Wednesday 2 April 2008

Too serene for sympathy

Again an older article, but one that isn't out-of-date.

After an astonishing attack on the family by the winner of the Booker prize and Kate’s suggestion that people don’t sympathise with her because she doesn’t look maternal enough, our correpsondent asks why some people find it so easy to dislike the McCanns

Margarette Driscoll

The novelist Anne Enright must have thought that all her dreams had come true last Tuesday night when Sir Howard Davies, chairman of the Booker prize judges, announced that she had won the prestigious literary award – and the £50,000 that comes with it.

Guests at London’s Guildhall were touched at how thrilled Enright was, being more used to seasoned nominees who took the prospect of the prize in their stride. But it wasn’t long before the gloss was taken off her sudden success.

Attention turned from her “exhilaratingly bleak” novel, The Gathering, to an equally bleak and somewhat mean-spirited piece she wrote earlier this month – when hardly anybody had heard of her – in the London Review of Books, about her ambivalence towards Kate and Gerry McCann. In the article, she talked of how disliking the McCanns had become “an international sport”.

“Distancing yourself from the McCanns is a recent but potent form of magic,” she wrote. “You might think the comments on the internet are filled with hatred, but hate pulls the object close; what I see instead is dislike – an uneasy, unsettled, relentlessly petty emotion.”

She went on, saying “we do not forgive them the stupid stuff, like wearing ribbons, or going jogging the next day, or holding hands on the way into mass”. She also criticised Gerry McCann for using language “more appropriate to a corporate executive than to a desperate father”.

Instantly, Enright found herself on all the front pages for all the wrong reasons. Newspapers frantically outbid one another for the rights to reprint her piece – all were flatly refused. “She’s horrified and doesn’t want to become known as ‘evil Anne’,” said a friend. But by then it was already too late. ENRIGHT had given literary and intellectual weight to the heartless abuse that has rained down on the McCanns on the internet ever since their daughter Madeleine disappeared from their Portuguese holiday apartment on May 3. Her piece would have struck a chord with all those who had felt a twinge of guilty agreement as they came across message boards criticising the couple for their composure, their supposed arrogance, and particularly Kate for her careful grooming and “endless supply of summer tops”.

In an interview with the Liver-pool Echo last week, Susan Healy, Kate McCann’s mother, told how her daughter had been berated in the street by strangers for being “out and about” when Madeleine went missing and how Kate felt persecuted for not looking like the ideal mother.
“If I weighed another two stone, had a bigger bosom and looked more maternal, people would be more sympathetic,” she had told her mother, who spoke loudly in her daughter’s defence.
“She feels she’s being attacked because she isn’t crying every time she is pictured,” said Healy. “She’s being targeted because she manages to put on a brave face. People say she has a stern look but inside she’s a wreck.”

The paradox for Kate McCann is that ever since the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, we have been branded a crybaby nation, and told that the stiff upper lip, that key part of the British character, has been destroyed. But in an age of “misery memoirs” and reality TV, if you do show stoicism and coolness in the face of trauma, you are despised for it.

Kate, 39, has never cried in public, which may be for a number of admirable reasons: that she was told not to show emotion by advisers as her daughter’s kidnapper might delight in her distress; that part of being a doctor entails being able to face traumatic situations without showing distress; or because she knows just how much a picture of her crying would be worth and is bloody-minded enough not to let anybody get it.

But if she thinks people don’t like her because she does not appear sufficiently maternal, she’s way off beam. This is the age of the yummy mummy and in those stakes McCann, who looks as though she could be Sienna Miller’s older sister, is queen. It is her coolness of her manner that repels, not her skinniness, nor her careful choice of jewellery.

Most people would dismiss as ludicrous some of the rumours that have surfaced in the Portuguese press in recent weeks. The McCanns have variously been accused of engaging in wife-swapping, of sedating their children so they would sleep while they were out, of having “the scent of death” found on Kate by cadaver dogs. But still some spiteful undercurrent relishes seeing their perfect world punctured.

“I suppose it shows the ugly side of human nature. We are intrigued by disaster and horror stories,” said the novelist Rose Tremain.

“There is an element of schadenfreude about it: there seems to come a point with nearly every type of ‘celebrity’ where something triggers a turnaround.

“People seem to be presuming that the McCanns’ lack of emotion points to their guilt. It seems absurd as, at first, the public admired their bravery in the face of such a horrifying situation. They may not cry in public, but you can read the agony on their faces.”

The film-maker Roger Graef, who recently took a group of experts to Portugal to investigate the case, believes that the mystery at the heart of the case – how did Madeleine vanish into thin air? – has exacerbated our reaction to the McCanns.

“What we all have trouble with is the uncertainty and the reality that this has been done by somebody we’ll probably never find,” he said.

“To judge the McCanns when they’ve had to endure months of that uncertainty is gratuitously cruel. They’re being used as an emotional dartboard.”

In an effort to prove their innocence, the McCanns have compiled a huge file rebutting every allegation against them, from the idea that Gerry McCann is not Madeleine’s natural father to the DNA evidence that seemed to suggest her body had been transported in the back of their hire car.

Last week it emerged that they have gone so far as to have their two-year-old twins, Sean and Amelie, drug-tested to show that they have never been given sedatives.

And all the while the days tick by: it is now almost six months since Madeleine disappeared. They must, by now, have resigned themselves to her being dead.

Yet for all they have suffered – think how appalling being interrogated by the police must have been – some of us still can’t sympathise.

The psychologist Linda Papa-dopoulos thinks Kate’s looks may play some part in this. “Looks play a huge role in our expectations of people. We can see it in things like fairy tales, where the ugly outsider meets a nasty end. Beauty is taken to mean goodness. We tend to believe attractive people in the witness box more than unattractive people.

“But on the flip side of this, it is much easier to hate attractive people. There is a need for people to believe that an attractive person is not completely perfect.

“A woman I spoke to last week was appalled that Kate McCann was able to choose which earrings to wear in the morning. She took it to mean that if she has the strength to put on earrings she is not distressed enough.”
So is there a right way to grieve? Would people like Kate McCann more if she collapsed in tears?
“People are very judgmental when you suffer a bereavement. As a widow myself, I know that people have very strong views on how you should or shouldn’t express emotion,” said the broadcaster and writer Esther Rantzen.

“Kate looks anguished to me. They look like people in the midst of a nightmare.”

Some think it is a class issue. The broadcaster and columnist Kelvin MacKenzie says that when he wrote in defence of the McCanns shortly after Madeleine disappeared he got his biggest mailbag ever “and hundreds of e-mails full of bile aimed not just at the McCanns but also at me”.
“I was told that I wouldn’t have said anything of the sort had the McCanns been an unmarried, unemployed black couple and that the whole furore about Maddy came down to class bias,” he said.

“Initially I didn’t believe this to be the case, but now I have to agree. The massive media and public interest stems from the fact that they are a professional, upwardly mobile, white family and this sort of thing shouldn’t happen to people like them.

“Rhys Jones’s parents [whose 11-year-old son was shot dead on Merseyside in August] displayed a combination of tears and raw emotion with a basic intellect that came through in their interviews. This raw emotion has been lacking with the McCanns.”

And so the doubts linger. “Guilt and denial are the emotions we smell off Gerry and Kate McCann, and they madden us,” noted Enright. A friend of the family said Gerry McCann “snorted in disgust” when the piece was read to him last week.

Perhaps the McCanns’ central problem is that they don’t seem real to us. Simon Hamp-ton, a lecturer in psychosocial studies at the University of East Anglia, said the McCann tragedy encapsulates modern reactions to the media and morality.

“There is no sympathy because it is like a movie,” he said. “We are examining their clothes, their expressions, their body language much more closely than we would if we knew them.

“We rarely look at the faces of our families and friends from a distance of four inches, but that is how close television brings us to the McCanns’ faces. The narrative needs a villain and in the absence of any other, Kate McCann is cast as the murderer. It sort of has to be a woman because that is a better story.”

For those of us on the outside, it can appear to be just a story. But for the McCanns the pain is very real and, in all probability, never ending.

Maybe we should all just stop obsessing about them. A letter in response to Enright’s piece in the London Review of Books most neatly summed up our ambivalent relationship with the couple: “I disliked Anne Enright almost as much as the McCanns after reading her article, almost as much as I dislike myself for disliking the McCanns, for disliking Anne Enright, you for publishing Anne Enright’s article, and me for reading it (I didn’t have to do that). Where will it all end?”

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article2702285.ece

343 comments:

1 – 200 of 343   Newer›   Newest»
Anonymous said...

Good morning all,

Beautiful day here in Portugal.

How right is Rose Tremain quoted in this article about the 'ugly human side of nature' how often have we seen this expressed by some posters of the DX, Alsabella's and TWS. The perpetual need to re-hash over and over again how he Mccann's are truly neglectful and in some instances it has been said abusive parents.

Robert Graef the film maker puts it as he sees it and I agree with him:

“To judge the McCanns when they’ve had to endure months of that uncertainty is gratuitously cruel. They’re being used as an emotional dartboard.”

Anonymous said...

Hi Melbel, are you there?
Any news re grandchild?

The Candy Floss blog really sucks said...

Great! Now Helen has written, I get to, too!

The Candy Floss blog really sucks said...

I can't imagine that the first thing I would do if I won the Booker Prize would be to run down distraught parents. Even more ridiculous is to then be amazed that the press picked up on it.

We all know that this happened because the McCanns did something really stupid, but it isn't up to us to mete out punishment in the form of a witch hunt. We have no right to do that - we do not even know all the facts.

Anonymous said...

Sasy,

In view of your kindness in allowing me to post first, I have relented and decided that you can't be ALL bad!!!lol So therefore will endeavour to comply and live up to the high regard that you hold me in!!!ROTFL

The Candy Floss blog really sucks said...

You're right - just 98% awful!

The Candy Floss blog really sucks said...

Just seen this on Sky news.

"The stepfather of schoolgirl Shannon Matthews has been arrested on suspicion of possessing indecent images of children."

Tinkerbell43 said...

Morning All,

Just popping in on Troll Patrol.

Remember to keep spreading the lurve.


See you later dudes.

The Candy Floss blog really sucks said...

Tinks

Keep it real dahling. Love ya loads.

Mwah mwah

xxx

The Candy Floss blog really sucks said...

To the anonymous who hangs around here and then goes and tells tales on Vile's.

a) get a life
b) noone knows anything -
including you

Anonymous said...

breaking news

Shannon Matthew's mother's boyfriend Craig just arrested for indecent images of young people on his computer.

Anonymous said...

Jane,

Thankyou but Sassy 'scooped' you.

Anonymous said...

sass helen tinkerbell

ooooopsss

sorry I just heard it and bolted to computer not looking at previous posts. doh.......

why do they call him Shannon's *stepfather* though? He is not. He is simply her mother's boyfriend. they are not married. beats me.

How are we all this morning??? Have we had anon visit again? Must be bored......

off again now, sorry you got this news in 'stereo'....... ;o(((

Anonymous said...

HELEN

eaten all your creme eggs now????

Anonymous said...

oh and HELEN

did you get 'hundreds' of emails overnight??????

;o)))

Anonymous said...

Jane,

One creme egg left but I put it in the freezer last night so that I wouldn't be tempted!! I suppose I could lick it to death though?LOL

Didn't follow your excellent advice, didn't want to chance the computer going in to overload and crashing out! May try it just once though before hubby gets back.

Have a good day.

melbel said...

Hiya all
Just a real flying visit, as things could be moving now and we are travelling over.Hope you are all well.
Some really interesting material, was posted, last night, by China and some very good posts, in the evening.
When you see it all together,it looks, to me, as if the antis, are trying to defend the indefensible, as what has gone on, cannot be defended, by any fairminded person.
What has happened in Portugal, to this family is an outrage.
They certainly need the full legal team and representation from professionals, because they have been put in a minefield, bound and gagged.
However, it will not be allowed to become another miscarrige of justice, because people have wized up.
The article does show, how human nature, at it's worst, operates, but I remain optimistic, about human beings.
For every nasty finger pointer, I believe that there many more, with compassion.
People, should get on with their own lives, not ghoulishly immersing themselves in someone else's tragedy, to point the finger.
With many of them, it is not concern for madeleine.They are nasty, sadistic people and I believe that they enjoy it.
Anne Enright, has apologised to the Mccanns. her remarks were made in context of the time, when daily leaks [lies] about forensic evidence being 100% match, blah de blah, were being made.
She, in my opinion, never expected to be high profile and shot her gob off, to regret it later, when she realised that , having won the prize, she would become more high profile.
That is the trouble with people today, in my view [or at least the antis ]Engage the mouth before the brain and then fire.
Do not consider the effect on grieving families or the twins, of your rush to judgement.
In their narrow, limited lives, antis use their ignorant ideas of human behaviour and how people should react.
Very sad and pathetic.
Hope they are not judged, as harshly, when one of live's misfortunes, which we all get,hit them.
It may not be this kind of situation, but it comes to us all.

Well, packed my bags and ready to take up my little bundle and go.
Keep you posted and you are one of the most decent, compassionate and honourable group of people, anywhere and that is a fact.
You also make me giggle.Will try and keep my teeth in, though. bye for now x xx

Mandz said...

Hi All,

I think people disliking Gerry’s use of language is ridiculous. He was thrown in to that nightmare of a situation what language do people suggest he use to go on national world wide TV? It’s all he knows when standing up and making a speech. It is important that he be as clear as possible and to protect himself emotionally therefore again we have people demanding how one should act and behave and now what words/language are acceptable. To me they are cruel and pathetic.

In my opinion people are looking to blame someone for this tragedy and it looks like the real criminal/s got away due to alleged police errors/untrue leaks therefore the McCann’s are easy targets.

Mandz said...

What do people want form this couple? They had said and said again they played no part in the disappearance of their beautiful daughter and there is no concrete evidence against them nor have they been CHARGED.

There is a disgusting dislike and jealously from people. It’s almost like ha ha it has happened to “middle class” parents and the dislike of preferential treatment some rich people have shown them and how Kate looks to a degree.

What should matter is that there is a little girl missing aged 3 years taken from her bed in Portugal and the police are no further forward with regards to who TOOK HER??? That is more important than middle, working or upper class or what size of house they live in or how ugly or attractive Kate is or how arrogant Gerry appears. I DON’T CARE ONE BIT however I care about WHERE AND WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THIS LITTLE GIRL – IS ANYONE CLOSE IN FINDING HER??? I would like to see her found and returned to her parents everything else it does NOT MATTER. People are too busy hampering on about the parents however where is MADDIE in all of this???

Anonymous said...

ABSOLUTELY MANDZ

well said


MELBEL

Thinking of you all, good luck...... ;o)))

melbel said...

Hi Mandz
Check the tws site. Cannot understand what is happening.
A clone

Tinkerbell43 said...

Hey Melbel,

And dont come back without that little bundle either :0)

Thinking of you, look forward to hearing your good news - soon! xxx

Hi to anyone else here,

Just making sure there are no trolls about!! Bye for now.

melbel said...

Tinks
Thank goodness you are there. Someone has cloned Mandz on vile site.

melbel said...

Anyone online
Someone has cloned Mandz on vile site.

Tinkerbell43 said...

Hey Melbel,

Just looking in, not to worry, Mandz has been advised. I believe whoever it is, only opened a blog I.D as of todays date!

The extremes some people go to eh! Whoever it is, is so thick, they need upgrading to simple!

Bye for now xx

Anonymous said...

mandz's clone

go back in the hole you just crawled out of.

loser

melbel said...

You have posted 5 comments, cloning mandz on the other site.
The moderators will be able to trace your details.
You are offensive and not very bright, as you will be caught.

melbel said...

Sorry, TINKS
I did not read back, so did not think that anyone else was online.
It is unbelievable.
Thanks for good wishes and will keep you posted.off now, but if anyone posts, in my name, for next two days, it is not me !
Gina, in fairness, sussed it and challenged her.
take care and have good week x

melbel said...

Really last thought, but an authentic sounding anon, has challenged notdoc and he has named his patients again, online.
That cannot be a doctor.

The Candy Floss blog really sucks said...

See you Melbel

Hope everything goes well.

x

melbel said...

Cheers Sass Wonder if I should delete any of my last posts.
Please go ahead, if so.
keep you posted
Take care
Really gone now x x x

The Candy Floss blog really sucks said...

Melbel

Why do you wonder if you should delete your posts?

:-( said...

Love your blog!

Mandz said...

Melbel!

Thanks for that and to the false “Mandz” on VIV site you are obviously using my blog name and photo therefore you are indeed cloning me however try and think of a name for yourself and photo if you have a brain and can think for yourself.

The Candy Floss blog really sucks said...

Hiya Mandz

Was going to suggest you changed your avatar. At least we know (for a while) which one is the clone!

Mandz said...

I am NOT the "Mandz" on Viv site whatsover however "Mandz on Viv site is obviously out to cause trouble by taking my blog name and same Avatar??? Come on "Mandz" grow up & get a life.

The Candy Floss blog really sucks said...

Hiya Mandz

Tinks and I have our fingers on the delete button for any clones!

Mandz said...

Sass,

15:28 Is not me....Will change my photo again.......

Mandz said...

Sass,

Here I am the real me!! New avatar!

Rosiepops said...

Mandz will you email me please. thanks xxx

The Candy Floss blog really sucks said...

Very nice Mandz!

Rosiepops said...

Thanks Mandz. x

Rosiepops said...

Sass

Do you want to launch online IP checker yet?

Anonymous said...

hi guys

how are things?

Just on at coffee break for a mo.....

Anonymous said...

sorry very slow will delete 2nd of my duplicate post. sorry......!!!

The Candy Floss blog really sucks said...

Go for it Rosie!

Rosiepops said...

Sorry the site may appear to be slow, this is the online IP checker kicking in.

Bear with it, eventually it will get a little faster.

Anonymous said...

ha ha ha SASS

daffs.....subliminal message perhaps????

;o) ;o) ;o) ;o) ;o)

Rosiepops said...

Jane

how is the site now, is it OK? Back to normal?

Anonymous said...

seems to be

The Candy Floss blog really sucks said...

Jane

I hadn't even thought of that! I've gone off them now!

Anonymous said...

something sour here. very

my coffee tastes odd perhaps?

sour .....

;o(((

The Candy Floss blog really sucks said...

Jane

As was said on the DX "Oh no, we're in the Twiglet zone"!!!

Anonymous said...

Hi to anyones who is here (or should it be there?)

What the h.... is going on? All h... has broken loose on TWS. Something to do with cloning, Marga and Mandz and Rosie instructing us here (there) how to do it. Have I gone mad? (did get a bang on the head in the supermercado today but didn't think it was that damaging)

Rosiepops said...

Hi Helen

we have had an idiot clone and Sass and myself have been helping people through it, apparently we should not do this? Weird people.

a person has been cloning some people, we have turned on IP checker.

Instead of Viv taking action and control of her blog she is letting it descend into chaos and now no one knows who is who over there anymore, I guess we will get the blame for it. lol

We are in the process of sorting this out, there may be a few changes but bear with us, it will make the blog more secure.

So no you haven't banged your head and given yourself a HI but I think the clone has.

I think this is probably Muldoon/arepa/doubting Thomas/etc

Rori Hegarty said...

melbel, if you are here later,just wondering if there is any sign of the baby yet? I suppose they dont make an enterance until they are good and ready !

Rosiepops said...

Is that so Clone? I would not be too sure if I were you. still that is for you to find out.

The Candy Floss blog really sucks said...

Hiya Isis

We are having a spot of "clone" trouble at the moment. Some moron is writing in Mandz's name.

As far as Melbel is concerned - she left earlier on as she said it looked like things were happening.

Anonymous said...

Really the language on here!! Would that be with cream?

Rori Hegarty said...

Thanks , you can pass on my wishes to her if shes on later. Cloning is a problem on all blogs at the moment. I think regular readers of both blogs can spot the real bloogers as opposed to the clones.

The Candy Floss blog really sucks said...

Isis

Will do! Once the baby is here, she won't be around for a while, but as soon as she is I'll tell her!

How you doing anyway?

The Candy Floss blog really sucks said...

Helen

Did you get the blogspot addy through the nowwherearewe address?

Anonymous said...

Sassy don't know what you are talking about. Just trying to get e mails sent to me but says my e -mail has not been verified. Have unsubscribed now.

Rori Hegarty said...

Im good thanks sassy,have just finished a night duty stint in an acute psychiatric unit and think that even though its a locked unit some may have followed me home,judging by the comments on all blogs.

The Candy Floss blog really sucks said...

Isis

A couple definitely escaped!

The Candy Floss blog really sucks said...

Helen

I mean how did you know about the site in the first place? Did you send me an e-mail or did you find it some other way?

Anonymous said...

Isis that is the second best laugh I have had today. Methinks you are right!

Anonymous said...

Sassy is this you? Give me an inkling of what you're on about! Do you have my e mail address, the one I have in Portugal, ending with ca. If you do please e mail me.

Rosiepops said...

Just been reading Docrot on TWS, I see I am coming on for a mention again.
Someone takes him on and I get it, he really is funny.
He now thinks he knows what I do for a living, how stupid and how wrong. Way off too. lol
Notdoc, sort yourself out and leave me out of your rantings.

Anonymous said...

I feel desperately sad at the behavious of some on all blogs today. The posts are grossly offensive. GROSSLY.

One states Aunty Phil ATE Madeleine. That is grossly offensive and sick beyond words.

This really has to be stopped. Allowing such posts to stay is negligent in the extreme whilst they criticise this blog. At least here action is taken to try to prevent disrtion on a grand scale as as been seen today on all these blogs.

Inhumane. To stoop as low as this is showing severe mental dysfunction. I joke not. Most distressing.

Anonymous said...

Sassy, have you got my e mail, just sent it to you. CCouldn't get on the site unless I have an invitation, as I am now on I presume you have unblocked me (sound like a toilet!!) either that or I am really going to have to go to the docs (not rotdoc)

Anonymous said...

I agree Jane, just had a look myself and they had the cheek to say that we were allowing gerry's post to remain. To be fair itwas an anon who said that.

Frightened now to leave the site as every time I do I have to sign in (not all that easy when the blogger account comes up in Portuguese).

Feel the need of that last cadbury creme egg. How long will it take to defrost?

Rori Hegarty said...

Jane , agree with you it certainly disgusting and makes very disturbing reading. Hopefully they will get fed up and just go away as they are here with no agenda except to disgust and upset.

The Candy Floss blog really sucks said...

Helen

I explained why that happened in the e-mail I sent you

The Candy Floss blog really sucks said...

It was Nanda/Marga stirring again! Typical - what she won't do to get brownie points with Vile or Arsabliar!

Anonymous said...

Sassy, thanks just read it.

Rosiepops said...

Isis

I think this is Muldoon/Arepa/Doubting Thomas

This person is pretty ticked off with all of us, as they know they are not welcome on any of the blogs.

The Candy Floss blog really sucks said...

Re: Nanda/Marga

It was her saying we were allowing the posts is what I meant by that.

Anonymous said...

who could welcome someone as sick as that? Insane is totally inadequate for this mentality.

Anonymous said...

SASS

What a lovely little dog there. We need something to smile about in this desperately low atmosphere in the blogs.

Lovely colours. Makes you want to hug the screen!!!!!!

HELEN

go for it and eat it. Put it on warm widowsill and it'll be 'cooked' in an hour....hee hee hee

Rosiepops said...

Nanda/Marga

Why do you have to try and cause trouble? For goodness sake grow up!

Rori Hegarty said...

Rosie, dont know who it is , but to see the beautiful child in question and to read the psychotic ramblings is beyond perversion.

The Candy Floss blog really sucks said...

Jane

I know - if that little dog was here now I wouldn't be online anymore!

You put me off daffodils, but I prefer this piccie anyway!

Rosiepops said...

Helen

Put in the microwave for 30 seconds on defrost it thaws from inside to out so it should be OK.

If it doesn't work get a spoon lol

Rosiepops said...

Oops dont forget to take it out of the foil first or you may blow the magnatron lol

Rosiepops said...

Isis

I cannot begin to fathom the workings of a mind like that, all I can say is they need help.

The Candy Floss blog really sucks said...

Helen

It's weird that you're having that problem. Mandz is also having problems. Just checked the blog Dashboard and there is nothing to say that work is being carried out.

Mandz said...

Hi All........

I'm back the real Mandz!

Anonymous said...

ha ha ha HELEN

WITH THAT AVATAR??

You said you 'sound like a toilet' in your post earlier,

well

might I add...you also LOOK like one.

Change into something else please. You make me get a chill in my kidneys...... ;o))

Is your egg 'boiled' in microwave now???

Anonymous said...

MANDZ HI TO YOU

bet you feel you've been in a fight, don't you?

nice to see 'you'.....

;o)))

Mandz said...

Absolutely Jane!

I think it must be Muldoon or Arepa or this DoubtingThomas? So childish.

The Candy Floss blog really sucks said...

I vote that we delete all of Mandz's posts "just in case"! Who's with me?!!!

The Candy Floss blog really sucks said...

Mandz

Arepa IS Doubting Thomas!

Mandz said...

Sass,
Arepa is DThomas? how do you know? I am obviously away behind!

Don't delete my posts!!!!

The Candy Floss blog really sucks said...

Mandz

Because Doubting Thomas wrote a long post about her husband having had an affair. Rosie asked about what the husband was doing and Arepa carried on the story! Then she quickly deleted it, but not before some of us had read it.

Tinkerbell43 said...

Evening All,

Just popping in while tea's on the go. How's it going ?

The Candy Floss blog really sucks said...

Tinks

It's a blast!

Anonymous said...

Good evening you fine ladies!! Don't block me again Sassy, it is me!!

For the uninitiated of you the creme egg has now been eaten STRAIGHT from the freezer! Do you know that the inside of a creme egg doesn't freeze? Well you do now. Apart from a few wobbly teeth (can I boroow yours Mum?) I managed to suck the top off and hey presto! nice and soft inside.

Sassy I think the Marga on TWS was cloned and it was the clone who told us off. IMHO

Rosiepops said...

mandz

Have you managed to get back again?

Anonymous said...

Lastly and this is the last of my joviality for the night, for those who have read the back posts I told Isis that she had given me the second best laugh of the day. The first was my daughter informing me that the kitten she has been calling RUBY for the last two weeks is in fact a BOY. To her dismay she found this out when she took said kitten to the vets for the innoculations, already having booked the kitten in under the name of RUBY!!!

Now we are on the hunt for a new name. My suggestion was RUBIC rub for Ruby and ic for you know what! My daughter was not amused. Any thoughts friends?

Tinkerbell43 said...

Hi Helen,

How about Gerrard as in Stevie Gerrard!

Anonymous said...

helen

you know, I would not put it past anyone of that mentality to clone a clone of a clone of themselves, accuse someone else, then clone them too. If you get my drift...????!! Never ending clones, more than posters in the end, which is not that far from the truth. Several people all the same person???????!!!

yep

Anonymous said...

HELEN
you he to name the poor cat

clawed ear

or

notdoc

or

pussoff


;o))

do I win an egg??? I have my own beautiful teeth.....

Anonymous said...

Tinks,

As if!!!

She (daughter) has suggested ROONEY as she says it has nearly the same sound as RUBY.

Tinkerbell43 said...

Helen,

How 'bout Rafa :0)

Anonymous said...

I know HELEN


instead of

LIBERACE

LIRUBACE??

COUGH SPLUTTTER OK AM OFF NOW.

NO NEED TO BE LIKE THAT IS THERE? OUCH

THAT HURT

The Candy Floss blog really sucks said...

Helen

Ruboy

Tinkerbell43 said...

Helen,

or, last offer, Rushy.

Anonymous said...

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

SASS

BEST ONE YET.....HA HA HA


I WAS ABOUT TO POST

rambo
OR
CONFUCIOUS
OR
CONFUSED.COM AN INTERCAT....
HEE HEE

OH DEAR. time to lie down in a dark room again.........

YOURS IS BETTER. HEE HEE


WHAT AN ANTIDOTE FOR THE STUFF THAT WENT BEFORE......

Anonymous said...

Jane,

I take back what I said about the poster Marga, she does not deserve my (obviously) misguided support. I see she has been slagging off posters on here along with TW saying it is a poster from here cdoing the cloning!! Cheek of it.

Anonymous said...

HELEN

nothing new there then, as they always blame us even when we are not here, not in this country or whatever. It's their hobby. You will find that name comes up a lot. All 5 of them. hee hee

Anonymous said...

Showing your age now Tinks!

Anonymous said...

HELEN

correction

You mean, the posterS Marga.

They increase by the day....

The Candy Floss blog really sucks said...

Helen

No, because it is wet ol' Nanda/Marga who reckons it couldn't have been anyone on Vile's blog because they "are interested in the truth and justice" and therefore "wouldn't go so low."

I was reading the other posts on Vile's and apparently Mandz was cloned because we wanted to "cover ourselves".

The crowning comments to this moronic opus:

"Although we don't really know each other, I sense that people who defend Maddie and all the children victims of some kind of crime and evil wouldn't ever be so fake to come here pretending to be other ones."

If that woman is a teacher (I thought before she said that she worked in a cake shop - that's quite a career move she made there) then

a) that's bl**dy frightening
b) those poor poor children must be sitting in the classroom wearing raincoats and carrying umbrellas all day!!!

Honestly, how many brain cells does a person need to keep functioning at a basic level?

The Candy Floss blog really sucks said...

She was like that on the DX too. "Oh Alsabella you are the best" "Oh Claudia you are a kind compassionate person" (that's when I knew a screw was loose).

The Candy Floss blog really sucks said...

Rosie

Mandz is going to try again later.
x

The Candy Floss blog really sucks said...

Rambo is nice for a cat, Jane! Or Fang, or Gnasher or, like my friend's chihuahua is called Mr T!

The Candy Floss blog really sucks said...

Am going to make a few changes to the settings, so if you get booted off, sorry! Check your e-mails if you have problems getting back on again.

Anonymous said...

R

Anonymous said...

Rambo, Fang, Gnasher!!!

Have you seen the kittens sweet face? Look at the other avatar, not very clear I know, only picture I have at the moment.

melbel said...

Testing testing

melbel said...

Testing testing

Anonymous said...

Any news Melbel?

Mum21 said...

Good Evening All,

Well I logged in as normal. But I could still see all the posts before I logged in.
Should I be able to do that?

Tinkerbell43 said...

Hi Mum,

Not too sure. I know Sass is changing some settings ?

Mum21 said...

Ok Tinks...lets just wait and see.

Mandz said...

1) Hi All...& Maybe bye??!!

Ahhh I can sit down now...phew...!! What a nightmare getting on!

Mandz said...

1) Sass....don't touch a thing!

melbel said...

Evening all
Hope you are ok. We are still playing the waiting game, but in situ, at the daughters now and they have kept her now.
What a day.can use their computer a little, but grandparent duties and all.
my daughter number two, phoned to say that I was cloned on TWS.
Could not understand how google let two people on, with same avator and name.
I am afraid that I know little about computers, but if anybody could give any advice, I would be very grateful.
Got your e mail, Sass and finally got on the blog, having forgotten my password and unable to read the tiny writing to avoid spamming.
Is this a private blog, invite only now ?
Who would do all that cloning? Must be a disturbed person, but I would not rule out dad23.
Just seeing if this prints, now.
They are on dial up .?

The Candy Floss blog really sucks said...

Mandz

Ya made it!

Melbel - hiya. Nowt happened then!

Mum21 said...

Mandz,
I came on as normal...nothing seemed to have changed.
Perhaps I may not be so lucky next time.:-)

archer said...

Hello my lurvlees

Hope you are all well.

What has been going on today???

Mandz said...

1) Sass I made it! Was just about to send a pigeon to your flat with my post as no joy with this site!!!

Melbel were you cloned? Hope all well and not too long now! So exciting!

Mandz said...

1) Mum21 I could not get on for hours! there was a spanner and screwdriver icon on the front of the blog however internet explorer kept coming up when I tried to see the posts? Strange?

melbel said...

Hi Helen
I think madge was the decentish poster, not marga. Maybe I got that wrong.

Mandz said...

1) Hi Tinks!

Nice to see you! Yes it was a nightare trying to get on and as for being cloned why would google allow this and I hope Viv site are aware that it was not me!

melbel said...

Tinks Hi.This is the real me. I am beginning to doubt myself, now !
I came via the e mail.x

Anonymous said...

Melbel, you're right it was Madge. The poster who didn't agree wit TW displaying the photograph of another child next to one of the Mccann children.

Reading 'in situ' thought you were talking about the baby!!!

Mandz said...

1) Yawn yawn...........

Tinkerbell43 said...

Mandz,

Viles posters, well, the one or two sane ones she has, will know it wasn't you. As for the rest, well they're not worth bothering about, they'll only believe what they want to believe or what they are told to believe anyway. A majority are only puppets.

Mandz said...

1)when are the PJ coming is it next tue...? Look forward to the McCann status being lifted and the search goes on...

melbel said...

Hi sass and mandz
She is in labour, as we speak, but I am at their house, now.
mandz, wasn't that awful ?
How could that happen and with the sme avator /
Must be someone with good knowledge.
Gina did challenge your clone, mandz, when I was reading and it was so unlike you, that the regulars knew.
My comment was three words, so that was not me either !
sass, is this private now ?
it is nice, if so.

This keyboard is black and a great strain on eyes. Also, I get cut off, if someone rings, so may disappear, !x

Anonymous said...

Should be lockdown soon, right Tinks?

The Candy Floss blog really sucks said...

Marga

Why should we leave your posts on? All you are trying to do is stir yet again.

Apart from that there is nothing interesting in them and after you have annoyed us all you are going to do is go back to Vile and ask for her approval that you came here. Ooooh you're so brave!

We don't need permission from Rosie for anything - go away you weird person. YOu are one of the most idiotic posters around - go and talk about your flowers in the garden or whatever it was you went on and on and on about on the DX.

Tinkerbell43 said...

Helen,

Yup! btw, its 1-1

Anonymous said...

I'm glad for you Tinks. Is it on ITV?

Tinkerbell43 said...

Taxi for Marga!

The Candy Floss blog really sucks said...

I'm sorry should I have left Marga's oh-so interesting posts on - the ones asking if Mandz was inspired by the sun and the moon? What was all that about? Then challenging me to leave that rubbish on? I don't think so.

Mandz said...

1) Marga,

You here that? That is the sound of no one caring....You are insignificant and I see you have picked the perfect time to humiliate yourself in public - well done.

Mum21 said...

Mandz, It is very easy to steal a persons avatar. All you have to do is right click on the original and save it to your computer.
It also looks like Google do not care how many people log on with the same ID. That does surprise me.

Tinkerbell43 said...

Helen, its on Sky Sports 2. My nails are gone on one hand!

Anonymous said...

That's why I haven't had a phone call yet from nearest and dearest. Haven't got sky sports here, who are Liverpool playing?

Tinkerbell43 said...

Helen, The Gooners!

The Candy Floss blog really sucks said...

Helen

You aren't a member of our elite yet! If you get kicked off, go to your e-mails and click the first link!

Then you can log in again and we are now troll free because we are a

P R I V A T E B L O G!!! (Members only)

We won't be staying like this though - it's just to give the annoying people time to get bored. Probably leave it on overnight and then tomorrow give others a chance to come back as there are some people whose e-mails we don't have.

Handy little function though, isn't it.

Mandz said...

1) Mum21,
Well it is pathetic really and childish. Who could be bothered doing that? It says a lot about their mental state..

The Candy Floss blog really sucks said...

Mandz

You don't need to do your 1) anymore!

Anonymous said...

Well if I have to choose a side it has to be Liverpool - to win of course. Can't say I'm a fan of either actually but I do support English clubs over any other. That not being the case here, it is the lesser of two evils!!!lol

melbel said...

I am not keping up well, tonight, on a different computer, but could I say, that I have never and will never post on Viles, as too like the DE, too hostile and bigotted and I would never want them to see my e mail etails.
I know that people have told me, that this cannot be done, but as a greenhorn, I always think things could go wrong.
if you ever see a post anywhere else, it is not me !

The Candy Floss blog really sucks said...

Melbel

Will remember that!

SeaWitch said...

Good evening everyone.

Crivens! is it a full moon or something? Reading the posts, it seems someone thinks they're really funny and oh-so-clever by cloning others.

Get a job, loser.....

melbel said...

Sass
Am I going crosseyed or did a person called marga just get on ?
How would she have done that ?

Tinkerbell43 said...

Me neither Melbel. My DE days are long behind me, I need no reminding, lol.

The Candy Floss blog really sucks said...

Having our members only blog is really going to put a spanner in the works for Claudia who is making a collection of the posts!

SeaWitch said...

Mandz and jane,

Am I forgiven for my assaults upon Scotland yesterday?

I have a Scottish name, if that helps....!

Mum21 said...

That is great Sass...I just went then tried coming back...and I had to log in.
That will get them going over at Vile's blog. te he he

Anonymous said...

Sassy I have don as instructed, am I creme da la creme yet?

Mum21 said...

Helen...Be sensible. How can you be creme da la creme with your backside hanging out of your trousers? Not a pretty sight! te he he

Anonymous said...

hi guys

See we have been disturbed by imposter yet again? Haven't seen any posts, as daughter came in ill... so doing 'nurse' duties for a long time......mental.

MELBEL

I did see you too were cloned on TWS and you are not monosyllabic and 3 worded....ever!!! Instantly knew it was certainly not you. You also were away for reasons we all know about. So did not want to worry you with it. I hope all goes well for you over next while. Thoughts are with you all.

off to catch up on all these misse posts now. Pity I can't see the raving deleted onew too. I need a laug. Not too chirpy here.

HELEN

got cat's name yet??? Sass's one was brilliant. 'ruboy'

Anonymous said...

Jane,

You rang!!!

melbel said...

Nite Everbody
Will log off now, as phone keeps going.
Thanks for good wishes, everyone. Won't be long now.
Thank you isis, jane and all
All take care
Imitation, is a form of flattery.
That lot, never had an original thought in their heads,
Take care x x x

Anonymous said...

SEAWITCH

what? nothing to forgive. We were joshing....again. or is it 'still'???

I hate whisky so agreed with you ..

they will be busting a gut over there, not able to copy and paste our posts ha ha ha ha ha good. they will now be subjected to reading their own. painful.....

HELEN

I told you earlier to change.....you are indecently drressed in a high wind. oh dearie me. Now dear, be gentile. Put a cat one up please. purrrrleeease...??? MUM21 took words out my mouth in her post to you. Hi Mum21 hope you are well. What a crazy day it has been, that's for sure. Sick.

Read back posts. Nothing much going on then apart from 'shutting the door'....tee hee

The Candy Floss blog really sucks said...

Bye Melbel

When we next hear from you, you'll be a grandma+1!!!

Tinkerbell43 said...

Goodnight Melbel, sorry, I'm engrossed in a big match at the moment. look forward to hearing from you tomorrow. Take care xx

Anonymous said...

Jane I agree Ruboy has a certain ring to it!!. However having just spoken to her highness (my daughter) she wasn't impressed!! Now knowing that we have to put an end to cat naming very soon (it can't get in the way of baby naming, for we as chosen godmothers of Melbel's grandchild shall have to rack our brains for a suitable name!!) being a Man U fanatic she has settled for ROONEY!!! She has no chance in August of me shouting that out to get it in!!

The Candy Floss blog really sucks said...

Helen and Mum

You are both members of the elite now! Congratulations - a youtube video showing a funny handshake will be posted asap!

The others can't even read the posts to this place let alone the comments!

The Candy Floss blog really sucks said...

Rooney - like the ID bracelet Delboy gave to Rodney!

Anonymous said...

ha ha ha HELEN

YOU GO FROM BAD TO WORSE TO SUBLIME. HEE HEE. I SHALL TAKE YOU UPSTAIRS TO MY DAUGHTER NOW MATRON. SOMETHING HAS BEEN 'WORKING ON HER' FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS NOW. SHE ATE AND ATE AND ATE YESTERDAY AND NOW WON'T TOUCH A THING, NOT EVEN FRESH ORANGE OR FRUIT. CAN'T FIGURE IT OUT.

Hmmmmmm. That syringe is almost as scary as your rear end Helen. I don't know which is worse. PUT the CAT on purrrlease. what name have you chosen? Ruboy is good don't you think?

Is MELBEL still around? Let us know when there is news. Please.

Anonymous said...

Sassy, are you married? I only ask as I see you have a lot in common with my son, he is fanatical (seems to be a trait of our family!!) about Only Fools & Horses.

Thing is when a Man U supporter shout s Rooney they do it like this



ROOOOOOOOOOOOO NEY

Can you imagine it, late at night, they'll send the yellow van for me!!

The Candy Floss blog really sucks said...

Helen

No not married, but with someone who is fanatic about Only Fools and Horses!!! I'm actually amazed he understands it - with a dvd he always wants the subtitles on, but he managed fine without them too!

How old is your son?

Anonymous said...

Thought this was more appropriate, ready to grant Melbel's grandchild 3 wishes and sprinkle a little stardust to keep her/him safe.

Anonymous said...

HELEN

good job you don't live here now, as if you yelled 'rooney' out your door for cat's return, god knows who would stagger in to your house. ha ha ha

SASS

good one that, rodney's engraving 'rooney' forgot that one. brilliant. ha ha ha

SEAWITCH

where are you?

Anonymous said...

23 years old, a lovely lad. Sister doesn't think so as he had cottoned on to the fact that the kitten was a boy a week ago. Oh well!

My son usually ruins it for us when we are watching dvd's of Delboy as he always tells us what they are going to say next!!

Anonymous said...

you know an awful large number of us have chosen avatars with 'wings' for some odd reason, before this blog started up even.....


hmmmmmmmmmmmm!

SeaWitch said...

I'm still here, Jane!

Your car all fixed now? Was there any damage to the wheel after all?

I see at least one nutter is rampaging round Viv's site as well as ours.

Some of the posts sound like Diddleydoo back on the crack again......

archer said...

Helen, thats a lovely gesture. x

I needed a bit of cheering up today, and looked on TWS. (Just to see if there was any light relief) -there was - the 1336hrs post from an anon . Any of you read it?

The Candy Floss blog really sucks said...

Bit young for me then! I'm 39!

I think I know quotes from Delboy off by heart!

archer said...

Seawitch

Probably the same RagMa that was here! lol

It's not a full moon, is it?

Rosiepops said...

Hi everyone

Has Mandz made it back yet?

archer said...

Hi Rosie

Where did she go???? 1)MANDZ

Anonymous said...

I note Marga has as many accents as faces.

When angry se has perfect English.

When 'pleading' she has very broken English and poor word combinations etc. Oh dear. What a ridiculous person to think such blatant imitation would never be seen. She defies belief. Literally.

Unbelievable.


with cause too................

MANDZ She didn't say 'sun and moon' to you, she said

SUN AND 'MOND'.

???

see what I mean??? She comes on our blog and challenges US to leave HER stupid posts on it?

Delusions of grandeur and psychotic too. Wow.

What a hun she is. All of them.

Rosiepops said...

Where is everyone?

Helen are you lurking? I bet you are!
Reveal yourself this instant!

(I said reveal yourself NOT relieve yourself lol)

SeaWitch said...

Archer

Re the full moon - that's what I said at 20:51! LOL!

archer said...

Jane HI

surely you mean faeces....

Rosiepops said...

Hi archer

mandz has been having internet problems am hoping to hear from her soon.

Rosiepops said...

hh

Rosiepops said...

rotflmao

Christabel said...

OH no you don't Helen

Rosiepops said...

beat you LOL

SeaWitch said...

Rosie,

I think Helen is revealing quite enough of herself already. Please don't encourage her to bare any more.....!

Rosiepops said...

christabel

nur nur nur nur nur

«Oldest ‹Older   1 – 200 of 343   Newer› Newest»

Minute For Madeleine McCann

Locate IP Address on Map