Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Feminism: chat

Original poster

That fucking tree

173 replies

FlirtsWithRhinos · 29/09/2023 00:53

Anyone else pissed off that UK media and public seem more aghast about a 16 year old boy killing a tree than a 17 year old boy killing a girl?

OP posts:
GoodOldEmmaNess · 29/09/2023 06:45

I share the 'that fucking tree' sentiment, but I don't thnk it is relevant to the low degree of attention paid to thr murder of a young girl.

People can care about more things than one, and unusual events are likely to gather more attention than common ones.

It would be better to say: why is there all this sentimental attention focused on one tree when the environmnet (incuding many trees) is being so comprehensively screwed over every single day of the year.

It is saccharine, annoying. The tree was the least important part of an area valuable for a particular piece of built heritage. Lots of the countryside around here is alittle bit spoilt by the tendency of tourism marketing and social media fads to lionise little landscape features like this.

Newuser75 · 29/09/2023 06:45

I live very close to the tree. It's a famous local landmark that has been there for 300 years. It is special to people for all sorts of reasons.

Yes I have heard lots about the tree. I have also heard lots about the awful events in Croydon.

I don't think anyone is saying the tree is more important than the life of a young girl. The two events aren't comparable. People can be sad about more than one thing at a time.

SoftKittyBazinga · 29/09/2023 06:46

People are allowed to be outraged about more than one thing at a time that impact them for totally different reasons.

i am heartbroken about the tree at Sycamore. A large number of people in this neck of the woods have a deep affinity with it. It’s a place of life events. People get engaged there, scatter ashes there, fall in love there, and spiritually replenish there. That’s a form of love and bonding and some absolute bellend has destroyed it. “That fucking tree” is a memorial to so many people.

Of course the wanton murder of yet another teenage girl is beyond appalling and heartbreaking and if someone said it was a direct choice I’d obviously choose the life of a teenager with a future ahead of them over the life of a monument.

But im allowed to be upset that a place that is so special has been desecrated. As well as feeling hurt for the loss of another life. Both things and both feelings can exist. And both stories deserve reporting on.

Janie143 · 29/09/2023 06:49

A woman was deliberately run over and killed by her partner in a road near me on Monday. Not even on the news or national paper. She had recenty finished succesful treatment for breast cancer. They have 2 small children.

PurpleChrayne · 29/09/2023 06:49

It's bizarre.

I can't muster up even an iota of care for a random tree.

I also hate how the media is so focused on the fact that Eliyanna was at a private school.

lollipoprainbow · 29/09/2023 06:52

Eddyraisins · 29/09/2023 06:33

While we are all upset about Elianne.

That ' fucking tree' is an awful title.

It isn't a competition, it goes without saying human life is more important. Doesn't mean people can't be sad about an age old landmark. That fucking tree what an awful op. Truly.

This isn't helping women not one bit.

Agree it's a terrible title.

ethelredonagoodday · 29/09/2023 07:02

I live in the north, and have colleagues from the north east, so the tree had been mentioned and people are upset and baffled really at why anyone would do such a thing.

However, there's also been lots of discussion here amongst friends about the murder in Croydon, and pretty much everyone I've heard talking about it is angry and appalled.

People can be upset about more than one thing.

MoonShinesBright · 29/09/2023 07:06

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

NowWhattt · 29/09/2023 07:13

FlirtsWithRhinos · 29/09/2023 00:53

Anyone else pissed off that UK media and public seem more aghast about a 16 year old boy killing a tree than a 17 year old boy killing a girl?

Err that may be your opinion but that’s certainly not what I am seeing or hearing or reading.

EasternStandard · 29/09/2023 07:15

Separately to the horrific event the tree incident does sound sad, now I’ve read about it on this thread

NowWhattt · 29/09/2023 07:16

PurpleChrayne · 29/09/2023 06:49

It's bizarre.

I can't muster up even an iota of care for a random tree.

I also hate how the media is so focused on the fact that Eliyanna was at a private school.

😳😮

lollipoprainbow · 29/09/2023 07:20

What a bloody horrible title. That 'f-*ing' tree meant lots to many people.

ladypenelopesfan · 29/09/2023 07:24

I bet few people (north of Watford Gap) are aware of this recent murder ?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-66357857

I'm not trying to start a competition, just pointing out that anything happening in London get's far more coverage.

And, yes, I hate your title as well. OP.

Matthew Daulby

Ormskirk stabbings: Man arrested on suspicion of murder

Matthew Daulby, 19, died in a double stabbing in Railway Road, Ormskirk, on Saturday.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-66357857

Caughtinlove · 29/09/2023 07:31

The tree was a symbol of the North East of England, as potent as the Tyne Bridge or the Angel of the North, a place of pride and memories, where people scattered ashes, had family outings and proposed. Of course people are upset and saddened by its wanton destruction.

This in no way detracts from also being upset and horrified by the murder of a teenage girl - there is no competition about which story is getting the most coverage, and people can be upset about more than one event at once.

VivaLaVolvo · 29/09/2023 07:32

What is just as bad is the 16 year old boys get killed in London weekly and that barely gets reporting. (50 plus in 1 year)

OTM1982 · 29/09/2023 07:32

As a person with a functional brain, it is relatively easy for me to have thoughts on both events.

The murder of another girl/woman at the hands of a boy/man is horrific and deserves the media presence that it DOES HAVE - quite prominently.

But also, as a woman who enjoys hiking in the British countryside and has walked past and enjoyed time in the presence of 'that fucking tree' I also find that crime abhorrent.

I can concentrate/give brain time to both things. They both matter. They're both important. They both deserve airtime and thankfully, they have both received it.

lollipoprainbow · 29/09/2023 07:35

VivaLaVolvo · 29/09/2023 07:32

What is just as bad is the 16 year old boys get killed in London weekly and that barely gets reporting. (50 plus in 1 year)

Exactly

AffableApple · 29/09/2023 07:40

This thread is like those people on Facebook who link to a BBC/Sky news story, and say "Why is the BBC/Sky ignoring this story?" Frankly, you're talking shit.

Phos · 29/09/2023 07:41

Why would anyone uninvolved with the case be aghast at something that is almost a daily occurrence in that area?

Vivolvolo · 29/09/2023 07:42

Eddyraisins · 29/09/2023 06:33

While we are all upset about Elianne.

That ' fucking tree' is an awful title.

It isn't a competition, it goes without saying human life is more important. Doesn't mean people can't be sad about an age old landmark. That fucking tree what an awful op. Truly.

This isn't helping women not one bit.

You put that so well @Eddyraisins

PinkMoscatoLover · 29/09/2023 07:43

EdgeOfACoin · 29/09/2023 05:46

The murder of Elianne Andam is getting a huge amount of press down south where I am. It was front page news on the London Evening Standard. People are horrified.

I haven't heard that much about the tree.

I’m in SW London and I agree. Had no clue about the bloody tree until I clicked on a thread on MN. Guess it depends where you are

smilesup · 29/09/2023 07:52

It was front page news yesterday about poor Elianne.
The unusual crime of the tree and the iconic nature of it that makes it big news.
What won't get reported today is that 10,000 children will die because they weren't given food. A disproportionate amount of them will be girls.

IWFH · 29/09/2023 07:53

This thread itself is indicative of people following stories that are 'different' in some way, or that individuals can relate to, and that therefore make 'newsworthy' stories.
15 fatal stabbings of teenagers in London alone so far this year. 14 of them were boys. If anyone on this thread can name any of the boys without looking them up I'd be surprised. Elianne Andam stands out BECAUSE she was a girl and BECAUSE she was at a private school. The only other stabbing this year that I could recall in detail was of Brianna Ghey in Warrington, again because this was an unusual story and therefore got more press coverage.
News items covering the death of a boy by stabbing frequently don't even get a mention on MN (or more than a passing mention in the press).

Vivolvolo · 29/09/2023 07:55

’That bloody tree’ from a PP, ‘That fucking tree’ title of this thread... such little respect for a harmless living tree that only gave joy, comfort, memories, to countless humans. I actually think you trying to pitch one against the other is awful. Both crimes despicable in their own way. People have the capacity to understand the news and can be sad, angry, or whatever at more than one thing at a time, for different reasons. Your choice of title to the thread is shameful.

Passepartoute · 29/09/2023 07:56

FlirtsWithRhinos · 29/09/2023 00:53

Anyone else pissed off that UK media and public seem more aghast about a 16 year old boy killing a tree than a 17 year old boy killing a girl?

The Croydon killing was the main feature on both the national and local news where I am. The tree was the second to last item on the national news and not mentioned in the local news.