To be perfectly frank, I am sick and tired of worrying if something I do or say might offend someone. I think it is ridiculous that the moderator banned all jokes because some people told a joke that offended someone. In the last couple of weeks a lot of that political crap in our General Chit-Chat group has given way to a lot of jokes. I, for one, have found that so much more enjoyable. There have been some very good ones. Maybe a couple of them have been a bit “pointed” or risqué but, if people don’t like that type of humor, they should stop reading it and move on.

As a teacher I have to be careful what I say and do in the classroom but, really . . . . It has gotten out of hand. I teach math and my school district has eliminated all the courses taught at a slower pace because the poor children assigned to those classes were offended that they were put in that group. I can’t tell the students, “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year” anymore because it may offend someone. I have to say, “Happy Holidays”. Speaking of Christmas, I remember a time when we would go down to City Hall and see the wonderful Christmas display they put out each year, including a (gasp!) Nativity scene. Each year it got larger and larger as they would add items to it from all over the world. Now, they don’t even put lights on the trees. I grew up in Michigan in a town that had a large and very proud Polish population. We also had a significant Irish population and the biggest St. Patrick’s Day parade west of New York. Some of the best jokes about those ethnic groups came from within the group. It was all in good fun and everyone was able to laugh at themselves. I have always believed that the best way to prevent someone from laughing AT you is to laugh at yourself, first, loudest, and longest. Back then, those jokes were never meant to insult. Then, some thin skinned people started complaining about how they were offended by this and that and, now it has gotten to the point where we are afraid to say anything for fear of offending someone. What is the key? Common sense. If whatever is said, joke or not, is meant to be cruel and insulting, it is not appropriate. But, in reality, most of these jokes and/or comments are not meant that way and only those with a thin skin are offended.

To be perfectly frank, I am sick and tired of worrying if something I do or say might offend someone. I think it is ridiculous that the moderator banned all jokes because some people told a joke that offended someone. In the last couple of weeks a lot of that political crap in our General Chit-Chat group has given way to a lot of jokes. I, for one, have found that so much more enjoyable. There have been some very good ones. Maybe a couple of them have been a bit “pointed” or risqué but, if people don’t like that type of humor, they should stop reading it and move on.

As a teacher I have to be careful what I say and do in the classroom but, really . . . . It has gotten out of hand. I teach math and my school district has eliminated all the courses taught at a slower pace because the poor children assigned to those classes were offended that they were put in that group. I can’t tell the students, “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year” anymore because it may offend someone. I have to say, “Happy Holidays”. Speaking of Christmas, I remember a time when we would go down to City Hall and see the wonderful Christmas display they put out each year, including a (gasp!) Nativity scene. Each year it got larger and larger as they would add items to it from all over the world. Now, they don’t even put lights on the trees. I grew up in Michigan in a town that had a large and very proud Polish population. We also had a significant Irish population and the biggest St. Patrick’s Day parade west of New York. Some of the best jokes about those ethnic groups came from within the group. It was all in good fun and everyone was able to laugh at themselves. I have always believed that the best way to prevent someone from laughing AT you is to laugh at yourself, first, loudest, and longest. Back then, those jokes were never meant to insult. Then, some thin skinned people started complaining about how they were offended by this and that and, now it has gotten to the point where we are afraid to say anything for fear of offending someone. What is the key? Common sense. If whatever is said, joke or not, is meant to be cruel and insulting, it is not appropriate. But, in reality, most of these jokes and/or comments are not meant that way and only those with a thin skin are offended.

Very well stated! Exactly! Life is to short to feel offended by anything and everything! Laughter is a great way to start the day! There was no cruelty in this simple joke....a little common sense goes a long way....

To be perfectly frank, I am sick and tired of worrying if something I do or say might offend someone. I think it is ridiculous that the moderator banned all jokes because some people told a joke that offended someone. In the last couple of weeks a lot of that political crap in our General Chit-Chat group has given way to a lot of jokes. I, for one, have found that so much more enjoyable. There have been some very good ones. Maybe a couple of them have been a bit “pointed” or risqué but, if people don’t like that type of humor, they should stop reading it and move on.

As a teacher I have to be careful what I say and do in the classroom but, really . . . . It has gotten out of hand. I teach math and my school district has eliminated all the courses taught at a slower pace because the poor children assigned to those classes were offended that they were put in that group. I can’t tell the students, “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year” anymore because it may offend someone. I have to say, “Happy Holidays”. Speaking of Christmas, I remember a time when we would go down to City Hall and see the wonderful Christmas display they put out each year, including a (gasp!) Nativity scene. Each year it got larger and larger as they would add items to it from all over the world. Now, they don’t even put lights on the trees. I grew up in Michigan in a town that had a large and very proud Polish population. We also had a significant Irish population and the biggest St. Patrick’s Day parade west of New York. Some of the best jokes about those ethnic groups came from within the group. It was all in good fun and everyone was able to laugh at themselves. I have always believed that the best way to prevent someone from laughing AT you is to laugh at yourself, first, loudest, and longest. Back then, those jokes were never meant to insult. Then, some thin skinned people started complaining about how they were offended by this and that and, now it has gotten to the point where we are afraid to say anything for fear of offending someone. What is the key? Common sense. If whatever is said, joke or not, is meant to be cruel and insulting, it is not appropriate. But, in reality, most of these jokes and/or comments are not meant that way and only those with a thin skin are offended.