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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

That Andrew Tate wasn’t found because of a pizza box?

168 replies

JustAnotherManicNameChange · 30/12/2022 16:33

I’ll start by saying that he deserves to rot in jail and the Twitter exchange was quite brilliant.

However, it really bothers me how this is being reported. So many articles of how it’s all to Greta and a pizza box.

It’s reducing the Romanian police force to bumbling idiots, watching SM in the hope of a clue ,any clue. I’m not saying the tweet didn’t possibly contribute, but the papers put it all down to it. So ,no surveillance, no investigations, no tracking or phones or credit cards , no work or intelligence used or required? Just sitting around and praying that a tweet with a location falls in their laps?

YABU: The tweet was essential, and they couldn’t have done it without it.

YANBU: The arrest was due to months of work and investigations, the tweet had minimal(if at any contribution) and it’s all being spun in a suitable feel good/karma narrative.

OP posts:
Ihaventgottimeforthis · 30/12/2022 23:24

I'm with you OP, in fact read a twitter thread on this from Helen Lewis.

Basically, the truth is important. If we all decide to go along with social media spin & lies & exaggerations because we think it's funny or karma or whatever then we're participating in misinformation which is bad in itself but one day we are likely to end up with egg on our faces.

Hopefully truth & justice will be more than enough to get him locked up.

Tuilpmouse · 30/12/2022 23:25

Jijithecat · 30/12/2022 23:07

I get it OP. The pizza box Twitter spat makes it all seem like fun and games when actually the police are investigating serious and organised crime.
People are forgetting about the victims. It doesn't matter that we don't know anything about the victims. They're human beings and no one should be subjected to what they have been through (allegedly).

Also, most people aren't "forgetting" about the victims as most people weren't aware of this case beforehand!.... but now, they are aware, and are far more likely to be interested in the plight of the women as a result.

Inkpotlover · 30/12/2022 23:31

Who honestly gives a shit whether the pizza box story is true or not? AT has made a lucrative career out of spinning falsehoods to impressionable young men – he of all people can appreciate the clickbait headline-grabbing "story" behind his arrest. And it absolutely doesn't detract from the seriousness of the crimes he's accused of, because without #pizzaboxgate the wider public might not have known what a reprehensible excuse for a man he is – I doubt his arrest would've garnered the same kind of attention had #pizzaboxgate not proceeded it. Now everyone's thinking about his victims and keeping their fingers crossed he gets far, far longer than 30 days. Thank god for #pizzaboxgate, I say.

Original poster
JustAnotherManicNameChange · 30/12/2022 23:33

Ihaventgottimeforthis · 30/12/2022 23:24

I'm with you OP, in fact read a twitter thread on this from Helen Lewis.

Basically, the truth is important. If we all decide to go along with social media spin & lies & exaggerations because we think it's funny or karma or whatever then we're participating in misinformation which is bad in itself but one day we are likely to end up with egg on our faces.

Hopefully truth & justice will be more than enough to get him locked up.

I'm off to find that thread. So far quite a few posters expressed what I was thinking a lot better than I have so I meed to work on that.

OP posts:
Original poster
JustAnotherManicNameChange · 31/12/2022 00:00

Well I see the replies are depressingly similar to the ones on here , but at least I know other people understand my point of view and it bothered them as well. Maybe I'm not as weird as some posters think after all.

Another statement from the police. Yes it's funny, but no, the pizza box wasn't "IT".

That Andrew Tate wasn’t found because of a pizza box?
OP posts:
Delandra · 31/12/2022 00:15

Yes it does highlight how hard it can be to authenticate an event. Commentators will cite each other’s tweets which then travel across the web as facts.

HotChoxs · 31/12/2022 00:43

Thank social media, extreme polarised characters with platforms are what makes the news.

Welcome to 2022.

dolor · 31/12/2022 00:44

Oh my god stop freaking out about a pizza box

He and his loathesome brother are in custody and likely to be there a bit longer. Hopefully they will be extradited to America where he can go to trial and his victims can drag him where he deserves to be; behind bars for a long time.

HotChoxs · 31/12/2022 00:50

Afterfire · 30/12/2022 17:07

Exactly. The brilliance is in the irony that a sexist arsehole has been brought down by a woman. A strong, witty and intelligent woman who has made him look like the fool he is.

Show quote history

Talk about illustrating the OP's point.
GT made a witty tweet, that's all, and bolstered her plaform in the process.

HotChoxs · 31/12/2022 00:53

Thedaysthatremain · 30/12/2022 17:23

This is such a non issue and it's really clear you only care because of how much you hate Greta

Another illustration of the nonsense this polarisation is creating. People always have to be on sides where they hate or love characters. It's a kind of collective bi-polar disease.

dolor · 31/12/2022 00:58

HotChoxs · 31/12/2022 00:53

Another illustration of the nonsense this polarisation is creating. People always have to be on sides where they hate or love characters. It's a kind of collective bi-polar disease.

Show quote history

Don't trivialise bi-polar disorder to make a point in a frankly, ridiculous argument about a box.

Original poster
JustAnotherManicNameChange · 31/12/2022 01:00

Delandra · 31/12/2022 00:15

Yes it does highlight how hard it can be to authenticate an event. Commentators will cite each other’s tweets which then travel across the web as facts.

Yes. One slightly mistranslated /misinterpreted Romanian article, one long tweeter feed that seemed legitimate and i formed and one paper that ran with it. Then all the other papers copied each other and used each other as "sources" giving themselves legitimacy . But somehow it's ok, because it's funny. Even if it's not true, it's funny.

OP posts:
HotChoxs · 31/12/2022 01:02

dolor · 31/12/2022 00:58

Don't trivialise bi-polar disorder to make a point in a frankly, ridiculous argument about a box.

Show quote history

Whatever. It's a collective bi-polar disease.

Original poster
JustAnotherManicNameChange · 31/12/2022 01:02

dolor · 31/12/2022 00:44

Oh my god stop freaking out about a pizza box

He and his loathesome brother are in custody and likely to be there a bit longer. Hopefully they will be extradited to America where he can go to trial and his victims can drag him where he deserves to be; behind bars for a long time.

I'm not freaking out about the pizza box. I'm bothered (not freaking out in any way ,shape or form) by the media spin, and if I'm honest about the various ways I've been told to basically go away and shut up, including baseless accusations of hate.

OP posts:
EmmaAgain22 · 31/12/2022 01:19

OP I think another issue is that people just chat shit, they don't mean what they say or say what they mean. I've had a weird conversation with someone on Twitter about it now - I sort of know her a bit in real life.

she was banging in about funny it all is and when I politely said it was about human trafficking, she apologised, then said she didn't know who he was till today.

unfortunately people really are not engaging their brain and just see avatars or characters in a show...I think that's a big factor in the situations where celebs get abused, or people have groups saying really insane things.

i am seeing your point more and more. The circus of social media is so weird though...half the time I think I'm missing the point and people don't believe what's said or mean what they say. No wonder we're going collectively insane.

HotChoxs · 31/12/2022 01:20

Witheringtong · 30/12/2022 22:57

The only link with Greta is that the media/SM are making it all about her /the pizza box...

Yep. People are churning out memes today and satire is the best possible response to an absolute arsehole who made himself a role model for young men.

The best response is to not continue putting polarised characters on platforms.

Another one will come and take his place soon enough, another battle will ensure, and everyone will get another fill of outrage.

Meanwhile those of us that don't subscribe to this circus of modern day goodies and baddies wonder why so many people are interested in personalities over facts, ideas, and concepts.

HelloBunny · 31/12/2022 01:23

Greta rocks!

Original poster
JustAnotherManicNameChange · 31/12/2022 01:36

HelloBunny · 31/12/2022 01:23

Greta rocks!

That's relevant how?

OP posts:
MarieKlepto · 31/12/2022 01:41

Yeah, he's an absolute creep and I actually get what you are saying OP. They've tried to bring him in before but couldn't. There's obviously a lot more going on behind the scenes than him simply trying to be Billy Big Balls about the emissions of his supercar fleet to try to rile Greta, ending in a revelation of his whereabouts because of a pizza box. However, the stars have aligned, an urban myth has been created and he will be always known as"#PizzaBoy". Hopefully it will put the wind up any of his acolades. Snarff, snarff!

PartyHelp · 31/12/2022 01:49

You are 100% correct op. This is a case of never let the truth get in the way of a good story!!

That Andrew Tate wasn’t found because of a pizza box?
EddyF · 31/12/2022 01:51

Was he on the run? How could they have not known he was in the country via arrival with passport etc?

Pyvadanya · 31/12/2022 03:22

Op I totally get you and agree. I can't believe people are telling you that you hate Greta and that you need therapy! It's fine to want to delve into what really happened. What's the point in half the threads in Mumsnet if not to give a space for these musings.

MarshaMelrose · 31/12/2022 03:49

Greta Thunberg didn't have anything to do with catching him. But her response was brilliant. I'm not a fan of hers but I can't take that away from her.

YetiTeri · 31/12/2022 06:39

Interesting that the Romanian police have said that it's 'funny but not true'. That doesn't sound like they're bothered by this.

Many people hadn't heard of him before, but now it's a huge story. That will make parents be a bit more conscious about the online influences of their child.

But most crucially it may make it much harder for AT to use his money and influence against these charges. A lot more people know that he's openly said he went to Romania as he'll get away with more there.

Do any people really believe he was arrested for ordering a pizza? Or are they just relieved he's in custody and using humour as a way to deal with the knowledge that people like him exist right under our nose.

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