Until people experience these reactions they don't understand. There is a blood antigen test that shows how one's body can be reacting to a substance with no outward symptoms. I tested very positive for sunflower and sesame seeds. I felt nothing but an endoscopy showed my esophagus was reacting in a negative way.

Maybe one feels superior to laugh at someone else over something they don't understand them self.

@JackPedigo Add to that a physical appearance at odds with expectations re the situation, and you have a recipe for not just ridicule and shunning, but outright derision and active sabotage (e.g. "You don't look sick-- therefore you are a liar." )

@stinkeye_a I hope you took no offense. The gluten and peanut parts were just the lead-in for the actual joke about facts. I totally get that some people have gluten sensitivities. I'm one of them. While I don't have celiac disease, I do have to watch my intake of processed wheat products. So, I do hear you.

@Duke it's cool! I don't think it's as important to convince people to change the way they joke than to just have the conversation.

It's not the jokes that are the problem: it's the prejudging. And I could tell that was not the focus of your post.

@stinkeye_a I have not experienced that one before. One word we seldom hear is hypochondriac. There were famous people who were noted hypochondriacs. Good thing food companies aren't listening. There are more and more products catering to our needs.

@stinkeye_a I try not to offend with my sense of humor. But, it happens still far more frequently than I'd like. And, since I have an issue with gluten, it didn't even occur to me that someone might be sensitive to that line. But, I do apologize that I touched on a sensitive issue. I certainly never want to hurt anyone. It won't stop me from posting my bullshit but, I'll always apologize when it hits anyone the wrong way.

@JackPedigo I mentioned to @stinkeye_a that the part about gluten and peanuts was really just the lead-in to the joke about facts. I will apologize to you also. Since I have a gluten sensitivity, it didn't really occur to me that anyone would take offense to the line. But, I did not mean to cause any ill feelings with it. And nope, it certainly doesn't make me feel superior in any way joking about anything. My sense of humor is what it is and, on occasion, I cross a line that I didn't see. And, for that, I apologize.

@Duke it's all good! Funny that at almost the same time I commented on this post I also commented on @Dav87 's post about how far is too far in comedy: I said let us have the freedom to step on each other's toes, like adults. That's exactly what happened here, and that's exactly how we handled it--like adults.

@stinkeye_a I think we all know that religion is a topic that can be ridiculed pretty safely in here and honestly, I guess anything is fair game. And you're right, we handled it appropriately. There's nothing wrong with acknowledging and apologizing when we've touched on an issue that's close to home for someone. Thanks for letting me slide. LOL

@stinkeye_a @Duke I just thought "why have I been brought in here" read through and realised. It's been great to read through this exchange, I love to see things like this and it's one of the reasons why I think this community is just amazing. This is why communication and open discussion are so important and beautiful.

@Dav87 Thanks!

@Duke I suspected it was a joke but never got offended. I also have a gluten intollerence and have had problems with dairy for a long time. The dairy affects my immune system and my sinuses react like crazy.

Besides, with the way this site is growing we sometimes need a lead-in to get reactions.

@evestrat This is my morning humour without coffee