The usual measure of whether something is offensive is whether the putative targets are offended by it (not whether someone else takes offense on their behalf). My guess, which no doubt would require confirmation, is that German participants in this forum are annoyed and offended by redstar's frequent humourless gybes about alleged German humourlessness (leaving aside other alleged national characteristics which he has, in the past, attributed to them).

It might seem trivial, but it's a principle that I feel strongly about. It might be seen as an extended piece of performance art, rather than as representing redstar's true beliefs, but that would actually be an aggravating factor in my view, as it is easy to interpret the intent as being to sow discord between people based on their nationality.

If I were a nationalist, I might suggest that redstar's problem be sorted out by his compatriots (and I would happily delegate the job to the Irish caucus, who might be more expeditive than the French).

But I think it's a collective problem.

_{It is rightly acknowledged that people of faith have no monopoly of virtue - Queen Elizabeth II}