Oh Get Over Yourselves.

Dark humour is tasteless, apparently.

A series of provocative Mother’s Day cards that feature Jimmy SavileJosef Fritzl and Shannon Matthews have been criticised by charities and members of the public.

Designed by artist Samuel Hague, he sold them on online marketplace Etsy before the firm removed them from sale following a number of complaints, including one from leading children’s charity the NSPCC.

One of the cards features an illustration of Jimmy Savile, alongside the caption: ”Thanks for never letting Jim fix it for me.”

Cue the usual outrage.

A NSPCC spokesperson said: “Using the trauma of child abuse to sell these vile greetings cards is thoughtless and irresponsible.”

Yeah, that’s the point of black humour (can I say that?). It’s meant to be sick. It’s meant to thoughtless and irresponsible. That’s why it is funny. And, yes, I found them mildly amusing in a groaning sort of way.

They added: “We would urge this seller to reconsider and to remove these cards from sale immediately.”

Why? Because you are offended? Get over yourselves. If someone wants to make and sell these cards and others want to buy them, then that is up to them, not you. You don’t get to censor us. And this is the really important bit here, no one is forcing anyone to buy them. If people don’t, they will disappear anyways through natural selection.

Members of the public also expressed their outrage on social media.

Of course they did. Ignore ’em.

“Who would find this sh*t funny?” she wrote.

Well, er, actually…

“I choose to express myself through my artwork. Humour is subjective and most of the feedback I have received has been positive,” he said. “Many comedians use dark humour and no one ever bats an eyelid so I didn’t expect this response from the media. I will keep the designs on sale. However, if anyone personally involved was upset by any of the cards I would remove it out of respect.”

No! No! No! They do not deserve respect for that has to be earned. If you give them an inch they will come back for a parsec. Never apologise, never explain never acquiesce. You’ve decided to market these cards and put your humour out there. Have the courage to stand by it come what may.

16 Comments

  1. Perhaps if the NSPCC spoke out a bit about the Muslim grooming gangs attacking white children they would have more plausibility.

  2. I met Rolf Harris when I was a boy. He didn’t try to abuse me. I must have been ugly. Do you want me to delete this?

  3. It’s not an option, though, to just ignore the offendatrons, when it’s plod that takes offence as in the case of the hapless Count Dankula.

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