LONDON -- As Penguin found out when they tried using #yourmum to promote Mother's Day, and Susan Boyle's social media team realised with #susanalbumparty, hashtags can often mean more than one thing.
Tonight's seven-way election debate, which will see the leaders of the Conservatives, Labour, Lib Dems, UKIP, Greens, Plaid Cymru and the SNP face one another ahead of May's vote, is being promoted with the hashtag #leadersdebate.
That all works out quite nicely, but a number of people having been using their own hashtag to keep an eye on the event: #massdebate. Cue sniggers at the back.
Loads of people are using the hashtag with no ulterior motive, which has helped it to trend.
Will They Change Anyone's Mind? http://t.co/zyZDVCbH2I#leadersdebate #massdebate #LetMeBeClear pic.twitter.com/F3AiFd7HEN— Richard Mayson (@BIGRM99) April 2, 2015
But let's be clear, #massdebate sounds quite a lot like masturbate, and mischievous tweeters have run with it.
it would appear that several politicians are going to #MassDebate on ITV tonight. i was going to watch it but now i’m not so sure….— Simon Henry (@simon3862) April 2, 2015
I'm coming late to #MassDebate, looking forward to finding out how Cameron intends to clean up this mess.— Eric Lensherr (@TheCheeseAlone) April 2, 2015
The big questions: Who will come first in tonight's #MassDebate? Who will remain firm throughout? Who will flop? Who has no end product?— News Thump (@newsthump) April 2, 2015
So the the hashtag for tonights tv political doings is #massdebate appropriate given at least half of them are massive wankers— GorgieTiger (@captainjamtart) April 2, 2015
Join me tonight for a #massdebate and you can decide for yourselves who the biggest tossers are #GE2015— Ed Miliband (@edmiIIiband) April 2, 2015
Ahead of the #MassDebate tonight I wonder if any of the leaders have a way of relieving tension?— David Ginsberg (@alittledavetime) April 2, 2015
Once you've made the connection, those innocent tweets take on a new meaning.
Backing @Ed_Miliband to finish on top in this #massdebate #leadersdebate #GE2015 @HarrogateLabour— Matt Dickinson (@mdickinson35) April 2, 2015
Off to Salford for #massdebate. Plaid's big moment!— Ben Page, Ipsos MORI (@benatipsosmori) April 2, 2015
Looking forward to a massively engaging and surprisingly eye-opening #massdebate tonight.— Michael MacLennan (@m_maclennan) April 2, 2015