Spitting Into the Wind

Authorities in Germany have taken a baby boy into care after his parents offered him for sale on eBay "as a joke".

According to police, the posting read:

"Offering my nearly new baby for sale, as it has gotten too loud. It is a male baby, nearly 28in (70cm) long and can be used either in a baby carrier or a stroller."

His parents posted an ad on eBay offering to sell the 7-month old for one euro, the equivalent of $1.57. The 23-year-old mother later told police it was only a joke.

Joking is really just testing the water to gauge people's reactions. How many times have you heard someone say, "I was only joking!" after you've taken offence to what they've said. My son will often come out with something... and later say "it was a joke!". Usually I say, "No, it was a lie".

If it was a joke, it was in very bad taste indeed, and I hope these parents will never live it down. How will the child feel in another 10 years when friends tell him that his parents tried to sell him on eBay when he was a baby.