Are we currently witnessing mass hysteria?

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andya700

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I only ask that, because I have tapped into another forum, in order to see why so many people think it is normal to join a queue to see something which is not vaguely entertaining or fullfilling, or even interesting. We now know someone who went up to London yesterday, got interviewed on the telly (they had released the video of themselvs being interviewed less than 15 minutes later) and that was their sole purpose - to say that they had been there and been on the telly.
They have done this before, they are attention seekers, narcissistic twonks, it is never about the place or person they have gone to see, it is all about them and showing off.
How many people are like that nowadays?
I will post a few comments from the said forum.

"I've been watching the live stream on and off. It's strangely hypnotic. It reminds me of the early days of Big Brother when I used to watch the live stream all evening when I knew that very rarely anything would happen."

"It's beyond madness now .
All mass/social media driven sadly :("

"So many brain washed people waiting in the rain to see coffin of a rich lady. People have their priorities wrong"

www.mumsnet.com

anyone queuing to see the coffin in London atm? | Mumsnet

I am wondering how long the queue is and how the organisation is working out. Are there enough toilets? Is it true that the wristband allows you to le...
www.mumsnet.com www.mumsnet.com
 
300,000 filed past the last King’s coffin, apparently.

Lots of people queue for things that other people don’t think are interesting.
 
andya700 said:
I only ask that, because I have tapped into another forum, in order to see why so many people think it is normal to join a queue to see something which is not vaguely entertaining or fullfilling, or even interesting. We now know someone who went up to London yesterday, got interviewed on the telly (they had released the video of themselvs being interviewed less than 15 minutes later) and that was their sole purpose - to say that they had been there and been on the telly.
They have done this before, they are attention seekers, narcissistic twonks, it is never about the place or person they have gone to see, it is all about them and showing off.
How many people are like that nowadays?
I will post a few comments from the said forum.

"I've been watching the live stream on and off. It's strangely hypnotic. It reminds me of the early days of Big Brother when I used to watch the live stream all evening when I knew that very rarely anything would happen."

"It's beyond madness now .
All mass/social media driven sadly :("

"So many brain washed people waiting in the rain to see coffin of a rich lady. People have their priorities wrong"

www.mumsnet.com

anyone queuing to see the coffin in London atm? | Mumsnet

I am wondering how long the queue is and how the organisation is working out. Are there enough toilets? Is it true that the wristband allows you to le...
www.mumsnet.com www.mumsnet.com
Click to expand...
So true!
 
andya700 said:
I only ask that, because I have tapped into another forum, in order to see why so many people think it is normal to join a queue to see something which is not vaguely entertaining or fullfilling, or even interesting. We now know someone who went up to London yesterday, got interviewed on the telly (they had released the video of themselvs being interviewed less than 15 minutes later) and that was their sole purpose - to say that they had been there and been on the telly.
They have done this before, they are attention seekers, narcissistic twonks, it is never about the place or person they have gone to see, it is all about them and showing off.
How many people are like that nowadays?
I will post a few comments from the said forum.

"I've been watching the live stream on and off. It's strangely hypnotic. It reminds me of the early days of Big Brother when I used to watch the live stream all evening when I knew that very rarely anything would happen."

"It's beyond madness now .
All mass/social media driven sadly :("

"So many brain washed people waiting in the rain to see coffin of a rich lady. People have their priorities wrong"

www.mumsnet.com

anyone queuing to see the coffin in London atm? | Mumsnet

I am wondering how long the queue is and how the organisation is working out. Are there enough toilets? Is it true that the wristband allows you to le...
www.mumsnet.com www.mumsnet.com
Click to expand...

Each to their own - who are we to say what is interesting or fulfulling. To my friends and family, standing in a field watching a 5 hour airshow taking 2,000 pictures is none of those things! My mother in law watching Eastenders, Corrie, Emmerdale the same. Even me watching football, many would consider to be the same.... I bet though these people will remember this for ever.
 
No, it was much worse when Diana died, this seems very calm compared to then.

I also remember the queues to see the Tutankhamun artefacts at the British Musem.
Took one look and thought sod that, but tens of thousands didn't mind waiting.

All very subjective, but I think buying enough toilet paper for a lifetime qualifies more as mass hysteria.
 
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I say live and let live - why get hot and bothered about something that doesn't affect you?. For some of those people this will be deeply emotional as they will have an attachment to the Late Queen. As has been said many people do many things that other find strange or boring, but who are we/you to question that, it is their prerogative.

As a member of HM Armed Forces (and not involved directly in current events) I have also been watching events on television, because I also have a deep attachment to the monarchy (I swore to protect them, after all) and I have found some of the derision posted on social media to be, frankly, disgusting. The Late Queen was not only a monarch, she was a mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend to many.

I don't see hysteria, I see a country (in the main) in mourning over the loss of a great Monarch.

As for people getting themselves on TV and being narcissistic - once again, why get hot under the collar over it, it's their choice and freedom to do that, the fact that they may look odd to some other people is clearly of no consequence to them.
 
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FlyPhot said:
I have found some of the derision posted on social media to be, frankly, disgusting.
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One working definition of a democratic country, is that every citizen has the right to say what they like, no matter how much it annoys another person.

The basic function of the armed forces of a democratic country, is to protect that right.

If a member of the armed forces forgets either of those points, it's time for them to find a different occupation.
 
AndrewFlannigan said:
One working definition of a democratic country, is that every citizen has the right to say what they like, no matter how much it annoys another person.

The basic function of the armed forces of a democratic country, is to protect that right.

If a member of the armed forces forgets either of those points, it's time for them to find a different occupation.
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Where have I said that they aren't allowed those opinions as a democratic right? I haven't, what I did say was that I, personally, find them disgusting but I certainly wouldn't advocate people being arrested etc for voicing them (unless they are offences that you can be arrested for, of course). So your points are, well, pointless. (and, just so that your are aware, the basic function of the Armed Forces is actually to protect the Nation and its dependant territories on behalf of the Government, which is why we are 'armed').
 
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FlyPhot said:
Where have I said that they aren't allowed those opinions as a democratic right? I haven't, what I did say was that I, personally, find them disgusting but I certainly wouldn't advocate people being arrested etc for voicing them (unless they are offences that you can be arrested for, of course). So your points are, well, pointless. (and, just so that your are aware, the basic function of the Armed Forces is actually to protect the Nation and its dependant territories on behalf of the Government).
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The fact that you appear annoyed by my writing what I did, suggests to me that you fail to understand the principles of free speech.

The armed forces, like the police, have unique powers granted to them. For that reason, each member of these groups must not only subscribe to the principles of democracy but be seen to do so. If you hadn't mentioned your membership of the armed forces, I would have made no comment. As you made a point of it and then repeated it, I feel entitled to point out that you are straying towards the borders of what someone in that position should say in public.
 
AndrewFlannigan said:
One working definition of a democratic country, is that every citizen has the right to say what they like, no matter how much it annoys another person.

The basic function of the armed forces of a democratic country, is to protect that right.

If a member of the armed forces forgets either of those points, it's time for them to find a different occupation.
Click to expand...

Well we dont - firstly legally there are things we cannot say (i.e. racial insults). Secondly, there are things we should not say. We may have the right to say it but I would not walk up to an 80yo who has fallen in the street and laugh/shout at them.
 
AndrewFlannigan said:
The fact that you appear annoyed by my writing what I did, suggests to me that you fail to understand the principles of free speech.

The armed forces, like the police, have unique powers granted to them. For that reason, each member of these groups must not only subscribe to the principles of democracy but be seen to do so. If you hadn't mentioned your membership of the armed forces, I would have made no comment. As you made a point of it and then repeated it, I feel entitled to point out that you are straying towards the borders of what someone in that position should say in public.
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Well, you are entitled to your opinion, as am I.

Just because i'm in the Armed Forces doesn't reduce my right to free speech to any less than anyone else in the country (that's how democracy works ;) ).

I'm not annoyed by what you've written, I actually find it amusing. I fully understand the principles of free speech so no need to worry on that count.

And, stating that I am disgusted by what some people have said, is far, far from 'straying towards the borders of what someone in that position should say in public' - give your head a wobble please :ROFLMAO: :ROFLMAO: :ROFLMAO: .
 
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AndrewFlannigan said:
One working definition of a democratic country, is that every citizen has the right to say what they like, no matter how much it annoys another person.

The basic function of the armed forces of a democratic country, is to protect that right.

If a member of the armed forces forgets either of those points, it's time for them to find a different occupation.
Click to expand...

Would you mind telling the police that. They don't seem to have gotten the memo
 
There is a subtle and possibly pedantic difference between "freedom" and "right"......

In a democracy we have a right to vote but not enough people exercise that right.

We have freedom of speech but that does not make it 'right' to exercise that freedom.

AFAIK as @cambsno says there are specific laws against certain actions that some see as rights!!! But I suppose such confusion is inevitable in a democracy :headbang:
 
FlyPhot said:
Just because i'm in the Armed Forces doesn't reduce my right to free speech to any less than anyone else in the country (that's how democracy works ;) ).
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If someone were to be sufficiently annoyed to forward your comments to your commanding officer, I suspect that you would receive strong advice regarding excercising your right to silence. As you say, though, everone has the right to make a fool of themselves in this country.

I now await your terribly clever and cutting ripost... :naughty:
 
FlyPhot said:
I say live and let live - why get hot and bothered about something that doesn't affect you?. For some of those people this will be deeply emotional as they will have an attachment to the Late Queen. As has been said many people do many things that other find strange or boring, but who are we/you to question that, it is their prerogative.

As a member of HM Armed Forces (and not involved directly in current events) I have also been watching events on television, because I also have a deep attachment to the monarchy (I swore to protect them, after all) and I have found some of the derision posted on social media to be, frankly, disgusting. The Late Queen was not only a monarch, she was a mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend to many.

I don't see hysteria, I see a country (in the main) in mourning over the loss of a great Monarch.

As for people getting themselves on TV and being narcissistic - once again, why get hot under the collar over it, it's their choice and freedom to do that, the fact that they may look odd to some other people is clearly of no consequence to them.
Click to expand...

You seem to be the only one getting hot under the collar mate, you need to calm down. If you joined the army to protect the monarch, then I think you are way off the mark. You should have joined the army to protect your country.
 
AndrewFlannigan said:
If someone were to be sufficiently annoyed to forward your comments to your commanding officer, I suspect that you would receive strong advice regarding excercising your right to silence. As you say, though, everone has the right to make a fool of themselves in this country.

I now await your terribly clever and cutting ripost... :naughty:
Click to expand...

I can tell you with absolute certainty that if someone wrote to my Commanding Officer telling him that 'SSgt FlyPhot mentioned on a forum post that he was disgusted by some comments he'd seen on social media' the Commanding Officer would file that message directly to the bin, and probably reply (if he felt it worth it) saying that SSgt Flyphot is entitled to his opinion under free speech and that no further action would be taken.

Not very clever or cutting, just basic facts.
 
andya700 said:
You seem to be the only one getting hot under the collar mate, you need to calm down. If you joined the army to protect the monarch, then I think you are way off the mark. You should have joined the army to protect your country.
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The Oath of Allegiance is the key

Copied from the National Army Museum page

"King Charles III has succeeded his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, as both Head of State and Head of the Armed Forces.

When soldiers join the British Army they swear an Oath of Allegiance not to the government of the day, but to the King and his successors. However, ultimate authority on the Army’s deployment and use rests with Parliament and ‘the people’."

I surmise the Oath is the same whatever arm of the Armed Services one joins.

Edit
For those who immigrated to the UK and obtained UK citizenship, this page is relevant and I wonder whether those of us born here realise the hoops that citizenship applicants go through and the oath/pledge they take

www.gov.uk

Citizenship ceremonies: guidance notes (English and Welsh)

www.gov.uk www.gov.uk

NB this page clearly needs updating to reflect recent events.
 
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andya700 said:
You seem to be the only one getting hot under the collar mate, you need to calm down. If you joined the army to protect the monarch, then I think you are way off the mark. You should have joined the army to protect your country.
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I'm not getting hot under the collar, and pretty calm, mate. Don't you worry about me :)

And, for a bit more education the oath I swore stated that:

"I swear by almighty God that I will be faithful, and bear true allegiance to her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, her heirs and successors, and that I will as in duty bound, honestly and faithfully defend her Majesty, her heirs and successors in person, crown and dignity, against all enemies, and will observe and obey all orders of Her Majesty, his heirs and successors and the generals and officers set over me."​


So, you may 'think' i'm way off the mark, but clearly i'm not. And, as i've already stated, the first purpose of the Armed Forces is to to protect the Nation and its dependant territories on behalf of the Government (which is why we are 'armed')

Have a good day ;)
 
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cambsno said:
Well we dont - firstly legally there are things we cannot say (i.e. racial insults). Secondly, there are things we should not say. We may have the right to say it but I would not walk up to an 80yo who has fallen in the street and laugh/shout at them.
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Depends on who the 80 year old was, we can all think of hyperbolic situations to make our point, only problem is they do not make good arguments.
 
Here you go, something about "Free Speech"

Freedom of speech is the right to say whatever you like about whatever you like, whenever you like, right? Wrong.
'Freedom of speech is the right to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, by any means.'
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Freedom of speech and the right to freedom of expression applies to ideas of all kinds including those that may be deeply offensive. But it comes with responsibilities and we believe it can be legitimately restricted.
Click to expand...
I think, instead of claiming Freedom of Speech as a right, blah blah, instead it would better to explain whether it was legitimately restricted in these particular ciscumstances.
 
tijuana taxi said:
No, it was much worse when Diana died, this seems very calm compared to then.

I also remember the queues to see the Tutankhamun artefacts at the British Musem.
Took one look and thought sod that, but tens of thousands didn't mind waiting.

All very subjective, but I think buying enough toilet paper for a lifetime qualifies more as mass hysteria.
Click to expand...

Remember it well, as I cried my heart out for days when hearing about Diana.
 
Whilst I feel regret an old lady has passed and her family are grieving, roll on Tuesday, and life will go on as before for most of us, many other families have lost loved ones no less precious to them than the Queen was to her family.
 
I think we are currently witnessing the national obsession for queuing, "quick there is an eight hour queue in London" "pick you up in a minute mate we can't miss that"!
 
KIPAX said:
Imagine if we all had the same opinions. the same likes and dislikes and we all agreed on everyhting

What a boring world we would live in :)
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I think that is called heaven!
 
Baloo said:
I think that is called heaven!
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Quite.

Mind you if that exists, then so must hell and you know what has been said on the subject: "Heaven for the climate and hell for the conversation!"
 
tijuana taxi said:
No, it was much worse when Diana died, this seems very calm compared to then.

I also remember the queues to see the Tutankhamun artefacts at the British Musem.
Took one look and thought sod that, but tens of thousands didn't mind waiting.

All very subjective, but I think buying enough toilet paper for a lifetime qualifies more as mass hysteria.
Click to expand...
Very true. As Diana's hearse was on its final journey, people were regularly shouting, and throwing flowers at the hearse.
And as for Camilla at the time........
Hysteria is surely not an appropriate term, because it implies someone who is out of control, and what I see is a quiet dignity, mourning our late monarch.
I am not watching the wall to wall coverage on the news channels, but will be watching the funeral service and her last journey to Windsor on Monday then it will all be over.
 
It reminds me of someone I used to work with who drove to London to see the flower tributes to Lady Diana, when I said that I thought it was a bit pointless he told me that I did not understand people and had no sympathy.
A few weeks later he was repeating some of the sick jokes about her death.
Really it was all about him and the need to "enhance" his personality / reputation.
 
Suvv said:
It reminds me of someone I used to work with who drove to London to see the flower tributes to Lady Diana, when I said that I thought it was a bit pointless he told me that I did not understand people and had no sympathy.
A few weeks later he was repeating some of the sick jokes about her death.
Really it was all about him and the need to "enhance" his personality / reputation.
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I think the term is virtue signaling, we are seeing an awful lot of it right now, I am expecting at least one suicide as a mark of respect.
 
Suvv said:
Really it was all about him and the need to "enhance" his personality / reputation.
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I too, can't help but feel that's what it's all about.
 
As far as the TV coverage goes, we have various buttons on our remote control. Mass hysteria? That's a matter of opinion. Different groups in current society will view things differently. My mum, who is older than the Queen, told me yesterday that she hopes that folks will just get on with things after she goes! I've heard "like your grandma (mum)" etc. Condolences to the family. I wish them peace.
 
The one thing I noticed is how staggeringly impressive the organisation of this has been.

I know the military have secretly practised for years but with little notice and no time to plan, there's an incredible spectacle in London. There are literally thousands involved (we're running extra trains from the coast) and as far as I can see it's an amazing success.

I watched a bit of the live feed this morning. It's strangely hypnotic. It was only when they changed the guard after 5 mins or so that I realised there was an audio feed. That many people waiting in silence is almost unprecedented.

The country may be in a bit of a mess right now but when it's necessary we can still organise ceremony.
 
I don't think it's mass hysteria and what's happening in the UK right now is probably mild if we compare what happens in other parts of the world. No one has set themselves or more importantly anyone else on fire, no one has been stoned or beaten to death, mass groups aren't hacking pieces of each other off with machetes (well, not over the death of the Queen anyway,) we haven't had dozens killed in a mass crush and the army hasn't taken over.

What we have seen is IMO possibly understandable and even mild compared to what goes on in other parts of the world.

I do find some of the comments possibly from people who use any opportunity to bash Britain or the wider West and see racism everywhere nothing short of disgusting. As I said in another thread, there are those who will use any opportunity to disrupt, complain and further their own ends even a death. Some of the vile stuff coming out of the American media is also disgusting.

I haven't sat and watched news coverage but I may well watch the funeral.
 
I think Tim Rice summed up the situation nicely with the first two versus of Oh What a Circus.
 
andya700 said:
I only ask that, because I have tapped into another forum, in order to see why so many people think it is normal to join a queue to see something which is not vaguely entertaining or fullfilling, or even interesting. We now know someone who went up to London yesterday, got interviewed on the telly (they had released the video of themselvs being interviewed less than 15 minutes later) and that was their sole purpose - to say that they had been there and been on the telly.
They have done this before, they are attention seekers, narcissistic twonks, it is never about the place or person they have gone to see, it is all about them and showing off.
How many people are like that nowadays?
I will post a few comments from the said forum.

"I've been watching the live stream on and off. It's strangely hypnotic. It reminds me of the early days of Big Brother when I used to watch the live stream all evening when I knew that very rarely anything would happen."

"It's beyond madness now .
All mass/social media driven sadly :("

"So many brain washed people waiting in the rain to see coffin of a rich lady. People have their priorities wrong"

www.mumsnet.com

anyone queuing to see the coffin in London atm? | Mumsnet

I am wondering how long the queue is and how the organisation is working out. Are there enough toilets? Is it true that the wristband allows you to le...
www.mumsnet.com www.mumsnet.com
Click to expand...
I said something similar in this thread albeit briefer and a little less 'strident'. I initially referred to it as 'mild hysteria' but I think
'The Lemming Effect '

This refers to a phenomenon wherein crowds of people, across various fields of life, exhibit a certain kind of behaviour for no reason other than the fact that a majority of their peers do so.

is drawing a lot of these people into being there.
 
badlywornroy said:
I said something similar in this thread albeit briefer and a little less 'strident'. I initially referred to it as 'mild hysteria' but I think
'The Lemming Effect '

This refers to a phenomenon wherein crowds of people, across various fields of life, exhibit a certain kind of behaviour for no reason other than the fact that a majority of their peers do so.

is drawing a lot of these people into being there.
Click to expand...

I believe the modern term for this is FOMO. It's a once in a generation event - I can understand why people feel drawn to it if for no other reason than "everybody else" is doing it.

Another thing I've noticed is that it's been truly surprising which of the people I know have joined the queue. People whom I never suspected of being particularly royalist, sentimental or prone to herd like behaviour. Everybody I've asked has said they found it a very moving experience, and nobody seems to have regretted any of the time they spent in the queue. Queueing itself seems to be almost like a pilgrimage.
 
badlywornroy said:
I said something similar in this thread albeit briefer and a little less 'strident'. I initially referred to it as 'mild hysteria' but I think
'The Lemming Effect '

This refers to a phenomenon wherein crowds of people, across various fields of life, exhibit a certain kind of behaviour for no reason other than the fact that a majority of their peers do so.

is drawing a lot of these people into being there.
Click to expand...

It strikes me, that it is a bit like clapping and rattling pans for the NHS each Wednesday. I wasn't having any of that, because I knew it was absolutely pointless, it didn't save any lives and it didn't make the nurse's jobs any easier.
 
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