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.

Bread and fucking circuses

125,000 British people dead who shouldn't be.

This is gettting ridiculous - one of the neighbours is trying to rally up support to do the clapping bollocks. No way in hell I am joining in, it is sad he died but he was 100 and so many others have done so much for charity etc and so many have died well before their time.

Actually the cynic may say that the case numbers may be high today.
Deflection from some other crisis. They dont give a flying fuck.

I may have misheard, but I'm sure Matt Hancock on GMB was implying that all the money raised showed that the public were willing to contribute to the NHS. As if the NHS should be funded more by charity fundraising rather than from the government.

I feel very angry about this. Johnson is revelling in it "leading the nation in tributes" etc.

It's sad for Captain Tom's family but he had a wonderful last year, they all got to go to Barbados for Christmas, and he lived to over 100. I can't see any reason for those of us who don't know him to be sad.

100000 people have died as a result of this pandemic. We should be sad about that but we should also be angry and hold Johnson and his cabinet to account, not allow them to virtue signal whilst doing very little to prevent further deaths.

@PurpleDaisies

if this is considered a reasonable cross section of society it makes me wonder how many people will be on their doorsteps later.

This thread is likely to attract people who aren’t up for clapping. I don’t think it’s going to be particularly representative.

Good point @PurpleDaisies

if this is considered a reasonable cross section of society it makes me wonder how many people will be on their doorsteps later.

I won’t be clapping, doing a minute silence, lighting a candle so this thread is for me.

Looking at a few others some people will be

Do people genuinely begrudge this?
I mean, you don't have to take part.

Sadly three members of my family died during 2020. Another person I knew also lost her life last year. Four people in a year. Yes, there's no nationwide clap for them, but as a family/friends all their deaths were marked.

Their names were not known across the country, so a nationwide clap, silence or memorial wouldn't have been appropriate, nor desired by the families.

Do I begrudge people remembering Captain Tom this evening? no, of course not.

I also don't begrudge the deaths of celebrities, famous people, royalty, etc having their deaths reach the headlines in the media or memorial sites set up,for them.

@carcarbinks

I may have misheard, but I'm sure Matt Hancock on GMB was implying that all the money raised showed that the public were willing to contribute to the NHS. As if the NHS should be funded more by charity fundraising rather than from the government.

I'm sure they'd love that.

@joystir59

My wife died 2/7/20 of ovarian cancer. She was in hospital alone when she received her terminal diagnosis after 8 months of gruelling treatment. Alone because I couldn't be with her because of Covid. Then followed two weeks of her being in hospital and me not allowed to visit. She insisted on coming home in the end and she died two days later. Everyone who has suffered directly and indirectly because of this virus, we all deserve an outpouring of grief. Every single one. It's a nightmare. I felt so insulted by the BBC announcement of one man's death.

I'm so sorry for your loss. I 100% agree with you.

I see no reason to mourn his passing above the passing of the many thousands of other people who have died. But if others wish to, their choice and they are free to do it. I won't make any negative comments to anyone engaging and am sure won't get any for having no wish to take part and no understanding of why this personality cult is being developed.

@joystir59

My wife died 2/7/20 of ovarian cancer. She was in hospital alone when she received her terminal diagnosis after 8 months of gruelling treatment. Alone because I couldn't be with her because of Covid. Then followed two weeks of her being in hospital and me not allowed to visit. She insisted on coming home in the end and she died two days later. Everyone who has suffered directly and indirectly because of this virus, we all deserve an outpouring of grief. Every single one. It's a nightmare. I felt so insulted by the BBC announcement of one man's death.

Agree with this. It is an insult to many families. How the government and people in general can't see this just baffles me.

Do people genuinely begrudge this?

That depends on who it's being done for. It's not much use to the old gentleman now and his famiy have asked for peace and quiet to grieve in private, so it seems the only people folk are doing it for is themselves - which doesn't really seem something to be thankful for

I mean, you don't have to take part

You'd think not wouldn't you? But already non-joiners are reporting disgust and insults from those determined to drag everyone in, which rather spoils the "voluntary" thing

@Graciebobcat

I think the biggest show of appreciation for Captain Tom would be quiet reflection and gratitude and to raise another £40m for charity

I think the biggest show of appreciation for Captain Tom would be a pay rise for nurses and for the NHS to be properly funded by the government from now on, rather than gradually broken down to be sold off to people like Dido Harding.

So that no other 100 year old men have to walk round their garden all summer to raise CHARITY money for something which is an ACTUAL FUCKING PUBLIC SERVICE

^ THIS!!!

No clapping etc here

Not to send a message but because whole thing is ott

You'd think not wouldn't you? But already non-joiners are reporting disgust and insults from those determined to drag everyone in, which rather spoils the "voluntary" thing

Exactly. It’s like choosing not to wear a poppy.

'No clapping etc here. Not to send a message but because whole thing is ott'

I know. I'll clap if I remember but really what is this new culture of clapping! I have a horrible feeling its here to stay, so anytime something newsworthy happens we'll all feel obliged to do a doorstep clap.

@GetOffYourHighHorse

'No clapping etc here. Not to send a message but because whole thing is ott'

I know. I'll clap if I remember but really what is this new culture of clapping! I have a horrible feeling its here to stay, so anytime something newsworthy happens we'll all feel obliged to do a doorstep clap.

I assumed you'd be on your doorstep with Boris bunting and a union jack plastic hat.

'I assumed you'd be on your doorstep with Boris bunting and a union jack plastic hat.'

Oh usernameblahblah how funny are you!! LOLZ. 🙄

Might get some Boris bunting now you mention it..

No fucking way!!!!! No more clapping.

It's utterly exhausting

Just another thing to worry about

So pleased I found this thread

not read whole thread but surely he had had his vaccination? isnt it a bit of an that he dies of covid? sorry "with" covid. why arent we talking about this? what are they distracing us from?

Ah, yes, very good point @carcarbinks

If we can afford £40m for NHS and if it becomes a regular fundraiser, then that paves the ground for private health service

Boris better mentions the other 100k who died otherwise it's hypocritical as hell.

@Stovetopespresso

not read whole thread but surely he had had his vaccination? isnt it a bit of an that he dies of covid? sorry "with" covid. why arent we talking about this? what are they distracing us from?

He hasn't had the vaccine. Calm down

I'll be lighting a candle this evening for Captain Tom and everyone who has lots their lives to this terrible virus.