What is real life anymore?
It is often said of Armando Iannucci’s brilliant The Thick Of It series that there is simply no point in any fresh episodes, as real life politics is now beyond parody and quite ridiculous enough. After the events of the past few days, we are inclined to agree. It seems that stupidity and nonsense in the realm of modern politics knows no bounds.
Our own pixellated Pisstaker-in-Chief hrtbps found the faux outrage exhibited by the likes of the Sun and the Express about Jeremy Corbyn’s Glastonbury appearance ripe for parody. They were livid that the Labour leader had somehow snubbed our brave troops on Armed Forces Day, in favour of larging it at Glasto – despite this tweet:
On #ArmedForcesDay I thank our dedicated forces and veterans for their service, sacrifice and commitment. https://t.co/RxXvgYoUVY pic.twitter.com/uve7LR20Zf
— Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) June 24, 2017
Our hrtbps scribed a short but deliciously caustic piece parroting the right-wing rage, and in doing so showed precisely why their mock fury was so idiotic, misleading and misplaced. You can read the piece here:
By choosing Glastonbury over the Armed Forces Jeremy Corbyn has really pissed off @hrtbps and others https://t.co/T48Pa2RXdf
— JOE (@JOE_co_uk) June 26, 2017
Now it was clearly written in jest, but we knew the headline would catch a few bites from the type of people who express their outrage about articles before actually reading them. That said, we were certain that most of those who would actually click through and read the thing would realise it was satire.
The intention was not so much to fish for complaints but to highlight the idiocy of sections of the media.
This was clearly lost of some readers, often to amusing effect. There were passionate Corbynites getting their fair trade underwear in a twist over a piece of satire not aimed at their ‘absolute boy’. But far more amusingly, another group took the piece very much on face value – Britain First.
That’s right, the very very far-right outfit that was born of BNP stock and decided to learn photoshop extremely badly, were so enamoured with what they saw as expertly executed Jezzer bashing that they decided to nab it – and stick it on their website as their own work…
Such was the irony of a reactionary group of right-wing morons stealing an article poking fun at a reactionary group of right-wing morons, that our followers couldn’t quite believe what was going on. In fact they had to double-check that it was all really happening…
@hrtbps am I going mad or has Britain First actually reposted your article? 😶 https://t.co/jBSIo4fcvs
— sam (@samcramerrr) June 26, 2017
Senior members of the essentially neo-fascist outfit were keen to share the plagiarised piece, such was their immense pride in the not-their-own work. Paul Golding, Leader of Britain First and ‘lifelong #patriot’, was keen to get the message out there…
As was Jayda Fransen, his able deputy and fellow truth-talker…
Of course, rascal that he is, hrtbps found the adoption of his work by exactly the type of opportunistic idiots he was mocking absolutely hilarious, but he felt it his duty to set the record straight and inform both Golding and Fransen that they had been well and truly had…
https://twitter.com/hrtbps/status/879463817020940290
https://twitter.com/hrtbps/status/879472305340133376
Despite the heads up, at the time of writing, the pilfered article and both tweets remain proud and unbowed. Absolute scenes.
Racist twits Britain First have stolen and reposted a parody of racist twits (by @hrtbps), thus making it 2x funny https://t.co/nAEWtTwtmx
— Adam Banks (@adambanksdotcom) June 26, 2017
https://twitter.com/InLiberalism/status/879468686368747520
Plagiarism, the most inalienable of human rights. https://t.co/uRi6OK6yVd or https://t.co/2DArP6gUzi @hrtbps
— Vladislav Surkov (@therealsurkov) June 27, 2017
Still laughing at Britain First who have published @hrtbps article w/o realising it's satire. https://t.co/o9cs0tLFUk pic.twitter.com/w5bASU2sSy
— Mr V – Labour RIP 🇵🇸 (@LordMVee) June 26, 2017
Priceless! Britain First have reposted – verbatim – an article satirising their ignorance:https://t.co/jy9H0bNJuI
Jesus Wept. These people.— Λnthony Cregan (@c0un7z3r0) June 26, 2017