I don't recall /poke being an issue but checking (examining) people did "offend" some, mostly JP, players. Frankly, I didn't see it start to offend NA players until after it became semi-common knowledge that it offended some JP players.

If I recall correctly, the JP version would say "Name stares at you intently." and the NA version said "Name examines you." I think the whole taking offense to being checked/examined thing started in other, earlier MMOs with RPers and then caught on with non-RPers because... people are stupid.