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 think it’s in pretty bad taste if the family try and get a clap going.

I haven’t seen anything suggesting the family are leading this.

The next time that I will be clap applause will be at the production finale of a play in the West End.

Oh for gods sake.

Yes it’s very sad that he has passed away. My heart truly goes out to his family and friends however this is turning into a circus. A 100 year old man who had pneumonia abs subsequently covid has passed away. It’s hardly shocking ffs.

Pretty sure everyone fed up with clapping and I’m sick of the over dramatics on fb over today’s news.

Aaaaargh No!
He lived to 100 and died with his family around. Better than most.
No clapping.

I’m really hoping that the family say it’s not a great idea... 😓

@Port1aCastis Precisely. The ones who died alone and terrified in hospital having not seen a loved one in literal months.

Captain Tom lived a long life and was allowed a dignified death surrounded by his most loved ones. He was 100 years and recently enjoyed a holiday with his family as well. Again, nothing against him but it isn’t a tragedy and the idea that the nation should all be collectively bawling over him is borderline offensive.

@ShemShem I think it's the Diana effect

@Port1aCastis

Or how about the government donates a tidy amount to the NHS in honour of all those people who have died.

The massive NHS debt was written off.

I really can’t see another clap for anything taking off soon.

I get it may make us feel better in some way, but surely encouraging people to leave their houses, even just to clap on the doorstep, is risking an increased spread of the illness he died of?
I'm not sure he would be happy with that...

@Coasterfan please accept my condolences, I lost my dear grandma two weeks ago and it's had a huge impact on me. I know exactly what you mean. I was very admiring of Captain Tom but we've lost so many and your own personal loss is naturally the one that hits hard. I don't have the energy for mourning anybody else.

@PurpleDaisies

Sorry. That’s my bad. I shouldn’t have assumed. However I stand by my opinion that if it does gain traction the family should politely thank everybody for their sympathy and love for Captain Tom and ask for privacy.

We went to a very sad funeral today for someone who should have had another 30 years. I can't do anymore clapping.

I think it's inappropriate that celebrities and politicians are piggybacking onto a family's loss with their social media posts about how sad they are. The BBC had a reporter outside the hospital yesterday. I really don't know how or why someone thought that was necessary.

[quote cantmakealifeofit]@Port1aCastis Precisely. The ones who died alone and terrified in hospital having not seen a loved one in literal months.

Captain Tom lived a long life and was allowed a dignified death surrounded by his most loved ones. He was 100 years and recently enjoyed a holiday with his family as well. Again, nothing against him but it isn’t a tragedy and the idea that the nation should all be collectively bawling over him is borderline offensive.[/quote]
Absolutely.

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.

@ShemShem

Got to feel people have gone hard too early on this. If you are in tears about Captain Tom, then what the fuck happens when David Attenborough pops his clogs?

[quote cantmakealifeofit]@PurpleDaisies

Sorry. That’s my bad. I shouldn’t have assumed. However I stand by my opinion that if it does gain traction the family should politely thank everybody for their sympathy and love for Captain Tom and ask for privacy.[/quote]
They have asked for privacy at this time.

@Trumplosttheelection thank you and condolences for you too. It’s so hard to see the huge outpouring of grief for someone no one on social media actually knew, whilst dealing with our own grief and feeling like our loved ones didn’t matter to anyone but us. Thank you for understanding.

The family have already asked for privacy.

No. Just no. The only ritual of this sort which I will encourage is a BOO FOR BORIS.

Absolutely not.

He lived a very long life, had a great last year, a fabulous family Christmas in Barbados whilst the rest of us made do with zoom... and died with his family by his side which is a privilege most people who died this year didn’t get.

People have lost their damn minds.

I’m sorry to hear that he’s died and my condolences to his family and friends. However, I won’t be clapping.

No more clapping for me - not that I started!

I don’t get the public outpouring of grief on social media. I’m sure he was a lovely chap who raised money and his family will be very sad. But he was 100 years old.

He was a wonderful man but he is only one of 100,000 lost to CoVid.

Not seen anything at all on Social Media.I won’t be clapping.