On a scale from 1 to 10, how offensive is the following political cartoon?

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http://mediaservice.photoisland.com/auction/Sep/20039115538291744034593.jpg

The above ran in my university's student newspaper this spring during the SARS outbreak. What do you think about it? Obviously, given the thread title, I've loaded the question, but I'm open to all opinions.

For the record, after the cartoon ran it sparked the typical sort of handwringing and outrage that only a university campus can muster. The artist says he was "misunderstood" and that many people were missing the "nuance" of his work. He claims it was intended to make an "ironic" statement.

Frankly, I don't see any nuance. I see a bad joke.

― ben welsh (benwelsh), Friday, 12 September 2003 05:14 (twenty-two years ago)

It's not even a joke. There's no punchline to speak of?

― Melissa W (Melissa W), Friday, 12 September 2003 05:25 (twenty-two years ago)

im offended by the haircut.

― phil-two (phil-two), Friday, 12 September 2003 05:27 (twenty-two years ago)

they also spelled "wonton" wrong

― gabbo giftington (dubplatestyle), Friday, 12 September 2003 05:27 (twenty-two years ago)

It's funny how some white people's understanding of China (or Asia, for that matter) is filtered entirely through Chinese restaurants/cuisine. Cf. bad stand-up jokes that end, "...only problem, you're hungry an hour later!!!"

― jaymc (jaymc), Friday, 12 September 2003 05:29 (twenty-two years ago)

im offended by the haircut.

Just be glad he's wearing the surgical mask so you can't see the buckteeth underneath.

― jaymc (jaymc), Friday, 12 September 2003 05:30 (twenty-two years ago)

i have never once be hungry an hour later after eating chinese food

― gabbo giftington (dubplatestyle), Friday, 12 September 2003 05:30 (twenty-two years ago)

also, i do not drive my car hunched over and peering over the steering wheel

― gabbo giftington (dubplatestyle), Friday, 12 September 2003 05:31 (twenty-two years ago)

my parents own a corner liquor store in compton though.

― phil-two (phil-two), Friday, 12 September 2003 05:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Speaking of which, I was surprised that the Silence! The Musical folks put a song up on their website called something like "Why Can't Chinese Women Drive" which... really wasn't anything more than what that title suggests.

― Chris P (Chris P), Friday, 12 September 2003 05:48 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.xeni.net/images/boingboing/sars/sarswoman.jpg

― no, Friday, 12 September 2003 06:13 (twenty-two years ago)

Nice.

― Andrew (enneff), Friday, 12 September 2003 06:51 (twenty-two years ago)

What the hell kind of rave is she headed to?

― oops (Oops), Friday, 12 September 2003 06:55 (twenty-two years ago)

No one is answering the question

I don't know the answer

― Vic (Vic), Friday, 12 September 2003 07:10 (twenty-two years ago)

zero offence, but zero funny.

― mei (mei), Friday, 12 September 2003 08:15 (twenty-two years ago)

It looks like Custos created it!

― Nicolars (Nicole), Friday, 12 September 2003 09:32 (twenty-two years ago)

I'll give it foive.

― N. (nickdastoor), Friday, 12 September 2003 09:49 (twenty-two years ago)

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