Do You Agree That These Halloween Costumes Are In Poor Taste?

[sp1814]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/asda-apologises-for-selling-mental-patient-fancy-dress-halloween-costume-online-8839942.html

[sp1814]

Sorry - that was a bit of a loaded question.

To rephrase - 'do you think they're in poor taste, or are people reading a little bit too much into them?'

[daffy654]

People are being oversensitive in my opinion.

[andy-hughes]

Absolutely.

To assign the mentally ill an identity of a psychotic murderer shows a complete lack of sensitivity and thought.

I recall about five years ago writing a stiff letter to BHS who were selling Christmas slippers with the words Old and Fart stiched on the front of each.

I advised them that i would be most upset if my grandchildren bought them for me - and would not find the 'joke' at all amusing.

I suggested that when it was Mother's Day, they could start a new line - with Idle on one slipper and *** on the other - highly amusing, I am sure any mum receiving them would agree.

It beggars belief that someone has designed this nonsense, had it approved for manufacture, and them managed to sell it to the buyers of two major supermarket chains.

I hope those responsible have been removed from their posts for the inability to understand basic judgement and sensible buying for their employers.

[jno]

your first question sounded fine to me; my answer is "yes".

What next, bald wigs for "cancer kids' fancy dress"?

[friedgreentomato]

Over reaction no one in their right mind would thing that this is really what a mental patient is like (except in a few rare occassions)

[ummmm]

I think it's an over reaction.

[youngmafbog]

I'm pretty laid back on personal choice but this is really unacceptable.

And as Andy posts, it seem amazing it managed to get through so many levels without being pulled. And two major companies too!

[ummmm]

Wow Andy, you sound like a bundle of fun :-)

[andy-hughes]

I am ummm - as you well know!

[youngmafbog]

The problem is that many people would associate this with a genuine mental patient. The general public is rather thick and gullible.

[andy-hughes]

FGT - your point is a fair one, but the stigma of mental illness is still very real in our modern society, and garbage like this only perpetuates sterotypes.

It's interesting that you can't find a Jimmy Saville costume anywhere in the UK, but pap like this is being sold.

[Mamyalynne]

I just see them as tacky and badly titled.

[jno]

andy's right - no need to call them mental patient costumes, something like "psycho killer" would have been just as good. Mental illness has quite enough of a stigma already without Asda joining the hue and cry.

[youngmafbog]

now there's a thought Andy. Just getting the sewing machine out!

[lankeela]

How would you feel about a pirate costume with an eye patch and a hook? Would that offend one eyed, one armed people? I think not, and this is PC gone mad.

[mccfluff]

i don't think they should be called mental patient costumes, other than that the costumes themselves, just costumes

[andy-hughes]

lankeela - by definition, fancy dress costumes must exagerate a sterotype, such as a pirate, or a witch.

Mental illness is real, and creates stigma for a lot of sufferers.

To exagerate the identity of the mentally ill as murderers simply adds to the blurring of understanding about what mental illness is - and really helps no-one.

Why not make a ladies' costume - a false stomach with a slit in it and blood coming out and call it an 'abortion' costume?

As the indifferent would say - "It's only a bit of fun - where's your sense of humour?"