Pranksters today hijacked a Twitter hashtag started by publishing company Penguin ahead of Mother's Day.
The British publisher appeared to innocently include the hashtag #YourMum as it promoted books to buy for your mother this weekend.
It tweeted: "Attention Penguins! With #MothersDay fast approaching, we were wondering… what are you getting #YourMum?"
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck">The best thing about <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/PenguinUKBooks" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-86366-https://twitter.com/PenguinUKBooks" data-vars-event-id="c23">@PenguinUKBooks</a> <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/YourMum?src=hash" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-86366-https://twitter.com/hashtag/YourMum?src=hash" data-vars-event-id="c23">#YourMum</a> campaign? They're doing it EVERY LUNCHTIME this week. Just like, you know, <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/YourMum?src=hash" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-86366-https://twitter.com/hashtag/YourMum?src=hash" data-vars-event-id="c23">#YourMum</a>— rachelmillington (@rachmillington) <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/rachmillington/status/574923710391582720" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-86366-https://twitter.com/rachmillington/status/574923710391582720" data-vars-event-id="c23">March 9, 2015</a>
Twitter users were quick to point out that the hashtag could be considered offensive if used in a different context.
One person tweeted: "You make it too easy Like #yourmum".
Rachel Millington wrote: "The best thing about @PenguinUKBooks #YourMum campaign? They're doing it EVERY LUNCHTIME this week. Just like, you know, #YourMum".
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/PenguinUKBooks" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-86366-https://twitter.com/PenguinUKBooks" data-vars-event-id="c23">@PenguinUKBooks</a> You make it too easy Like <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/yourmum?src=hash" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-86366-https://twitter.com/hashtag/yourmum?src=hash" data-vars-event-id="c23">#yourmum</a> — CheapsKate (@_kateness) <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/_kateness/status/574920597072965632" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-86366-https://twitter.com/_kateness/status/574920597072965632" data-vars-event-id="c23">March 9, 2015</a>
But Penguin seemed to take the comical responses in good humour.
A spokesman tweeted: "Thanks for taking part in today's chat dear readers - your contributions have been varied, your pun game, strong."
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/yourmum?src=hash" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-86366-https://twitter.com/hashtag/yourmum?src=hash" data-vars-event-id="c23">#yourmum</a> is lovely and shouldn't be a victim of tasteless 'your mum' jokes— josie (@KAWAIlHOWELL) <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/KAWAIlHOWELL/status/574975364667211776" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-86366-https://twitter.com/KAWAIlHOWELL/status/574975364667211776" data-vars-event-id="c23">March 9, 2015</a>
It remained unclear whether the original tweet was posted intentionally or as part of a publicity stunt.
