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To ask if my joke to new work colleague would have offended you?

591 replies

Abbeymum · 25/10/2025 07:58

We are quite a small team and had a new staff member join this week. It’s a very friendly and jokey culture so we are always light heartedly ribbing each other.

Anyway - new colleague was eating a salad with two boiled eggs. We were chatting and she says that’s a usual weekday lunch for her. I replied that I bet she has stocked up on the air freshener for when she’s home.

Blank face…sense of humour failure on her part?

OP posts:
user1476613140 · 25/10/2025 08:37

Yes it's 😁 😂 😀 🤣 😁 😂 😀 🤣

Fairycakesandbumming · 25/10/2025 08:37

I wouldn’t be offended but I probably wouldn’t have laughed because it’s not that funny.

Squirrelblanket · 25/10/2025 08:37

Whatafustercluck · 25/10/2025 08:07

I took it to mean that the eggs themselves are smelly - hence I'd have been embarrassed that a colleague was highlighting to everyone how bad my lunch smelled.

Same. I hate people commenting on food. It's rude.

JennyWrenSeven · 25/10/2025 08:36

TwistedWonder · 25/10/2025 08:14

I’m an HR manager and that’s the sort of ‘joke’ that what end up on my desk as a complaint and potential disciplinary,

Maybe think before you open your gob

Really? This must be the reason why our HR department can’t and haven’t dealt with the outright bullying from a certain team leader. They’re too busy dealing with people being offended. Jees!

snowlaser · 25/10/2025 08:36

1970s jokes arent the way to make a new colleague feel welcome in 2025

cramptramp · 25/10/2025 08:36

It definitely wouldn’t have offended me. It just wasn’t very funny.

ThisPerkySloth2 · 25/10/2025 08:36

lame joke! I felt "blank" reading it.

ConnieHeart · 25/10/2025 08:35

Not funny at all because it's not even accurate. Also if I didn't know you very well & you said that in front of others I'd have probably given you a blank stare too. I would have assumed you were trying to embarrass me. Just because you think it's funny it's not always appropriate to say it out loud

JetFlight · 25/10/2025 08:35

I wouldn’t be offended and I’d probably laugh along thinking it was a bit immature.

TwistedWonder · 25/10/2025 08:34

CurlewKate · 25/10/2025 08:26

I wouldn’t be offended. I’d think you were a bit of a dick, though.

Agree. I wouldn’t be offended but I’d be very aware the office twat had released themselves early for future reference

Drachuughtty · 25/10/2025 08:33

ExitPursuedByABare · 25/10/2025 08:08

You don’t have to be mad to work here, but it helps.

Do you have one of those signs in your office?

😂

PerkyCyanPoet · 25/10/2025 08:32

Really not a funny joke, but it’s not offensive.

PaddlingSwan · 25/10/2025 08:32

Air freshener? What is that? Something sold to the "lower orders"?
Not surprised your colleague looked blank, ery poor taste, vulgar and not remotely funny.

Clarefromwork · 25/10/2025 08:32

Ahh it is one of those typical adult jokes that aren’t funny - I normally do a quick fake laugh to them but I might be brave next time and try a blank face !

windchimeheaven · 25/10/2025 08:31

millymollymoomoo · 25/10/2025 08:31

God, depressing, people need to lighten up!

it’s not offensive at all

Not offensive, just really lame.

Wolfies · 25/10/2025 08:31

Abbeymum · 25/10/2025 07:58

We are quite a small team and had a new staff member join this week. It’s a very friendly and jokey culture so we are always light heartedly ribbing each other.

Anyway - new colleague was eating a salad with two boiled eggs. We were chatting and she says that’s a usual weekday lunch for her. I replied that I bet she has stocked up on the air freshener for when she’s home.

Blank face…sense of humour failure on her part?

Its not funny but plain offensive. I hope you have apologies. She is new and she is welcomed into the team work such 'jokes'. Pretty arsy.

saqiatf · 25/10/2025 08:31

(But no not offensive)

didntlikeanyofthesuggestions · 25/10/2025 08:31

This is great banter OP. I would have got you in a headlock, licked my finger and stuck it your ear. How we would have laughed!

saqiatf · 25/10/2025 08:31

I work in quite a jokey culture, but not toilet humour…we’re a bit more sophisticated than that Wink

millymollymoomoo · 25/10/2025 08:31

God, depressing, people need to lighten up!

it’s not offensive at all

Sevenamcoffee · 25/10/2025 08:31

I wouldn’t be offended but I might have been a bit baffled initially because I eat two eggs every day and it doesn’t make me fart. My first thought was do you mean the house is smelly because of cooking the eggs, which is a bit of a weird thing to say. So I imagine it’s more confusion about what you said than offence. Some people are quicker at the banter but it doesn’t mean a lack of a sense of humour. I hope you’re not being tiresome OP.

RandomNewIdentity · 25/10/2025 08:30

MumoftwoNC · 25/10/2025 08:02

It’s a very friendly and jokey culture so we are always light heartedly ribbing each other.

I hate this kind of thing, hate it.

Me too. Often means unwanted personal comments pretending to be 'humour' . And can be sexist or racist ones too. To be avoided.

Pinkladyapplepie · 25/10/2025 08:29

Not appropriate to say if your not an8 year old boy. You made yourself look like a dick and wouldn't be asking on here if you didn't have doubts about what you said, but then do on to defend yourself wtaf?

HouseofDreams · 25/10/2025 08:29

Toooldtopretend · 25/10/2025 08:13

Are you David Brent?

😂

I wouldn’t be offended I would just be cringing for you and your terrible attempt at a joke

MrsDoubtfire1 · 25/10/2025 08:29

It's one of those sort of blokey jokes. No harm meant. Your new colleague sounds a bit poker faced. Oh dear, has the world really become so stuffy. Oh, sorry I forgot, we can discuss all sorts of disgusting TMI and yet a vaguely naughty joke is considered 2 rood.