[WillowTheWhisp]

Originally Posted by Tin Monkey

However, things like 'winky smilies' do give us a clue when something is said in jest and I assumed (wrongly it would seem) that people would understand that.



Let's just agree that I'm right and leave it at that. <--- winky smilie

Aaargh! See I said I had given up and here I am again!

Yes the smiley says it's a joke but what I am trying to say (as with my illustration re "Love Thy Neighbour" which you didn't like for different reasons.) is that the smiley denotes that I am laughing but am I laughing at a person insulting someone (ie sharing in the insult) or laughing at a person insulting someone (ie laughing at the person who is doing the unsulting rather than at the insultee)

Now do you understand?

Actually, as regards your point with "Love Thy Neighbour" and the stereotyping isn't that in itself a dig at the people who see others as stereotypes rather than as individuals? Let's consider Alf Garnett as another example. Did people laugh at those Alf Garnett poked fun at or did they laugh at the silly old fool who made himself look stupid by making fun of them?