McGrath, it was not meant as a drift at all. My impression is that people (including myself, certainly not only English) tend to have different ideas about the limits of humour or friendly teasing, depending on whether they are actors, observers, or targets. (What seems particularly English to me is that limits are generally wider than in other societies I know.) Persons who are not used to being targeted are likely to have difficulties to cope with that role if the case suddenly occurs.

It is of course a mark of civilized communication that the speaker or writer somewhat anticipates the feelings of the listeners or readers, and tries to avoid unintentional damage. A joke that humiliates the target can only be seen as a success if it is either intended for that purpose, or at least makes the victim realize her/his own fault (e.g. lacking "sense of humour"). A risky undertaking.

Now for that Morris thread: indeed, the genuinely humorous character of that newspaper satire can easily be demonstrated. Here is the main quote from MtheGM: Yes; but in that unfortunate strand of English humour which insists on seeing something intrinsically comic about the morris. Which I loathe with a virulent loathing. See? That is how a "Yank" etc. may feel.