Context
The intent of the joke etc etc.
If it is said and meant, and taken to mean, with self conscious irony then it is rather more acceptable, because the joke is in the incongruity rather than in the delight in the misfortune.

I grew up in a situation where racism was almost exclusively ironic, such was the underlying and understood anti-racist sentiment, and in that sense, the humour reinforced that underlying antiracist attitude: it is inherently absurd to be racist.

The same thing can happen with this rather black humour. If it is understood that rape is horrendous, the juxtaposition of rape with the fun times of music/festival/friends, is absurd and thus humorous.

However, it can also be taken as "ha ha that idiot got raped".

Assuming good faith, you can take it as the former rather than the latter, and live a nicer life. So, if you think that the people on b3ta are basically decent, and don't really want to rape or murder children or find such things inherently amusing, then it's ok to laugh at Maddy McCann jokes.
( Sextant goes to him is emotionally erect, on this day, Wed 28 Jul 2010, 14:12, Reply)