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Original poster

So is this really offensive?

31 replies

saintmaybe · 14/03/2009 23:45

Or am I being oversensitive?

Haven't posted on the sn board for a while, don't know if anyone remembers me.
An acquaintance sent me this

First there are lots of photos of fruit and veg carved into amusing shapes...

Then it says (I've cut and pasted)

''Today is International Disturbed People's Day

Please send an encouraging message to a disturbed friend... just as I've done.

I don't care if you lick windows,

take the special bus

or occasionally pee on yourself..

You hang in there sunshine, you're friggin' special

Every sixty seconds you spend angry, upset or mad, is a fullminute of happiness you'll never get back.

Today's Message of the Day is:

Life is short, Break the rules, Forgive quickly, Kiss slowly, Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably, And never regret anything that made you smile.

Send to all the people you love and don't want to lose in 2009, even me.

If you get 3 back, you are a great friend.

Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're here we should dance ''

To give context, this woman has said some really hurtful and insesnsitive things about ds2, who has autism, and she's one of those people who doesn't seem to realise how bloody offensive she's being. so I don't know if I was more ready to bristle because it was her, and I'd really appreciate any Pov's. Happy to be told I'm overreacting (but have already sent her a 'wtf?' which is very unlike me

And I left all the 'uplifting' slogans in at the end because i wanted to give a fair picture of the tone of the email.

So, what do you think? She hasn't replied to me yet, and I want to know if I should be a bit apologetic, or stand my ground, because I'm actually really pissed off, and i'm not sure if it's because of all the times I should have torn a strip off her in the past and didn't.

OP posts:
JackBauer · 14/03/2009 23:48

Well I have no children with SN and think that that's offensive. SO YANBU.

2shoes · 14/03/2009 23:49

yanbu
sorry couldn't read it all

TotalChaos · 15/03/2009 00:02

it's offensive shite. yanbu. it seems to be doing the rounds unfortunately - a friend of mine with a DS who does "get the special bus" was sent this and was upset by this.

Original poster
saintmaybe · 15/03/2009 00:16

Thanks for responding. Dh was sympathetic but not angry like me , iyswim, and ds has enough going on atm that I am a bit edgy. I'll feel ready to point out the error of her ways to her.

OP posts:
Mitchell81 · 15/03/2009 07:20

very offensive

hereidrawtheline · 15/03/2009 08:46

it is extremely offensive. And add to that its bloody stupid because that email being sent around has nothing to do with bigging up some idiots ego making them think they have friends.

5inthebed · 15/03/2009 10:00

I would have been fuming if I'd received that off one of my friends. Some people have no idea!

I've just lost a friend because of her making a comment like that and then thinking there was nothing wrong with it.

PheasantPlucker · 15/03/2009 10:02

Offensive

TinyC · 15/03/2009 10:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

slackrunner · 15/03/2009 10:20

YANBU - it's awful

bullet123 · 15/03/2009 10:45

I posted the exact same thing on another site. I did not like it.

bullet123 · 15/03/2009 10:45

Erm, that is to say, I posted asking if the email was offensive as I'd received it. I did not post the joke to be funny.

vjg13 · 15/03/2009 10:46

It's awful. I had never heard 'lick the windows' until this last week. It seems to be some new offensive 'joke'.

It sounds a bit American in the sentiment and I can't believe anyone would find it amusing.

Blossomhill · 15/03/2009 11:38

Awful, not funny at all

Arabica · 15/03/2009 12:40

Your 'friend' must be very insecure and deluded to send such an insensitive and inappropriate message. Yuk! Wrong on so many levels. And life's way too short to carve 'amusing' vegetables!

NotPlayingAnyMore · 15/03/2009 13:45

It's offensively ignorant unimaginative crap. YANBU

coppertop · 15/03/2009 14:13

It's horrible and says an awful lot about the person who sent it IMO.

pagwatch · 15/03/2009 16:26

I know you sent her a wtf already but do feel free to pass on from me ( as the mother of a child who goes on the 'special bus') that she is a twat.

It is entirely people like her who think this banal childish fuckwittery is funny who give rise to the people who feel happy shouting things at my son.

If I received this i would block any further contact from the person sending it. She would cease to be even an aquaintance.

PheasantPlucker · 15/03/2009 16:27

I am feeling so sad this week that people with special needs are still a target for fuckwits who seem to find this kind of thing hilariously amusing. (facebook, Comic Relief, this.....).

hereidrawtheline · 15/03/2009 18:12

sorry Americans are not the root of all cheese and offence. I know that isnt what you meant vig but it gets a little tiring every time something tacky and objectionable being talked about hearing someone say it sounds American. Surely you can understand that you saying that is a bit offensive as well? A bit prejudiced? Not trying to start an argument I just get so tired of this "oh well sounds American" shit I hear bandied about. I have to say, I dont say that about the English. Or any other nation. And we dont say it about the French etc.

The email in question is shit regardless of the country it was written in. Unfortunately there are idiots in all countries.

5inthebed · 15/03/2009 18:30

banal childish fuckwittery Very well said Pag!!!

Yurtgirl · 15/03/2009 18:35

YANBU that is vile

hereidrawtheline · 15/03/2009 18:45

Yes Pag I meant to say as well you put it into words perfectly. You should make bumper stickers!

pagwatch · 15/03/2009 19:19

I am fluent in profanity....

vjg13 · 15/03/2009 19:39

So sorry HIDTL, that was crass and insensitive.