# Will we ever run out of busybodies who wish to take offense at the slightest thing? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 3, 2005, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-we-ever-run-out-of-busybodies-who-wish-to-take-offense-at-the-slightest-thing/297459 "2005-04-03T00:26:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2005, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-we-ever-run-out-of-busybodies-who-wish-to-take-offense-at-the-slightest-thing/297459/21 "2005-04-03T23:10:56Z")
> [@Slithy Tove](#): > > They might as well rename the place Double-entendre County. I swear, whenever I hear of the the town of Bothell I cna’t help but form the visual image of an entire town of women sitting on sofas in their underwear waiting for the doorbell to ring. You haven’t lived there, have you? Residents justifiably call it Bot-Hell. 😉 I lived in Snohomish Co. for a time and “Snoho” is a pretty universal shortening by residents, businesses, and government agencies. Sure, the teens are going to giggle about it. What makes “Snohos” orders of magnitude worse than “Snoho,” I have no earthly idea. People are weird, especially school administrators. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2005, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-we-ever-run-out-of-busybodies-who-wish-to-take-offense-at-the-slightest-thing/297459/22 "2005-04-04T00:48:58Z")
Makes one wonder how the school administrators in Hooker, OK manage comments made about their teams? The American Legion baseball team is called the Horny Toads. 😉 Even better are some of the comments you’d imagine made in other locker rooms: \*Do you boys wanna get on those Hookers tonight? Yes, Sir!!! I want you to give those Hookers all you’ve got! Yes, Sir!!!\* Perhaps new headlines might read (I couldn’t read radio and maintain): \*Hookers tired and satisfied after double overtime… This represents the hottest and tightest lineup of Hookers in years… After 90 minutes of pounding, the Hookers refused to say yes… Last night, the Hookers had to swallow their pride and surrender…\* ---
**Author:** ![kevja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/aeb1de/32.png) [@kevja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevja)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2005, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-we-ever-run-out-of-busybodies-who-wish-to-take-offense-at-the-slightest-thing/297459/23 "2005-04-04T01:01:31Z")
> [@cricetus](#): > > Follow up question: will we ever run out of knee-jerks who wish to take outrage at the slightest thing said by a busybodies who want to take offense at the slightest thing? Thank you, **cricetus**. I bet I use the ditto/quote thing more than most posters. Call it the charm of the lurkers. But your post nailed it. ---
**Author:** ![Mikahw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Mikahw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikahw)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2005, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-we-ever-run-out-of-busybodies-who-wish-to-take-offense-at-the-slightest-thing/297459/24 "2005-04-04T02:10:48Z")
I can’t wait until someone dares to bring a box of Hostess HOHOs to that school. ---
**Author:** ![Mona\_Lott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ee7513/32.png) [@Mona\_Lott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mona_Lott)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2005, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-we-ever-run-out-of-busybodies-who-wish-to-take-offense-at-the-slightest-thing/297459/25 "2005-04-04T03:12:50Z")
Perhaps it is a good thing that they’re 300 miles from the IdaHO border. Which reminds me of some juvenile humor that was going around here a couple years ago: Did you know that only 49 states will be represented in the Miss America Pagent this year? Well, would you want to get up in front of everyone and say Idaho? ---
**Author:** ![Muad\_Dib](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@Muad\_Dib](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muad_Dib)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2005, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-we-ever-run-out-of-busybodies-who-wish-to-take-offense-at-the-slightest-thing/297459/26 "2005-04-04T03:40:12Z")
> [@Lord Ashtar](#): > > If the school administrators don’t protect the prositutes, then who will? Miho will protect the Snohos. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2005, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-we-ever-run-out-of-busybodies-who-wish-to-take-offense-at-the-slightest-thing/297459/27 "2005-04-04T04:07:46Z")
> [@](#): > > Makes one wonder how the school administrators in Hooker, OK manage comments made about their teams? The American Legion baseball team is called the Horny Toads? No word yet from **Intercourse, Pennsylvanians** who should, if they don’t, call their local teams, **The Fokkers.** Go Fokkers! Oh. And **HOHOHO’s** don’tchaknow, are conjoined triplet prostitutes. Which was why santa was so jolly in the first place! Thank You! Thank you! I’ll be here all week! ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2005, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-we-ever-run-out-of-busybodies-who-wish-to-take-offense-at-the-slightest-thing/297459/28 "2005-04-04T14:14:21Z")
> [@](#): > > School administrators, however, say it’s all too easily seen as a derogatory reference to prostitutes. > > (snip) > > “and I don’t want our name to be used to rank on our girls.” In other words, “Do not insult our prostitutes, who also happen to be our students.” ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2005, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-we-ever-run-out-of-busybodies-who-wish-to-take-offense-at-the-slightest-thing/297459/29 "2005-04-04T17:14:35Z")
What’s more interesting is the professional busybodies who try to make national issues out of stuff like this. Given how many counties, towns, schools, etc. there are in this country, it’s not surprising that something as dumb as this happens _somewhere_ on an almost daily basis - and thanks to the wonders of the Web, we find out about it. But when something equally dumb - what I’m thinking of right now is last Christmas’ “Happy Holidays” flap, where wingers were playing the victim card on account of a few people saying “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas.” And the media played it up as an actual _issue_. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2005, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-we-ever-run-out-of-busybodies-who-wish-to-take-offense-at-the-slightest-thing/297459/30 "2005-04-04T17:41:21Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > What’s more interesting is the professional busybodies who try to make national issues out of stuff like this. Given how many counties, towns, schools, etc. there are in this country, it’s not surprising that something as dumb as this happens _somewhere_ on an almost daily basis - and thanks to the wonders of the Web, we find out about it. > > But when something equally dumb - what I’m thinking of right now is last Christmas’ “Happy Holidays” flap, where wingers were playing the victim card on account of a few people saying “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas.” And the media played it up as an actual _issue_. Ack, don’t remind me. The term has been around since the 1940’s, at the very least, but suddenly it’s an outrage. I can’t believe people on this very board bought into it. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2005, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-we-ever-run-out-of-busybodies-who-wish-to-take-offense-at-the-slightest-thing/297459/31 "2005-04-04T17:52:02Z")
Our high school mascot was the Ram, and the cheerleaders were the Ramettes. No one had any trouble with that, but the administration did stop the sale of the “Ram It Up” buttons . . . (P.S. all true, I am not making it up!) ---
**Author:** ![Tinkertoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f19dbf/32.png) [@Tinkertoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tinkertoy)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2005, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-we-ever-run-out-of-busybodies-who-wish-to-take-offense-at-the-slightest-thing/297459/32 "2005-04-04T18:23:12Z")
Speaking of unfortunate team mascot names, let me introduce you to my home town [Beavers](http://sd381.k12.id.us/). ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-we-ever-run-out-of-busybodies-who-wish-to-take-offense-at-the-slightest-thing/297459/33 "2005-04-05T01:13:01Z")
So, I wonder what the teams are called in [Dildo, Newfoundland](http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Dildo,-Newfoundland-and-Labrador)? (Upon looking that up, I discovered that there is also a South Dildo. Oh my.) ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-we-ever-run-out-of-busybodies-who-wish-to-take-offense-at-the-slightest-thing/297459/34 "2005-04-05T04:20:57Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > What’s more interesting is the professional busybodies who try to make national issues out of stuff like this. Given how many counties, towns, schools, etc. there are in this country, it’s not surprising that something as dumb as this happens _somewhere_ on an almost daily basis - and thanks to the wonders of the Web, we find out about it. > > But when something equally dumb - what I’m thinking of right now is last Christmas’ “Happy Holidays” flap, where wingers were playing the victim card on account of a few people saying “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas.” And the media played it up as an actual _issue_. Thinking of the children of this nation, I hope that asshattery doen’t take place on an almost daily basis, although at times the evidence seems to show you’re correct. What I find most disturbing is that between acts like this which are PC-driven, and the other idiocy which is ZT, what are our kids being taught? You can’t offend anyone, you have a right to go through life without being offended, and you must all be good little automatons. Throw the books on the fire, kids-those ideas aren’t acceptable anymore. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Dijon\_Warlock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9a28c/32.png) [@Dijon\_Warlock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dijon_Warlock)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-we-ever-run-out-of-busybodies-who-wish-to-take-offense-at-the-slightest-thing/297459/35 "2005-04-05T04:24:47Z")
…and what, pray tell, are the good folks from [Dry Prong](http://www.hometownlocator.com/City/Dry-Prong-Louisiana.cfm) supposed to do? ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-we-ever-run-out-of-busybodies-who-wish-to-take-offense-at-the-slightest-thing/297459/36 "2005-04-05T04:26:12Z")
> [@Dijon Warlock](#): > > …and what, pray tell, are the good folks from [Dry Prong](http://www.hometownlocator.com/City/Dry-Prong-Louisiana.cfm) supposed to do? Astroglide? ---
**Author:** ![Dijon\_Warlock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9a28c/32.png) [@Dijon\_Warlock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dijon_Warlock)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-we-ever-run-out-of-busybodies-who-wish-to-take-offense-at-the-slightest-thing/297459/37 "2005-04-05T08:49:34Z")
[Homer Simpson] “Mmmmmm…Astroglide…” [/Homer Simpson] ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-we-ever-run-out-of-busybodies-who-wish-to-take-offense-at-the-slightest-thing/297459/38 "2005-04-05T18:38:26Z")
> [@danceswithcats](#): > > Thinking of the children of this nation, I hope that asshattery doen’t take place on an almost daily basis, although at times the evidence seems to show you’re correct. > > What I find most disturbing is that between acts like this which are PC-driven, and the other idiocy which is ZT, what are our kids being taught? You can’t offend anyone, you have a right to go through life without being offended, and you must all be good little automatons. Throw the books on the fire, kids-those ideas aren’t acceptable anymore. ☹ Whoa, friend - don’t panic! There’s plenty of idiocy to go around; always has been. What’s new is the power of the Internet to deliver it all to your monitor. That doesn’t mean there’s more of it; it just means it _seems_ like there’s more of it. It isn’t as bad as it looks. Pop a cold one and relax. ---
**Author:** ![SusanStoHelit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@SusanStoHelit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SusanStoHelit)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-we-ever-run-out-of-busybodies-who-wish-to-take-offense-at-the-slightest-thing/297459/39 "2005-04-05T18:53:36Z")
> [@Tinkertoy](#): > > Speaking of unfortunate team mascot names, let me introduce you to my home town [Beavers](http://sd381.k12.id.us/). Mmm, yes. A certain ‘gentleman’s’ magazine is in town doing a shoot. Our college newpaper’s headline? “Playboy eyes Beavers” snerk. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-we-ever-run-out-of-busybodies-who-wish-to-take-offense-at-the-slightest-thing/297459/40 "2005-04-05T19:16:38Z")
Here in Madison County, IN, the Pendleton Middle School got itself renamed after they got a look at the athletic team’s PMS jerseys. I’m not making this up. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-we-ever-run-out-of-busybodies-who-wish-to-take-offense-at-the-slightest-thing/297459.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-we-ever-run-out-of-busybodies-who-wish-to-take-offense-at-the-slightest-thing/297459.md?page=3)