Robin Williams

[P. G. Tipps]

I see that Robin Williams's daughter had felt the need to withdraw from from a couple of social media sites due to mean-spirited comments aimed at her recently deceased father. Sadly It seems that mean-spiritedness is not confined to such platforms.

So predictable and typical of the arrogant 'this forum should be made in our group image' type of comment which has driven so many much-missed 'free-thinkers' away, which, incidentally, is a subject of some discussion in another place.

The only real criticism here has been for the grossly hyperbolic response of the media to the sad demise of Mr Williams. The same was true with pop-star Michael Jackson some years ago.

Furthermore, nobody here has to share in the adulation of Mr Williams' brand of humour any more than everybody applauded Mrs Thatcher's brand of politics at the time of her death. Brahms respectfully attended Bruckner's funeral even though he despised the latter's music.

People are different and, thankfully, do not all share the same opinions, but that does not mean they have to be nasty to each other!

[Bryn]

Thank you for claiming the cap. Though it may fit, it does not suit you any more than it would another.

[P. G. Tipps]

Thank you for claiming the cap. Though it may fit, it does not suit you any more than it would another.

I'm not interested in claiming anything or whatever label you might love to pin on other members.

I (and others) are simply expressing an opinion which as you know perfectly well has nothing remotely to do with personally abusive comments about the late Mr Williams' on 'social media' which, understandably, greatly upset his poor daughter.

[Bryn]

Message #24 made no specific reference to this forum, or anyone using it. It made a general point about mean-spirtedness not being confined to the social media from which the late Robin Williams's daughter had found the need to withdraw. That someone here found the comment fitted their approach to this thread is their problem.

[Nick Armstrong]

am I the only member to be somewhat bewildered by the completely over-the-top and hyperbolic reaction to his sad death?

I have to confess that I didn't find Mr Williams' brand of American humour in the least funny, (he was not exactly unique in that), and I certainly was surprised that so many appeared to be fooled into thinking that much of it was 'spontaneous'.

Fellow comic actor Alexei Sayle is quoted as saying ... 'It was only through watching him that I saw that what seemed spontaneous was in fact the result of a huge amount of work.'

I didn't find it surprising that there was widespread coverage of the fact of his sudden death - the contrast between his sad end and the public persona plus the extent of his work, made that inevitable. However the nature of it veered towards the grotesque, and I share your reaction at the print (mainly tabloid) media's slavering prurience yesterday - nauseating and over the top.

I also saw the Sayle interview and yes, noted the very phrase you quote - but that doesn't diminish Williams in my eyes, rather the opposite: when I think of 'improvised comedy', I'm not hoodwinked into thinking it's all spur of the moment - of course, it's the brilliant accessing and combining and delivery of a huge store of material harnessed to natural technique and personality... So as well as being hilarious, there's immense work and artistry. Great! Sure, it's sad you don't find his work at all funny, but you're entitled to be in that minority of course.

So predictable and typical of the arrogant ....

People are different and, thankfully, do not all share the same opinions, but that does not mean they have to be nasty to each other!

Agreed also - and so it's also a bit sad you had to deploy words like 'predictable', 'typical' and 'arrogant', no?

[P. G. Tipps]

The last sentence of #24 certainly gives the clear impression that you were referring to other members of this Forum.

If not, it might have been a bit more helpful if you had indicated to whom or what you were referring rather than simply implying and now seemingly claiming there was no implication intended whatsoever?

Everyone here has their own unique approach to threads, and, apart from our own, those are not dictated by you, myself or anyone else, and that's exactly how it should be, I'd have thought.

[amateur51]

The last sentence of #24 certainly gives the clear impression that you were referring to other members of this Forum.

If not, it might have been a bit more helpful if you had indicated to whom or what you were referring rather than simply implying and now seemingly claiming there was no implication intended whatsoever?

Everyone here has their own unique approach to threads, and, apart from our own, those are not dictated by you, myself or anyone else, and that's exactly how it should be, I'd have thought.

Self-evident I'd say and no-one's arguing with you.

Back you go under the bridge now

[Bryn]

Re. #30, I made no claim to lack of intended implication. However, the point was expressed as a generalised one. Sure it was something of a baited trap, and it was walked right into.

[P. G. Tipps]

Agreed also - and so it's also a bit sad you had to deploy words like 'predictable', 'typical' and 'arrogant', no?

Yes, I willingly accept that point!

In retrospect, I had very similar thoughts after I had posted ...

[amateur51]

Yes, I willingly accept that point!

In retrospect, I had very similar thoughts after I had posted ...

There is both an 'edit' and a 'delete' button and it's not too late to employ either

[P. G. Tipps]

Re. #30, I made no claim to lack of intended implication. However, the point was expressed as a generalised one. Sure it was something of a baited trap, and it was walked right into.

It might have been better if you had simply retracted your ' non-lack of intended implication', as it clearly reflected most unfairly on other members of this forum, rather than continuing to vaguely justify it by continuing to pretend you were 'generalising', whilst at the same time admitting you were busy laying 'baited traps' for unsuspecting members!

[P. G. Tipps]

There is both an 'edit' and a 'delete' button and it's not too late to employ either

Thank you kindly, boss ... have you ever considered adopting a similar policy with some of your own posts?

There is nothing like leading by example, you know!

[amateur51]

Thank you kindly, boss ... have you ever considered adopting a similar policy with some of your own posts?

There is nothing like leading by example, you know!

No I've tried that ... and it hasn't worked

[Nick Armstrong]

Yeah, you should see Ammy's posts before he edits them...



Maybe we can move on, with a quote from the late, great?

You know the difference between a tornado and divorce in the South? Nothing! Someone is losing a trailer.

[Don Petter]

Another angle here:

http://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/aug/19/robin-williams-barry-norman-film-critic-sentimentality