I think the clue here is the first line in the story which states:

'Just got this in my mail. New to me ... Maybe a bit dirty so delete now if  you
are sensitive!"

I don't have time to read these kind of stories and I appreciate the warning at
the beginning.  I was surprised by how much mail I had this morning, more than
normal.  I still don't know what the comments are about (I still refuse to read
the story).  Why waste the brain matter on this kind of trash talk?

Your mind is one big story book and you are the author.  Be careful what you
create it may come back to haunt you.

Later,

Larry Barnes


David Thompson wrote:

> Peter,
>     As a major in the Army Reserve I found this 'joke' to be extremely
> amusing.  Number one - the problem in our country in *not* guns, it's the
> sometimes deranged people that get their hands on them.  For this reporter,
> be it a lady or not, to accuse the general of being irresponsible to teach
> Boy Scouts about shooting is the big tragedy.
>     I am positive that if the interviewer had been male, the General would
> have come up with an equally witty remark.  Your remark that the General is
> idiotic is not only offensive to me, but inflammatory!  People like you (and
> I hope they are not the majority) sit in your easy chairs and enjoy the
> fruits of freedom every day, and then you slam those who put their lives and
> personal comfort on the line -- for you!  Shame on you.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Peter Bradley <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Friday, September 10, 1999 6:35 AM
> Subject: Fw: Fw: Off toppic. Friday humor
>
> > The way I read it this wasn't being offered to the list as an example of a
> > gaff by an idiotic general, as worthy of ridicule as any other gaff by our
> > wonderfully talented Royal family, it was being offered to us to laugh at
> > ('Friday humor'). And to laugh at the humiliation of a woman as a
> potential
> > prostitute I personally don't find funny. If she'd come back with some
> > witty wisecrack ("Just because you're equipped with balls doesn't mean you
> > act like you have any") I'd have felt a bit more comfortable. The way it
> > was told - a fade into silence - it was like the general vanquishing the
> > woman. That's what I was trying to say.
> >
> > Reference the earlier debate, I *do* like the Off Topic emails, but I
> think
> > people should consider a bit more carefully what they send. I know
> > snowballs have a greater chance in hell than having a politically correct
> > HP3000-l, but I think there are some things - and this 'joke' was one - I
> > don't want to receive. I'm more of a reader than a participant in the
> list,
> > but this I do feel strongly about.
> >
> > All the best,
> >
> > Peter
> >
> > ----------
> > From: Tony Summers <[log in to unmask]>
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Subject: Re: Fw: Off toppic. Friday humor
> > Date: 10 September 1999 12:29
> >
> > Of course it was offensive - but that's why the interview ended !
> >
> > The point being made was that you sometimes get so out of touch with the
> > real
> > world that you can make such dreadful gaffs like this - compare and
> > contrast
> > the many crass comments made by members of the British royal family.
> >
> > >>> Peter Bradley <[log in to unmask]> 10/09/99 11:48:07 >>>
> > Would this be as funny if the broadcaster were male? Would the general
> have
> > said such a thing to a man? If the answer is no to both questions, then
> > this bit of Friday humour is not just dirty - which most adults can handle
> > - but offensive, which is certainly how I feel about it.
> >
> > Peter
> >
> > ----------
> > > From: Thisted, Kristian <[log in to unmask]>
> > > To: [log in to unmask]
> > > Subject: Off toppic. Friday humor
> > > Date: 10 September 1999 11:31
> > >
> > > Just got this in my mail. New to me ... Maybe a bit dirty so delete now
> > if
> > > you are sensitive!
> > >
> > >
> > > >Note:  This is an exact replication of National Public Radio (NPR)
> > > >interview between a female broadcaster, and US Army General Reinwald
> who
> > > was about to sponsor a
> > > >Boy Scout Troop visiting his military  installation.
> > > >
> > > >INTERVIEWER: " So, General Reinwald, what things are you going to teach
> > > >these young boys when they visit your base?"
> > > >
> > > >GENERAL REINWALD:  'We're going to teach them climbing, canoeing,
> > archery,
> > > >and shooting."
> > > >
> > > >INTERVIEWER: "Shooting! That's a bit irresponsible,isn't it?"
> > > >
> > > >GENERAL REINWALD:  "I don't see why, they'll be properly supervised  on
> > the
> > >
> > > >rifle range."
> > > >
> > > >INTERVIEWER: "Don't you admit that this is a terribly dangerous
> activity
> > to
> > >
> > > >be teaching children?"
> > > >
> > > >GENERAL REINWALD: "I don't see how, ....we will be teaching them proper
> > > >rifle range discipline  before they even touch a firearm."
> > > >
> > > >INTERVIEWER:  " But you're equipping them to become violent killers."
> > > >
> > > >GENERAL REINWALD:  "Well, you're equipped to be a prostitute,  but
> > you're
> > > >not one, are you?"
> > > >
> > > >The radio went silent and the interview ended!
> > ----------
> >
> >