MovieChat Forums > Only Fools and Horses (1981) Discussion > Does the homophobia/racism bother you?

Does the homophobia/racism bother you?

posted 8 years ago by allwork15
6 replies | jump to latest

Quite a few times the characters make offhand jokes about "paki's" or "poofs". Does it ever bother you when you're watching the show? I don't exactly like the comments, but I don't really hate them either. The only time I think it would bother me was if I was watching it with someone and they would be offended. This show did take place in the 80s, people weren't as accepting as they are today, and in some ways I think it's very true to the characters that they would make comments like that, keeping in mind that they grew up poor, in a broken home with a terrible father. Re-runs seem to cut a some of the jokes that could offend people, which I do understand, but I think is a bit of a shame because you miss some funny moments. Like the conversation Rodney has with Irene, and he tells Del later he was talking to Mickey Pierce. If they cut Del's reaction, the joke just wouldn't work.

[–] k_tito_trinidad 8 years ago

I'm a Pakistani and I dnt speak for us all but it didn't bother me, it wasnt meant in a malicious way and people from what I'm told just naturally spoke like that in the 80s

[–] Mr_K_Pratt 8 years ago

Not really. I just look at it as a sign of the times. We've moved on since then, well most of us have! I don't think any of the episodes should be cut, just a warning notice at the beginning, stating that it was filmed during a more un-pc time and some people may find the language offensive. That's what they did when "Love Thy Neighbour" was shown on UK Gold back in the nineties.

YOU SHOULDN'T BE EATING SAUSAGES!!

[–] mikeyg24 8 years ago

The only thing that bothers me about homophobia and racism is people looking for it in every nook and cranny.

We have to show the world that not all of us are like him: Henning von Tresckow.

[–] bobbiwibble 7 years ago

I think it will always stand the test of time because when they said something ignorant, the joke was always on the brothers, rather than the minority. The joke is never 'haha look at this paki/tranny/lezza' and more 'haha look at the brothers attempting to be understanding and failing' I mean according to my mum the early episode about rodneys weed smoking was considered outrageous, but the programme itself was clever enough to make the fallout the ridiculous part.
I think it depends on how you approach it and sure you can go for something super controversial, if you really want to, or you can create a show that never changes even when its players do. Other examples I can think of in the same category are always sunny in Philadelphia, arrested development and Siblings, all of which make incredibly tasteless jokes which work very well because the people making the comments are the ones we are laughing at

[–] marktayloruk (2378) 2 years ago

It's the.PC prats who.complain.who bother me.

[–] 7 years ago

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