Captain Tom - What's the fuss about?

[scampichips]

Okay I am not knocking Captain Tom at all, he is a brilliant brilliant man.

Although AIBU to wonder why our country has gone bananas over him? All he did was walk laps of his garden, people fundraise everyday and do a lot more! Think of all the marathon runners!

Whenever he is interviewed I think he also seems a bit confused why everyone is making so much fuss too!

I just don't get why our country has become obsessed with him??!

He is a symbol of making whatever positive contribution you can as opposed to moaning and criticising on the internet.

It came at a time people we desperate for a bit of good news and where people wanted to “do their bit” to help the NHS, and as it gained momentum i think people also wanted to be part of the captain Tom phenomenon

He’s a 100 year old ww2 veteran who genuinely seems like a nice unassuming chap in all the interviews I’ve seen and who’s raised almost £30 million in a matter of weeks. What’s not to like?

Do you think he needs bringing down a peg or two, or something? What a nasty little mind you have.

We seem to be in the throes of a Johnston personality cult, or at least being encouraged to engage in one. This I find rather more benign.

What @flowerstar19 said.

He's achieved far more than I (or probably any of us here) will in my life.
I think he's an inspiration and shows that get on with it without complaining and try and do your bit spirit which is one of the best traits of being British.

For me it’s because a man of his age 100 to have a goal and achieve it when physically it must have been very challenging.
It shows great Mental and physical determination.
He’s also experienced and lived through so much and I suppose he’s inspirational in his values and attitude to do something positive and helpful when he could just stay in and not do anything.
There’s a lot to be learnt from what he’s done!

I,m with you how abouyt the 90 year old walking a mountain by climbing up and down her stairs, how much press is she getting? No one has set up a just giving page for her have they?

There has been no publicity for her outside Scotland. Why?

It's fairly simple Captian Tom got there first and all of the other people doing similar like this lady or the kid walking in his Zimmer frame are not going to get the same publicity. He has the added poignancy of being 99 and a war hero which nobody else will have.

I googled Margaret Payne and instantly felt a sense of unease when I saw her with her walking stick on her stairs, it seems a lot more risky than walking on the flat.

She has actually raised £350 000 which is spectacular so has not been ignored.

It is probably against Mumsnet rules but here is Margaret's page.

You realise that is a marathon at his ate

Captain Tom just seems like a very humble man and I wonder if he is actually wanting all this attention.

He already had an agent and other things lined up - fair play to him!

It's sad about other fund raisers as Tom got there first. Such is life but they have all done so well.

I hope he stays humble though and doesn't start wanting bling on his Zimmer frame and the blue smarties removed from his sweets or showing up late for parties. Stay ' umble Tom! Bless him!

I agree with you. There are so many charities suffering at this time yet all I keep seeing is fundraising for the NHS and he did only walk up and down his garden, and before anyone asked what I've done? loads actually, but because I didn't have all the papers behind me and I'm not nearly 100 I didn't raise quite as much.

I don't donate.

I think the whole country has gone a bit bleeding mad to be honest.

I think he’s amazing everything he’s done and achieved, although I saw a comment on Facebook saying ‘he’s an inspiration to young people who need to get off their backsides’ I’m quite sure a teenager wouldn’t raise almost 30 mil from walking laps of their garden.

Because it's a miserable fucking and he was something positive to focus on. Why cant you just it at that rather than pick at it?
Sorry no more good news allowed cos this miserable cow will frown upon it!

No, it's amazing because of his age.
A 30 year old would be flamed of course !
The kids that do the rickshaw challenge with Matt baker for CIN are inspirational though so it's all relative. I hope the money goes to the right people.

I agree with you OP, not sure what all the fuss and airtime is about, many others are doing the same.

The fact is that every now and then someone does something that captures the Public's attention and support, to an extraordinary extent.

No point trying to analyse why him and his effort - I'm sure Psychologists and Social Behaviour experts would come up with upteen theories as to Why Him.

Sometimes something "touches a chord" in a massive way. It just is the way it is.

For gods sake people, the OP isn’t belittling or being miserly or whatever nasty things you say.

She’s asking a very interesting question on why as a nation peopl have picked this particular man. It makes a fascinating psychological or sociological study.

I think a lot of it’s down to the media. They picked him rather than anyone else and whipped up a frenzy! Very odd.

I think he's done more for NHS morale than the government have, or than the weekly clapping sessions have.

I was disappointed though that he got so many thousands of birthday cards. He'll probably never read them (how could he !) and to me they represent £2 - £3 per card that could have been donated to the NHS instead.
(and yes - I did donate, and no - I didn't send him a birthday card)

All he did was walk laps of his garden, people fundraise everyday and do a lot more! Think of all the marathon runners!

On the contrary @rosiepony I find this very belittling.

He was a bloody captain. He fought like so many brave others for this country and now when he should be resting and relaxing he is still putting himself out there for the good of the country.

He has done far more than millions will ever do. It’s a shame the selflessness of that generation is long lost.

He deserves so much recognition for what he's done.

But why did the country feel the need to donate so much money to him and not to others also fundraising? That's what I can't get my head around. Was is the media?

Why are so many people miserable! Does it really matter at the end of the day!