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??!

dame it was alright until one person joined but I think it's comedy now though the debate has been derailed.

Oh dear, one of those types are you? What a miserable, worthless existence

*John

Scampi* started the thread unless you are suggesting a name change mid way?

Alsohuman has not been critical and you have directed posts at them incorrectly - I think you misattributed something early on

"All he did was walk round his garden"
Seriously amazed at the miserable comments. He is a war veteran, 100yrs old and a symbol of hope and heroism, not just now but for all his previous service to this country.
With all that is going on surely this is a bloody fantastic and amazing thing that is occurring. Something to be celebrated not picked over by the miserable buggers that come on here atm.

He gave people something positive to focus on amongst all the shit going on.

I think what the op is saying, is that he still "just"walked round his garden, which he was told to do after his hip operation. It was purely timing in that he did it at the time people were "ripe" to give copious amounts to the NHS. If he did it last year, before covid he probably would have only made about £1000.

At the time of him doing it, there were quite a few of the older generation doing the same thing. There was a lady in her nineties climbing her stairs several times a day to raise money. She did get a mention but not as much accolade as Captain Tom.

It's posts like this which demonstrate what a toxic and soul sucking site mumsnet is. I urge anyone stumbling across this site to please go elsewhere if you are suffering right now with mental health issues and trying in these desperate times to find some optimism. Colonel Tom Moore is an inspiration and I would say is a positive figurehead for our ageing population, someone to aspire to.

I get what you are saying OP and I agree. It's interesting how we (general we) can be manipulated subtly into backing people and events and organisations and elevating them to this hero status.

It is strange that anyone who questions this, as mildly as the OP has, is insulted, mocked and jeered. No doubt by people who post #bekind on everything.

One day Exactly this. Does it matter who walked where how much was raised by other people??? Just accept it for what it is bloody amazing. To think this man fought and laid his life on the line for some of you that are whining on about him right now.

Not On Fake book never will never have. Just incensed at the pathetic moaners on here.

@thedogscollar. Oh stop being so dramatic. He was in the military for seven years. Sweet guy but stop with the hyperbole.

Dame Xanadu. I couldn't care less how long he was in forces for he still put his life on the line. What have you done for your country??

You don't know me and it’s none of your business. People are entitled to support or not, it’s their right.

He didn't set the target to raise £29 million did he. People can see a decent man in his advanced years looking for a way to help his country, who also served his country during the war in his younger years too. He hasn't stopped caring even in his 99th year and he both started (and finished) it in a humble manner.

People instinctively know a good 'un when they see one. It's as simple as that.

Wow things have got nasty since I last logged in!
I don't think anyone in the world has anything but positive feelings towards captain Tom and definitely no one on this thread!
My original point, which most people have answered, but some people seem to have missed, is why has our country become so obsessed with him. They psychology behind this is really interesting and great to read everyone's views. I'm sure the reasons behind this will be topic of many lectures and dissertations for years to come!

@scampichips perhaps it’s the FOMO culture we have now; Simon Cowell, X factor, social media..etc. We must all like the same thing like robots. I dunno.

*By saying he didn't set a target of millions, I mean that he had no clue how it would take off, it just did because people tuned in to and appreciated his goodnatured manner and efforts.

I like him, but it’s odd to say he raised 30 million pounds. If anything, the detested Daily Mail raised 30 million pounds

Jeez the man has raised a small fortune and helped lift the spirits of a nation (bar a few miserable people). You won’t be hearing about him after today as he’s closing his fundraising page at midnight. Well done Captain Tom, I for one am delighted for him.

Good for you.

Scampi but you said this in your OP "All he did was walk laps of his garden, people fundraise everyday and do a lot more! Think of all the marathon runners!"

Oolalol - yes I did say that. It was in reference to the fact that the the sponsored activity was quite minor in the whole grand scheme of things. Based on comments here it seems the activity he did was completely irrelevant and not why he was sponsored at all.

He is lovely, but he hasnt done anything more remarkable than any other fundraiser. It's just that it was optimum time for him to become famous and for people to give a lot of money. It was a family member that set up the justgiving for him, as he had to do the walk anyway on advice of his doctor after his hip op. I think well done to him, but I dont see him as any more of a hero than anyone else.

We need the Captain Tom's of the world right now. It's nothing to do with a FOMO culture as said previously so stop with the condescending and patronising comments.
Re he was only in the military for seven years. I doubt that poster would have lasted seven weeks.