I'm not easily offended, so I don't pay much attention to the warnings. But I always like subject lines that actually tell what the thread is about, so I can decide on that basis whether or not to open it.

Good question, cheryl,

My guess is the majority do read them anyway. At least when they've been warned they can't go ballistic on the OP with impunity. The rest of us would call them on it as, after all, they had been warned.

"If it states offensive do you just skip by it?"

Heck no! I'm drawn to it like a moth to a flame LOL. But honestly, I find very few things offensive unless the post contains subject matter having to do with cruelty to children or animals....and no one here posts those sort of things ;o)

The "might be offensive" tag never gives the details as to why it may offend a certain segment of the populous. Does the post make fun of sex, religion, the president, cripples, blonds, wife beatings, what? Whist one person may find a blond joke offensive that same person may relish making fun of a certain politician that others just absolutely love. And it goes conversely. There isn't a segment of the population who are offended at everything and everything. OK, maybe there is, but most people just have their 'sensitive spots' on one or two topics.

I used to read them anyway. The warning in the title is always used as a means to ward off any criticism it seems. In other words.........You were warned that it was stupid. Lately I just scroll right past without stopping to read. It's never worth reading any of those.

I'm like MrsMarv...I am drawn to them like a moth to a flame. It takes quite a bit to offend me. Unless as has been said, it involves cruelty of certain kinds. However, should I venture into that post and happen to get offended...then it is my problem, not the OP's. :)

I'm a moth too! Not to much offends me except people who are easily offended.

Linda

I usually read them and I'm seldom offended but unfortunately I don't find many of them humorous - so then I get annoyed at myself for wasting time.

It's not that I'm offended, I usually don't find them amusing enough to take time with, so I pass. Thanks to those who post the warnings.

Moth

They are almost always jokes, and like the two on the front page today - they're old, I've seen them before.

I click on the posts hoping for something new, but am usually disappointed. I've never been offended by them.

I don't know if I would be offended until I read it. Since no one here has posted terribly vulgar things I figure it's nice that a poster would even consider it might offend someone and warn them.

I am not easily offended so at least I start to read and if I don't find them funny or interesting I don't continue.Most of time I do find they are amusing and there is nothing like a good chuckle to start the day.
Lois

I'd have to say I am a moth too. It takes an awful lot to offend me though so I'm not generally worried about that.

Well, now.... think about it...

Those who take to heart that they want to shy away from "offensive posts" and do NOT open them...... will NOT, in fact, open this very post..... because it has the word "offensive" in the title.

Right?

I can't even imagine being offended by something I read on the net so I guess I'll have to go with Mary C's answer.

Good people with good intentions!

I approve!

That warning is usually sort of like an insurance policy for the OP, I think - so that s/he can assert, if challenged, that the reader was warned, so should have been a moth that resisted the flame.

Sometimes I wonder whether some moths don't rather enjoy being offended ...

... as it may provide something to juice up their day?

I got my tail in the screen door some time ago ... as being almost obsessed with sexy stuff ...

... seems sort of a shame, really, that we can't have some fun, earthy though it may be, on occasion.

If some of the nicey-nicey folks want something to get into a tizzy about - there's lots of hunger, injustice, abuse of people both individually and in the mass, rape of not only women in quantity, as an instrument of war, but of our world and its resources, plus lack of education for many of the world's promising kids!

And what about the lousy healthcare situation endured by much of the world?

Plus the greedy guys figuring that they have a right to grabbing as much of the wealth and the resources to increase theirs as they can lay their hands on (legally, of course).

I've been wondering whether our greedy shyster bankers haven't done more not only current but long-term damage to the U.S. than has al qaeda ... and it appears that they haven't seen the need to mend their ways.

Now - there's something to get upset about: if they torpedoed one of our ships, they'd be considered real scoundrels. Quite possibly what they've done (to date, that is) may turn out to have been far worse.

Sorry - here I go off topic again. But those issues and others like them seem to me to be the real obscenity.

What did Jesus say about straining at gnats ... but being willing to swallow camels with aplomb?

I wonder what He'd say were He walking our streets today? Whatever He might say - He'd probably be weeping, regarding the state of the world.

ole joyful

Sometimes I open them out of curiosity, just to see what people do find offensive. Usually they aren't that bad. Then sometimes I just skip over them.

As one who posted a couple, 'may be offensive' post yesterday, I learned my lesson a while back, when I posted a joke I thought was funny and got a LOT of flack for it. As for being old jokes, there's hardly any new jokes, just recycled ones. Dottie

I always read the "possibly offensive" posts. They're generally hilarious and I'm not easily shocked. If they are really funny,I copy and paste and send them to friends.

Those are usually the posts that I open 1st. Never been offended here.
Actually I worry because I never get offended. LOL Should I be worried???

I am another moth. It takes a lot to offend me though.

Trish

Hey, I live in Texas, and we don't offend easily! In fact, other than rustling, I can't think of anything that would offend me. I read the posts, often chuckle, sometimes get bumfuzzled, and rarely think that the post should be pulled. As mrsmary said, cruelty to animals and children is offensive, but no one here is that crude.
Keep on posting, even if it "might be offensive!"

The sad part is the few thin-skinned people that have a hobby of finding ways to be offended, even if it means to misinterpret, change the meaning to one they like so they can feign offense and the others make too many good people feel they have to walk on eggshells. That's offensive to me.

Another moth here.

I usually open them; if I don't, it's not because I fear I'll be offended, but rather pretty much just don't have time. (The ones I rarely open are those that don't have anything descritpive in the subject line, including those with open-ended questions). When I do open the "might be offensvie" posts, I sometimes find them funny, sometimes don't, but not because I'm offended. Just because it might not strike me funny.

I agree with someone above who said that those who don't open those posts might not open this one because they think, the way it's worded, that it's a warning that this post might be offensive. And it sort of follows - there's nobody on this thread (yet!) that says they're one of the people who don't open potentially offensive posts.

Suzieque

So whatsa moth? Just sitting on the wall?

Another moth here too.

Not much offends me, other than posters that pick apart an innocent thread. Seems as though they take delight in doing so.

and...another moth! LOL

Unless it's cruelty to animals, nothing will ever offend me!

Carol

I usually skip by - only cause they are usually not interesting to me if I read them. I'm not offended - to each his own.

I agree with most here, It was fun hearing your views!
I always open the might be offensive posts. Nothing offends me really, however I think some of the bashing to posters is what is uncalled for. I have opened posts and really haven't agreed with what is being said, but it is not my behavior to bash that person with unkind remarks. If I don't want to state my opinion, I just simply move on, and try to enjoy everyone elses opinions.

Exactly right, Cheryl. We're a mixed group of all kinds of people here, and most of the time it's harmonious because we tolerate each other's tastes and opinions.

I still don't know what a moth is, other than that flying insect.

Moth here too. That really says "Oh you gotta read this one for sure". LOL If it does offend me, it's my own fault for reading it, so I don't respond. Not to much offends me though.
Leslie another moth to the flame.

A MOTH: From above " I'm drawn to it like a moth to a flame LOL"

Aha! How come I did not think of that?