To think that the people queing yesterday to see Richard III's coffin are seriously weird?

[ssd]

the whole thing is way weirder than just liking the royal family, one old guy nearly 80 said its the most important thing to happen in his lifetime

WTAF???

whats wrong with some people??

Glad I'm not the only person who thinks so

Bonkers.

On Sunday eve Channel 4 interviewed people who'd flown in from Brazil to be there.

YANBU

Truly weird. Why would anyone queue to see the coffin of a centuries old murderer?

What did he actually achieve as King?

Isn't a more about the historical side of things? Same reason people go to museums.

But to fly in from Brazil? Or to throw flowers onto the coffin as it went past? All seems completely OTT.

I did find the whole dig and identification process very interesting -as well as the conflicting ideas about his life style and reign. I thought the funeral procession was really peculiar (all the dressing up and parading past KFC etc) and a bit farcical though and a quiet re burial would have been more appropriate.

On Radio $ the other morning they were talking to a woman who had flown in from Sydney, Australia for this.

That was meant to say Radio 4 ^^

To be honest, while I was largely unaware of the Ricardians' passionate desire to see RIII cleared of child murder/viewed apart from Shakespearean and Tudor propaganda until the discovery of his skeleton, I found the Princess Diana hysteria far odder. And even the solemnity over the Queen Mother's demise, when she was a ginny nonentity who wafted about beaming beatifically and running up gambling debts.

The R III thing interests historically-minded people because it's allowed for verification of the various bits of myth/legend/eyewitness accounts of a genuine historical player's death/postmortem treatment.

i don't think it's that weird, people flock to that Doors singers grave and to the Taj Mahal.

people going to places like the catacombs in paris, on the other hand! brrr, now that's weird.

People in liking different things from you shocker......

It might be dull for you, but the most exciting thing ever for others. Similarly they might find what you're interested in dull.

What is wrong with some people I don't know but having an active interest in history IS one of the more worrying human traits I've seen

it's history, it's interesting and I am gutted I can't go due to work.

oh and no evidence to substantiate claims of being a 'child murderer' btw

Well yes, it would be a lot more interesting if they'd put him in a nice museum glass case instead of a coffin, so you could actually see his bones.

A few years ago a 'relic' of some saint came to Ireland. I think it was an 'alleged' scrap of their clothing. Thousand of people lined the streets to try and see the procession and went to the church. Us Irish love our Catholisism, it's like our royal family. So I'm not surprised at all at the interest in this king's coffin. The guy who said it's the best thing that's ever happened to him, makes me feel very sorry for him.

Not sunstantiated evidence, no...what did happen to those pesky young boys standing in the way of his crown I wonder?

I'd like to see his bones too - not sure how respectful it might be considered though

substantiated

watch the very interesting C4 program that was on last week Chenin it explained it quiet well

History was mainly written by the Tudors - who defeated him - actual contemporary accounts show him as more of a protector of the boys

I don't think it's 'sad' to be excited by history - History is ace

Did the programme explain what happened to the boys? Or did the contemporary accounts (presumably from people who were rather scared of going the same way) say what they needed to say?

I love history too - but travelling thousands of miles or throwing flowers on his coffin seems a bit weird to me. Each to their own, though

I think it's interesting from a historical perspective, especially the way they used modern technology to identify him and prove or disprove commonly held theories about him. But, I do think some of the reactions are very odd.

Oh yes, a glass coffin where you could see the bones would have been much better, they would eventually be thought of as holy bones and peeps would steal them to rub on their ailments to be cured.
But yes, quite mad, interesting story but if you'd lived in Leicester all your life it might well be the most important thing to happen in his lifetime.

I would totally have thrown white roses if it had come anywhere near me. And so would dcs, who are Ricardians thanks to the Horrible Histories song.

My toddler threw a slightly withered daffodil he had 'liberated' from a municipal flowerbed before I could stop him.

whats wrong with some people??

Wrong? In what sense wrong? Some people queue for days for concert tickets, or new Xbox games or sporting events. I wouldn't do those things but don't condemn or ridicule those who do.

Are you saying that if something doesn't interest you then it's not interesting?