*sigh*...I have 'some' friends that I can never use irony, puns, non-sequitors, etc.....around. Their comprehension just does NOT function on those levels....but in person, I can at least adopt a facial expression, (raised eyebrows, rolled eyes..) that signify that SOMETHING silly is happening...and I learned 3-4 years ago, that when posting to a discussion group or chat room, I need to add emoticons or *grins* or something when there might be doubt.

We MUST face it...people differ VERY widely in what they think is funny, cute or clever....as much as they differ in their opinions about religion, sex, food or politics. You can't avoid some mis-understandings in this medium, but you can head off the worst ones usually.