Guardian Newspaper Tweets Pic Of Aid Worker’s Fleshlight

LONDON—As part of its Global Development Professionals Network, The Guardian newspaper asked humanitarian workers to “show us what you’re packing.” When they tweeted one of the photos sent in, they might have showed a little more than they bargained for: the Fleshlight of a relief worker in Afghanistan.

The Guardian is known for having a stellar section dedicated to citizen journalism, and often issues requests for information or photos from its readers, which are then published on the newspaper’s website and Twitter pages. On May 30, the publication asked, “When on a mission abroad, what do you have to pack to get the job done?”

Apparently, one such reader—David Higgins, who claims to be a relief worker in Afghanistan—sent a long a picture of the “essentials” he packs. In the description, he noted, “We have to travel light here, so no luxuries: first aid kit, water filter, emergency rations, flesh light [sic], sleeping bag, ground sheet, knife and distress beacon.”

The Guardian tweeted the picture this morning with the following: “We peak [sic] inside the luggage of a relief worker in Afghanistan on our #humanitarian assignment”

It’s unclear if the entire thing was a joke on Higgins’s part, but the Tweet of the picture is still available for viewing @GuardianGDP on Twitter. However, Gawker has reported on the tweet and the picture, so who knows if Guardian staffers will keep it up.

A commenter on Gawker’s posting did have this to say, though: “hahaha. It can be used as a carrying case for fragile transport. The soft interior will secure anything nicely.” Apparently they knew how much we love a good, juicy rationalization.