They are just the same as jokes and can be used to insult as well as amuse. Don't take either too seriously myself but the old 'horses for courses' adage comes in. As Liz says, make sure of your audience first. There are some artists who's parodies I would never class as insulting or hurtful - Les Barker and the Kippers to name but two, yet I overheard a couple of guys at Fylde one year discussing how disgusting it was what Les was going with 'our' music. I felt like telling them to get a life but then realised they have every right to that opinion. Wrong as it may be:-D

Cheers

DeG