Archers thread #161: Kenton seems to be getting better, but the storylines aren’t. Discuss The Archers here.

[Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g]

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For newer listeners, lurkers or those who just have no idea what we're talking about, @DadDadDad has created this useful thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/radio_addicts/3557323-For-Archers-fans-a-guide-to-acronyms-on-the-long-running-discussion-threads-and-any-other-meta-thread-questions-you-may-have www.mumsnet.com/Talk/radio_addicts/3557323-For-Archers-fans-a-guide-to-acronyms-on-the-long-running-discussion-threads-and-any-other-meta-thread-questions-you-may-have]] - BOOP point for him! (See thread for explanation.)

Well, here we are. I was strongly tempted to go for the dog's dinner, dog/human bullies etc suggestions for the title, but Mere asked if we could not have anything graphic in the thread title, so I've held back. In a couple of weeks when this thead is nearing its end the attack may all be a distant memory, anyway.

Goodness knows what's in store for us now. Kenton seems likely to have PTSD, not surprisingly. Surely we must soon find out why HARRY talks so. Unconvincingly. Alice! Hello. CHRIS. CHRIS. etc, and also whether he is (as many of us suspect) addicted to opiates and/or up to no good. Too much to hope why nobody in Ambridge horsey circles had ever heard of him until recent weeks.

Over to you!

I don't disagree about the noise issue, but the measure taken to address it are telegraphing future issues in my opinion - namely loss of custom/boycotting. In fact, I hope so - otherwise it's just an unpleasant PSA that is unnecessary, and tasteless.

I agree that all parts of the animal should be put to use, but my own preference is not to be near the hide of a dead being. (I would prefer fake, if at all - but even that's not a route I would go down, decor-wise.... what would be wrong with some Scandi-inspired fabric wall-hangings, or even rugs on the walls?)

I have been farming-adjacent for many years, and don't need Jeremy Clarkson's dubious expertise to assist in my education. I have seen animal life and death in many forms; I had even planned to actually have my horse taken to the Kennels of the Hunt he had been out with, where he would be fed to the hounds, but I did back out of the process in the end. (He was put down at home (with injection, so could not go into the food chain), and I honestly have no idea what became of him after he was taken away- I prefer not to think about it....). I fully understand that being a farmer is not a job for the squeamish - but as a listener to a light entertainment radio programme, I can be squeamish, and turn the programme off.

Interesting (to me at least), The Moral Maze on R4 at 8pm was on the topic of meat-eating in all it's glory - and made for frustrating listening. I was especially infuriated by the man who said that we have a moral duty to eat (and skin, and hang said skin on the wall I suppose) the animals that we have "created" for just that purpose.

Supporting fox hunting and being squeamish about a cowhide rug originating in an abattoir is an interesting juxtaposition @LighthouseTheme or perhaps you can ignore the history of the Hunt as well as believing they follow the law now.

The horse had been out with the Hunt, part of his history as a racehors
It was at the time of Foot and Mouth, which prevented the hunt even picking up fallen stock, so that's how long ago I am talking about.
I don't support fox-hunting, and never have - but I more or less I expected that everything else I have said would be cast into shadow by that one thing.
It is quite possible to have opinions that seem opposing, but that's not the case anyway.
\my own beliefs were definitely underscored when I watched Earthlings many years ago, which I found horrifying at the time - but now documentaries are openly made that cover some of the issues that were covered by Earthlings, which is both good, and bad. A recent one is "Pignorant", which is all about one aspect that was covered in Earthlings - images from which are still emblazoned on my mind.

I don't hunt but I don't see why it was banned. The argument I was given was that they didn't 'like the idea of toffs getting dressed up and killing animals for fun'.

Whereas I don't believe that animals should be killed for fun, it implied that if it was not 'toffs' doing it, it would be OK.

Why is it OK to kill some animals for the pleasure of eating their flesh, when other food is available, but not to kill 'cute' pests?

I don't hunt but I don't see why it was banned. The argument I was given was that they didn't 'like the idea of toffs getting dressed up and killing animals for fun'.

I think the main reason is because if you have to cull foxes, there are more efficient and humane ways of doing it. If you're going to kill animals, you don't have to extend it more than necessary.

The fun bit I assume is riding a galloping horse and jumping fences for miles - you can still do that, without having an animal ripped apart after being chased in terror when a clean shot would do it better.

I was taken to hunt meets as a child, have family who have been MFHs (MsFH?) and I'm aware of the danger foxes can be to livestock, so I understand why they need controlling. It's a question of which methods are least cruel and most efficient - and that's not hunting.

"Why is it OK to kill some animals for the pleasure of eating their flesh, when other food is available, but not to kill 'cute' pests?"

Which was one of the arguments on The Moral Maze.... I think making a pair of slippers out his pet dog was the example.

I have to add - and know it was a one-off experience, and I expect to be reminded of that. In the early days of keeping my horse at a yard where Hunting was a very big thing - I once (only) went to follow on foot. The only fox that was seen was in a small patch of fenced woodland - and the horses of course, couldn't get in.... I could see the fox, but amazingly, the hounds couldn't; they were just snuffling around, bumping into one another, and Jack went on his sweet way while they, and everyone else, it seemed, remained oblivious.
I never went again, but that image has been the one I choose to call to mind when I think of hunting.

🤣 the actor is much more attractive than the Harrison in my imagination.

He looks more like how I imagine Harry!

I know what the Harry actor looks like from CTM so that's how I see him.

I know what the Harry actor looks like from CTM so that's how I see him.

So Harry is the new posh baddie, is he? Now that Rob's gone.

I struggle with the Harry SL as all the scenes with Alice just make me wonder what she sees in him. He’s a walking red flag

I guess Alice is vulnerable, Harry is good looking and personable...

Just like Helen and Rob again.

I’ve not heard much evidence of him being personable!

oooh just googled the Harrison actor. In my head he sounds much older than the actor looks to be. He is very good looking indeed.

Harry charmed Alice, Lillian and Brian. Kate, Chris and Harrison smelt a rat.

iirc Lilian did Google Harry..
goodness knows how this didn’t come up then. Presumably because it hadn’t yet been written.

googling him a bit more is not without interest

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/chorley/10556698.actor-chorley-fined-attack-man-club/

He’s being careful not to wave the red flags in her direction

Did you not know that Google doesn’t exist in Ambridge? Don’t forget that in this part of the world people drop by with leaflets and have to answer every single call on their mobile straight away because presumably theres no way to leave a message. There is a very real chance that it could be years before anyone finds out anything about Harry. Luckily theres a part time police officer/detective who always happens to be in the right place at the right time and doesn’t have to abide by the code of conduct at all.

Not everyone who loses their licence has it reported.

Everytime I hear them together he sounds like a knob!

Lillian probably has a search engine like mine. Searching for Harry Chilcott would return Gary Wilmot - Wikipedia