Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be shocked by Cards Against Humanity game?

82 replies

Topaz25 · 19/05/2014 07:45

I saw a few Facebook friends mentioning this fun game they're playing, Cards Against Humanity, so I thought I'd check it out. The aim of the game is to come up with funny and offensive card combinations. I was aware that the humour was adult and offensive and I don't think of myself as a prude but I was still shocked to find that it contains references to: ‘Madeleine McCann’, ‘Jade Goody’s cancerous remains’ and the Hillsborough disaster. One of my Facebook friends who plays is a mother so I'm shocked that she has no empathy for Madeline McCann's mother. I know this game is protected by free speech etc but AIBU to think less of anyone who plays it?

OP posts:
Solaia · 19/05/2014 19:06

I'm with Topaz on this one. Not my cup of tea at all.

I just cannot find situations where people have suffered the worst imaginable heartbreak and pain funny on any level, and nor do I want to.

I think it's a bit lazy to scornfully suggest that because someone finds the distress of others distressing (even long after the event, even when not directly affected) they are some sort of Daily Mail devoted moral panic merchant.

Some people are just sensitive to the pain others. I am, I know this game would upset me, I leave well alone.

VitoCorleone · 19/05/2014 19:31

I wonder, the people coming out with "oh ffs its just a game", if your child was kidnapped and murdered would you find it quite so amusing if your dead Childs name was used in this game? Would it be so funny and "just a laugh" ??

moggle · 19/05/2014 19:45

I've gotta be honest, we have been playing the US (original) version of this game and finding it hilarious (when drunk) for a few years and while it is offensive and disgusting in general it is fairly generic (eg "two dwarves s**ing in a bucket", references to amputees etc). Someone gave us the UK version for Christmas and I've gotta say that some of the UK-specific cards (well, specifically the three mentioned on this thread, the others are OK) really did shock me. They just seem extra bad - you don't find any mention of jonbenet Ramsay or any US high school shootings etcetera in the US cards - the worst is offensive stuff about celebs and famous figures, not "ordinary people" that awful things have happened to. I was pretty shocked about these three cards and have taken them out of our pack. I still find the rest of it funny though, sorry...

PrincessBabyCat · 19/05/2014 20:32

PrincessBabyCat But in this case, not telling the joke around the people involved won't spare them from being upset and offended. The relatives of Madeline McCann and victims of the Hillsborough disaster are already upset by this game. So no, whether I find it funny or not is not the point. The point is that this company is making money mocking grieving people and the people who buy or promote this game are supporting that.

Ok. They're upset. They're taking it personally. We get that.

You open the door to allow upset people to dictate free speech it's going to snowball into total censorship. No one is forcing them to play the game. No one is forcing the players to play those cards.

The queen is apparently upset about her immaculate ass being referenced. Should that card be pulled too?

Frankly, I find the those 9/11 tribute songs more insulting, as singers are profiting off the death of victims by playing on everyone's heart strings. At least CAH is honest with its intentions.

We have a Hurricane Katrina card here where thousands died, and the victims aren't throwing a fit about it. The cards in the UK were tested by focus groups and got no complaints.

The whole point of the game is to throw PC bullshit out the window for a couple hours over a glass of wine. The entire point of the game is to not give a fuck about people's delicate little feelings for a little bit. It's called Cards Against Humanity, it's right on the box that it's not going to be a family friendly game.

You don't like it, don't play it. But why should other people not have a good time playing a game they enjoy with friends?

somewheresomehow · 19/05/2014 20:39

I always call my kids, 'kids but they are actually adults (mid 20's) and do know about Hillsborough and Madeline , but get a grip, they understand the past but if we ban humour whats the point in anything
Its a bloody game !

grumpasaur · 19/05/2014 21:31

I love this game. It's black humour and says so on the box. Generally speaking I find the people who enjoy it are the people who understand a lot about the world, are intelligent and empathic, and are open minded and fun.

If you don't like it, don't play it.

moggle · 19/05/2014 21:55

princessbabycat I totally agree with your points- but I'm not sure you should use the "they were tested by focus groups with no complaints" line as evidence!- I saw the ads online when they were developing the regional packs and looking for input, and they were purely aimed at people who already had the CAH game so I don't think it was a very representative sample! Nearly went along myself...

New posts on this thread. Refresh page