OK, please hear me out before the John supporters/James haters slate me!

Firstly I'd like to state that I've never warmed to James Jordan, and this evening I found his manner awfully arrogant and detestable, whether it was out of spite or trying to make John reconsider his decsion with 'tough love' if you like ( I doubt it), I don't know.. Also I've always enjoyed and been entertained by John's performances each week.

However, as James stated, by John quitting, a "good" dancer will still be leaving this weekend, and there will only be a 2 person final. Personally, I would have liked John to stay as,(unless a BBC producer has told him his voting figures are way above the rest and will undoubtedly win), he wouldn't have made it to the final as I believe/hope justice would prevail and the British public would have saved the best/better dancers at this stage.

Therefore what John is doing is slightly selfish (unless he knew his vote count) as, not only is he depriving a talented dancer a place in the final, but also I now believe that SCD Series 6 will now only be remembered for the whole "John Debacle", thus he is taking away the winners', and the great dancer's/dances of this series, deserved limelight.

This is my own subjective opinion, I know everybody is entitled to one. I'm sure somebody will compile an effective counter argument but they are my current thoughts on this whole debacle.

I welcome any responses, be they supporting or slating my point.

Regards,
Astraeus

I saw sense in what he said, but not the way he said it. He came across as being bitter and rude, despite actually bringing up a really good and valid point. Anton and Kate, while agreeing with James, put it across better.

Which point? The one (when he was voted off) urging people to vote for proper dancers - which is not unreasonable - or the one supporting voters whomever they support?

Damage limitation.

Didn't work.

how can I see the point of a pointless person?

No, the point he made about it being quite selfish and now the series will be remembered for him, rather than the dances and the winners. He put it across very very badly, and came across as almost aggressive IMO.

It's not what he said but the way he said it. It savours strongly of bitterness.

Yes I do.

He spokes as he feels,it might have helped if he'd sugar coated it as then he may not have faced the backlash he now has.

I do think there's some sense in what he said but he put it forward in such an aggressive manner it just made him look like an ass, I think Anton managed to put it much better. On the other hand even though I don't think the judges or the show has treated John any differently than other bad dancers I think the media circus was getting ridiculous and I don't blame him for wanting to leave.

It's dependant on which of James's points you agree with the one on Monday ...or tonights where he completely contradicted himself..he's a very arrogant and pompous individual.

Ellie

I saw what he said but the way he said it was not the right way. I actually agree with him but not that it is John's fault... it is very complicated.

Erm.....great dancer - but hardly the most articulate person in the world.

I think trying to make sense of his mumblings will just give you a big headache.

He barely understood them himself.

Personally, I think a good dancer would have left this week regardless, because as JS himself admitted, the machine is out of control and people are no longer voting on entertainment/dancing. Sadly it's the true JS fans that have suffered but they don't seem to realise that.

That said, I do think he should have stayed in the competition to repay all his loyal supporters and to have given us another good case for some righteous indignation

I see sense in James' point. And I don't see any sense in James' point. I'm not contradicting myself though.

I felt that he answered the question emotionally and didn't handle it too well. However I don't like the nastiness that is on the forum at the moment ...It is so mad

That's not John's fault, it's the media's and the judge's and James' for making such a big deal of John's continued presence in the competition.

He was there fair and square. Unless the votes were being miscounted, there was no grounds for complaint from anyone.

The irony is that whilst Strictly 2008 will be remembered for John, James will always be remembered for tonight's outburst.

I don't think saying 'John wanted the show to be all about him' was a fair comment by James.

That was absolute nonsense - I don't think even James really believes that. Goodness knows why he said it.

A good analysis. Totally agree with you.

Dancers have a habit of being quite blunt - they call a-spade-a-spade - call it what you will. They tend to speak from the heart, and sometimes forget some people might take their openness for something different. Personally I applaud James for his honesty.

He said the right thing in the wrong way.

The ultimate responsibility for what has happened (I don't agree with John's decision) lies with the people who made such an issue of John staying in (something similar happens every year, but this year the reaction has been much more severe. Heaven knows why) instead of something that he has actually done.

It was not fair comment. It was quite spiteful and certainly not something to say on national television.

Hehe!!

I can see his point in asking people to vote based on the dancing.
I can see his point about the show being harmed by John leaving, in that there should be only 2 finalists now and therefore another dancer is prevented from making the final.
His point about John wanting the show to be remembered for him, or something to that effect, I dont think that is the case. If John had stayed and been kept in, it would have been even more so, and that is what John said was part of the reason for leaving now.
So I think some of his points are valid, but there was a better way to make his case.

Of course John is very knowledgeable about how to do things diplomatically, and James is not.

Can I just ask in response to the 'John wanted the show to be all about him' comment, what you think this series will be remembered for?

I could kind of see his point on the show tonight, although it annoyed me the way he complained about John quitting but on Saturday complained that he was still in- poor John can't win with him! However, he did seem to get quite angry and agressive about it which made him come across as bitter and jealous that John has received most the attention this year- hardly his fault, imo.