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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
GrannyTeapot · 25/10/2025 08:21

“Ribbing” at work, why? Why can’t you all just behave in a professional and courteous manner? The “joke” was crass and especially mean directed at a new colleague.

BellissimoGecko · 25/10/2025 08:21

Urgh. Not funny. Maybe ok with someone you know well. Not a new staff member.

Brenda34 · 25/10/2025 08:22

GeorgeMichaelsCat · 25/10/2025 08:19

I wouldn't be offended. I'd just think 'OMG, cringe' to myself.

This.

Silverbirchleaf · 25/10/2025 08:22

OnlyFangs · 25/10/2025 08:01

That was a joke you make to someone you have known for a decade (if you must make it) not to a new work colleague

(Although it should be a sackable offence to eat eggs in the office )

I agree.

Not a nice joke.

Wishimaywishimight · 25/10/2025 08:23

I would have smiled politely while thinking you were a bit sad if you found that kind of 'joke' to be funny.

TwistedWonder · 25/10/2025 08:23

SprayWhiteDung · 25/10/2025 08:20

Apart from anything else, you realise that, if she happens to have any kind of bowel disorder or difficulties in that department, she will now feel dreadfully shamed and like she's permanently on edge every time she's at work?!

I actually do find fart jokes/comments funny, but only with people I know well and who will laugh along too.

Knowing your audience is a very basic, essential requirement before making any kind of joke that could upset, offended or make somebody feel awkward. There can be an extremely slender line between banter and bullying.

Absolutely agree with your last paragraph. I’m an HR manager and lost count of the times I’ve had to conduct a disciplinary where the defence was ‘but it was a joke’

Knowing your audience especially in the workplace is an essential skill for adults

Sometimeswinning · 25/10/2025 08:23

I don’t like bodily function humour.

But I’m a grown up and would not have been offended or “have second hand embarrassment” or have complained to HR or gone home upset about my new job or spiralled into any type of sadness.

I miss the laughing emoji. Which was removed because of people like me and the easily offended like those on this thread.

windchimeheaven · 25/10/2025 08:23

Rude and lame. First impressions are hard to overcome and hers is probably that you're a bit immature.

I'd want to reply that, as my gut is healthy, I don't have that kind of problem with eggs. However, on the first day in a new job, I'd just keep it quiet and think thoughts instead.

SweetnsourNZ · 25/10/2025 08:24

Shinyredbicycle · 25/10/2025 08:05

Sounds like the sort of comment you might make to the colleagues you know well ( from what you said about your workplace), but far too over- familiar for someone you don't.

Not everyone finds that sort of 'humour' funny, me for one. I'd hate to work somewhere with constant 'ribbing'

Does new colleague know that she'll be expected to tolerate/join in this type of communication?

Yes. I'm quite shy in a new situation with new people as are alot of people. Being the butt of a joke on her 1st day of work would have probably given her mean girl vibes.

ChubbyPuffling · 25/10/2025 08:25

pikkumyy77 · 25/10/2025 08:13

You stink? Is that really going to put someone at ease?

Show quote history

Exactly! I'd be mortified that you were saying I stink/my lunch stinks/my home stinks. Mortified. Not amused.

MoominMai · 25/10/2025 08:25

It’s not so much sense of humour failure on her part but cringey unfunny joke on yours.

To answer your Q it wouldn’t have offended me just annoyed me which is possibly also true for her but I guess projecting she has no sense of humour onto her is more validating for you.

Brunts12 · 25/10/2025 08:26

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?

Sense of humour failure on your part.

CurlewKate · 25/10/2025 08:26

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

HostaCentral · 25/10/2025 08:27

Against the grain and general consensus, bodily humour is always funny.

I would be more offended by the colleague eating the bloody things tbh. People who bring and eat smelly foods into work are anti social. Ditto trains and cinemas. Eggs, tuna, cheese and onion, popcorn, rice cakes, all disgusting.

carconcerns · 25/10/2025 08:28

Regardless of whether it was appropriate I'm surprised at the number of people who don't appear to have heard of the term 'eggy farts'! It's not that they make you fart, it's that when you inevitably do they stink of rotten egg! Growing up, this was widely accepted and laughed about.

Edinburghdaze · 25/10/2025 08:28

It wouldn’t offend me but it would make me cringe and think that you are socially awkward so make rubbish jokes instead of saying something more appropriate - or funny - if you really need to ‘rib’ your colleagues.

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.

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

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?

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.

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.

millymollymoomoo · 25/10/2025 08:31

God, depressing, people need to lighten up!

it’s not offensive at all

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

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

(But no not offensive)