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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
CandidaAlbicans2 · 03/02/2021 10:03

Loved your post until you dropped in the volunteering!
Pot. Kettle! 😁😁😁

@whyorwellmatters, ah bugger, I fell at the last hurdle! 😂 In my defense I didn’t want to look like a complete c**t so felt I had to redeem myself in some way by mentioning my virtuous NHS volunteering 😉

FirstladyKirkman · 03/02/2021 10:06

I asked my mum last night as to whether I should wear a veil to watch BBC Breakfast this morning. She told me to watch GMB instead! Glad I didn't!!

The amount of fucking dross being spoken in my office about it today is pissing me off too!

One of the women gushing over it asked me how I felt. I said: "Well he did a lovely thing (driven totally by his Daughter) but that considering I didnt know him personally, I feel absolutely nothing at all!"

My response was met by numerous dropped jaws Hmm

Ilovemypantry · 03/02/2021 10:12

@MummyPop00

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?
Why mention (in brackets) that he had a (big) garden? How is this relevant? And should all OAPs stop receiving their state pension when they get to a certain age? Some people have an unbelievable outlook on life.
truthisalie · 03/02/2021 10:21

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?

It never even came to my mind to look at very old people and resent them for living too long because of the pension.

BoredBeforelEvenBegan · 03/02/2021 10:23

Why mention (in brackets) that he had a (big) garden? How is this relevant?

Because he had a comfortable, privileged life, while millions are coping with lockdown (and old age, and ill health) in poor housing with no outside space, and in poverty.

Many, many older people don't have the luxury of acres of gardens in which to raise money for charity. Many can't afford to put the fire on in the depths of winter.

The inequality in this country is shocking. Nobody is denying Captain Tom did a lovely thing but canonising him is a bit much, no? The media would do better to highlight (and get really, really angry about) the plight of older people who have to choose between heating and eating. That's a far more worthy use of their front pages, imo.

grapewine · 03/02/2021 10:27

Ah, but they'd never get the public behind that in the same way, BoredBeforelEvenBegan.

Goodbye2020Hello2021 · 03/02/2021 10:29

This (see pic) is how Thursday is being advertised...
Just no.

This clap for Captain Tom idea
Frodont · 03/02/2021 10:31

@Goodbye2020Hello2021

This (see pic) is how Thursday is being advertised... Just no.
Oh dear.
AllMyPrettyOnes · 03/02/2021 10:32

@Goodbye2020Hello2021

This (see pic) is how Thursday is being advertised... Just no.
Good grief ...
Frodont · 03/02/2021 10:34

The mass hysteria is reminding me of when John Lennon died and I refused to write his name on my school lab coat and Julie Morris slapped me round the face.

Furries · 03/02/2021 10:38

@BoredBeforelEvenBegan

Why mention (in brackets) that he had a (big) garden? How is this relevant?

Because he had a comfortable, privileged life, while millions are coping with lockdown (and old age, and ill health) in poor housing with no outside space, and in poverty.

Many, many older people don't have the luxury of acres of gardens in which to raise money for charity. Many can't afford to put the fire on in the depths of winter.

The inequality in this country is shocking. Nobody is denying Captain Tom did a lovely thing but canonising him is a bit much, no? The media would do better to highlight (and get really, really angry about) the plight of older people who have to choose between heating and eating. That's a far more worthy use of their front pages, imo.

That wasn’t his “big” garden. He lived with his daughter and her family for the last years of his life.

Am not disagreeing with your points about inequality in living conditions, but he shouldn’t just be written off because people think he was privileged.

Tal45 · 03/02/2021 10:55

I'm not into clapping, I did it once. It's very sad he died of course but at least he lived to a good old age and had a lovely holiday in Barbados with his family over Christmas.

BoredBeforelEvenBegan · 03/02/2021 10:58

but he shouldn’t just be written off because people think he was privileged

I'm not writing him off.

OliveTree75 · 03/02/2021 11:02

@Goodbye2020Hello2021

This (see pic) is how Thursday is being advertised... Just no.
Bloody hell
MrsClatterbuck · 03/02/2021 11:02

@MissyB1

I wish people would stop all the virtue signalling. We can all pay our own private respects to this amazing man without having to prove it by standing on our doorsteps. If one more person asks me to clap for something I will clap them around the head!
THIS
Puzzledandpissedoff · 03/02/2021 11:05

BoredBeforelEvenBegan for a hideous moment there, I thought that Diana/Jade Goody "Together Forver" thing was real Blush

I personally have already begun work on transforming my house into a x36 scale replica of the man

Just the house?? How utterly thoughtless of you, LakeGeneva; the very least you could have done was to include a memorial garden
Some people just have no respect at all ... Wink

swinglowsweetchariot12 · 03/02/2021 11:09

I'm going to sound really harsh now but I don't think we should be doing anything special at all.

Yes it is sad that he died but he was over 100 and lived a good life doing some remarkable things especially towards the end but let's leave it at that. He got his knighthood, he raised more than he ever imagined I don't think he needs a clap/statue/Memorial Day etc. Without social media we wouldn't have even know who this man was.

And I am saying this entirely knowing what his daughters are going through as I lost mum mum three weeks ago and she was only in her early 60's

Let him rest in peace and be remembered for what he did. Let his family grieve.

Socksandshoes11 · 03/02/2021 11:11

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ImsorryWilson · 03/02/2021 11:13

Thank you so much for this thread. Too many good posts to quote.

MilesJuppIsMyBitch · 03/02/2021 11:17

What's sad to me is the way he died.

Not being able to breathe properly is very frightening, however brave you are.

Yes he reached a good age, but I would have wished him a peaceful, dignified death. Sad

LucilleTheVampireBat · 03/02/2021 11:18

@NorbertMeubles

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 people really know what a troll is anymore. Not the original definition of an internet troll. Troll now means, "someone who disagrees with me on the internet".
Bluesheep8 · 03/02/2021 11:19

His family were able to be with him during his final hours weren't they?

CandidaAlbicans2 · 03/02/2021 11:22

People are so quick to forget these though aren't they, hmmm?! 😉

(Sorry, too soon?)

This clap for Captain Tom idea
This clap for Captain Tom idea
faerin · 03/02/2021 11:24

It was stupid standing about clapping for NHS workers.
It is stupid standing about clapping for a deceased man.

Nothing more than utterly pointless virtue signalling.

OliveTree75 · 03/02/2021 11:27

Fb has become some kind of weird shrine. I find it so bizarre, especially all the "you have done your duty soldier, you may now stand down" cringy bullshit