To expect a better response to this?

[Albadross]

A recent tweet I read was from a mental health blogger to Joy Store, who have a few shops in London. she'd taken a photo of a card they sell that read 'don't get mad, take Valium'.

She'd asked them if they thought this was an appropriate thing to sell, and they'd responded the following:

'Then if you know anyone with bipolar, don't buy it for them PROBLEM SOLVED.'

Her response - 'what if a customer with bipolar sees it?'

Joy - 'what, they'll like it one minute and not the next?'

Right, so they rely on people going in to their shops to purchase things - that's their whole business model, yet they want 1 in 4 people with mental health problems to see this and then see their response when a customer tells them it's out of order?

I'm still shocked to see this kind of backwards rhetoric, especially given that several other retailers have suffered as a result of faux pas about mental health. I sincerely hope none of their staff actually do have bipolar because they must feel embarrassed to disclose.

Way to keep stigma alive!

Valium isn't an anti-psychotic it's for anxiety or a sedative. In short, it calms people down. I don't think the card means 'mad' as in mental illness, I think it means 'mad' as in angry.

That's a pair of terrible responses.

Customer complains about something you don't think is a problem, reply with "sorry it upset you ... market research blah blah ... customer base blah blah ... hope this hasn't put you off shopping with us in future" kind of thing.

"You have no sense of humour" is what they've said instead which is just terrible.

I meant lithium... Mistyped

Hence it is directed specifically towards those with bipolar

Joy - 'what, they'll like it one minute and not the next?'

That response is offensive.

I can't see a huge problem with the card, like many things, it's personal taste, but the response from the shop is rude. Maybe they know that though and are being provocative on purpose. Any publicity is good publicity and all that.

Oh, well if it said "'don't get mad, take Lithium', that's totally different because there's then no ambiguity about the intending meaning of 'mad', so it's highly offensive and unacceptable IMO and as far from 'humorous' as it can get.

see my sister would love that card - it would make her laugh - she has BPD. I myself have had PND and PTSD

It doesn't seem massively offensive to me but I have a slightly warped sense of humour

my mums birthday card last year said 'in dog years you'd be dead by now' ...it made us snort

they have a point in that if my hubby was in a high bipolar state he would laugh.when in a downer he would be offended .there response is actually more offensive than the actual card .

I'm a mental health blogger so I'm not just being offended on someone else's behalf. It's the responses that show an absolute lack of awareness.

Until we've got rid of the stigma, it's inappropriate to make jokes like this, and mental health is almost the last bastion of stigma.

I'm a one of the "one in four" and I'm not offended. I don't think it's particularly witty tho.

Oh well, I'm one of those weirdos who doesn't find mental illness amusing, especially - bot not solely - as I've been so close to committing suicide on numerous occasions. But that's me, I'm a humourless bitch and should no doubt lighten up.

I was talking more about their responses. I'm not sure how anyone could think that was an appropriate thing to say to a customer in a public forum.

Buzzfeed link to the story.
I can see why it was offensive. The store have caused a lot of ill feeling by their response. A simple apology is what was needed, or not stocking the item in the first place.

Modern equivalent of a mother-in-law joke. Really aggressive 'sheesh it's just a joke' type of response too.

Grunt I totally agree.

I meant 'but' not 'bot' above. I trust no one laughed.

Sorry I posted too soon.
Both would put me off.

I don't find mental illness amusing but I can laugh at certain things. I don't find the card offensive either but I agree their response was shitty.

they obviously dont know a lot about the subject .because to say they will like it one minute not the next .they probably think lithium is for schizopheria .not bi polar .but if anyone says to my hubby about his illness .he always says I and i have the certificate to prove it .passed caring what others think

I have bipolar, I've suffered with it for years and years, been close to suicide many times, three nervous breakdowns. So I feel qualified to comment. Personally, I thought it was funny and their response of liking it one day and not the next made me laugh out loud.
If you don't like it, don't buy it. Simples.

I am heavily involved with social media for a number of brands and to be honest, the person who tweeted this on Joy's behalf has done the brand a huge mis service and should be kept far away from their Twitter feed in future...

Someone will be getting their P45 tomorrow, hopefully. What a bloody clown.

I don't rate Joy at all. I ordered a dress that took over a month to arrive, despite the payment being taken within a day. It was in stock but just wasn't sent.

No correspondence or response to my emails, until I threatened to take it to social media. Lo and behold it arrived within a few days.

Their response is more offensive than the slogan. The slogan isn't funny at all... Not really because it's horribly offensive but just because it plainly isn't funny or clever.

I think you're massively overreacting. I thought it was funny. You can walk into any store that sells cards and find some slogan that will be offensive to some. I'm not sure what exactly you expect the store to do?