The person who came on the forum having a huge bilious attack against one particular celebrity seems to have permanently departed or mellowed considerably.

Often a criticism of someone is taken by a fan to equal hate and they get uppity over it and bandy about words that are not correct. Forgetting this is not the fluffy place and differing opinions are allowed.

Of course differing opinions are allowed. I think equally, it is often forgotten that they are allowed to be challenged. And that it' s more likely to happen if they are couched in ways likely, if not intended, to provoke such a challenge.

Nice to hear from you Mrs Boycott

Hardly shocking, an over rated side has to ' not walk ' to get the win.

As far as extreme strictly fans are concerned, there do not seem to be that many about.

every year i start strictly not knowing many (any) of them, therefore being entirely indifferent to them all.

i rarely ever 'hate' anyone, but equally, i try to make a point of never 'liking' anyone either. as in strictly so in life

I always like people, never the other.

Aww

Unfortunately, what tends to happen on forums like this is that someone expresses a negative opinion and a person with the opposite view takes real offense and exaggerates what's been said from being a dislike into "HATE". It's then latched on to by others and something almost akin to war breaks out with posters either siding with the "haters" or with those opposed to the "haters" - all over a TV show.

Personally I'd ban the use of the word "hate" from discussions about anything to do with entertainment and only allow it's use for for extreme and serious events in the real world.

And, yes, I do dislike the current host of Strictly, but that's as far as my emotions go and only while I think about it while on DS. The rest of my day is bliss

I think it's an appropriate term for a particular kind of behaviour that occurs online. Sadly there are people who are relentlessly negative and vindictive about someone (usually the type of 'celeb' that populates 'reality' shows like Strictly). I think this forum is vanilla in comparison with some of the others! Most posters are able to stand back and recognise when they have gone a bit OTT. Someone who has a strong opinion that is different from your own is not a 'hater' but someone who takes every opportunity to drip bile about a contestant / dancer is one. I have sympathy for haters who are driven by their own psychological demons to act out but less sympathy for trolls who don't really 'hate' but just love to wind up others as a hobby

Problem isn't with haters so much as with attention seekers. People emulating the worst of the press with provocative nonsense.

Well spotted, they seem to mostly be of the sickly sweet variety rather than 8rs though.

I find that its a word that I never tend to use Janet, luckily I seem to be able to get on with most people so there is no need.

I don't like the 'h' word on here or generally in life, my life is too short to feel that much animosity towards someone or something. Its a waste of energy that is best placed elsewhere.

But, there does seem to be a certain fanaticism by some posters for certain celebs this year...avidly defending their chosen idols to the brink of 'whoa, there, sweet cheeks! Time to up the meds!'

Just as there are the fanatics, there also seemed to be more posters who were/are against the non-dancing celebs this year...with venom and so much nastiness. Can't understand so much passion being wasted on a tv programme.....well, a dancing entertainment one!

It is supposed to be banned on DS. It's a pity the rule doesn't seem to be often enforced.

http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/annou...hp?f=108&a=319

see terry, thats where you are going wrong.

in my opinion, its best to just not give a stuff.

It seems that this is what happens a lot - if you express dislike, or even irritation at someone, even if it's argued and perfectly reasonable, there are 'defenders' that just can't cope with it - if there's a horrible ring of truth to it, that of course, can't be borne.

They then use a series of tactics -

replying to what you've not said,

Assuming what you mean,

Ignoring what you've said.

And then finally, declaring that the fact that you've actually said it means you 'care too much'.

I've seen this more than once and it's happened to me.

So, whilst I agree that some people really seem to be irrational in their consistent 'outraged anger' at some celebs, some defenders seem to be desperate to label others as 'haters' when actually, they are just really cheesed off at someone else having a formed opinion and articulating it, at the cost of their favourite.

I have to go where my heart takes me primer, to be mean to others would be to betray my inner self and that would be a sad day indeed.

And of course in turn, the poster is cheesed off at having their "articulate negativity" challenged because it' s considered bile, however it's couched......and so it goes on.

It is of course easily avoided, if people care so to do.

Of course there are those that, play clever while actually totally ignoring that rule, then play the victim of a thread. Throwing big words around like they are some kind of artificial intelligence . Which really isn't big or clever.

so yeah I agree it is a shame its not enforced more strictly.

Couldn't agree more and then it gets combined with the hurtful outraged that someone could be so "awful" about their favourite.

Unfortunately, I believe the anonymity of the internet in general can make some people, perhaps those attention-seekers and trolls, feel they have carte blanche to say what they like about anybody and be safe.

It's a small step from trolling to cyber-bullying, and not one I would like to see being taken on any social networking site.