Cita: but it might be better to involve HR instead of your boss. Whereas your boss might not want to deal with it, or know what to do, HR has resolution of such issues (appropriate workplace behavior) as one of their main responsibilities.
Typically it puts the boss in a difficult situation because then THEY have to go to HR and it's "second hand". It just plain gets TOO personal to go to the boss.
Because I've dealt with this (both on a personal level and in lawsuits) unfortuately, altho being smart with witty rejoinders may be satisfying (Oh I LOVE the one about coffee-drinking causing impotence -- that one is classic) -- in order to set this up to take TO the HR so it can be dealt with appropriately and with **least backlash to you** that's why I said to be so brief, and almost calculating in your non-adversarial response.
It's NONE of their business -- no they DON'T think (and if they do they have their sense in their toenails) but the HUGE problem is that in a situation like this it can SO quickly turn on a dime and come back and hit the VICTIM square in the pocket-book. Suddenly you can be that ingrate-ful pariah and just for "causing trouble" (i.e., protecting yourself and trying to tell someone you've been abused verbally) it can all implode and well, as my own personal favorite saying goes "I'd slap you ... but sh*t splatters!!" and YOU get all messy.
Typically if someone is THIS insensitive they are a harassment suit **waiting** to happen. Because it's not just you they are saying inappropriate things. So by reporting it completely "vanilla" (and not giving them 'verbatim' unless asked for it) the powers that be can then make the connection that this person doesn't know when to stop talking and move on. But reporting such a mess without involving gossip and tongues a wagging is a big huge deal if ***YOU*** ever want to be promoted in this company.
In other words -- you report it not so much because "poor poor pitiful me" has been embarassed ... but rather "Hmm, what this guy said to me was inappropriate, and I figured HR needed to know before he offends someone in a litigable fashion". That way rather than a whistle blower, you become the lady who is loyal and looking out for the company.
Make sense?