Humor - A Risky Behavior?
Most of us love a good laugh. Humor can relieve tension and energize, but teasing and sarcasm are high-risk ways of communicating.
Does this mean that all fun is out of order on campus? Absolutely not, but if the fun is at the expense of another person or persons, it is risky.
"It was just a joke" is not an excuse for sexual harassment.
People often have such different perspectives on behaviors that it is easy to offend someone through ill-considered attempts at humor, teasing or sarcasm. Remember that only the impact, and not the intent, matters in determining if a reasonable person would consider the behavior sexual harassment.
Before taking any risks, make certain that your behavior; whether in person, by phone or via email, is welcome. A careless mistake may become very costly to the respect others have for you and to your financial and job security or student status.