I think if people could laugh at words rather than hate because of/with them, then yes, that would be a good thing for humanity.

Personally, i think its about damn time. People throw names at each other all the time. Nerd, Slut, etc. I don't see why having a term thrown at you because of your race is any different than a term attached to you because of your glasses, or your breasts. Obviously, at some point in history these words did come packaged in with other things, and older people obviously are the exeption to this. But in general, just let them. Move on. It's time to find some other things to whine and worry about.

I know exactly what you're talking about, everything is a joke these days. Some of my friends use the "get back in the kitchen and make me a sandwich!" Of course it's all good fun and means absolutely nothing. Other people I know call each other merely by skin tone or other racist terms, chink, yellow, or even rag (random asian girl). No one cares anymore because no one takes offense to it. Back in the day someone might here the turn and go cry in a corner or throw a pitcher at the offender, but these days it just doesn't mean anything. Some words I still find people definitely just shouldn't touch on, the N word. I just think that certain word is steeped in so much history and there's so much hardship surrounding that one word. There has been a whole mountain full of blood shed over that word and it just doesn't seem to settle with me if people use it casually. I remember in 6th or 8th grade one extremely passionate African American drama teacher was teaching the whole 6/8th grade with some other teachers about African American month. All the kids were being pretty rowdy and not paying much attention to her and she just blew her top. She was so furious she got up on our "stage", it's really more a platform, and she gave an incredible speech. She yelled at us about how disrespectful we were being. She said that we might not care about this month or this very day but she does. She told us about how rude we were being because this might mean nothing to us, but to her it meant a lot. She told us about how children would walk silently, African Americans, dozens upon dozens of them would parade trying to sing their songs. But some of them were scared because on all sides were white people, and they threw things at them and there were police. Those police were mean and they would beat people and there were dogs which would kill people, ferocious horrible dogs. And they were scared that they would lose their life, but they just kept on walking because they had to. And she told us that her ancestors were those walkers and if it wasn't for their bravery we would still be in segregated schools. It was an amazing speech and it really made me think about the hardships those people went through for their rightfully earned freedom.

it is good for any sort of joke but only if they're okay with it., even if you dont mind wouldnt' you be rather called by your name. I mean my mates are racists and say "Look at that black man" as a joke and start laughing afterwards, but eventually stop when they notice im not laughing.
I say its okay to do it if the person your calling it doesnt mind, but when your calling it seriously thats offence.
So yeah its fine to say it as a joke so. I rest my casee ;)