Why is it that even though all other stereotypes are seen as extremely distasteful and rude, the stereotype of Irish people is still acceptable and widely used for a quick laugh?

I wasn't aware it was any less immature and looked down upon than other stereotypes. It is for me, however. Drunken bastards.

Is it? :huh:

And what stereotype would that be, exactly?

There's probably a whole list of other stereotypes that are just as "acceptable".

Only acceptable? In most cases people think of others almost entirely in stereotypes, if they think of them at all.

Just out of curiosity, do Icelanders have a stereotype? :huh:

Yeah. See, we Americans make fun of people from Iceland because your heart is made of ice. And stuff.

Yeah, but the Irish stereotype of the drunken joker is the only stereotype that is still seen as alright to use on t.v. or videogames, just look at the only Irish person in Red Dead Redemption.

I once had a dream where all the world leaders were sitting at a table. Bjork was the leader of Iceland, and she was just generally bat[censored] insane calling people names.

Wha? Where are you getting this information?
I see plenty of other stereotypes from all around the world on television and movies. :blink:

It seems like stereotypes that are used jokingly or in a positive way are acceptable in society.

Really? I see absolutely none, tv shows and movies are too afraid to put most stereotypes up, but nobody cares about slapping up a couple of stereotypical Irish characters for a laugh.

As opposed to the Russian/Finnish/German/English/Greek drunken joker?

Besides, though it may be used on TV or in games, I wasn't aware that any stereotype was all that clever...

I wonder how the Irish feel about it - seems only fair to get their opinion.

No, but when trying to recall an Icelandish name, we'll often forget how to pronounce it and add a bunch of letters until it sounds like gibberish.

Because stereotyping a country that generally well off is acceptable.

• Loud, gun ho, redneck Texan
  
• Californians being nothing by pot smoking hippies who surf all the time, and have blond wavy hair
  
• New Yorkers being loud, obnoxious, talk with a new york accent, and are all die hard Yankees fans
  
• The whole South Park episode when the boys went to Canada to get Kyle's brother back is all about Canadian stereotypes
  
• The English being nothing but posh, stuck up tea drinkers with bad teeth
  
• The French all like cheese, wine, cigarettes, and wear berets.
  
• Swedes are dumb blue eyed blonds

You get the point

I agree with BoH. I see stereotypes on tv everyday. I assume the Irish one is acceptable is because the Irish (generally) dont get offended by it. I could be wrong though.

Sassy black woman
Stupid fat guy comic relief
Mincing gay man
Strong, independent-type businesswoman (assumed by other characters to be a lisbian)
"Urban" black man
Nerdy Asian guy

I could go on for a long, long time. The drunken Irishman is, yes, a still unfortunately common and accepted stereotype throughout media. It shares that position with a LOT of others.

Well, I'm Irish. My mother was encouraged to drink Guinness in her pregnancy and gave me Gripe Water (alcoholic) when I was teething. I certainly have more than the usual ... uh ... affinity for alcohol.

That said, a bit of common sense and self control means that I don't go beyond government-approved limits for consumption of the stuff. You know, I also have an affinity for cake.

I'm the first generation in my family not to have red hair, and it does go distinctly auburn in summer. I actually had a nightmare last night where I tried to dye it red (as opposed to its usual black - only a shade darker than its natural colour) and it went drastically wrong. Hmm. Maybe there's a lesson in it.

So, I don't fulfil all of the stereotypes, and I'm not temperamental, but I'm a naturally auburn-haired alcohol-loving jokester so I guess I'm most of the way there.



Yeah. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NB-ViXBkAFQ.

Maybe the Irish don't get mad about it, because they realize how true it is?
Or maybe, they don't realize it's a stereotype at all, they think they are just being accurately described? Every Irish person I've ever known (not a lot) has been someone who goes to pubs every week at least twice.
Just sayin'.
Christ sake.
Before I'm quoted 9 more times, It's. A. Joke.
:rolleyes:
The "Getting-Sticks-Out-of-Your-Ass" service is that'a'way. --------->

I thought that the "Southern American Redneck" stereotype was more acceptable than the Irish one.

I don't think anyone is more acceptable than the other.You hear them form everyone unless its on tv or radio etc.In fact being mostly German ,and its noticeable that I am,I hear kraut ad nazi a lot from people.Not to insult me but as a joke.

Common TV/Movie stereotypes:
Americans are fat/stupid/obnoxious
Russians are big bruiser commie bastards
Brits are upper class holier-than-thou snobs stuck in a Victorian era mindset
French are arrogant cowards
Germans are secretly still nazi sympathizers
And it goes on and on...

Maybe I just notice it more, but it seems like whenever an Irish person is portrayed, it's always the stereotype Irish person. It's rarely just an Irish guy, it's always the stereotypical Irish guy.

I've seen waaaaaaaaay more "Extremely intelligent Asian smart guy" and "Southern USA Redneck from Kentucky who pisses in his house on the floor" stereotypes than Irish ones.

Stereotypes are often applied in that way so that the audience "knows" the character is supposed to be whatever. If the accent isn't strong enough or they think people might not recognize it the other stuff gets piled on in order to announce HEY THIS GUY IS IRISH.

Ironically (not a personal assumption, everyone does it), while stereotypes are extremely prevalent, people tend not to notice many of them because they accept it as a true representation, and don't even realize a stereotype is involved.