I think keeping jokes about genitalia and other sexually explicit topics out of the workplace is a pretty reasonable line to draw. The problem isn't that dick jokes are categorically offensive, rather, the problem arises because, when this type of behavior is permitted, there is always someone lacking social intelligence or boundaries who takes it way too far and creates a complicated ambiguity regarding what type of dick jokes take it too far. The office isn't the place to tease out the nuance of what is appropriate comedy.

Personally, as a straight male, I'd be pretty uncomfortable if my boss was making jokes about his dick. Just sayin'

I never really liked the the logic that the rest of us can't do a certian thing because there are some other people can't be trusted. Here's a thought, instead of messing with every guy or girl for an innocent joke, just you know, deal with the person who takes it too far?

My point is that determining what constitutes "too far" is fraught with ambiguous subjective analysis. Who is the arbiter of what is too far in terms of comedy? Pretty much nobody has an issue with "an innocent joke" by definition, but sexually explicit comedy often tows the line of "innocent" (which is usually what makes it funny), and attempting to disentangle the clever sexual comedy from the inappropriate sexual comedy is a pandora's box not worth opening in the workplace. Just keep sexual jokes and commentary to yourself in the office.

> My point is that determining what constitutes "too far" is fraught with ambiguous subjective analysis.

Well true, but I think we have a massive problem with getting outraged for the sake of being outraged. I actually can't fathom why so many people were able to find themselves getting upset over the floppy disk comment. I suspect that we're mostly just sticking up for "someone else" because it's the right thing to do when in reality, the someone else doesn't actually exist.

> Just keep sexual jokes and commentary to yourself in the office.

I'm Scottish and asking me to behave myself is culturally insensitive. ;)

Make this a rule : "no dick jokes at work",

Watch as the scope of what constitutes 'work' creep.

So long as the joke isn't putting down someone (could be bullying), any joke is ok IMO.

I agree with you when you say that any joke is ok. When you choose the right environment it is ok to make a funeral joke, but not in you grandpa's funeral, you see where I'm going? You can not make jokes about different sexes in your workplace. You have to draw this line. It is very innapropriate. (This is said by a particular who believes that the only line in humour should be traced by oneself)

Because they tend to give the message to women that "You're an outsider here."

They aren't if someone has a problem with them.

Because there are plenty of jokes you can tell that don't refer to genitalia?

While generally I would tend to avoid dick jokes in the workplace, primarily because they're not particularly professional, it's a poor argument that they are not appropriate because 'someone has a problem with them.'

In a large workplace, 'someone' will have a problem with any joke about any topic.

Which is a great reason for why you should keep edgy humour out of the office. In the US, we value the right to make a living in a hostility-free work environment more then the right to say whatever you want at work.