PIL birthday card. Should I be offended?!

[PonyPals]

This is light hearted... thought I would share with you a bday card that was sent to me by PIL

[Thinkingabout1t]

What? People are saying go NC, throw a tantrum, saying that people who laugh at this are likely to be racist — wtf???

I could do with losing weight, and this card would make me laugh. But if I got a card that irritated me from someone I like I would overlook it.

OP, please don’t do anything horrible in response to a card. It was undoubtedly meant to be friendly and light-hearted.

[JizzPigeon22]

It’s just a joke card. They probably barely even read it.
My brother sent me one for my birthday that just had “I think your a cunt” on the front of it in plain letters. I love it.

[heysugar]

It's a shit card.
It's not funny.
Depending on your relationship with your in-laws, I would assume it's a dig at either your weight or how much wine you drink.
If you get on well and they're not generally mean then maybe they just have crap taste and don't have a particularly sophisticated sense of humour.

I'd go to scribblers and send cards back about saggy old lady tits and tiny cocks and see if they like your 'humour'.

The people wanging on about the fun police and the professionally offended can fuck off too.
A shit card is a shit card but I wouldn't sweat it unless there's a huge backstory.

[heysugar]

@JizzPigeon22 I'd love that too.

[Delbelleber]

Unless you attend a slimming club together id put that card straight in the (recycling) bin.

[redcarbluecar]

I think the joke is lame but wouldn’t be offended by it. It’s a very typical ‘birthday card’ sort of joke & some people just buy the first card they see without really thinking. i suppose it depends on your general relationship with them though.

[Ginkypig]

@PonyPals

Thank you *@GinkyPig* I shall celebrate it in lockdown style (I'm in Victoria) with heaps of wine (I actually don't usually drink) and lots of cake (mmmm).

Will just laugh it off and treat it as a joke.

I am hoping to have the same plan it's my birthday next weekend

[InTheWings]

Are the relatives that sent it overweight?

I find these 'funny' cards not funny because they have no with or style, but I think they are meant to just generally allude to the fact that 'cake' and 'wine' are 'naughty forbidden foods' and that we all react to any mention of cake with 'oooh, we'll put on weight' whether we are stick insects or bumble bees.

Mindlessly 'funny' rather than anything to be offended by.

[Jocundest]

What point did everyone stop being able to take a joke

You must be of the everything offends generation

Sense of humour required here I think !

I always wondered who would send this kind of card. Now I know.

It’s just a joke card. They probably barely even read it.

Unless the ILs are actually illiterate, and have never met their DIL, they must surely realise that sending a card that implies she's fat and trying to lose weight to a woman who does struggle with her weight is a teensy bit insensitive?

[CharityDingle]

I remember, years ago, receiving a 'joke' postcard from a family member. I'm sure they thought, at the time, it was funny, but I was hurt by it. Humour is very subjective.
No way would I either send, or like to receive that card.

[Gogogadgetarms]

That’s proper rude.

[m00rfarm]

I would not be offended. It is a "simple" joke but it is just a birthday card. Chuck it in the bin if you prefer. At least they sent you one!

[KickAssAngel]

Send them a picture of you with the card in front of you, and you holding a huge slab of cake in one hand, and a bottle of wine in the other. Solved the problem!

[MinorArcana]

I think it’s the sort of card where a lot depends on the relationship between the sender and the recipient.

I know some people who’d send something like that without thinking much about the picture and be genuinely horrified if someone suggested it might have upset the recipient.

And then I know other people who’d send it as a passive aggressive dig at someone else, and declare that “You just can’t take a joke” if anyone even suggested it might be offensive.

[Thinkingabout1t]

I think in general if you have to make a choice about whether to be offended or not, then don't bother being offended. It's unpleasant and wastes your energy.

That's the wisest comment I've heard all day, StuffThem.

[FishHasDied]

It’s a joke, nothing more.

[mrsBtheparker]

@DullDullWeather the OP did say it was sort of lighthearted smile

But from the sounds of it, you sound like you're from the generation that think racist jokes are funny and then tell people to "lighten up for it was only a joke".

DO you have a medal for the long-jump? Such a ridiculous extrapolation from the other comment. Do you bring racisim into everything?

[20viona]

It's a joke relax.

[oakleaffy]

Maybe they are crap card choosers, I got some much nagger cards this year ( April) because they were from supermarkets , but I treasure them for that.. at least I got a card! Happy birthday!

[oakleaffy]

Naffer not nagger bloody spellcheck

[OhCaptain]

Weight is a weird issue.

People are so precious about being fat. Not you, OP.

But if you’re fat, you’re fat. People can see that whether they comment on it/make a joke about it or not!

I don’t get the angst around it, tbh.

And yes, I say that as a fat person!

[rubydoobydoo]

Last time DH went to the in-laws MIL gave him some weight watchers cook books and a bottle of Frizz Ease to give to me!

(I'm a size 8-10 but she might have a point on the hair!)

[OohKittens]

I received one once which said sniffer dog rex smells some crack

[MintyMabel]

Yes, that's shitty and you should tell them so.

[CambsAlways]

Obviously meant to be funny, think it’s a bit daft, but I wouldn’t take offence unless I was overweight 😂😂