# Would you find this offensive?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-find-this-offensive/621705
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [May 12, 2012, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-find-this-offensive/621705 "2012-05-12T16:50:53Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2012, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-find-this-offensive/621705/1 "2012-05-12T16:50:53Z")
In another [post](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=651544), I asked for help coming up with a fictional name to address (in a comical way, I thought) a potential group of people who may question a change I am making at work. This is copied from the linked thread:
> [@](#):
>
> I publish a company newsletter. It has been printed on paper for many years, but will soon be delivered electronically via email. Few people know about the change; most will learn of it when they receive and open the next issue from their inbox.
>
> On page one I plan on putting in a text box, in a large goofy font:
>
> Q: HEY! WHERE IS MY PAPER COPY?!?
>
> A: Welcome to the 21st century, (name)! (followed by a save-the-trees/efficiency explanation of the many advantages of this sort of distribution).
>
> I am stuck, though, as how to fill in the (name) part. I’m thinking something along the lines of Gertrude or Nellie, but I am thinking there is a better choice that I am missing.
To my great surprise, a Doper found it offensive.
It had not even occurred to me that this might offend. My intent was to be (arguably) humorous, not to offend (and honestly, nobody will really care much about the change). Anyway, if many feel similarly to Oak, I will reconsider my wording. I’m willing to be wrong about this, but I am interested in getting more opinions.
mmm
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### Author:  [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2012, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-find-this-offensive/621705/2 "2012-05-12T16:55:16Z")
Totally not offensive. And my vote is “Jethro.”
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### Author:  [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2012, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-find-this-offensive/621705/3 "2012-05-12T16:57:47Z")
Not offensive to me. However, I am not surprised that there is someone out there who would be offended. There’s always one person like that in any big group.
Do you work for the kind of place where you could get in big trouble over someone taking offense to something minor? If so, I’d play it safe and try to avoid showing any humor or personality. However, if you work in a more easygoing kind of place, I think most people will understand your intent and won’t care.
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### Author:  [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2012, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-find-this-offensive/621705/4 "2012-05-12T16:58:17Z")
I just think it’s silly. Why get all cutesy about it? Change the format, tell them about it, the end.
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### Author:  [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2012, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-find-this-offensive/621705/5 "2012-05-12T17:03:56Z")
Hmm… I was thinking _it is not offensive_, because I was imagining it without any name. After reading **MsWhatsit** ’s reply with her suggested name, I don’t know anymore.
“Welcome to the 21st century! (followed by a save-the-trees/efficiency explanation of the many advantages of this sort of distribution).”: Not offensive.
“Welcome to the 21st century, Jethro! (followed by a save-the-trees/efficiency explanation of the many advantages of this sort of distribution).”: Denigrating and somewhat offensive, perhaps. It has a completely different feel to me.
ETA: after looking through the other thread, any name you put in there would be as bad.
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### Author:  [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2012, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-find-this-offensive/621705/6 "2012-05-12T17:11:04Z")
Both glib and insulting on the surface. It’ll be amusing to about 20% of its recipients, another 75% will either wonder WTF or roll their eyes, and 5% will be pissy about it. Count me in the 75%.
Unless it was a newsletter that I really got something beneficial out of, it’d get designated for my trash file without a second glance in the future. I get enough in-house junk in my mail as is.
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### Author:  [@Craz3d117](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Craz3d117)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2012, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-find-this-offensive/621705/7 "2012-05-12T18:03:07Z")
It may seem unnecessary, but I think if the “Q” was not in all caps, and you didn’t call anyone a name (no matter how innocent said name seems) than it would be fine. As is, I can see why some may be slightly offended.
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### Author:  [@LegsAkimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LegsAkimbo)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2012, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-find-this-offensive/621705/8 "2012-05-12T18:30:30Z")
I’m not sure that wondering why a switch was made (lost your lease at the office due to lack of funds; new management taking over; actual eco reasons) means the person is still living in the last century. And, if going electronic puts you in the 21st century…uhhhh… where ya been for the last 12 years? It’s possible you are lagging behind your readers, not the other way around, and they may not like the implication that they are the slow ones. Better to just say something like “Your paper has joined the 21st century!” or some such.
That said, if someone is actually bothered by this to any degree for more than 2 seconds, they need to get some perspective. I agree, insulting on the surface but a great change to make.
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### Author:  [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2012, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-find-this-offensive/621705/9 "2012-05-12T18:34:27Z")
> [@LegsAkimbo](#):
>
> I’m not sure that wondering why a switch was made (lost your lease at the office due to lack of funds; new management taking over; actual eco reasons) means the person is still living in the last century. And, if going electronic puts you in the 21st century…uhhhh.. where ya been for the last 12 years? It’s possible you are lagging behind your readers, not the other way around, and they may not like the implication that they are the slow ones. Better to just say something like “Your paper has joined the 21st century!” or some such.
>
> That said, if someone is actually bothered by this to any degree for more than 2 seconds, they need to get some perspective. I agree, insulting on the surface but a great change to make.
You make good points, Akimbo.
mmm
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### Author:  [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2012, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-find-this-offensive/621705/10 "2012-05-12T18:43:11Z")
Just omit the name. That is where the potential offensiveness comes from, and there is absolutely no need to have it there. As **ZenBeam** says, any other name would be pretty much as bad, but without a name it is harmless, it is no longer in-your-face personal.
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### Author:  [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2012, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-find-this-offensive/621705/11 "2012-05-12T18:46:35Z")
I would strongly recomend you don’t do this.
Yeah, it’s a harmless joke but you’d be surprized at the stupidity of some people.
PC usually panders to the stupid. Not the funny guy.
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### Author:  [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2012, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-find-this-offensive/621705/12 "2012-05-12T19:05:46Z")
Consider the reason you chose Gertrude or Nellie in an email about being dragged into the 21st century.
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### Author:  [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2012, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-find-this-offensive/621705/13 "2012-05-12T19:47:31Z")
I’m offended that you asked.
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### Author:  [@The\_Lovely\_Margo\_Lane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Lovely_Margo_Lane)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2012, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-find-this-offensive/621705/14 "2012-05-12T19:59:23Z")
I clicked “offensive” but was on the fence with “other.” I don’t think it rises to actual offense, but it does feel like a sneer. Good-natured hassle like this among friends is fine, but I don’t like being talked down to at the office. Especially over something as inconsequential as this.
**LegsAkimbo** makes excellent points.
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### Author:  [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2012, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-find-this-offensive/621705/15 "2012-05-12T20:12:29Z")
> [@The\_Lovely\_Margo\_Lane](#):
>
> I clicked “offensive” but was on the fence with “other.” I don’t think it rises to actual offense, but it does feel like a sneer. Good-natured hassle like this among friends is fine, but I don’t like being talked down to at the office.
Yep–“sneer” is a good way to describe it. Humor like this works best when it’s self-deprecating; if some nameless schmuck at a newsletter is mocking me for what he imagines me saying, I’d want to tell him to kiss my ass, and I’d not read any further in the newsletter.
It’s not horribly offensive, but it is kind of obnoxious.
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### Author:  [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2012, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-find-this-offensive/621705/16 "2012-05-12T21:10:24Z")
(posted in the other thread)
It’s decided, I’m not going to do it. I really appreciate all the input.
(for the record, I do like Jethro :))
mmm
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### Author:  [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2012, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-find-this-offensive/621705/17 "2012-05-12T21:40:53Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#):
>
> It’s decided, I’m not going to do it. I really appreciate all the input.
>
> (for the record, I do like Jethro :))
I am not even slightly offended, but my usual route in these situations is self-deprecation. “A mere 12 years after the turn of the millennium, our paper has decided to embrace this so-called ‘electronic mail’ and do away with hard copies. We hope you can find other paper sources for housebreaking your puppy.”
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### Author:  [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2012, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-find-this-offensive/621705/18 "2012-05-12T21:51:36Z")
Some people exist on this board for the sole purpose of finding something to be offended about.
It hardly matters what you do, say or are, someone somewhere will be more than happy to take offense. Fuck 'em.
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### Author:  [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2012, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-find-this-offensive/621705/19 "2012-05-12T22:15:24Z")
Offensive, no. Unbusinesslike in some way, perhaps. It depends on the atmosphere and who will see it.
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### Author:  [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2012, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-find-this-offensive/621705/20 "2012-05-12T22:22:30Z")
I voted not offensive, but you have to go super-silly with it to stay that way, and so risks being unprofessional.
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