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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have told this man his t shirt was offensive?

175 replies

CundtBake · 20/07/2014 21:10

I have to say in general I think slogan tees are wanky on adults.

Anyway on the train today a man was standing there with a t shirt that said something along the lines of: the daily mail - like being in a mental hospital for 20 minutes.

He caught me reading it and chuckled. I said I didn't think it was funny I thought it was offensive.

I've been sectioned myself and I'll be damned if I ever read the daily mail or share it's ridiculous views.

AIBU to think if you really feel the need to share your newspaper related views via your t shirt you should keep the mentally ill and any other vulnerable person out of it?

OP posts:
VitoCorleone · 20/07/2014 21:13

I think lighten up.

People are offended by everything these days

ohforfoxsake · 20/07/2014 21:13

There seems to be a significant trend in offensive tee-shirts, either wording or imagery. You wonder what their thought process is when they get dressed for the day.

Good for you for saying something.

OHforDUCKScake · 20/07/2014 21:15

Ive seen far worse.

I think you do need to lighten up a little.

Original poster
CundtBake · 20/07/2014 21:15

Vito I'm not offended by everything. I just don't think it's okay to make fun of mentally ill people.

OP posts:
ObfusKate · 20/07/2014 21:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
CundtBake · 20/07/2014 21:16

Of course there are worse but does that make it ok?

OP posts:
CoffeeTea103 · 20/07/2014 21:17

Yes lighten up fgs. People get offended by everything thing these days.

Original poster
CundtBake · 20/07/2014 21:17

Obfus that's true actually. Clearly he didn't think his hilarious cool guy apparel through properly

OP posts:
Mintyy · 20/07/2014 21:18

Yanbu, that is horrible, and I hate the Daily Mail.

"Like being in a mental hospital" - how can that not be offensive??

Original poster
CundtBake · 20/07/2014 21:18

That 'people get offended by everything these days' line is a bit boring and doesn't make a very good point by the way. I am one person who found this one thing offensive.

OP posts:
TurboWithAKick · 20/07/2014 21:19

I bet he thought it was fine and that you were,er, not fine

Original poster
CundtBake · 20/07/2014 21:19

Clearly the mentally ill are still fair game to some people

OP posts:
ObfusKate · 20/07/2014 21:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WorraLiberty · 20/07/2014 21:20

I can't make up my mind whether you were unreasonable or not to tell him you found it offensive.

You weren't unreasonable to find it offensive because feelings are feelings

But it was a bit of a waste of time to tell him, as I'm sure he's not going to care what a random stranger thinks of his t shirt.

CustardLover · 20/07/2014 21:20

The man invited, even started the conversation by wearing a t-shirt with that on it, so in that sense, YWNBU to comment on it.

However, I personally probably wouldn't have bothered as I would assume that someone who would choose to wear something so vulgar (and presumably delighted by his wit) is unlikely to change his mind based in anything I might lecture at him. So you weren't being unreasonable but I suggest wasting your own time and energy in this case.

ObfusKate · 20/07/2014 21:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

littlejohnnydory · 20/07/2014 21:21

YANBU - it's all very well to say lighten up but the fact that flippant comments and jokes around mental health are so common perpetuates the stigma and does a lot of subtle damage. I often wish I were brave enough to say something.

HermioneWeasley · 20/07/2014 21:22

It's a criticism of the daily mail isn't it? Perhaps not very tasteful but not the most offensive t shirt I've seen

TurboWithAKick · 20/07/2014 21:22

I bet it was a gift off someone, he didn't choose it. Just googled and saw it..... I was more surprised at a t shirt which stated 'underclass and proud' Shock

MrsWolowitz · 20/07/2014 21:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ohforfoxsake · 20/07/2014 21:25

There's a dad at school who wears a tee-shirt depicting a woman with her legs splayed. It's an infants school.

That's pretty offensive.

Or the bloke in our shopping centre with a topless woman with her middle finger up.

Inappropriate, stupid and thoughtless.

And they see no problem with any of it? OP is right to point it out. I've been on to the shops who display their porny shirts in the windows, and had them removed.

Some people just need to be reminded what is and isn't appropriate.

Fredmitten · 20/07/2014 21:27

It's from the Daily Mash, which as a website i think is fairly funny. Take your point on mental illness being seen as an acceptable target - but a bit of satire and a Daily Mail bashing is generally a good thing IMHO.

scottishmummy · 20/07/2014 21:28

Completely understand what you find offensive,in the statement.youre not being ott offended
But i wouldn't strike up a conversation with a strangr about their T-shirt
I think it was intrusive to tell him you found T-shirt objectionable

phantomnamechanger · 20/07/2014 21:28

There's a dad at school who wears a tee-shirt depicting a woman with her legs splayed. It's an infants school.

^ that's just gross Sad

Andrewofgg · 20/07/2014 21:31

The trouble is that everything worth saying (such as bashing the DM) offends somebody (and not necessarily a reader of that rag) - which means that some degree of offence is JTB.

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