And under British law this isn’t about what is deemed “offensive” in public, it is what is considered personally harmful harassment. To describe it as merely offensive is to minimize the ways in which such actions work to force people out of certain kinds of public spaces for a frankly rational fear of their safety.

So now you are saying harassment is only “offensive” and as such not criminal by your own definition. As you earlier note that catcalling is a form of harassment. But then also it is only offensive and as such shouldn’t be treated seriously.

It’s a pretty cool prospect of universities dealing with their own history; I really like the spate of this in the US. My own profession is academic in nature, and my research so far has been about the history of universities (not in the US, mind, but earlier) and how that intersects with the history of nationalism…

No! I’d never heard of that before, and I thank you for...honestly? I’m not sure how I feel. Mildly-amused-angry-judgey-interested? And some other unidentifiable, mild emotions.

Booooo! (claps.)

Mileage varies. I don’t have the time nor the inclination, but I imagine there could be a quasi-scientific formula of the Appropriate National Joke, but it would need to include variables in its calculation such as:

You? Are fantastic!

I think “officially” was the key word there, as in endorsed as the primary (and desired) response by the head of the US govt.

“You know what I find offensive? Self-important bossy britches who try and police the internet.”

This always annoys me too. Gallows humour is of course a thing, but it is limited to those on the gallows. Those at a distance who are making a joke are no more and no less than the baying crowd.