Offensive or Funny?

There is a fine line between something being offensive and something being funny – sometimes, it can be both! Everybody loves a good joke that is surprisingly true, definitely not politically correct, and makes you feel slightly uncomfortable to the point where you need to casually look to see who’s around you. But where do you draw the line?

The point where is stops being funny and becomes offensive usually arrives in the shape of the butt of the joke challenging the joke-maker or some kind of authority shutting down your joke. Worst case scenario: the cops.
Sure it’s kind of funny to pee on a building or moon someone with your bare behind out of a moving vehicle; no one is denying the offensive funniness of those choices. However, those decisions that seemed pretty darn hilarious with all of your friends and under the cover of night aren’t quite as funny when they land you on a sex offender registry.

General rule: don’t whip out anything that requires an undergarment (i.e. all things included under the blanket term, “private parts”) while in public – no matter how much it might seem like a good idea at the time.

Another very important notion to keep in mind is that “no” always means “NO”; and a “no” can be communicated in several ways. A verbal “no” is obvious in its meaning and it means that you should exit the situation immediately. A non-verbal “no” is harder to pick up on sometimes but one should always assume “no” until you verbally start to hear “yes” (with or without inflection). Anyone who has ever seen Law and Order: Special Victims Unit knows that you do not want to get caught up in a “he-said-she-said” situation. If your partner can not give consent (i.e. inebriated, mute, etc.), the answer is always no – doesn’t matter if it is your consistent booty-call or your spouse of fifty years (congratulations!), never make any assumptions because Olivia (and Elliot – why did he have to leave the show?!) will get justice for the victim.

An act as funny and seemingly insignificant as flashing or urinating outside can put you in the same category as someone who did something that is not funny all. Once you are a registered sex offender, anyone and everyone can find out that information about you by simply doing some research from anywhere with Internet access. You don’t want that; no one wants that. Be smart, keep your pants on (in public), and you might still have a shot at getting a job in this economy – maybe.

http://www.nsopw.gov/Core/Portal.aspx
http://www.familywatchdog.us/