Remarkably, even in the world of satire, there are boundaries that should not be crossed. That was the salutary lesson learned today by long-time spoof-writer, Doris Middlewick, as she was banned from posting any further articles on her favourite spoof web-site, for a story deemed to have been of 'questionable taste'.
Doris, a 78 year-old disabled pensioner, writing under the pseudonym 'Jessica Rabbit', has been 'spoofing' for almost four years.
'Being wheelchair-bound I don't get out much', she said today, 'This spoofing lark has given me a reason to live, I don't know what I'll do now I've been banned', she sobbed.
The spoof story that caused the problem, reported that Anne Summers were due to release a 'blow-up' sex doll, based on Princess Diana.
The subsequent back-lash on the discussion forum, from irate Princess Di fans, resulted in the unprecedented move to ban Doris from the site.
'I can sort of understand why this happened', said a remorseful Doris this morning, 'although there have been plenty of stories about the disabled that have offended me and I've said nothing'.
' I suppose I just wanted to be a little controversial', she continued. ' I've been writing this stuff for four years now and never got a reaction like this.
I've even tried different styles. I did a lovely story about Rupert Bear entirely in rhyming couplets and I did a piece about Shakespeare that I wrote as a sonnet and did not receive a single comment about my iambic pentameter!'
Ah well Doris, you've certainly got a reaction now. And as for the future, well there's always knitting.
