When I was growing up, and through a good part of my business career, joke telling was an appreciated and valued skill. My Dad was quite a master. I can recall dinner guests laughing so hard that they couldn't take a breath. Though I never had his skill, I have always enjoyed jokes and telling jokes. All of a sudden the universe changed, and we began to become "the nation of the eternally offended" with sensitivity to virtually everything. I was standing with some work friends at a business meeting reception, all of us with drink in hand, telling jokes. An individual walked over to the corner where we were standing and joined the group, then announced that our jokes were offensive, but made no move to leave. We were amazed. Sure enough, pretty soon there were darn few jokes told at business affairs, and then, only among close friends in private.
I was delighted to find a steady flow of jokes on this site -- I suppose it is member age and demographics, but it is a most enjoyable flashback to freer days. I told one of my joke telling business buddies (who hasn't retired yet) that I had hit the Mother Lode and have been sending him a selection of the best jokes harvested from the Hedgehog every week. Many thanks to you who post them -- I suspect I am not the only one who passes them on. You have a broader audience than you know and are keeping a tradition alive! Cheers!