod or say okay. What I was agreeing to, I hadn't the faintest idea.

It's been a very long time since I have heard anyone make fun of someone else's accent to include mine. But I think after 20 years of being in the army and another 26 of working for the army, I lost most of mine being around folks from all over the country and the world. I don't think many folks make fun of other's accent much anymore. Kind of passe. Perhaps because the accents aren't as pronounced. Then people have moved from all over the country to other parts. They don't tend to stay put in one place like they used to. Heck, we probably have more northerners living in and around Atlanta than native Georgians.

Times change.
 
Skeptic Bob said:
I was watching some standup comedy tonight and it got me to thinking. What accents is it ok to make fun of and why?

I knows that French accents are a go. Chinese accents are a no-go. Are Mexican accents bad but Spanish (from Spain) accents ok? What about Northern accents vs Southern accents?

Just a wonderin’.
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First thing to remember is that everyone has an accent. So while a British accent might seem funny to us, to them our various accents seem funny.

That said, I have seen people making fun of their own accents. There was a British commercial where the woman was coming in looking for a mattress and asked for a "silly" one. The salesman assured her that all their mattresses were quite serious. Then she pointed and said, "No a Sealy mattress". Brand name may be misspelled, sorry. I know I have seen various comedy shows, especially with Scots, that show them having voice recognition issues with technology. So people make fun of their own accents as well, so I see no reason not to make fun of others. The important part is the vein in which it is done. Most comedy I've seen isn't as much making fun of the accent per se, but of the interaction of that accent with others. Even here in America, we might do exaggerated southern drawls, or over the top evangelical ministers (I'm convinced they have their own accent).

So have at!
 
Why would you make fun of someone's accent?
 
Skeptic Bob said:
I was watching some standup comedy tonight and it got me to thinking. What accents is it ok to make fun of and why?

I knows that French accents are a go. Chinese accents are a no-go. Are Mexican accents bad but Spanish (from Spain) accents ok? What about Northern accents vs Southern accents?

Just a wonderin’.
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I say it's acceptable to make fun of anything and everything nothing is sacred when it comes to Comedy. If there are people who are offended then you know it's comedy because things that aren't offensive to anyone are typically devoid of substitutive meaning.
 
My students love it when I jump into a British accent in the middle of a lesson. And, of course, a Mexican accent for reading aloud any Skippyjon Jones books. :)
 
Josie said:
My students love it when I jump into a British accent in the middle of a lesson. And, of course, a Mexican accent for reading aloud any Skippyjon Jones books. :)
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Someone doesn't live in LA.
 
Josie said:
Well, yes. Most people don't live in LA. :)
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You really have no clue what the point might be? You gotta be playin'.

Bust your 'white bread and Spam' Mexican accent out in LA and see what happens.
 
ecofarm said:
You really have no clue what the point might be? You gotta be playin'.
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I know exactly what your point is. And I'm eyerolling it.

My school is almost 60% Hispanic. :)
 
Josie said:
I know exactly what your point is. And I'm eyerolling it.

My school is almost 60% Hispanic. :)
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Children.

I'm sure white lady's "seeee, senor" is just great. When you read black characters, you do an accent for that too?
 
ecofarm said:
Children.

I'm sure white lady's "seeee, senor" is just great. When you read black characters, you do an accent for that too?
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If that's how it's written, of course. Why wouldn't I read aloud in the accent that the character demands?
 
Josie said:
If that's how it's written, of course. Why wouldn't I read aloud in the accent that the character demands?
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Demands? BS.

You got a whitey accent?

You do black-face as well? Your fake accent is a caricature.
 
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I read a lot of stories out loud and I adopt lots of different voices, accents, speaking patterns, rhythms etc. It helps the audience differentiate the characters. I suppose some folks might think that is not appropriate, but I suppose I just won't read or tell them stories. /shrug

People can be offended by anything, and I can't live my life being afraid of someone being offended by something. As long as I'm not being derogatory or mocking, I have a clean conscience.

On a side note, I just finished reading the Harry Potter series... and trying to make every member of Ron's family sound similar and yet distinctly different while reading dialog was probably the hardest thing I had to do...especially as I had to plan for changes in vocal range as they grew up. =/
 
ecofarm said:
You really have no clue what the point might be? You gotta be playin'.

Bust your 'white bread and Spam' Mexican accent out in LA and see what happens.
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I been to LALA land, Se Senior, ju want to meet my sester, she good for you, she smell like fish but she tastes like chicken!.

I always get a laugh with that one. You'll cry no doubt.
 
CLAX1911 said:
I say it's acceptable to make fun of anything and everything nothing is sacred when it comes to Comedy. If there are people who are offended then you know it's comedy because things that aren't offensive to anyone are typically devoid of substitutive meaning.
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The old saying always comes to mind.

**** you if you can't take a joke.
 
CLAX1911 said:
But they don't have a sense of humor.
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Are stereotypes, demonization and marginalization your only gigs? There are other ways to generate self worth.
 
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