Making fun of the Roma.

(From The Slovak Spectator)

Byline: LukaS Fila Spectator staff

Orange admits mistake, removes jokes from the internet ANTI-ROMA humour remains common within the Slovak media and on the Slovak internet, a fact that reflects the general attitudes of the Slovak population, according to insiders. A brief bit of research conducted by The Slovak Spectator (TSS) over the course of only two days has revealed a number of sources promoting humour directed against the Roma (see box). The website of Orange, one of Slovakia's two mobile telecommunications operators, was among them. One of the 44 categories of jokes in the entertainment section of the company's website was called "Gypsies and Roma". The site enabled visitors to rate jokes and send them via e-mail or SMS. When told about the jokes on September 2, Orange spokesperson Peter T"th said he knew nothing of them and requested time to investigate. Within minutes, 42 of the 90 Roma jokes were removed. "It is very unfortunate for us, because it is a huge faux pas," said T"th later. "Our company would in no way dare to publish jokes which would in any way discriminate, ridicule, or offend any part of the public or our clients; therefore, I have contacted my colleagues responsible for the content of the site's humour section and have asked them to adjust the categories," he added. Already, by September 3 the "Gypsy and Roma" category, as well as one called "Homosexuals", had been removed from the website. "I think the terms 'Gypsies' and 'Roma' are included in the dictionary of the Slovak language, and it was not our intention to use them with negative connotations. We do, however, realise that these terms can be interpreted in such a manner," T"th continued. He admitted Orange was responsible for the content of its site. "The website is prepared in-house. A special division of our company is responsible for the design, while the content is prepared by the communication department," said T"th. However, T"th also stressed his firm gets the jokes from an external supplier. "We buy from the database in good faith that there are no insulting, damaging, or offensive jokes," said T"th. He would not specify who the supplier was, claiming contractual obligations prevent him from doing so. "The database of jokes is being used in the information services of other companies as well," he said. When asked whether Orange may reconsider future collaboration with the joke provider, T"th answered: "Yes". Another website found in the course of The Slovak Spectator's inquiry was www.funny.sk. It includes a category called "CD-Roma", which as of September 3, contained 183 jokes that people can rate and send by

e-mail, SMS, or using voice messaging. The website is intended primarily for young people, according to Stefan Fukas, the entrepreneur operating the site. "The jokes are added by the users themselves," said Fukas. However, Fukas said not all entries make it to the site, and his people are responsible for the content. "Every joke is checked by one of our workers, so not each one is included," he said. He did admit that some of the published material could be seen as unacceptable. "Perhaps those [jokes] that you have selected are too much and should not be there," he said. In his explanation of why the jokes nevertheless were included, Fukas pointed out the fact they are common in the culture and there is a demand for them. "You know how it is - people keep adding them and they are also quite widespread," he said. On those grounds, Fukas is at this time not considering editing the published material. "If there are any complaints or requests, I am open to the idea of the jokes being reviewed. Then we can delete the most offensive ones. However, people don't complain, so I'm not in any way pressed to take them off," he said. Fukas was unable to say how a Roma person ...