# Should I have changed my sig line? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 29, 2000, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-have-changed-my-sig-line/31261 "2000-08-29T22:05:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jab1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ee7513/32.png) [@jab1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jab1)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2000, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-have-changed-my-sig-line/31261/1 "2000-08-29T22:05:38Z")
I thought of one the other day on the “Fun things to do in Church” thread: **"Mary was a slut. She slept with God on their first date."** Someone was offended enough to email me (I won’t say who) and ask me to change it. I did. But as an atheist who believes it possible that Jesus and Mary both were fictional characters, I frankly still think my line was more funny than offensive. To me, it’s no more offensive than calling Murphy Brown a slut. (Calling a REAL person a slut is another matter. Also, there are women who LIKE being sluts, like it or not.) And it’s my way of pointing out the hypocrisy of some Christians (not necessarily the person who objected) who oppose sex-out-of-wedlock when their own Lord and Savior was (in a way) a product of an illegitimate relationship. (Hey, did God ASK Mary if she wanted to get pregnant? And were they married?) IOW, Mary either had sex with someone not her husband (God) and liked it or she was raped by God. (Now, _there’s_ a topic for Great Debates: “Was Mary raped by God?”) What do you think? I’d rather put that sig line back, but not if I make enemies. And such a sig line wouldn’t get me banned, would it? ---
**Author:** ![Jester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jester/32/8223_2.png) [@Jester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jester)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2000, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-have-changed-my-sig-line/31261/2 "2000-08-29T22:14:28Z")
Hey, at least you didn’t call the Pope a bastard. I didn’t mean it, I swear! ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2000, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-have-changed-my-sig-line/31261/3 "2000-08-29T22:14:31Z")
Banned for a sig like that? No, of course not. In my opinion, the originator the e-mail you received needs to lighten up a bit. ---
**Author:** ![Gozu\_Tashoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7993a0/32.png) [@Gozu\_Tashoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu_Tashoya)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2000, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-have-changed-my-sig-line/31261/4 "2000-08-29T22:19:15Z")
Eh, it’s the way things are. Somethings will always offend somebody, it seems like. It all depends, it’s not terribly offensive - though this is coming from a non-practicing atheist - but at the same time Mary is a focus of reverence and therefore derrogatory (sp?) terms directed towards her will offend/anger somebody sooner or later. Personally, I’d change it, but then again, in the words of Melvin Smiley, “I can’t stand the thought of anybody not liking me.” ---
**Author:** ![magdalene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df788c/32.png) [@magdalene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magdalene)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2000, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-have-changed-my-sig-line/31261/5 "2000-08-29T22:43:13Z")
Your sig isn’t offensive, it’s just not that funny, said the original Biblical slut. ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2000, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-have-changed-my-sig-line/31261/6 "2000-08-29T23:06:11Z")
KKB, as someone who’s fought all her life for fire safety, your sig deeply offends (just kidding! That one makes me laugh every time). Oh dear. I’ve been posting for two days now and I’ve probably offended someone now. Cest la vie. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2000, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-have-changed-my-sig-line/31261/7 "2000-08-29T23:16:48Z")
jab1 - your sig line is pretty funny, but can also irritate many people. I think actually most humour can anger at least one person, so the decisive factors would be (in my mind) - Do more people find it funny, or do more people find it offensive? - Are you more interested in the praise of people that find it funny, or the censure of people that are offended? - Is there anyone who would be offended by this, that you would wish not to offend? e.g. Are there any catholic posters here that you respect? The problem too with most sig lines is that they are only funny the first time anyway, whereas a derogatory comment seems to have a longer “shelf life”. So after seeing it a couple of times the humour will be gone, whereas the people that are offended may still be hurt when they see it. ---
**Author:** ![oldscratch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ed655f/32.png) [@oldscratch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oldscratch)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2000, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-have-changed-my-sig-line/31261/8 "2000-08-29T23:24:06Z")
It’s ok not that funny. I can understand how some would find it offensive, but not that offensive. Remind me of a comedy bit performed by whasisis name from Mr. Show. I was in the desert and a light decended, and it was the virgin mary. and… and… {sobbing} she raped me ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Silver\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Fire)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2000, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-have-changed-my-sig-line/31261/9 "2000-08-29T23:30:35Z")
Put it back. It’s funny! As UncleBeer said, whoever sent it to you should probably lighten up a bit. ---
**Author:** ![Gozu\_Tashoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7993a0/32.png) [@Gozu\_Tashoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu_Tashoya)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2000, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-have-changed-my-sig-line/31261/10 "2000-08-30T01:12:19Z")
I find myself agreeing with everything Arnold said, so I’d go with his formula(s). Seeing as how I’m not offended, and as how I like humor, I vote with Silver. ILegend - I’m sure you offended _somebody_, but it sure as heck wasn’t me. 😛 Happy, as always, to entertain. ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2000, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-have-changed-my-sig-line/31261/11 "2000-08-30T05:14:08Z")
> [@](#): > > Is there anyone who would be offended by this, that you would wish not to offend? e.g. Are there any catholic posters here that you respect? Hell, I’m Catholic, and it doesn’t offend me. It’s possible that I’m an atypical sample, though. ---
**Author:** ![TaleraRis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@TaleraRis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TaleraRis)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2000, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-have-changed-my-sig-line/31261/12 "2000-08-30T06:14:55Z")
They need to get the sticks out of their butts, jab. It’s a joke, plain and simple. And anyone that tries to force you or pressure you into taking that down is not only violating your right to free speech given by the First Amendment, but also trying to force _their_ beliefs and their religion on you. I’d tell em to stuff it. ---
**Author:** ![TroubleAgain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e480ec/32.png) [@TroubleAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroubleAgain)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2000, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-have-changed-my-sig-line/31261/13 "2000-08-30T06:24:07Z")
Well, actually, anyone who believes in the virgin birth believes she was a **virgin** before and after the conception. No sex. She supposedly remained a virgin until she and Joseph took up their relationship as man and wife and she had children with him. So naturally your sig line could be offensive. I personally try to avoid offending people any more than I must, so I would not use a sig line I know that an entire group of people will likely take offense at. Beyond that, I have no opinion as to whether you should have changed it or not. ---
**Author:** ![Feynn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecb155/32.png) [@Feynn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Feynn)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2000, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-have-changed-my-sig-line/31261/14 "2000-08-30T06:26:18Z")
KKB- What the hell is a non practicing athiest? A Christian? ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2000, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-have-changed-my-sig-line/31261/15 "2000-08-30T06:30:38Z")
I’m with Kat. I was raised Catholic, and find it pretty damn funny. As TroubleAgain mentioned, inaccurate, but damned funny. ---
**Author:** ![jab1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ee7513/32.png) [@jab1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jab1)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2000, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-have-changed-my-sig-line/31261/16 "2000-08-30T13:33:47Z")
😃 ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2000, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-have-changed-my-sig-line/31261/17 "2000-08-30T14:55:09Z")
Stick to yer guns, Jab! [/Tim Allen voice] Never retreat. Never surrender! [/Tim Allen voice off] People get upset over the dumbest things. ---
**Author:** ![SILENT-BOB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4da419/32.png) [@SILENT-BOB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SILENT-BOB)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2000, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-have-changed-my-sig-line/31261/18 "2000-08-30T15:44:18Z")
😃