Is the UK suffering from mass hysteria?

[User135644]

The Queen's passing is sad and seismic and the funeral will be a special occasion.

However, people genuinely seem to have gone mad.

For those that think you spend 24 hours in a queue in the cold to walk past a coffin you are wrong ! We went at night (Sat) leaving 6 pm and were there at 230 am. So 7.5 hours. Ok not short but consider this . We took in all the fabulously lit up iconic buildings, bridges and landmarks that makes London the fantastic place it is and helps me to have a different adventure from the usual monotony of day to day full time career , ferrying teenagers and all that goes with that treadmill. We experienced a new part of London we had never seen before and would love to back ( Southwark) wharf. Loads of fab restaurants. Got to chat with friend for ages! Plus the exercise. It was civilised, peaceful, people were lovely and friendly and so many supporters in the form of marshals , police, ambulance helpers handing out warm blankets when temps dropped a bit, and water, loos everywhere. We watched the changed of guard in Westminster Hall and it was certainly an emotional ( as in a few private tears) and a quick hug but certainly not hysterical moment. The Queen for me was a woman who provided a constancy throughout the years. She is part of my own national identity. Whilst some of her family were involved in scandal , she wasn’t. She was the longest serving female leader who actually just kept her head down and got on with the job. The fact 100’s of 1000’s of people choose to come to London from all over the world is testimony to her life of service to our country. And with all the current doom and gloom it’s great to see so many appreciate rather than bring down Great Britain. Yes there are ‘traditions’ and ceremony that is followed but no one is being forced to participate. Most people if lucky will get a day off work ! If you ( like my own husband) have different views which in a democracy you are absolutely entitled to then great! Fine! But please don’t attach your lack of interest/ dislike to people who do want to pay respects as ‘hysteria’. I can well imagine the media has whipped up some choice stories in some quarters and I agree the constant media over analysis is tiring to listen to. I’m sure the media pick the weirdest and most sensational people out of the queue as they want to sell news stories . Don’t listen to the hello mags and daily mails and perhaps talk to ordinary people and just listen. Be curious. Then you might find another perspective to add to your own.

Good on you Gin

A lot of the things you mention are good for people’s moods, probably why everyone comes out saying good things about it

You’re right though it’s far from weeping and wailing - which is typically associated with hysteria

More community and sharing

And with all the current doom and gloom it’s great to see so many appreciate rather than bring down Great Britain.

This, imo, is a huge part of it (and certainly reflects the tone of most media coverage). Don't buy it myself but there we are.

that sounds lovely @ginexplorer - i really don't get the digging-on people who did go. Queuing up to pay your respects to a public figure is a traditional thing to do, it harms nobody and it has actually shown the country in a good light, i think. All ribbing about the British and queuing aside, i think it's been one of the more positive things to come out over the last few years.

The flowers are being left unwrapped, in London's parks anyway. Yes - I do find the flower thing a bit frustrating - charities would love the money that people are spending on flowers that will just be composted. As for the other stuff, who does it harm? The sandwiches are just a bit of affectionate nonsense. The queue is traditional British eccentricity. Hysteria is a completely different phenomenon!

We don't "usually" do this.

The last time a reigning British Monarch died was 1952, when ordinary Brits didn't have TV or the internet . After announcing his death , the BBC stopped broadcasting for 5 hours as silent respect. So the news spread very slowly, the only images seen by the vast majority of the adult population were newspaper photos in coming days, and later Pathe news in cinemas. Children like me, never saw or heard anything. I had no interest at all until the following year when the Queens Coronation happened.
We got a TV to watch it on (the first TV in our street) and every school child got a coronation mug.

Well said Ginexplorer.

Just because people do something that others would not does not make them mad or hysterical. We have just got back from holiday and obviously was out of the country when this happened. I will happily admit that I cried a lot when the news broke and the local people were all very respectful to the British folk staying in the hotel. This is an historical moment in the lives of most folk and I don't think anything has been over the top - many people take a great comfort from watching / reading the news on this.

I thought of this thread when I saw an honest-to-goodness shrine in Asda.

@PolkaDotMankini shrine lol, it’s like everyone is frying to outdo each other in their sadness, ludicrous imho

People seem to use the Queen's death to pour out their own grief. It's a sort of public safe place to cry /show feelings which might not be for the old Queen but more for people close to them who have passed away. She was 96, so I think most people would not be tragically upset about it. She had a better life than most. I reckon it's really a" freedom to feel " event.

the flowers will be composted so good will come of them
i took my own sunflower from my garden

But pubic money will still have to go towards that cleanup.

ototh buying flowers is good for florists business

national rail companies will benefit from all the journeys being made, coffee stalls,

They are being collected by volunteers.

Blankets given out to those in the queue are to be washed and given to homeless charities.

@Banana7 Hmmm I hear what you are saying but I think it was Diana’s death that was more like you describe ie the outpourings of grief which said a lot more about those with their own issues. I also expect some of extreme reactions for Queen could be too.
But vast majority I’ve seen just want to pay respects . I didn’t see anyone in the queue wailing or overly hysterical. It was more just a right of passage. I think those I saw camping overnight probably from a day ago ready for the best spot at the funeral entourage are committed diehard Royal enthusiasts in the main! Rather like a fan / hobby. And not all from U.K. either.

@jennakong
on a purely practical and economic level, I do feel the flowers are a waste even though they look beautiful. Of course the practical option would be an online donation to various charities. Maybe a big PR campaign to encourage etc ( costing money anyway) But again not everyone would do this as part of paying respects as tradition and processing the death is to visit a place eg Green Park with say your children and have a written card with flowers. Schools have made tributes which hang from trees as have other organisations associated with or respectful of the Queen. It’s a collective gathering of respectful gestures to mark the occasion. Not quite as visible or visitable as a series of online donations. not sure how you can really stop it.

As for the comments from @LEnferCestLesAutres the media trying to big up the positive and you not buying it- not sure if they are really. I think they are just sensationalising it all full stop and focussed on anything that creates a newsworthy story. I mean to balance it up they have brought up sexual assault in queues , some guy pulling something off the coffin, constantly exaggerating the length of queue and interviewing some general nutters.
So a fair bit of negative not going mention the video of the grumpy King and his leaky biro!

However, whatever you think the source, the feel good factor that has been generated by family’s/ friends gathering in London either for queues , flower laying or generally finding some way to mark the occasion ( signing a condolence book),can only be for the good. Whatever peoples circumstances, it’s making (deeper) connections and building relationships that create the real joy in life I find. Its also appreciating that we still have a wonderful and amazing city in spite of individual difficulties that can be enjoyed for free. The spirit of community and the kindness of those that were on hand to support it all was uplifting. I refuse to let the cynics get me down.

Yes, a lot of money is being spent on this.
But a lot of money in the form of tourism is being made.

www.politico.eu/article/britain-mourning-queen-boom-time-brand-uk/

"Yes, a lot of money is being spent on this.
But a lot of money in the form of tourism is being made"

I bet it isn't, more than usual.

Not sure it’s mass hysteria but I really do object to the press/media describing it as the nations’ grief. Grief it is not. I lost my husband a few years ago and that was grief. People may feel sad at Her Majesty’s passing, as do I. It’s the ed of an era and she was the only monarch most of us had known. It’s momentous, but it’s not the grief you feel at the passing of a life partner or close family/friends and shouldn’t be described as such.

jacinda arden was so touched by the public - the kindness

It’s nice to hear about the amount of good will from many, the positives of the last ten days which I reckon has been good after the last few years etc for loads of people

The speaker of the House calling the funeral the biggest event the world has ever seen. Totally normal.

Each to their own.

For many of us, this is likely to be the only time a monarch dies during our lifetime, so people are responding in that way. If they want to queue to pay their respects let them.

Equally, others are shameful in how they're acting right now

• being all republican and canvassing to get rid of the royal family - just as Charles has assended the Throne after his mums death - it's callous imo, give him time to grieve
• trying to get gifts back, requesting payment etc
• bringing up historical matters none of us were involved in - I mean how far back do we go to get pissed about other countries invading us? Anglos, Saxons, Vikings, Romans.... etc??? Should the Brits be demanding compensation from these countries?!

Yes certain things should go back to tge country where it originated - the Elgin stones for example, - but governments Charles and the rest of the family time to grieve. It took me years to get over my dad's death and they have list both Phillip and Elizabteh in quick succession.

For many of us, this is likely to be the only time a monarch dies during our lifetime

Charles is over 30 years older than the median age of the UK population.

70 years on the throne obviously adds to the sense of occasion, but that's never been done before ever.