[Confusion]

Upvoted this thread, because I think this is an important discussion. However, I think your analysis focuses on the wrong point. Interestingly, you and seanmcq engage in stereotyping by making this situation of male-male intimacy about homosexuality.

To me, the joke here isn't that spooning with a male would be uncomfortable. The joke is that you are spooning with a colleague, in the office. It's a transgression of the relationship you have with colleagues and a transgression of the normal activities that happen in an office environment. That's what makes it uncomfortable and thus funny. That the colleague is usually male is besides the point: it is even funny to gays that feel uncomfortable when thinking about spooning with a colleague in the office.

So you are completely right that a feeling of discomfort underpins this humor. I just disagree with the source of the discomfort.

[philwelch]

> Interestingly, you and seanmcq engage in stereotyping by making this situation of male-male intimacy about homosexuality.

It's not a stereotype; the whole point of literal homophobia is that male-male intimacy does border uncomfortably on the homosexual.

In any case, your interpretation of the joke is probably more on target; I was just explaining how it could be seen as homophobic.