Mumsnet Talk

I'm confused as to why you think she wouldn't or shouldn't block people she finds boring, though? Twitter is a social network, it's not a system whereby the world makes itself accountable to you.

She can block who she wants, can't she? Just disappointed that she does this rather than engage with those she may find boring, or 'silly'.

Saying she has 'form' for doing this makes you look foolish.

Where did I say that?

Yes Susie jokes about AIDS are hilarious.

Why should she engage with people who disapprove though? It's tedious and pointless

I don't get her. She does nothing for me. The tweet doesn't bother me though.

I'm sure your disappointment is terribly important to her.

And the blog says it, love. The one you linked to in your OP.

<goes for coffee and enlightenment>

Twitter is a social network, it's not a system whereby the world makes itself accountable to you.

Twitter needs to adopt this as the strapline right at the top of every page.

Honey, I wasn't the one who wrote the blog, which I said upthread.

Good for you. You did link to it, though, so I figured you'd read it.

Is there a point to this?

I agree it is an insensitive joke - am surprised so many people are defending it.

There are many funny jokes about AIDS, BTW. Like most things that scare us, they lend themselves to black humour very well.

That doesn't happen to be a funny one, it's true, but they do exist.

Also, Man Flu: the condition where a man gets a sniffle and goes to bed for 3 days.

Surely you've heard the term?

Yes I read it but naturally I assumed you thought I was the one who wrote it given you said I was 'foolish' for one remark in the blog

It's not a joke about AIDS

It's not a funny joke. I've followed her for a bit on twitter, mainly because she's friends with other celebs I follow and I'm nosey and read their conversations. I have to say I find her pretty charmless.

It's taking a commonplace event (having a cold) and comparing it to something non-commonplace for comic effect, usually to highlight the ridiculousness of the orignial complaint. The basis of lots of jokes and humour.

It's like saying you have the plague or something when it's a cold. Or that you wish someone would cut your head off with a headache...

AIDS isn't an issue I would personally joke about, but it's not dreadfully offensive.

It's not funny to compare anything to AIDS. CM thinks she's funny but I think she stopped being that quite a while ago.

I hate the phrase "It's a car crash waiting to happen", as I lost someone in a car crash. I feel like someone's punched me in the stomach every time I hear it.
But I'd never say anything as I really don't think people mean to upset or offend. I'm afraid you have to take it on the chin.

Psammead: "It's taking a commonplace event (having a cold) and comparing it to something non-commonplace for comic effect, usually to highlight the ridiculousness of the orignial complaint. The basis of lots of jokes and humour."

Quite! She's just making a joke about her own wussiness. Would people have been offended if she'd said "TB" or "malaria"? Or is it just AIDS that elicits this response?

Poster up thread description of CM as charmless is spot on.

She can block whomever she chooses, but it wasn't a funny joke (or even mildly amusing).

I'm usually not with the PC brigade but I'm surprised at all the ppl defending it -wonder if they would feel the sand if she joked about autism, for example.

It's just AIDS, and maybe cancer, but mostly AIDS, hackmum because of the homosexuality connection. It's PC gone mad.

Some of the funniest jokes I've heard about AIDS have been told by people, gay and straight, dying from it.

"I'm usually not with the PC brigade but I'm surprised at all the ppl defending it -wonder if they would feel the sand if she joked about autism, for example."

But why? Surely context is everything when it comes to humour. She's not making fun of people with AIDS, she's making fun of herself. Is there nobody here who has said, "I feel like I'm dying" when they've got a cold? Nobody here who has ever used exaggeration for comic effect? Really?

The funniest thing about this thread is the fact that Psammead has had to explain one of the most common forms of British humour to some of you.

Honestly. I hate it when this question is asked on MN, but I can't help wondering whether some of you probably have more important things to worry about.

It is rather amusing Toby.

And I want to know where some people get the energy to worry about shit like this. Can I have what you're having? I barely have the energy to help my 3.9 year old build a block tower most days.

I don't think of AIDS in the gay context. Usually the first aspect that spring to mind is, the problem with it in Africa, and orphans. That is because of my background

Is that why you are offended....because you consider it a homophobic gag?

There's a difference between understanding a joke a finding it funny tho. I understood her little joke but didn't find it amusing. And although I didn't think it was offensive, I didn't think it was in particularly good taste either.

Dp was coughing dramatically this morning, and I put on Facebook that it was like living with Keats. Was this offensive?

<notes interesting new feminist-bashing technique>

I find it more offensive that people persist in thinking of AIDS as a gay issue.