While there's seriousness behind their complaints about the stereotype, these dads insist they can take a joke.

CNN: June 15, 2012 -- Updated 1120 GMT (1920 HKT)

He would have said 'it was a joke, can't you take a joke?

BBC: UK

"The governor engages in humor all the time, and he can certainly take a joke, " said Risa Heller, Paterson's communications director.

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Fun girls know how to take a joke.

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Look, look, if you think the playing fields of Eton was anything other than a joke, then I think you take your politics too seriously.

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When this was put to her in court, she said that it had all been a joke and she wouldn't take the money even if it was offered to her.

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While each of these examples is rare and probably stem from one employee's idea of a joke, companies know it could take only an occasional mistake to see years of built-up brand equity hit a bear market.

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Was that a Commons joke or was that something that you take quite seriously?

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Mr O'Neill had become something of a joke in the financial markets, which found him increasingly difficult to take seriously.

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Even the commentariat and editorialists believe they need to take the news seriously: Who will buy their papers and magazines if they make a joke of it?

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