@Nicolastuffedone
‘Utterly physically repellant in every way’ would that be ok to say about Diane Abbott? No, of course not. MN is very big on women not bringing other women down, yet MG is seen as fair game. I don’t care either way about Gove/Vine, but it seems ok to laugh at his looks etc where if someone had said that about a woman, there would’ve been uproar! The double standards on here are appalling!
I think there are double standards to a certain extent however i also think one of the reasons Gove is viewed as physically repellent is also to do with his mannerisms, his inability to tell the truth and his skill in being able to go on tv and say the most obviously brasen horseshit denying things that everyone saw on the tv the previous day.
Its his personality and lack of moral fibre in the pursuit of pure power for himself not working in the interests of the country which people find almost like the human equivalent of deet spray.
Sarah Vine in being seemingly immune to human deet has given the vibe that she too thinks this 'professional conduct' is appropriate and has been seen by the public to have benefited from it. (I get the sense she's finally whiffed the human deet and is now in the process of running).
Its deeply unattractive in the eyes of the public and i do think this translates a certain degree to a physical revulsion cos human brains are a bit funny like that.
On the other hand, all those politicians and advisors desperately trying to smear him and the general situation of being shat on at great height by nature, i do think make Matt Hancock take on some Brad Pitt like quality to the eyes of the barking mad and those who have far too much empathy. He has something of the poor little bullied school boy look that women want to mother and protect. Fuck knows why, as he knew damn well what Johnson was like when he got in bed with him and his ambition and desire to get a top job was what drove him to sleep with Johnson metaphorically.
I don't condone it, but there is something about Gove that makes you have a reaction to do with mistrust and insincerity. Humans do have self preservation instincts and react differently to those who they perceive as posing some sort of threat to them. He doesn't even try to be honest. His tactic to deal with things is to front it out until people just walk away in sheer outrage or disbelief at his audacity.
It works in politics to an extent but only if you also have a certain degree of charm and charisma rather that merely 100% sheer bloody minded gaul. Where Johnson would crack a joke (inappropriate or well considered) or give a human anecdote or a simple breezy whiffle or piff or an intellectually sounding classical reference, Gove has nothing but a blank stare and a pregnant pause to make his challenger / interviewer uncomfortable and disbelieving.
I think this makes the idea of Gove being with anyone particularly disturbing to so many. At least with Johnson and Hancock you might recognise them as middle aged knobheads who you disagree with in terms of how they've shat on people around them and lied, but you can still just about comprehend why someone might lose the plot and like them because they have a deeply hidden redeeming feature. With Gove its just like a well of deep dark doo doo staring into the abyss of political misdeeds and fuck all else.
There are few individuals that I find have absolutely nothing that I could see as being a grace that someone would like but Gove does fit that bill.
Its certainly not all to do with his looks. His demeanour and personality definitely are contributing factors here to how he's viewed.