While I agree that people have to understand that folks usually are joking when they use stereotype jokes, I do have to say as a person who is a member of the category that is the most commonly used stereotypical joke here, that I grit my teeth when I hear "stupid blonde" jokes. Yes, I am a blonde -- a real one, not an acquired one. Those jokes arose originally from Scandinavians having been duped by a lot of the land sales people in the U.S., and then later on they got mixed with "dumb broad" jokes which are themselves sexist. So, when I hear comments -- which happen OFTEN -- about blonde moments and the like it DOES hurt. That hurt isn't because people meant to hurt because I know that almost none of the people ever do mean to hurt. They hurt because they are so prevalent that there really are way too many people who actually believe them, and the more common the joke is, the more people don't seem to realize that it is only a joke. So, yes, it is fine to explain that one was joking, and it can take the edge off, but when individuals have encountered too many people who actually believe the stereotypes then the stereotypes can be painful because their RESULT is too well known, even when that is the furthest thing from what the individual who posted intended. So, please, know that pain can happen even when not intended because of how stereotypes "teach", and take the time to think twice sometimes before posting, please. Now, aspects of both sides have been heard from more than one in each corner, and each has entirely valid points, so can we again have Pax on List, please? -- Sukie (not a vet, and not speaking for any of the below in my private posts) Recommended health resources to help ferrets and the people who love them: Ferret Health List http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/ferrethealth FHL Archives http://ferrethealth.org/archive/ AFIP Ferret Pathology http://www.afip.org/ferrets/index.html Miamiferrets http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/ International Ferret Congress Critical References http://www.ferretcongress.org [Posted in FML issue 5299]