Madeleine McCann: The Single Thread Thread
FROM the Anorak Forums: For me, the best comment on the McCann TV Look at Us In Our Grief Special from the media perspective is today’s Guardian treatment of it.
If you go to Guardian.co.uk and search on the name McCann you will find the whole two-hour-months-in-the-preparation, presentation and breathy puffing of the docusqueaky episode is reduced to the comment “Did we need a two-hour documentary to say Gerry and Kate McCann were:
1: angry?
2 sad? ”
The whole sorry exercise has been reduced to a what was on tv last night commentary and not about the sanitised McCann angst but about the ITV News At Ten coverage of it:
The inner twist is that Sam Wollaston is not sympathising with the McCann situation or plight but with the sorry and truly disgraceful fact that the ITV newsroom standards have fallen so low the Sir Trevor MacDonald and the team felt the Lead item of News at Ten was the McCann documentary… a dated non-news story and not one news worthy item in it other than the angle we have already covered taken by yesterday’s Herald on the “if only we have a buggy” comment.
Do you ever log into Anorak and feel a sensation which can only be described as akin to a bug being skewered by a hat pin for some entomologist’s collection?
I do. I am fed–up , sick to death of it and dislike the McCann spin and story so much I can actually express it here. I do not know the full story and I now realise I never will. There will be no big breaks. The parents, friends, police and above all else the media have failed Madeleine McCann. She is not in an a Euro cellar, She is just Not.
It is not news: it is a gross reflection of the the mass hysteria still generated by the various Diana Myths. Paul touched on this the other day when he said we should be re-examining Grace Kelly’s death.
The Maddy McCann story is about as relevant as the youfful King Tut’s murder. A who dunnit it which will forever be in doubt.
They either conspired in their child’s death (at least the cover-up) along with a few friends
or she was kidnapped.
I had a call last evening from a friend who lives in the Algarve and the in joke amongst the cynical ex-pats who still live there ( and KNOW the McCanns did it) is they have all, as a ABC economic group been invited to a launch party for a new car with a lead lined spare wheel well.
The manufacturers are proud of their new meat waggon and people carrier
The Renault McCann
Time we dropped these threads and got on with the news stories. We should be commentating of the futility of it all rather than genuflecting to the dross posters we are dealing with on a second by second basis.
Confine the story to news breaks and the Hello pages…because it ain’t news. It’s about wriggling on the white card as the various pins are stuck in.
Does anyone in our group think they are Guilty? Innocent? Or do we even sodding care any more?
I am today going to hospital to have more than a few pins and needles stuck in me.
PS : Did anyone clock the production company? It wasn’t Kirsty Wark’s mob was it? That would be worth a line of two. See? There we go again…
AGW
Posted: 1st, May 2008 | In: Madeleine McCann, Twitterings Comments (104) | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed: RSS 2.0 | TrackBack | Permalink
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May 3rd, 2008 at 3:20 pm
103 Meercat
Quite right I nearly added prostitutes because there have been discussions about that recently. I think the approriate experts could be wheeled in, depending on the topic. I could see you advertising these Forum fights. I hope Chenier won’t mind me saying so but she is a great Forum Fighter and her debate with Ferdinand yesterday gave me the idea. I recall one cheer from Elvera was ‘checkmate’. Anyway just a thought I know it takes a lot of perspiration to make ideas work, but I bet you could think of some people you would like to put in the Forum ring . CHEERS
Off to eat some scones now made by the one I love/fight most
May 3rd, 2008 at 2:37 pm
It is a concern if forums are denounced as cesspits (Clarance Mitchell) when they give more people voices than ever before. Voices we should not be made to feel ashamed about as if we are one poster entity rather than many posters. Off the top of my head I could classify the material on the threads as :
information, misinformation, opinion and discussion,
pleasantries and unpleasantries,
off topic drivel.
But the formus may also be a hotbed for activism bringing people together and energising them about a common purpose (no pun intended).
Another interesting development in the Anorak forums is the rise of the ‘Forum Fighter’ - a type of intellectual, gladiatorial, cage fighting. Lol. I know that Anorak is concered with satirising the tabloids but maybe there is an opportunity to set up the new intellectual sport of Forum Fighters by inviting in teams of key proponents and antagonists of important current policies and ideas etc to battle it out in the Forums. Which politicans, journos, lawyers, academics, scientists, teachers etc would dare enter the forum? Who and which ideas would emerge Forum Champion? If Aadvarko’s stats are correct Anorak could capitalise on a growing market.
Hope AGW is geeling well, I see he is back.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
m&a
taxi drivers. don’t forget taxi drivers
-meercat
M and A
(June)
Agenda Wide
He does disappear into the North Atlantic at times, or is it onto? he likes gales and breaking his ribs on those boomy things that hold sails up
May 2nd, 2008 at 5:40 pm
M&A
Thanks for your response at the end of my post no 98. I appreciate the reassurances given there, and will continue to participate with interest.
Have a good weekend (if you get one)!
May 2nd, 2008 at 5:23 pm
Mods and Admin
I can understand your reasons to end the MM thread as long as there is nothing new in the tabloids about M MC’s disappearance (apart from the fact that you are running the site, and know what changes you want to bring into it, of course). Recently, I haven’t felt like posting much, as it is true there isn’t much to say. Yet, when something new comes up about it in the press, it would be strange not to have a thread about it in Anorak.
Never having posted on a forum previously, - except once, and I wasn’t pleased when I read myself, I should have been moderated, and it still worries me-, I found it very easy to join into Anorak, whose approach I found specially interesting. I didn’t feel shy about adding my views. What I mean is there is something friendly and open, the way Anorak works now. I hope you keep it in your new version of it!
Thank you Mods and Admins for stopping us posters from posting libellous comments.
M and A
Its probably likely if there is news (not a change of earrings) that there would be a thread. We think interest has flared once again as its the anniversary, but with all the apparent stalemate otherwise….All the comments will be there in the new/revised version, but it won’t be an open site as it is now, and we do intend just one user name. The forums are around, too.
May 2nd, 2008 at 2:00 pm
Thanks June, I’ll understand your editor’s decision, but, as I stated in my earlier piece, I feel you should have the balls to see it through.
Despite your assurances, which I believe, many will assume you have been forced off the topic.
I have to say that, voluntary or not, dropping the McCann case would be an act of cowardice on your part, and would not reflect well on your stated credentials as a “satire” site.
The top of this page carries the motto “Tabloid news for broadsheet readers”, yet you are considering ignoring THE single biggest tabloid story of
this century!
Your proposals for the new layout of the site are also interesting. You appear to be joining the establishment your site was originally set up to
satirise. Who will decide what posts are worth publishing each day? How will bias be avoided? How will allegations of bias be avoided?
I’m not trying to tell you how to run your site, merely giving my own views, which I hope you will not block, but under the new format/regime, is it likely my views would be published?…….I don’t think so…
Mods and Admin
I take it you have just joined Anorak in the past year?
We always used to have the Backlash, why is reintroducing it so wrong?
yes your views would probably be published, you write coherently.
Have I removed your reply?
Allegations of bias can be avoided in quality of literacy presented to us
The editor’s decision will be final on the content of what is news and what is gossip.
It doesn’t actually need testicles to run the MM threads, just unending patience.
We are quite certain that peoples thoughts will be disagree with our reasons to end the MM, we do not seek to control those thoughts but do retain the right to exercise control over Anorak
May 2nd, 2008 at 1:53 pm
#
81
SteveT Says:
May 2nd, 2008 at 8:33 am
It’s the anniversary today. Lets take some time to think of Madeleine.
***********
I was going to suggest a gesture
Very often,you “steal” my thoughts
May 2nd, 2008 at 1:51 pm
95
JuneJohnson
Makes me sad
May 2nd, 2008 at 1:13 pm
Hello everyone can someone tell me when are these people going to be arrested?
May 2nd, 2008 at 12:22 pm
Aardvarko
I’ll reply in the interim.
There is no outside pressure upon Anorak to discontinue the MM threads.
The editorial decision will not be taken lightly, we do appreciate our genuine regular posters.
But the format of the site shall be changing soon, and most postings won’t be on an open site anymore, but a selection of well written posts on every topic will be published daily.
At our core we are Anorak, we are neither a support forum for the McCanns nor a talking point solely about the McCann family whether pro or anti.
We report on the news in the media, the operative word being the news.
Anorak has been around since 1995, and the MM story was just another news item to us, by the end of the first week some paid McCann supporters informed us we were a McCann support forum, this was news to us!! We are not a commercial site, its all run by volunteers.
But the MM yarn is unravelling, Madeleine’s disappearance has spawned many sites, possibly run on a monthly contract, some may disappear into the ether when the McCann lawyers start issuing writs, we have been very careful to protect ourselves and our posters, despite the screams of what about Free Speech. We may be searched, but no libellous posts will be found.
Thus we are under no pressure whatsoever, from any side.
Its would be the Editor’s decision.
May 2nd, 2008 at 11:57 am
This is the first time I have posted here for more than 6 months during which time I have been a regular visitor to this site.
I am,and always have been,firmly in the anti camp.However I feel that the time has come and gone where the McCanns would/could have been prosecuted. There seems to be a giant black hole where fact,opinion,innuendo and spin have blurred into one.
The focus has gone.
Can anyone convince me that “justice” will prevail in this case?
I’m not convinced anymore.
Mods and Admin
Justice prevail where there is Gossip?
Well until any legal action is seen to happen, I’m afraid gossip wins the day
May 2nd, 2008 at 11:10 am
I know there’s a new thread, but my post is more relevant to this one.
AGW, I appreciate the work you and the other mods do on this site. This case, in particular must give you a great deal of grief.
However, I firmly believe that you should see it through. Maybe learn from the McCann case, and deal with the next one a wee bit differently.
If you were to discontinue Madeleine threads, it would be a tremendous boost to the pros, the trolls, and the McCanns themselves. Even if it were your own decision, independently made and without outside influence, how many people would believe you had been silenced?
Most would take that view, I’m sure, and they would not keep quiet about it.
Of course it may well be that you are being subjected to outside pressure, in which case I would expect you to declare that, and if necessary, to conform, depending on the nature and origin of that pressure.
Anorak’s profile has (I believe) risen markedly as a direct result of its activity in the McCann case - you will no doubt have the figures, but it is now in the top 10000 most visited UK sites, according to Alexa.com.
Abandoning the McCann case voluntarily may damage the site in two ways; you may lose much of your traffic, as the McCann case is without doubt the main driver of traffic to your site; and you may lose integrity, as very few would believe you had not simply caved in to outside influences, and thus become a part of the machine which anorak and its posters seem to despise equally.
Please have the courage to continue. I am sure you will have all our support.
May 2nd, 2008 at 10:51 am
i hope that nothing ever happens to all the bloggers on this page that has happened to madeleine mcann parents, people are so cruel just because they are dignified and not dole grabbing tax dodging people. they have got not one nasty bone in their body but that doesnt mean they do not feel angry with them selves for leaving madeleine alone that night. they are helpless with out the help of the public and i support them 100% if she were my daughter i would be doing just as the mcanns are doing they want their daughter back and so would i good luck to them.
May 2nd, 2008 at 9:11 am
Brandon.
Good morning (all)
I saw that interview. It was unbelievable. Like they were just asked a ludicrous question. And her mouth twisting down, the looking up - like they heard something unbelievable. The clinking noise she makes with her mouth.
They love their celeb status tho….as for ‘looking frail’ - far from it yesterday
IMO etc
May 2nd, 2008 at 9:08 am
New thread, people…
May 2nd, 2008 at 9:03 am
Truly a coffee-through-the-nose moment….I have just read in my local paper “McCanns fear Madeleine being held underground” !! oh…puhleeeeeze !! Roll out the Bandwaggon !!!!!!!
May 2nd, 2008 at 8:53 am
87…brandon flours
For a brief second I feared that his head might detatch from his neck.
May 2nd, 2008 at 8:52 am
a bit like rick from bottom/young ones rick mayall.
BBL
Get the teas in, I will bring the chocci ds!
May 2nd, 2008 at 8:49 am
Yes
Gerry spazzed out big time, he was talking about whether shes still alive or not and he does this goofy confused look and a spasmodic shrug! BIZZARE!!!
You would think, he was being asked about was he running for mayor instead or something!
May 2nd, 2008 at 8:45 am
85
brandon flours
No, is it worth a look?
May 2nd, 2008 at 8:41 am
stevet
Did you see the carpark interview on sky?
May 2nd, 2008 at 8:38 am
Brandon,
They said they would be doing a lot of TV interviews for 2 days. Its a shame that they feel the reconstruction will be to much!
May 2nd, 2008 at 8:36 am
will they be on tv today, I wonder?
May 2nd, 2008 at 8:36 am
stevet
May 2nd, 2008 at 8:33 am
It’s the anniversary today. Lets take some time to think of Madeleine.
May 2nd, 2008 at 8:33 am
Good morning, and I hope it goes well today AGW.
May 2nd, 2008 at 8:29 am
git
May 2nd, 2008 at 8:28 am
suzi
I said I thought she’d had her lips done too!
May 2nd, 2008 at 8:28 am
Brandon,
No.
May 2nd, 2008 at 8:23 am
Stevet
May 2nd, 2008 at 8:23 am
Mccanns’ Plea: Tell Us What You’ve Told Cops
May 2 2008
MADELEINE McCann’s parents last night appealed for anyone who has spoken to the police about their missing daughter to call a new helpline.
Kate and Gerry McCann have been kept in the dark by Portuguese cops’ about the hunt for the four-year-old.
She went missing from the couple’s holiday flat in Praia Da Luz a year ago tomorrow.
Strict privacy laws and a deteriorating relationship with police have left the couple - both still official suspects - struggling to get information. Surgeon Gerry, 39, said: “This is a last chance to capture a lot of information which has maybe gone into the investigation and we are not privy to.
“Clearly, we need to know that everything has been done.
“What we are asking people to do is if you have given information to police, Crimestoppers, the Portuguese police, we are asking you to give it to us as well.
“We are a year down the line and seemingly no closer to finding Madeleine.
“We have got little bits of the jigsaw but huge gaps and we have a resource - we have set aside considerable resources on this task.”
The appeal came as the couple, of Rothley, Leicestershire, gave a series of interviews to mark the anniversary.
Glasgow-born Gerry said: “This is something we have been working on behind the scenes, putting into place what we knew was going to be massive media attention on us and trying to capitalise on that to get our message out.”
Both believe their girl is still alive.
Kate, 40, said: “It’s a sense. Madeleine just feels very close.
“You try to be objective and you think is it because I am her mum and I want to believe but it has not changed.”
NEW APPEAL HOTLINE: 0845 8384699
———————————
Is that not illegal? That is very sickening.
May 2nd, 2008 at 8:22 am
Saul,
I liked your Winnie the Pooh story!