I think it's mostly just spread out more. With fewer celebs, it becomes more focused and concentrated. And of course, it sometimes takes 10s to really get people going. I could be wrong, but I think the judges were usually pretty conservative in their use of 10s in earlier weeks this year. (There were some "Alesha 10s" from Alesha and Bruno, but that was about it.)

Also, there doesn't seem to have been a big "hate figure" this year, or a poor dancer who over-stayed their time week after week, or a big if you like A you detest B sort of conflict ...

Hmm. Maybe the overall level of animosity was lower this year than usual, in the earlier weeks, and we're only now getting up towards the usual level.


I'm not surprised by the level we're seeing now, or by what we see at most other times; but some cases, such as the intense dislike for Lisa Snowdon, still seem odd and different from the sort of stuff we usually see,

Veri I think the 'hated' celeb this year is Jason and it has been on a par with Lisa and Kelly. I just think the Mods are more reactive than proactive these days. If nobody presses the Alert button, nothing happens.

There's a danger in taking things too seriously about what people post on this board.

For me, it's "for amusement only" mostly whilst I'm waiting for my printer to print off all the stuff my wife asks me to find for her découpage hobby. It's hardly "life or death" but it seems so to some with all the copying and pasting of "who said what" and "why they are wrong".

It's littered with "feast or famine" alternative options, and indignant "I merelys" and "I onlys" responses.

It's mostly all down to personal perception.
But boy can it be amusing sometimes.

You're a veteran with more than 50.000 posts, and you find this forum unpleasant ! Could you point me in the direction of a pleasant forum on DS ?
I haven't seen much in the way of real animosity on here. But perhaps I'm a little less sensitive, or more accustomed to visiting some of the other forums. I generally find this forum a place to relax, people are usually polite and good natured, with a sense of humour.
Agreed, there is a bit of piss-taking aimed at some celebrities, and perhaps Jason has received more than his fair share this year. But discussion forums are like that, 90% of the time it's not intended to be spiteful or malicious, it's just the sort of thing you might hear at work, or down the pub. Quite honestly, I think it would be a duller place without a bit of banter, and the odd less than complimentary remark about one of the celebs.

Yeah, but people bitching about plastic boobs and manic smiles at every available opportunity, even when the intended thread has nothing to do with those aspects of the show or the celebs just grates me no end...

Stands up and applauds.....rustling around in my pocket for my 10 paddle.....there it is...sorry about the chewing gum and fluff all over it

No, it doesn't deserve a 10. The post was far too "creepy"..probably someone who works for the Beeb.

BTW..that's only a joke !

But aren't they the sort of things that come up in everyday conversation among people who watch Strictly ?
People don't just sit around and seriously analyse the dancing, should the forum be any different.
On the other hand, I have often thought things can look worse in print, and it pays to be more careful when posting. Face to face with people, it's easier to tell when remarks are made tongue in cheek.

But a celeb's level of education has really got very little to do with someone's ability to dance or entertain, and smacks of pulling someone down for the sake of it rather than contributing to a proper discussion (There's a showbiz forum for that ) I'm not really surprised it was given short shrift.

I agree that negative comments will be made and people will have to accept that debate is better than 'shut up' but there's a difference between 'That dance lacked passion, I don't think Harry expresses emotion very well, so I wasn't moved' by it to 'Harry is such a repressed dullard'. In the latter case, it's not really worth debating as it's almost venting or baiting. Again, not surprised that such comments get dismissed or ridiculed.

I think you need a thick skin to post in most of the reality show forums.

Kelly Brook got quite a lot of stick as well. It's been the same every year with possibly the first two/three years being an exception as everything was still quite fresh and there weren't as many contestants.
But, having said that, even back then there were the usual X Y or Z is so much better than A B or C and the judges hate X or C blah blah blah.

Sadly it's not only human nature, it's the security of total anonymity when posting on a message board. There's very few people would have the guts to say what they do if they had to put their real names to it.

Maybe so, but that doesn't change the validity of the comments.

This is it exactly. No doubt someone will now come on and say I would say exactly the same to their face but I don't believe it.

i so agree with this coment

I'm not talking about criticisms of dancing, personal preferences for one contestant over another, I'm talking about the outright bitching which goes on and which are totally unjustified in the vast majority of cases.
You can be negative or critical of someone without insulting them or being rude and bitchy.

I have a question .Does everyone who is now finding the board bitchy sit at home and not comment on the dances except to find them all wonderfull and marvelous ?

I know I chat here as I do to my friends about a fab dance , or an ugly one , we chat about the dresses we love and the dresses we hate .We text each other about who we loved and who we found looked awful .We love some songs we hate others .We chat about how rude James was or how silly Alesha sounded .We chat at home about a woeful dress or a dreadful jive or a dance we hated .We shout an occasional WOW or really enjoy a dance and say so
Is this not what you all do at home ? Or do you all love every minute of every second of the show ?

Of course we chat about the dances among ourselves. I can only speak for myself but I don't do a character assassination on the basis that I think one contestant talks to much or is boring.

Well my own husband is a very mild mannered man and said the other nigth he thought one of the contestents was very boring and went on a bit .Is this so dreadful of him ?? He merely expressed an opinion, hardly a character assasin ?

Thinking about it a bit more, I'm not sure that the level of negativity on here is any worse than before and there has always been a fair number of argumentative posters.

But I think what has been gradually changing is the number of regular posters who post as if they are spoiling for a fight by adopting a tone that is totally at odds with the mood of the thread.

It's a bit like a group of children happily playing a game together and then another child comes along and does something to disrupt the game. Sometimes their mum will tell them to play nicely and threaten them with being taken home, so they settle down. But at other times it is more like their mum didn't see what they did and when one or two of the other children protest, they get sworn at or threatened by the new child and then some of the children decide to go home.

I know it's a daft analogy and but that's how it feels to me.

You're right it's a daft analogy.

Sorry, couldn't resist, I'll get my coat.

No of course not but no one would object if that was the only thing that had been said. Lots of other things have been said, i.e.. he's pervy, disturbing, desperate, etc. and then repeated ad nauseam. All based on him being perceived as talking too much.

You're right, thats exactly how it is. They're wind up merchants.

I nearly started to type we are all adults on here - then remembered we're not!

PS You only left me room for one smiley!

Right, but I didn't introduce the topic. It would be like me saying "Holly is going to be an astronaut" and someone saying "Um... no she isn't". Then you coming along and saying to the person who responded to me and didn't introduce the topic "I don't know what her astronaut-ing abilities have to do with her dancing".

It's a factual issue, not a matter of opinion. I don't buy this idea that if a fan of a celeb says something about them that isn't related to the show, that other people are not allowed to comment on that as well as their show-related activities.

Because it's a celeb-based show, every aspect of their lives that is in the public eye is up for discussion. Unless you mean to suggest that there should have been no discussion of Kara's documentary, Matt's job on Countryfile, Pamela's newspaper columns, Holly dating a billionaire etc.

These people are on the show because of the things they do outside of the show.

As I said before, there is a vast difference between being critical or finding something negative and in being bitchy or downright cruel as quite often happens on DS.

That's fine as long as it's a 2 way street and both opinions are allowed. I find a lot of the celeb's good points are repeated ad nauseum too, I don't mind I just move on.

But it seems that some of those who prefer a bright happy board with nothing but positive replies are only happy with that and don't allow an alternative view without complaining whereas those with a more cynical/comedic/negative/ view (take your pick) are happy to see any posts that are not offensive appear on the board.

If you want to talk about Jason, or any other contestant that matter, and how wonderful he is ad nauseum - brilliant, I have absolutely no problem with that, I don't agree so then please allow me the courtesy of having my opinion. Don't agree with me if you don't want to, fine, but don't constantly tell me how boring my opinion/post/thread and how you hate all the "negativity" (and when I say you, I say anyone and not specifically you ).

I really can't remember a thread with the title "God,I hate all the positivity on the board" and "why does everyone have to be nice about all the contestants?" . Although some would say it's all wrapped up nicely in the unappreciation thread but that's where we keep it.

I'm very much live and let live, if I don't like a post, I'll either ignore or reply. If I don't like a thread I'll ignore it, there are plenty of others for me to poke my nose into.

This post wasn't directed at you hun, I was just rambling my thoughts on the thread.