The nastiness towards Lisa on this board really is quite overwhelming so I am starting a thread in her defense. Why?
1. I like her
2. I like Robin
3. As Craig said in show one "she can dance" and has proven this several times
4. I dislike intensely nastiness towards anyone personally

Good for you, thank you.

Would add
5. She is giving it a proper go.
6. It is clear she is thoroughly enjoying the whole experience.
7. Entertaining to watch
8. Has a fabulous smile.

there's more hate for Victoria and Denise in this forum imo.
If you look at the current least fave couple poll, Lisa is actually quite low down.

Lisa being able to dance was a bit like Susan Boyle being able to sing. She won people's applause purely because she surprised them and defied their guiltily low expectations.

But now the surprise is over and I'd say Lisa is probably the celebrity I've seen the least amount of change/improvement in. I like her and Robin well enough but I'd be annoyed if she made the final.

I think Lisa is lovely (and a great actress btw) and she and Robin have some of the best chemistry of any team this year. She really goes for it. I think she will do very well out of being on the show, perhaps the best of everyone this year, regardless of who wins.

My heart did sink a little when she said in the training that basically they had a signature style that they were going to stick to. Her choice, obviously, but I'm not sure that's in her best interests. I think all of them need to make each dance as different as possible, to keep surprising the audience - easier said that done, I know. I would love to see her do a really dramatic paso or AT that used her acting skills to the full. I really like Robin with her and I think he's the best pro choice for her, but I don't always like his choreography.

She doesn't whinge, that's enough for me and she seems thrilled to be taking part. We're all a bit blase now but before the competition nearly everyone thought she'd be a joke. Her size obviously hampers her, they're not going to be able to do any acrobatics or tricks - well not of the lifting kind anyway but other than that she's giving it a real go and embracing it which is nice and she doesn't set limits on Robin (other than those mentioned) she wants to improve - I think the public appreciate that about her.
She has had a real sad run-up to the programme, it's nice to see her happy and enjoying herself.

OP - perhaps you'd be happier in the SCD Appreciation threads? That's what they are for.

The rest of this forum and thread is for discussion - and everybody's views - and if you don't like people having a different opinion to yours you'd probably much happier on the other threads.

Just a suggestion

I've been a bit busy lately so haven't been on the forum as much as perhaps in the past, but...

...has there been a sudden outpouring of dislike against Lisa that I've missed?

I think that, in common with many others, I've enjoyed her unbridled enthusiasm and her surprisingly light footwork (yes, I had low expectations) but I was getting a little tired of seeing just one dimension to the dancing - fun! fun! fun! - and a certain sameness to the cha-cha, jive and charleston. Judging by the training footage, there's not a huge difference this week, either. Even the foxtrot was more upbeat than most, although the tango and VW showed that there is another side to her - with luck and a following wind, that will come to the fore in the weeks ahead.

I wouldn't worry. As far as I can gather, she's still very popular with the GBP and she's not going yet awhile.

There are some spiteful people on here who love being nasty. They're on this forum all day bitching and criticising, but they like to call it discussion. It happens every year and as sofakat suggests, you'd be better off in the appreciation threads. I don't vote for Lisa myself but I think she's been fabulous as a contestant - hard worker and very committed

Hmm, maybe a pro other than Robin would have challenged Lisa a bit more. Robin tends to play it a bit cute and safe.

Lisa is not one of my favourites, but I don't think that people that want to defend her and that want to support her should scurry along to the appreciation threads just because "that's what they are there for".

Just my individual opnion.

I simply thought that as OP was clearly very upset it might be less stressful for them to find a gentler outlet, plus not everybody realises that those APP threads are there. Simple as that.

Why are the App threads separate? It creates a kind of ghetto atmosphere. Wouldn't they be better down in the mix of everything?

No. Just people criticising the side-synch dancing and FUNFUNFUN. Which is to a major degree down to Robin, not Lisa, anyway.

She's had a bit of flak about her weight and opinions on it, but compared to Victoria she's had little personal criticism.

I have no problem at all with people having a differing opinion about her ability to dance.
I do have a problem with the nastiness towards her as a person.
I have also defended Victoria on this too so in no way am I biased towards Lisa.
Why should I not have the right to express my opinion in a thread of my own?

Requested some time ago to allow fans to create their own little haven. It helps them stay calm and happy and is generally known to us longtime DS forum users as The Fluffy Attic.

It works much better to have them up there.

You ought to go and have a look.

It's only Vic and Denise who have been badly mauled, I'd say. Sid got a bit when he went mardy.

I have done but it seems daft to have two tiers. People then send posters up there like telling a kid to go to bed.

Who requested it?

No one is telling you what to do. You can do as you like, as long as you feel happy to handle whatever comes your way.

It's just that forums mean opinions and you cannot control what people think about your favourites, whatever they may say.

Your definition is 'nasty' is not the same for everyone else.

Major consensus and mods decision. We all supported it. Done deal. And no, most posters find it on their own.

originally it was because appreciation threads from 2/3 series back where always on page 1 because people in them liked talking to each other. It is imho one of the best parts of the forum, talking to other people and carrying on chatting even once the show is done but it did mean that current discussions fell down onto other pages quite quickly

so the eyeballs in the sky aka the mods did a poll and the vote was for the App threads to go into the attic

personally I would prefer the App threads for the current series down here with them being sent upstairs once the series has finished because I think it gives the Board a better balance

Thanks kittles - you have a better recall than I have Bless you!

I'm a long term poster on here as well, and I don't support it and didn't support it (so "we all" does not work). Maybe all the non-appreciation threads should be in another attic and the forum is just left for neutral threads.

Furthermore, this thread has gone the way of all of these threads, in which the OP is asked to go up into the attic.

If everyone who has a positive opinion towards a couple is sent to the attic, then it's no wonder that the forum is just left with the negative opinions towards couples.

Actually Michael and Dani are my favourites but I have no need to stick up for them.
Guess I am just a person who doesn't like personal crticism of people who haven't done anything wrong. Could have something to do with being brought up hearing the age old phrase "if you can't say something nice, then say nothing at all".
I just wished to stick up for her as I did with Victoria.