Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site bbncca.ARPA
Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!bbncca!sdyer
From: sdyer@bbncca.ARPA (Steve Dyer)
Newsgroups: net.jokes.d
Subject: net.sheep (and offensive jokes in general)
Message-ID: <215@bbncca.ARPA>
Date: Sat, 22-Oct-83 13:44:20 EDT
Article-I.D.: bbncca.215
Posted: Sat Oct 22 13:44:20 1983
Date-Received: Sun, 23-Oct-83 16:38:28 EDT
References: <279@mddc.UUCP>
Organization: Bolt, Beranek and Newman, Cambridge, Ma.
Lines: 17

I can't believe these people who think that if they presume something
is a "harmless joke" and post it to the net, then that absolves them
from any criticism whatsoever, be it either private or public.

I am less likely to be offended if it appears in 'net.jokes' because
of its free-for-all groundrules.  Still, this isn't absolute, as witnessed
by the recent furor over the tasteless posting entitled BLKTRAN.

Humor is a two-edged sword--it can be divisive and derisive as easily as it
can bring a warm smile to someone's face.  There was a very good article in
Newsweek of Oct 17, entitled, "Why Reagan is Funny, and Watt, not."  It
discusses the nature of humor, and much is relevant to these latest matters.
Some may dispute its claim that Reagan is funny, but that's not its
central point!

Steve Dyer
decvax!bbncca!sdyer