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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think this work colleague is wrong

103 replies

Ilovemyself · 04/10/2013 10:10

It's dress down Friday today and one of the guys in the office is wearing a South Park T shirt with a picture of Timmy ( the character in the wheelchair ) and the comment "I'm special" on it.

I thought the use of the word special was frowned upon these days, pointing out the differences disabled people have rather than being inclusive.

What's more, the person concerned needs to use a wheel chair for much more than a short walk.....

OP posts:
flipchart · 04/10/2013 13:22

What you get tea breaks at 10.10 am still on one at 10.18am AND 10.41?
Blimey do you work for the council or something!! (JOKE!)

Anyway about the word 'special' with regards to disability Mr Tumble's (Justin Fletcher?) programme is called 'Something Special'
Shall we be offended?

flipchart · 04/10/2013 13:23

A X post by 2 seconds!!!

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 04/10/2013 13:33

It's hardly called something "special" said in a piss taking voice is it.

Don't know if you are just not getting it or being deliberately obtuse.

valiumredhead · 04/10/2013 14:11

Something Special is a positive programme.

Hemlet · 04/10/2013 14:15

I have uncontrolled epilepsy and wear a bracelet with 'epileptic' on one side and 'spaz' on the other. I love it!

usuallyright · 04/10/2013 14:20

South Park is hilarious and if I saw a colleague in a t shirt like that, I'd chuckle and think he had a great sense of humour. Comedy sometimes pushes the boundaries and is often funnier when touching on taboo subjects. Judging by this thread, some people have little or no sense of humour, which is sad.

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 04/10/2013 14:31

Usuallyright..do you have a disability or a child with one? Just interested.

I used to find South Park hilarious..not so much since I had a child with SN who gets a bus to school (and doesn't lick the windows like I have seen on South Park)

I find edgy comedy touching on taboo.subjects is.often ok..if the taboo subject doesnt personally affect the person who likes it.

valiumredhead · 04/10/2013 14:31

I keep waiting for my dark sense of humour to emerge, it's not happened so far, it's been 4 years, doubt it'll happen now.

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 04/10/2013 14:32

Me too valium

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 04/10/2013 14:33

People can make fun of themselves..but excuse me if I don't find making fun of people with SN hilarious and edgy.

usuallyright · 04/10/2013 14:52

oh dear.
And yes, I do have close family member in a wheelchair. Not one of my dcs, but I'd like to hope I could see the funny side of situations, instead of being po faced about things. I'd be that kid with the 'legless' t-shirt mentioned up thread.
That's not 'edgy' it's just taking the piss out of yourself, self deprecating, dark humour, whatever you want to call it.
And frankly if a disabled person chooses to wear it, it's a non issue really and the last thing anyone needs to get riled about.

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 04/10/2013 14:54

I wasnt riled about that.

My first post on thread was to say it wasnt a big deal if the guy wore it if he was a wheelchair user.

I was addressing your comment about edgy humour being funniest.

No need for the "oh dear"

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 04/10/2013 14:55

You were talking about South Park being edgy and dealing with taboo subjects.

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 04/10/2013 14:56

If you think its being po faced to not laugh at kids licking the bus window of the school bus for kids with SN on South Park then I am haopy to be so.

usuallyright · 04/10/2013 14:57

and your point is?
You're entitled to your opinion, but you don't get to hold the moral high ground because you can't see the funny side of disability and wouldn't laugh at that t-shirt.

valiumredhead · 04/10/2013 14:58

I found it hard to find the funny side of being in a wheel chair, must've missed that.

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 04/10/2013 14:59

My point is..its a discussion and I am giving my POV.

Didnt mention moral high ground. Or whether I'd laugh at the tshirt.

I said it would not be an issue to me.if the guy wore it.

Bit defensive there.

Canthaveitall · 04/10/2013 15:00

You are over thinking this.

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 04/10/2013 15:01

Valium..good point. .I'd respect the guys right to wear it and I wouldn't be offended. .but I wouldn't be chortling away at it either

Branleuse · 04/10/2013 15:04

i dont think hes either right or wrong. I think its just his tshirt and his own personal sense of humour.

I think you need to get over it

usuallyright · 04/10/2013 15:05

we all laugh at ourselves. Even people in wheelchairs. You don't lose your sense of humour just because of a disability. You are still a person. I remember an interview with Christopher Reeve, where he was mocking himself, over something he couldn't do (as a result of being paralysed and in a wheelchair)
no, of course disability is horrible and unfunny, but lots of people find humour helps to take the edge off an horrific situation, makes life a bit lighter if you can take the piss out of yourself in a self deprecating way.

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 04/10/2013 15:06

Usuallyright..I also respect your right to laugh at what you want..and wasnt taking moral high ground.

I was just interested to know if you had a child with SN as what I found funny changed after I did.

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 04/10/2013 15:07

Yes of course the guy can laugh at himself if he likes. Have said that all along.

This is a bit of a non argument as I am not disagreeing with you :)

valiumredhead · 04/10/2013 15:08

You don't lose your sense of humour just because of a disability

Some people do, you don't instantly turn into someone who takes it on the chin and can laugh at themselves, I certainly didn't.

valiumredhead · 04/10/2013 15:09

Anyway, Tee shirt isn't appropriate for work imo wether he's a wheel chair user or not.