I am getting mightily sick of everyone forming into their teams now the Quarter Finals are here. Its all Ali vs Ricky vs Laila vs Chris. Like we have to get into one group and stay there, or we have to make snipy remarks about whether we are Dance Purists or Light Entertainment Lovers. Its like being back at bloody school.

I am Laura and I am a Dance Purist. However, although I have said Strictly should be won on dancing merit, I have also said I can understand why for some, being entertained and enjoying someone's journey or personality is a bigger factor for them.

I am also an ardent Ricky Whittle fan. But I love Ali too and I love Chris too. I refuse to be drawn into the Couples War that inevitably happens on these forums. This is why I left the BBC forums last year, the battle lines were too clearly drawn. I want to support more than one couple in general and would be happy if Ricky, or Ali or Chris won. Although Im not a Laila fan, I not going to slag her off. If you cant say anything nice, better not say anything at all.

All these nasty threads picking out Laila's 'fake injury in the past, or how Ricky is akin to some criminal thug or how Ali is a wet lettuce are pointless. And now all the anti-Chris threads are happening. We're all adults and know who we want to win, or at least should by now with 3 weeksto go until the final. So why are people creating nasty threads or making nasty comments about the celebs or each other? Are we schoolchildren?

Cant we all look to the bigger picture and realise we have 3 more weeks left of some brilliant Strictly shows ahead of us? Some great dances for the DP's, some entertainment for those who enjoy it. And 4 quarter finalists who, regardless of if you feel the standard is poor or are injured or arrested, have worked as hard as they have felt able to so they can dance as best as they could for us.

I probably will get flamed for this thread or it wont last long, I just needed to have a rant as the closer we get to the final, the worse this forum could get.

I enjoy the dancing. I do have my favorites but wouldn't mind any of them winning, so I'll join you here

Great thread Drbol.

I support Ali but I still enjoy watching the others dance. Ricky is often brilliant. Laila can be very graceful and elegant and Chris is entertaining.

I cannot understand why people need to be so nasty about some of the couples. Lively discussion is fine but somethings I have seen here have been dreadful (about poor Natalie C especially)

I'm with you too!!

I like Chris but I do appreciate how good Ricky is and would not mind him winning.

Well said Drbol.

All of the couples left deserve to be there. Good luck to all four of them. I hope they get through the rest of the series without any dramas and provide us with some enjoyable dances.

yep, I'm with you on this!

Ricky is my particular favourite, but I enjoy watching the others too. I'd rather just watch all of them for the remaining weeks of strictly.

thankyou!! what a great post, am so so tired of all the nasty coments and negative threads, so count me in

I am with you drbol in theory but, as has been acknowledged, at this period in the SCD cycle, passions rise and the bitchiness quotient goes up accordingly.

Also, with so few couples, there's much less dilution of the vitriol. Chris has escaped up to now 'cos he's so amiable but the glitterball could be within his grasp after the Charleston. Big reality check for supporters of other couples.

I'll try to stay focused on the positive but there may be the odd slippage

Ditto, nice one Dr.Bol

Fab thread DrB!

I too, love Ricky and would love to see him win. I wouldn't mind if Chris won. I'm not a fan of Laila or Ali - but I do appreciate their talent and that they are the right people to still be here at this point in the competition.

But it's all just personal opinion. People respond to different contestants in different ways. Wouldn't it be sad if we all thought the same all the time?

As I said, I'm not an Ali fan - but I absolutely believe in the right of anyone else to support her!

Like Ive said on another thread, I really dont think its a reality check ya know. If anyone out there didnt realise weeks ago that Chris Hollins had a massive chance at taking the glitterball is a silly silly sausage. It doesnt stop me supporting Ricky but it certainly wont make me stoop to the levels some other people are.

This year I don't have a particular favourite left so I enjoy all four of the celebs
All four of them have their strengths and weaknesses and have all produced some good dances.
I personally think Chris will win but that doesn't mean he deserves or doesn't deserve to.
Everybody should be allowed to support who they like and have favourites it's in our nature, I hate when threads appear bashing other couples who are not their prefered choice
may the best man or woman win, whoever that may be

I'll join your cause.

Chris is the one I most enjoy watching, but Ali and Ricky are undoubtedly better, and Laila has had some very good dances too.

I just wish we had 3 people in the final and Jade was still in the running!

My favourite couple were Natalie and Vincent, but even I could tell that it was their time to go. I love the partnership and relationship of team Cola and can appreciate the dancing skills of Ricky even if I don't particularly "feel" his partnership with Natalie. While I can't say I am the biggest Laila fan, I am glad that Anton gets to finally "dance in December" lol. Out of the couples left, I favour Ali and Brian, but won't be slagging another couple off if they go this week. Good thread Dr Bol.

I feel quite alone in being willing to enjoy every couple now on their own merits. My least favourites are Laila and Anton because they haven't done a dance yet that I've liked, but I don't DISLIKE them either.

Lovely idea for a thread. I only wish we were down to the final five with these four dancers and with Jade.

Great thread, I like all the remaining couples and wouldn't mind any of them winning (after last year its a great place to be,no stress no strain )

Well said Doc!!!

My wife and I watch it for the dance - my parents were ballroom dancers and my in-laws taught it so we do have enough knowledge to at least appreciate what the couples do.
My analysis:
Ricky W - still too many mistakes for week11 /QF
Ali - the best dancer but sometimes lacking expression (in the dance that is)
Laila - has the ability to be a strong contender but is erratic in the quality of delivery
Chris - will never be the best dancer, but went down from week 1 and has improved since - the nearest competitor left to a 'journey' and has that fantastic raport with Ola in his favour

My votes - (depending on their performance on the night) probably Ali/Brian & Chris/Ola; however if she has had "a kick up the backside" as she claims then Laila could be a stronger contender than she's normally reckoned to be so far. Ricky seems to have sat back on his laurels a touch and perhaps needed this week in the DO to wake him up!

Let me in!

I've had my favourite(s) every year since the first series (well, except the last series), but when I'm watching the show I sit hoping to be thrilled by every performance!

I don't think I've ever spent as much time as I have this year, defending celebs I wouldn't vote for.

Count me in as well!

I can't understand the negativity and vitriol this year. (Or any year, come to think of it!)

All this "SCD is finished because of..." and "I hate..." is depressing to me. The former because it gets churned out each year. The latter because hating someone in something so trivial as a dance competition when you've never met them is not the sort of characteristic I want in my fellow citizens!

This year has been great:
- The spectacularly bad Joe Calzaghe
- Jo taming Brendan
- Wondering quite how the judges could be any more damning of the pair of them than they were the previous week
- Jade and Ian's Quickstep - It will be a long time before a celeb lady leaps off the steps and covers 20 feet in the air whilst dragging her 6ft+ partner with her
- Delusional Craig. Each week I thought he'd fess up and admit he was cr*p but he never did
- Flavia's heroism in the face of the above
- Anton's latin - truly unique!
- Wondering each week "will Katya kill Phil this week or can the Cat charm his way through another week of messing around?"
- Pantomime outrage from Craig when Zoe and Ali were in the DO
- Anton's Charleston - truly memorable!
- Richard Whittle's parents' interviews
- Chris Hollins - He's got a more annoying dance face than Tom, but his enthusiasm and self-depracating humour are just so infectious
- And not forgetting the addition of Tina Sparkle to the pros roster. Life imitates art at last!

Other than Jade's demise, the only really bad bit was Tuffers going out; this was a few weeks too early, but hey ho. It's only Saturday night telly. (Not that I was quite so phlegmatic when Oz got the boot last year!!)

I'm an Ali and Brian supporter but i also really like Ricky and Chris. Laila is by default my least favourite but i still like her. I just don't get this recent spate of increased nastiness

I think its bad enough when posters support their favourites by dissing the competition but i suppose we're all guilty of comparing at times. What i really can't abide is the accusations against the fans of opposing competitors. It ruins the boards (not to mention being against T&Cs) and has really got my blood boiling today.

Its nice to see you start such a reasonable and nice thread Laura but i don't think it'll make much difference out there. Some people seem to thrive on it

Fabulous post!

DrBol, what did I say about you being Pollyanna?!?

My particular favourite is Laila, but I do enjoy watching the others dance, and wouldn't turn into a big meanie towards the others if she went out! Have removed myself from other threads for the mo, as even the nicest seeming thread appears to be turning into a catfight.

Will just hideout here with you guys
Last edited by KHC22 : 30-11-2009 at 22:59