GUEST,pdc, thanks for that. It's good to be reminded there are worse places out there. It's not all that comforting, but it gives a bit of perspective on Mudcat.

There are people who just don't get it - especially when it comes to irony, but there are those who miss the main point period, in favor of going after one word or idea that trips their trigger. You can explain to those who just don't understand. You'll always end up being the bad guy to those who don't want to understand.

Thomas the Rhymer, I don't think I'd ever consider myself a sensitive MALE. I'm SO offended by that! Hmmph!

Elle, I've seen the previews for Scare Tactics. My first thought was "how do they keep the people filming safe from the victims beating the crap out of them when they find out?" Then again, if I were being chased around by a guy in a bigfoot costume, I'm pretty sure I'd have a clue something was up.

Seamus, yep. I don't know if people don't learn irony in school or whether the knowledge dies from lack of use once a kid gets out into the 'real world'. It's what openmindedness exists in society, the grace, that allows people to think "I can't understand why a person would say/sing that. Maybe there's something else going on."