It’s a story that undoubtedly will be repeated countless times in social media seminars as a cautionary tale about what not to do when using Twitter to promote one’s organisation. So let’s formulate a rule right now: if you are part of an organisation whose members have, at times say, perhaps gassed, clubbed, or otherwise violently oppressed your fellow citizens, then do not ask those same citizens to publicize pictures of themselves with your organisation.

It seems simple enough, but apparently it is a concept that was, until now, beyond the stellar minds in control of the NYPD’s twitter feed who failed to ask themselves that most fundamental of questions before launching the #myNYPD hashtag: what could possibly go wrong?

Regardless, that question was soon answered as users in droves answered the call to post pictures of themselves with NYPD officers – only often at the wrong end of a truncheon or stream of pepper spray and with as much sarcasm as can be fit into 140 characters.

The trend proved so popular that it quickly spread to other cities and countries. And in Greece #myELAS was born. Below are just some of the ‘candid moments’ of the Greek police as captured by Twitter users: 

Here an Greek police officer is cooling off [94-year old WWII resistance hero and SYRIZA MP] Manolis Glezos.

#myELAS re-enacting dance moves from Flashdance

The man is sleeping and #myELAS is waking him up

A cleaning lady enjoys the special care of #myELAS