Can someone explain this joke to me?

[Deleted]

I received this in an email and I read it twice and I don't get it...is it supposed to be funny? Can someone explain WHY it's supposed to be funny?


In what Aisle is the Polish Sausage?


Everyone seems to be in such a hurry to scream 'prejudice or racist' these days.

A customer asked, "In what aisle can I find the Polish sausage?"

The clerk asks, "Are you Polish?"

The guy, clearly offended, says, "Yes I am. But let me ask you something.

If I had asked for Italian sausage, would you ask me if I was Italian?

Or if I had asked for German Bratwurst, would you ask me if I was German?

Or if I asked for a kosher hot dog would you ask me if I was Jewish?

Or if I had asked for a Taco, would you ask if I was Mexican?

Or if I asked for some Irish whiskey, would you ask if I was Irish?"

The clerk says, "No, I probably wouldn't."

The guy says, "Well then, because I asked for Polish sausage, why did you ask me if I'm Polish?"

The clerk replied, "Because you're in Home Depot."

[ridethelightning]

The stereotype is that Polish people are not very smart.

[lizardesque]

Polish people are stereotyped as being stupid.

[Deleted]

Sorry, I'm as lost as you are on this one. ^o)

[darkling_glory]

Polish people are dumb, duh!

Also, it's a commentary on how stupid racism is in America. Obviously the stupid Polish guy thinks he's being discriminated against, but it's not because he's Polish. It's because he's stupid.

[sapphire bou]

I didn't realize that Polish people are stereotyped as stupid.

Can anyone explain that one to me?

[OrangePixyStix]

The Polish people I know are actually quite smart, one of them has a master's degree in Biochemistry!

[alabasterangel]

How do you know that people are Polish? Do people usually know this stuff about the other people they know?

[Deleted]

I don't know things like that unless someone volunteers the info (which happens more then you would think) or sometimes you can tell by their last name. I have a VERY German and uncommon last name. People either can tell its German or ask about it because it is so unique. I however am not German, H is 100% purebred though.

[ridethelightning]

I have a cousin whose husband is Polish. I know it because his Aunt Zophie came here from Poland and doesn't speak English. Otherwise I don't know how you would tell.

[OrangePixyStix]

Jun 19, 2012 14:51:56 GMT -5 alabasterangel said:

How do you know that people are Polish? Do people usually know this stuff about the other people they know?

By either their last name or because I knew their family who is Polish.

[darkling_glory]

If their name ends in "ski' -- they're probably Polish.

Really, no one knew about the Poleock stereotype? Interesting. My high school was very much segregated by ethnicity.

[Deleted]

Jun 19, 2012 15:04:08 GMT -5 darkling_glory said:

If their name ends in "ski' -- they're probably Polish.

Really, no one knew about the Poleock stereotype? Interesting. My high school was very much segregated by ethnicity.

I never heard of that stereotype before, but my Grandfather did used to tell me that Polish people ate dogs... :-|

[glw]

Jun 19, 2012 15:04:08 GMT -5 darkling_glory said:

If their name ends in "ski' -- they're probably Polish.

My grandfather changed his last name because it ended with -ski and he thought it was too "ethnic." He was very concerned about being perceived as Polish (he was Slovak) because that meant he would be made fun of and wouldn't get hired or promoted in his factory job. I only found out about my "real" last name when I was in high school.

[kimnsandy]

To all of those who have not ever heard the stereotype that Polish people are stupid...I am pretty shocked! Maybe you are all young? I know there are not nearly as many Polack jokes going around anymore as when I was young but to have never even heard that stereotype seems crazy to me.

Here's a typical polack joke:

These two Polish men rent a boat and go fishing in a lake. They are amazed at the number of fish that they caught that day, so one says to the other, "We'll have to come back here tomorrow!" The other asks, "But how will we remember where this spot is?"

The first guy then takes a can of spray paint, paints an X on the bottom of the boat, and says, "We'll just look for this X tomorrow." The other guy says, "You idiot! How do you know we'll get the same boat?"

[darkling_glory]

Here's another one:

Three guys are lined up in front of the firing squad for execution. The first guy is Italian, the second guy is Mexican, and the third guy is Polish.

The squad is about to execute the first guy, when he points at something off in the distance and yells "Tornado!" Everyone turns to look and the Italian runs away!

The second guy is about to get executed, when he points at something off at the distance and yells "Earthquake!" Everyone tuns to look and the Mexican runs away!

The Polish guy is about to get executed, when he points at something off at the distance and yells, "Fire!"

[sapphire bou]

I can't believe I've never heard this stereotype either. My maiden name ends in "ske" and my family "came over from Germany", but I think that the part that they came from was actually Poland at one time.

This is news to me. I don't think any of my family is dumb. In fact my mother's ethnically-mixed side has less common sense and intelligence than my father's side.

[Deleted]

Ahhh, I see now. I didn't know about that stereotype! I'm 25, FTR

[MyName]

Hahaha - omg. I grew up in a town that had a huge Polish community (New Britain, CT - holla!), and I am well aware of the stereotypes/jokes. Now I want kielbasa.