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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that it's perfectly fine to be pleased someone is dead when they caused such a lot of harm?

503 replies

LoopaDaLoopa · 09/04/2013 09:43

So, all these people saying it is inappropriate to speak ill of the dead are all positive and nice about Pol Pot are they? Stalin? Hitler?

Just because someone dies does not make them a nice person.

And did you feel sorry for Saddam Hussain's family? Or did it not cross your mind?

OP posts:
Sugarice · 09/04/2013 10:25

You've lost me on your last post. Confused

ppeatfruit · 09/04/2013 10:25

Our democracy is Hmm because many more of the population voted AGAINST MT than for her the votes were split; which happened with new Labour so any leader who thinks they have a mandate to rule like a dictator is sadly mistaken; I certainly didn't dislike her because she was a woman (though she didn't give a jot for women). I disliked her policies.

"She did some much needed things" She broke the closed shop powers of the unions I agreed with that. But she also DEREGULATED THE BANKS a brilliant move don't ya think?

nokidshere · 09/04/2013 10:25

And actually I think we should feel sympathy with the people who want to "celebrate" her death. They we clearly people whose families were destroyed by her regime. They are powerless to change what she did, her actions changed the course of their lives, and nothing will ever be the same. They campaigned during her "reign", but it made no difference. Nothing can or will ever be done to compensate their losses. So if they can derive a bit of pleasure from her death then I wouldn't begrudge them that. It's all they have left in many cases. To make them be respectful now would be adding insult to injury.

Deriving pleasure? From smashing up the streets? Starting fires? Putting innocent people in hospital? Beyond pathetic!

Dahlen · 09/04/2013 10:26

I didn't like MT and I think her policies resulted in a lot of harm. However, I also acknolwedge that she achieved some good and that love her or loathe her, she was one of the most significant leaders we've ever had. I respected her for that, even if I loathed what she actually stood for.

While I can't say I'm remotely upset that she's dead, I would never celebrate anyone's death. What does it achieve other than the stoking of your own bitterness? Surely the best response is complete indifference and a life well lived?

Original poster
LoopaDaLoopa · 09/04/2013 10:27

Why do you ask, Northern? Do you have a further question to ask about my experience of Thatcherism, or are you just bring rude?

OP posts:
Booyhoo · 09/04/2013 10:27

i agree nokidshere

ImagineJL · 09/04/2013 10:28

No obviously I would never condone any kind of violence, that would be ridiculous. I'm just saying we should understand and sympathise with the emotion behind it.

As usual I'm always astounded at the strength of feeling on AIBU. To call me "beyond pathetic" - you must be in quite a bad mood nokidshere. I thought I was just jointing a debate!

Booyhoo · 09/04/2013 10:28

"I would never celebrate anyone's death. What does it achieve other than the stoking of your own bitterness? Surely the best response is complete indifference and a life well lived?"

exactly!

Lueji · 09/04/2013 10:29

A person has died.
She had her faults, as many of us.
But she was hardly evil. Hmm

Personally, I don't care either way, not more than any other well known person.

Being happy when she was out of the office, yes, if you didn't like her.
Pointing out the bad things she did, fine.

Being pleased that she has died is a different thing.

Booyhoo · 09/04/2013 10:29

imagine i think nokids was calling teh people who are smashing the place up 'beyond pathetic'. not you.

ImagineJL · 09/04/2013 10:30

Oh OK, if that's the case then sorry, I stand corrected.

Minion · 09/04/2013 10:30

I just think its sad people are celebrating the death of an old lady. After weeks of hearing people speak out saying 'no cuts to the elderly' etc they're now rejoicing in the demise of one. Celebrations should have been when she was ousted, not upon her death.
For shame.

DeadWomanWalking · 09/04/2013 10:30

You know what OP I agree with you, and my first reaction on hearing that she'd died was, "Ding dong the witch is dead". I lived through the Toxteth riots and I fucking hated her guts.

nokidshere · 09/04/2013 10:34

imagine

Booyhoo was right - I was calling the people who are causing so much destruction and pain under the guise of "celebrating" beyond pathetic!!!

TeWiSavesTheDay · 09/04/2013 10:34

Well, I'm with the OP.

It's okay to be pleased people have died. I have abusers in my family, and many people were glad when they died. It was okay for us to feel like that. It was okay for us to be happy. And yes, some of them died old and ill, that doesn't make them any less awful in our memories.

Being pleased someone has died is not that same as going out and being a vandal etc, and the OP hasn't said it is, so I agree with them there too.

NorthernLurker · 09/04/2013 10:35

If I intended to be rude you'd be in no doubt of that OP.
I asked how old you are. That's a factual question not a rude one. How old are you?

Booyhoo · 09/04/2013 10:35

"Celebrations should have been when she was ousted, not upon her death. "

i agree.

her death isn't a victory to be celebrated. she hasn't been stopped in her tracks of some plan to destroy thousands of lives. she wasn't doing or planning anything to harm anyone when she died so to be pleased that the world is exactly the same as it was before is odd. nothing has changed, good or bad.

it's very immature if i'm being honest.

SelfRighteousPrissyPants · 09/04/2013 10:37

I don't understand the whole respect for the dead thing unless you are religious. If someone's dead they don't care what you say about them! Surely it's worse to disrespect them when they are alive?

Personally I hated Thatcher dead or alive.

Dawndonna · 09/04/2013 10:37

appropriate
Not a dm link.

MajorDivvy · 09/04/2013 10:38

With Hitler etc. their deaths caused the end of their power - MT's power (at least all her main influence) ended years ago.

Celebrate a loss of power by any means and no reason to pretend you liked someone just because they're dead, but don't celebrate the fact that a human being has died no matter how horrid they were.

That's how I feel about the subject anyway.

nokidshere · 09/04/2013 10:38

I have no understanding, empathy or sympathy with anyone who chooses to harm another person or partake in mindless thuggery to prove they have suffered.... for whatever reason.

Mrs Thatcher was a woman doing a job. Like everyone else she did some bits brillianly and some bits badly. None of which excuses the behaviour of the people on the streets last night.

thebody · 09/04/2013 10:38

I remember the toxteth riots too. A police officer was virtually decapitated.

People riot because they are upper class twats who want to be working class as in the student demos recently( my 2 uni lads were too busy working to do this as we can't afford to fund them thru uni)

Or they are rent a mob twats or thieves.

Protesting peacefully is what makes this country great.

Mrs T was elected by the population, she was neither evil nor a saint.

MajorDivvy · 09/04/2013 10:41

Oh and to clarify: being relieved or glad of the death of someone is, in my opinion, quite different from 'celebrating' it and posting about it on a public forum. Being privately glad or whatever is personal opinion and feelings and everyone is entitled to that - celebrating only hurts the living who that person leaves behind and have enough to cope with in their time of grief.

Booyhoo · 09/04/2013 10:42

there is a difference between not respecting the dead and being pleased they are dead.

i didn't respect MT when she was alive. i haven't gained a respect for her in the last 24 hours. however, i am certainly not pleased she is dead. why would i be? nothing good will come from her death so there is nothing to celebrate.

ShoeHorn · 09/04/2013 10:44

Each to their own viewpoint, but I have to say, 'celebrating' and 'rejoicing' and 'partying' on the streets is a little bit sick tbh.