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Original poster

This clap for Captain Tom idea

776 replies

User133847 · 02/02/2021 20:44

I've just seen a lot on social media about this clap for Tom on Thursday at 8, similar to the clap for the NHS.

I'm a bit ambivalent about this. The one organised the other week was a damp squib and nobody got involved. The weather is still dark and cold (it wasn't in the summer when the pots and pans were out for the NHS). However, for a nation in mourning at Tom's passing, perhaps this could help really bring the country together on Thursday.

OP posts:
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15
Pimlicojo · 03/02/2021 07:53

I felt surprisingly tearful when I heard the news, and I lit a candle last night. He seemed like a lovely man.

But hearing people on the BBC describe his death as a tragedy is ridiculous. The death of a 100 year old isn't a tragedy, although it's very sad for his family who clearly loved him very much.

The poor man would probably be horrified by all this.

Goodbye2020Hello2021 · 03/02/2021 08:09

Squished Did he get to have his family around him when he passed? Nope

This has been one of the cruellest things about the pandemic. The fact that so many people have died in hospital without their family around them or even allowed to visit.

BoredBeforelEvenBegan · 03/02/2021 08:10

So basically you're saying that because he spent Christmas in the Caribbean he deserved to catch Covid and die?

@HopingForOurRainbowBaby I think it's more that the rest of us followed guidelines and didn't go on foreign holidays, contributing to a spike in infections in countries previously doing ok.

Seems odd that the very people who flame others for having a cup of coffee with their mum or not being able to wear a mask because of a disability are the very ones celebrating Captain Tom as hero, when otherwise he'd be an irresponsible rule breaker.

And also the point, perhaps, is that he had a good, full long life and while sad, dying at 100 isn't exactly unexpected.

Original poster
User133847 · 03/02/2021 08:13

I feel a bit uneasy watching GMB this morning. It was like watching a state funeral. It was like they've hijacked this poor man's death. I turned it off in the end.

A clap might help bring closure because he won't go the same public funeral as Diana with the restrictions etc and social distancing.

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lollipoprainbow · 03/02/2021 08:15

@User133847 I think the media have gone completely overboard anyone would think the queen had died! Sky news had a reporter outside the hospital he died in yesterday completely unnecessary.

lollipoprainbow · 03/02/2021 08:16

@squishedblueberry totally agree

Goodbye2020Hello2021 · 03/02/2021 08:17

It was like they've hijacked this poor man's death
The only way for families to avoid the media doing this nowadays is to not announce the death until much later on.

NanuNanuM · 03/02/2021 08:18

I was beginning to think I was a heartless old cynical old boot.
I am not tearful at his death.
I'm sorry his family have lost a loved one. I hope their memories give them a lot of comfort as he seemed to be a really decent guy.
I don't think it's a tragedy. He was 100. He had a full life.
He was a figure point at a very peculiar time and he got people raising money.

But this worshipping on the radio, TV, social media. Find it really bizarre. So many have died, some are tragic. But this isn't.

megletthesecond · 03/02/2021 08:19

No.
I didn't clap in March, I even discovered I'd missed a few weeks of it without knowing it existed.
I'm happy keeping out the way and I'd rather the NHS, vaccination and long covid teams were well funded.
-and I live in a shit hole where most of my neighbours are horrible and have no sense of community anyway--.

megletthesecond · 03/02/2021 08:21

nanu it was main story on radio 4 this morning. I was Hmm.

whyorwellmatters · 03/02/2021 08:22

@CandidaAlbicans2

Totally agree with the PP who is “Seriously sick of this hero worshipping shit”. OK, he raised masses for good causes, but the reason he managed it was because the mainstream media latched on and promoted him, and he went viral. And the reason they latched on was because his daughter has connections (it’s who you know not what you know/do), and he ticked a few boxes; NHS. Tick. Very old. Tick. Veteran. Tick. During lockdown and people wanted a good news story. Tick. He succeeded and became this “hero” just as much because of circumstances as achievement. Yet I know people who have done similar great things, longer term, but because they didn’t tick the right boxes the media didn’t promote them and they were ignored.

So please, no clapping, no statues. Clapping was nauseating virtue signalling the first time round, I didn’t do it then and won’t do it now. I’ll continue volunteering for the NHS instead.

Loved your post until you dropped in the volunteering!

Pot. Kettle! GrinGrinGrin

Sparklingbrook · 03/02/2021 08:23

I caved and put GMB on. Carol Vorderman is blubbing, and Piers Morgan says Captain Tom's daughter rang him to tell him. Shock

lollipoprainbow · 03/02/2021 08:26

@Sparklingbrook heard it all now !!

Original poster
User133847 · 03/02/2021 08:30

@Sparklingbrook

I caved and put GMB on. Carol Vorderman is blubbing, and Piers Morgan says Captain Tom's daughter rang him to tell him. Shock
GMB was completely hysterical this morning.
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NanuNanuM · 03/02/2021 08:31

Meglett - Oh boy, we are losing perspective. I'll have to hide away with my WTF mood.
This isn't a dig at Capt. Tom. It's the media.

lollipoprainbow · 03/02/2021 08:32

Interesting to see the flag was lowered at Buckingham palace, Shame the same couldn't be done immediately after Diana died.

Sparklingbrook · 03/02/2021 08:32

I can't decide which is worse, Piers M grilling politicians and talking all over them or this gush-fest.

Lorraine K is wittering about the empty plinth in Trafalgar Square. Hmm

Spikeyball · 03/02/2021 08:34

It feels like this is going the way of Princess Diana. He seemed like a nice man and it is sad for his family but I can't get upset over a 100 year old who I didn't know, dying.

Original poster
User133847 · 03/02/2021 08:34

Piers calling for a statue of Tom outside of all Britain's biggest hospitals:

twitter.com/GMB/status/1356881665302421509

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NanuNanuM · 03/02/2021 08:36

Sounds like a competition between presenters on who has the biggest bestest idea to honour him.

lollipoprainbow · 03/02/2021 08:37

@User133847 ffs what's up with Carol ?! She's acting like she knew him personally !!

Sparklingbrook · 03/02/2021 08:39

I'll be at work by the time This Morning comes on and I think that's for the best, I bet Phillip & Holly will be wearing their sad faces and squeezing a tear or two out.

Wrongsideofhistorymyarse · 03/02/2021 08:40

@Spikeyball

It feels like this is going the way of Princess Diana. He seemed like a nice man and it is sad for his family but I can't get upset over a 100 year old who I didn't know, dying.
This, with bells on.
grapewine · 03/02/2021 08:42

[quote User133847]Piers calling for a statue of Tom outside of all Britain's biggest hospitals:

twitter.com/GMB/status/1356881665302421509[/quote]
He has lost his damn mind.

fearfulexchange · 03/02/2021 08:43

I like the plant and candle ideas, definitely a more respectful approach. And including all that have died maybe on the one year mark of lockdown.