This clap for Captain Tom idea

[User133847]

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.

I’m with you @NanuNanuM

A couple of years ago there was an elderly lady in a home. She was going to be 100. She had no immediate family but had several nieces, nephews, and their families who loved her and saw her regularly, took her out etc.

The home put out on social media they had an elderly lady with no family who was going to be 100. Would people send her a card?

It escalated. Media all over it, 1000s of cards, gifts etc.

The family had very mixed emotions and not involved in the 100th celebrations.

It's not a Capt Tom situation who has a family acknowledged by the media. But the way the media hijacks these people interest stories makes me shudder.

No way. All the clapping last year was depressing.

I dislike the media immensely in this country & the Capt. Tom gush fest is just the latest manifestation of that. Yes Tom did a noble thing & got us to raise (our) money for the NHS whilst walking around his (big) garden. But Capt. Tom also lived to an age where he was drawing a state pension for a full 35 years when its original envisioned intent when the state pension was set up was designed for nothing approaching that kind of time period as people died earlier than they do now. And then we wonder why the NHS is skint?

Even the Australian media has got on the Tom wagon.One commentator said ‘he survived until there was a vaccine but died before he could get it.’ As though if it weren’t for Covid he would have lived forever

Piers Morgan is basically saying that people who aren't sad and crying into their cornflakes and who question those who are are trolls. FFS. They are not trolls, I am not a troll, I am just asking questions. The media has become quite pathetic over this. I was actually surprised Piers and Susanna weren't wearing black.

I don't think he even died of coronavirus did he? He had pneumonia. Even the official announcement said he died WITH coronavirus, not of.

All the merchandise cashing in and making a profit out of his image. Grim.

I'm even feeling uncharitable thoughts about Charlie Mackesy now as well. If I see that wise horse one more time I might throw my phone out of the window.

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.

Perfectly said. I’m total unmoved by the whole thing and can’t relate to people who didn’t know him feeling sad

I don't feel anything about his death. I feel exactly the same as I would if someone I didn't know died. I would feel sadder if an actor or musician that I liked died. I am not happy about it, and I am sure his family are very sad and my condolences to them but that's where it ends.

@Frodont - that’s what I thought too. Pretty sure it was the pneumonia rather than Covid that actually caused his death but I guess that doesn’t suit the media agenda. Don’t get me wrong I am still quite sad about it but it’s not a tragedy.

It’s too much, all three radio stations I usually listen to had to turn off for a bit.

No I’m not sad. There’s things that have hit me harder through this - prompted an emotional response but not a man at 100. He did a very good thing yes but he can’t live forever.

Oh l have found my people! Of course it is sad but he had a wonderful 100th year and died with dignity.

@PutneyHill

Glad I found this thread, thought I was losing my mind after reading that people were breaking down wailing at the Captain Tom news. Call me weird but it was the 13-year-old-boy who died alone at the start of the pandemic that done me in.

This. His name was Ismail Mohamed Abdulwahab.

Call me weird but it was the 13-year-old-boy who died alone at the start of the pandemic that done me in.

But that's not a grief that makes the nation feel good about itself.

We're a nation that still clings onto the Second World War for dear life.

@Ihopeyourcakeisshit yes. Where was the rolling coverage for Ismail? The flowers? The tributes? The half mast flag?

wake me up after the 9 weeks of offical mourning please...

We're a nation that still clings onto the Second World War for dear life.

Absolutely this.

No, I won't be clapping. I think it's media manipulation, guilt-tripping us into being 'thankful', and we know the media has its own axes to grind.

Captain Tom did well to raise so much money and he seemed a lovely man. But there are lots of lovely people in the world, many of them currently struggling with their frontline jobs or quietly managing job losses, poor mental health, children at home, loneliness, poverty, abuse, fear or other difficulties. And of course, many of them dead or ill with Covid.

It's nice to have heroes, but I am not comfortable with this obsession with one man, or stoking up a public outpouring of grief. It's sad he's died, but he had a pretty good and long life, received appreciation and recognition for his efforts, and managed to be with his family to the end. Surely he was a very fortunate person? My thoughts are more with people who are far less fortunate right now.

That's a firm no from me

@AllMyPrettyOnes

We're a nation that still clings onto the Second World War for dear life.

Absolutely this.

I have argued with dh about this recently. I think we need to dial back on the poppies and the remembrance. Just let it fade out. It doesn't do us any good as a nation to constantly hark back to it. I think once all the old soldiers have passed away we should start to move on.

It's sad he's died, but he had a pretty good and long life, received appreciation and recognition for his efforts, and managed to be with his family to the end. Surely he was a very fortunate person? My thoughts are more with people who are far less fortunate right now

Absolutely this.

I actually think the media hysteria is completely disrespectful.
If he was my dad/grandad etc I’d feel very strange about how his death (and life) was being hijacked.

Just no.