Just as something that people might want to bear in mind, before indulging in any more mud slinging against this pro/celeb or another.

This forum is being read by, at least some of the pros &, probably, by some, if not all, the celebs.

A recent post, on their own website forum, by one of the pros; I don't want the insult threads transferred there so I won't name them in a general thread, has made it very clear that they have not only been reading the threads but have found been scared by what they've seen.

It can't be all that pleasant to come on to a forum; out of sheer interest in what sort of reaction their performances are eliciting from the public, only to see yourself described as "Bitchy", "Whinging", "Lemon-faced", or any of the many other derogatory adjectives that have been flying around of late, by people you've, in the vast majority of cases, never met.

We, ourselves wouldn't want to have this happen to us, so why should the dancers/celebs have to put up with it, just because they are famous or indulge in an activity which many of us would only be able to take up as a hobby, for their livelihood?

Glen

Hear hear, GlenP!

The eloquent one again states his case better than any of us ever could...

Well said Glen P. i was thinking about this yesterday when trawling through some of the threads and realised how upsetting some of the stuff might be. i just hope that those who do take a peek in here realise that there's an awful lot of good things written about all of them too, although you might not notice it at first.

*Gives Glen big kiss.*

Your point is an important one, Glen. I don't think it constructive to make derogatory remarks regarding any of the celebrities or the dancers, who have invested so much of their time into making SCD the fantastic show that it is. People have their favourites and also their criticisms, which is fine if people qualify their opinions. When someone posts something that sounds like a personal attack, I do wonder whether it says more about the forum poster than it does the person they have just commented about ...

I think you've got a point, but...

"scared" of what people have posted here? I think they need to get out into the world more if they think anything on here is scary.

Boo!!!

I do agree with the theme of your post, GlenP, namely that people really do need to think about what they post on here ~ the slew of "I hate Patsy" comments when Bill went out was distasteful & juvenile for example ~ but I also agree with Hellywelly in that there isn't anything here likely to be regarded as "scary" : to get to the top as a pro dancer requires a will of steel and the hide of a rhino; they've all been competing since adolescence and its a vicious arena to grow up in. The glamour and elegance of ballroom belies the underlying bitchiness and ambition. I 'd doubt that any of them are delicate little kittens!

Well I'd be scared to find people who are so caught up in a program, that is meant to be fun for the public to watch,& who have become so fanatical in their support for a particular pro/celeb as to be willing to make posts which are personally insulting; &, in the case of one particular thread potentially libellous.

Yes, there is admiration for your favourite. You can cheer them on & celebrate their achievements. You can commiserate with them at times when they fail to meet their goals. You can worry about reports of injuries/illnesses. You can drool over the male or female fantasy figure you've discovered in, what for many would be an unlikely place, & you can vote for them, for whatever reason you are comfortable with, but there is no need for fanaticism.

Next thing you know, it'll be our own version of the Scopes Monkey Trial & we'll all be at risk of ostracism from the forums, simply because we don't agree with a "majority" (sort of like the Moral Majoriddy" in the USA, who are actually just an exremely biggotted but vocal minority), as to who should win/be eliminated.

But this isn't really the world of ballroom. This is a TV show which, regardless of how much they'd like to win; being human, is also seen as being there to entertain, amuse & inspire the public, not the equivalent of 1970's - 80's football.

Fanaticism is always scary.

Again I agree in principle with the post, being nasty about someone is not necessary. However these celebs do not just enter the competition out of the good of their hearts, they get deals with magasines and work out of their high profiles etc...

I am very sure they are not accidently looking on a forum about themselves! They will know doubt be chuffed with some comments and not about others but that is life!!

As a relative newcomer here, I think I must have missed a lot of the malicious stuff but I have picked up here and there some of the things people have been saying.

So, well said Glen and I'm totally in support of what you say.

There is something we can all do: face up to it. Always comment on or oppose anything that is intentionally rude, hurtful or downright nasty. At least then we can try to achieve some balance.

Don't forget though that it's more difficult to see how people are actually saying something on here than it would be in 'real life'. I expect a lot of people are using hyperbole which others are reading seriously. I know I use it, can't remember if I've done so on here but I did describe Jimmy Osmond's exit from IAC as a travesty....obviously it's not really a travesty


We, ourselves wouldn't want to have this happen to us, so why should the dancers/celebs have to put up with it

I'm sure I can't be the only person who's had nasty things said about them, and I'm as far from being a celebrity as you can get! We may not want it, but it happens whether we're famous or not. It's just life. And I'm sure that whatever people are saying on these forums is no worse than what is written about them in papers etc.

well said glenp

well done glen - that was a very good post and needed to be said
i think people get carried away without realising these dancers and celebs are real people - if that makes sense!!!

Well said GlenP. I've found the fanatacism in one or two of the posts quite frightening too. One actually starts to worry for the writers' states of mind.

giving GlenP a "10" score and a little Bruno pout!

Boo-hoo and Didums then, we can't have the pros/celebs upset now can we! I have never said anything nasty about any of them - my gripe has been with some of the peeps on here that jump on you if you have a thought differing from them.Some of the Pros/Celebs I like, some I don't but I would say that was pretty normal. I said in an open letter to Patsy don't give up the day job - that was said tongue in cheek but some poster gave me a good going over, while I am sure should Patsy have seen it, she would have seen the funny side.I agree the un-natural fanatacism is a worry and it is hard sometimes to think you are on an adult forum, well I always think of it as an Adult forum.

As a member of Digital Spy for just over a month, I think it's a bit soon for you to be advising everyone as to how they should behave, Glen. That's the job of the moderators - if you think posters are breaking the rules of the forum, you have the freedom to report them or put your own point of view. If they're not, they are as free to post anti-garbage as pro-bilge.

This SCD forum is actually a haven of relative tranquility compared to some other areas of DS. There is an abundence of positivity towards the programme's participants for the most part, but there has to be room for contrary opinion, whether the dancers or anyone else likes it or not.



Some of the pro-fanaticism about various dancer/celebs is pretty frightening, actually.

As an ex-competitor (Ballroom & Latin), no one understands more than me how hard it is for the Celeb's to undertake the routines they have to learn in just one week, and now having to learn two routines.

I have every sympathy, and everyone of them, including the Pros' deserve every applause.

I think, however, some of the threads were not meant to be 'BASHERS', Pro or Celeb, some of the comments were meant to be a little tongue in cheek.

Don't take life too seriously GlenP.

Can I venture to point out to you and your, ermmmm, chums, that the thread that you all rush off and post in about all the other posts you've made, can actually be read by EVERYONE.

It's just as general a thread as any others on this board.

Perhaps you should think before you post........

in the post on the forum that GlenP mentioned it they said "it's a scary old world there" (actually it was spelt "their" but i don't think he'd mind me correcting his spelling too much ) but I took that to be quite a lighthearted comment really. Some stuff on here does go a little over the top, either bashing or being a little obsessed (i include myself in this too being an anton lover ) but it is mostly pretty harmless.

Uhhhh...lonepine, quanitity doesn't trump quality so what's the deal with you having right to "advise" GlenP but him not having the right to suggest that, perhaps, posters might think before being so nasty? Are YOU a moderator? And, unless I missed something, Glen never suggested that nasty/bashing/petty-minded -- which is not the same as stating a "contrary opinion" -- posters WERE breaking the rules, rather, it seemed to me that he was reminding people that celebrities ARE real people too and therefore deserve a modicum of respect. One can certainly disagree or not support or enjoy performancers or performances but, hey, there is such a thing as tact and negative opinons and a bit of class are not mutually exclusive.

While I think that posters on any message boards should respect each other's opinion and just have friendly banter, I don't worry too much about 'celebs', though I try not to be personal and nasty myself.

But really, I'd worry more if nurses, teachers etc got an ear bashing from the public rather than 'celebs' who can afford to massage their dented egos with a luxury holiday or two. Somehow, I think they get over it.

Yup the celebs and pros usually have hides like Rhinos - but it doesn't mean that their feelings don't get hurt by some of the more extreme views expressed - that said - if you don't want to be popped at - keep your heads below the parapet.

In fairness most of the "bashing" on here is down to how we the viewers/ fans are reacting to what we see as partiality towards some of the contestants by the judges on the show. It is blatantly obvious that some celebs can do no wrong in certain judges eyes (even when they make GLARING errors) whilst others get picked up on the most minor of errors.

Judges - - be fairer on ALL the celebs and judge only on what you see on the show rather than the final result you want to see for the whole competition. All you are doing with the bad marks and acidic comments is making the GBP pick up the phone and vote for those they perceive as the underdog! Having seen the likes of Chris Parker and Julian Clary get to the finals - surely you can see that by now ?????

And stop looking at them as professional dancers - they're not - theyre simply doing their best in an unfamiliar field to raise money for a good cause.