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Original poster

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:
AnnaQuayInTheUk · 25/10/2025 16:13

That was a nasty comment and would potentially have humiliated them.

Crazycatladywithnocats · 25/10/2025 16:12

She is a brand new colleague so you don’t know her well enough to joke with her yet.

Seekanddestroy · 25/10/2025 16:06

Great joke, I’d of laughed my head off

aneelli · 25/10/2025 16:00

As a grown adult that’s a very poor joke, I didn’t even get it till I read everyone else’s reply. Such a silly thing to say to a new colleague

Jan039 · 25/10/2025 15:57

I don't mind this kind of silly, childish humour but I wouldn't expect it from someone at work that I barely knew. I wouldn't be offended but I'd be a bit uncomfortable.

Giggorata · 25/10/2025 15:39

I don't think that humour referencing bodily functions, lavatories, sex etc is appropriate in the workplace, no matter how intimate you are with your colleagues.
If you absolutely must, then save it for the pub and social occasions.

If I had been your new colleague, my heart would have sunk and I would have wondered who on earth I was amongst.
Not because it would have offended me but because I find it all cringey and crass.

BeepBoopBop · 25/10/2025 15:39

Hello Andrew, new masseur on the team?

Thepeopleversuswork · 25/10/2025 15:38

Falseknock · 25/10/2025 15:25

Toilet humour is beneath some of these posters. They're more upper class. Not like us common people.

Its not about toilet humour. It’s not about offence.

It’s about basic social skills: knowing how not to make a new person feel isolated and stupid and resisting the urge to show off to everyone about your clique’s “bantz” at the expense of someone who’s not in the club.

Its pathetic, childish behaviour and it would immediately make me think someone was a dick.

RampantIvy · 25/10/2025 15:34

Falseknock · 25/10/2025 15:25

Toilet humour is beneath some of these posters. They're more upper class. Not like us common people.

We are grown ups capable of reading the room. Given that 91% of posters think that toilet humour is puerile and best left at primary school, I can only conclude that you don't seem to be able to undersand that.

Toydrum · 25/10/2025 15:31

JaquelineHide · 25/10/2025 15:29

I'm really glad I don't either!

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Same. ‘Banter though, innit’.

JaquelineHide · 25/10/2025 15:29

Abbeymum · 25/10/2025 08:02

It’s a good job you don’t work with us, then!

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I'm really glad I don't either!

phoenixrosehere · 25/10/2025 15:26

Falseknock · 25/10/2025 14:12

If jokes like that offends them. I wouldn't want to see what makes them angry.

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No one has said they find it offensive.

Most have said they just don’t think it’s funny.

Some have said it would have gone over their heads because they don’t personally have that reaction to eggs.

Others have said they would find it rude.

I’ve mainly seen those who would find it humorous claim those who don’t are offended when it is not the case.

People can not like something without being offended.

I think it’s crass to reference bodily fluids or toilets while people are eating but not offended by it. I just ignore it.

Ivy888 · 25/10/2025 15:26

chipsewfast · 25/10/2025 14:24

Friendly and joking culture with light hearted ribbing shorthand for able to get away with bullying. Grow up and behave like an adult

Totally second this. Workplace bullying.

MrsSkylerWhite · 25/10/2025 15:25

Falseknock · 25/10/2025 15:25

Toilet humour is beneath some of these posters. They're more upper class. Not like us common people.

Or just not 5?

Falseknock · 25/10/2025 15:25

Toilet humour is beneath some of these posters. They're more upper class. Not like us common people.

Toydrum · 25/10/2025 15:24

user793847984375948 · 25/10/2025 15:09

Probably just that she really likes eggs, but I'd also expect it to mean she's constantly constipated.

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Also not true, it all depends on how varied and healthy the rest of her diet is.

Redflagsabounded · 25/10/2025 15:22

I love a bit of banter and a mick take, but it's supposed to be witty/clever.

Yours was just 'eggs make you fart, ha ha' so I'm embarrassed for you really.

Toydrum · 25/10/2025 15:22

Thepeopleversuswork · 25/10/2025 15:16

@Toydrum

I agree. When did ‘offended’ enter the discussion?

People with poor senses of humour and poor social skills and an inability to gauge social appropriateness always claim people "love to be offended" or are "professionally offended" when they've dropped a clanger.

Most of the time its nothing to do with "offence" its just that their jokes just aren't funny and people cringe on their behalf.

I agree with this too, I just hadn’t noticed the word ‘offended’ had been used on this thread.

RampantIvy · 25/10/2025 15:19

People with poor senses of humour and poor social skills and an inability to gauge social appropriateness always claim people "love to be offended" or are "professionally offended" when they've dropped a clanger.

This is so true. They are unable to admit that they cannot read the room and want to blame someone else.

MrsSkylerWhite · 25/10/2025 15:18

Colin in the office. “I’m an alien ”.

No, you weren’t funny.

NotForTheMoneyandNotForTheApplause · 25/10/2025 15:18

user793847984375948 · 25/10/2025 15:09

Probably just that she really likes eggs, but I'd also expect it to mean she's constantly constipated.

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Eggs don't mean constipation and eating an average of less than 2 a day is hardly worth all that punctuation

Are you a Victorian Ladeeeeee?

Thepeopleversuswork · 25/10/2025 15:16

@Toydrum

I agree. When did ‘offended’ enter the discussion?

People with poor senses of humour and poor social skills and an inability to gauge social appropriateness always claim people "love to be offended" or are "professionally offended" when they've dropped a clanger.

Most of the time its nothing to do with "offence" its just that their jokes just aren't funny and people cringe on their behalf.

Chemenger · 25/10/2025 15:12

user793847984375948 · 25/10/2025 15:08

Depends who you ask but I believe so. Massive cholesterol for one.

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Dietary cholesterol has little to no effect on blood cholesterol, that was debunked ages ago.

user793847984375948 · 25/10/2025 15:09

NotForTheMoneyandNotForTheApplause · 25/10/2025 12:54

What does that mean?

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Probably just that she really likes eggs, but I'd also expect it to mean she's constantly constipated.

user793847984375948 · 25/10/2025 15:08

ConnieHeart · 25/10/2025 12:59

Is there something wrong with that? 2 a day isn't much & they're full of goodness

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Depends who you ask but I believe so. Massive cholesterol for one.

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