Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site wivax.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!wivax!tackett
From: tackett@wivax.UUCP (Raymond Tackett)
Newsgroups: net.jokes.d
Subject: Re: offensive jokes - (nf)
Message-ID: <18960@wivax.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 13-Nov-83 19:56:53 EST
Article-I.D.: wivax.18960
Posted: Sun Nov 13 19:56:53 1983
Date-Received: Mon, 14-Nov-83 08:58:31 EST
References: <3716@uiucdcs.UUCP>, <1421@utcsstat.UUCP>
Organization: Wang Institute, Tyngsboro, Ma.  01879
Lines: 26

Berke Breathed introduced a new word to English a while back --
"offensensitivity".  It was used in one of his Bloom County
strips.

Offensensitivity seems to be a sort of psychological game in which
the player tries to assert his personal identity and worth by 
reminding others that he, too, is a human being with feelings.
Like most other expressions of anger, it is based on pain and fear.

A dedicated player can decide to be offended no matter what warning
labels or encryption schemes are used.  A person with a real need to
play can take offense at any set of words or can be offended by
complete silence.

I'm not bringing this up to justify vulgarity or deliberate cruelty.
My message is that we will always offend someone by our very existence.
As long as the complaints are from just a few people (often the same
ones repeatedly), I think we will be doing as well as possible.

I, too, have my anger games.  I play them often and with the skill
of long experience, but I never confuse them with humor.  Keep the
material coming.  I will decide for myself what is funny and ignore
the rest.

Ray Tackett