AIBU to think a Captain Tom street party is a bit much?

[squishedblueberry]

I didn’t agree with the clap and didn’t clap, so my neighbour knocked to “make sure I was okay”. I chickened out and blamed DS’s bed time 😳 because last time with the NHS clapping a lady on our street ended up completely ostracised from the main gaggle for not clapping a few weeks in a row and I couldn’t be arsed with the hassle of it.

Anyway the long and short of it is she also knocked to invite me to a street party they are throwing for Captain Tom and his memory, they’re printing out pictures and putting them on their front doors, making bunting, all coming out on the drive.

No it’s not hurting anyone but I just think it’s so distasteful - it’s really not about him is it? It’s an excuse to have a jolly. Especially while we are in lockdown.

It’s been made clear on the Facebook group in a long post a few minutes ago that people who don’t attend or put a picture up don’t have community spirit or care about their neighbours.

There’s also another clap tomorrow night with wine apparently.

wow.

re the pages

Bloody hell think I would move.

I'm in Scotland. The news reported his passing yesterday.
He never made the Scottish news today. I haven't heard anyone mention him today.
Watching the national news and his family out clapping. No way would I have done that when my dad passed away.
I find it all bizarre and in really bad taste.

It is just virtue signalling nonsense.

I have great respect for Captain Tom and how he captured the nation and raised ££££ for nhs charities. Some of my teams have benefited from those donations with things that improve wellbeing and make our lives easier while working during all of this. I'm sorry for his family and hope they find some light in their grief that their father / grandfather / great grandfather did something great in the last year of his life.

However, I didn't clap - I didn't last time either.

There have already been local FB posts lamenting how many people in each street who did or don't clap, and what a shame it was that not enough people clapped (blah blah blah). Judging by the numbers of Health and social care staff I know in the village, it's that we are tired and know a clap does nothing. The same people who waffle on about clapping on social media are the same ones meeting "accidentally" at the park in groups with their kids, had regular outdoor "street parties" as part of the clapping the last time round and judged how many people or not clapped nearby every single week.

I think it's a little insensitive to the 100's of thousands of other people who have lost loved ones, actually.
A doctor at my local hospital died in the first wave. And a young woman I vaguely knew of (friend of a friend type of situation) died, leaving two young children behind.
No, they may not have raised millions for the NHS. But the doctor made as big a contribution to the NHS, and the young woman was no less important to her family than anyone else.
I find all the focus on one person crass.

If she says anything just reply 'we will be honouring his life in a way that is accordance with our beliefs and traditions in our home'. If she dares ask more, break out the Paddington hard stare.

hibernating massively agree. Capt Tom was great sure, but so were the other 110,000 people to their friends and families.

Where the hell do you live

@littlepattilou completely accepted and thanks for admitting it, most people don’t. I get why you felt so strongly that comment was horrible on the other thread, I’ve done it on threads before. Hope you have a good evening.

South East!
That’s really sobering about the names on the pages :(

So many good points on here, and I’m sorry to the poster who lost their grandad - I can’t seem to tag your name.

I think I’ll embrace being an outcast!

I'd be telling the husybody exactly what I thought of her idea and be happily ostracised

Oh, was the clap tonight? I'm in three local FB groups (different areas) and it's only been mentioned on one and that's in a fairly ambivalent way. They're far more interested in the delayed takeaways and the closed community centre.

I thought it was sad news when he became so ill, but to go after a short illness and a life well lived, at a very good age, must be some sort of dream for most of us.

Witxh hunt was out on our local group. Would they have been so bothered if he wasnt a war hero?

Yes, maybe being an outcast will save you trouble in the long run.

I'd like to tell them that I don't believe he would have appreciated people he didn't even know gathering unnecessarily in his "honour" (even they do distance themselves), but it's not worth putting a target on your back. Just not showing up and giving some flimsy excuse is probably safer and less headache.

I didn’t agree with the clap and didn’t clap, so my neighbour knocked to “make sure I was okay”. I chickened out and blamed DS’s bed time 😳 because last time with the NHS clapping a lady on our street ended up completely ostracised from the main gaggle for not clapping a few weeks in a row and I couldn’t be arsed with the hassle of it

You live in a street full of knobs.
Don't give them any headspace and let them froth.
Just say no if you don't want to go.
Job's a good 'un.

There is now talk of naming a hospital after him, which is a nice idea. Better than illegal street parties and clapping.

Oh dear god