To think Liz Jones is a bitter and twisted old hag?

crimson I don't doubt that. All I'm saying, as someone who loves horses, I couldn't stomach the business of racing. I suspect LJ feels the same.

I think if this Liz person was really genuine in her love of animals she'd use the money she spends on facelifts and designer clothes to help them. Can't help but feel that your love of horses is far more sincere than hers.

I don't follow horse racing but having seen CB on TV she does come across as someone who knows her subject and as for her appearance, she always seems well turned out to me.

As for Liz Jones, I used to find her column amusing but once she moved to Somerset she did indeed become bitter and twisted. She tried to lecture the farmers on the care of their animals, she wrote about fancying the local (married) vet, she claims she was shot at whereas all that happened was someone had shot at her mail box (something not uncommon in the country), she wasn't present at the time. She continually goes on about how she bought a house for her sister and was upset to not get a Christmas card from an previous assistant even though "I bought her a Gucci bag". (or some other designer!)

These days I may start to read her column but usually give up somewhere around the second paragraph - and yes I do buy the Mail!!

How much longer is this ridiculous thread going to be at the top of Actives?! bad title and a topic not worth discussing, apart from the horses.

Does anyone remember those bullying girls at school? That is where Liz Jones seems to be coming from. There are ways of affectionately teasing people but Liz Jones approach is spiteful.
The trouble is she seems to think she is just being clever and doesn't understand how nasty and spiteful she appears to most other people.

But as I said earlier - she gets the readers for the Mail.

Surely a thread can go on as long as people feel they have something relevant to say?

And this is relevant to what. Bitching about a fellow human being? Whatever you think of her.

Many of the comments have been about criticing bitching and bullying, which, in my humble opinion, is a subject of worth.

I am reminded of a story.

A house in a village went on sale. The first people who went to see it liked the house, but went for a stroll to see the village. When they met an old man leaning on a gate, they stopped to chat and asked "And what are the people like here?"

He replied, "How do you find the ones where you live now?"
"A lot of stuck-up, stubborn so-and-sos who can't bear it if you point out any ways they could be doing things better than they do now."

"Well, you'll find them just the same here."

The next people to view did the same, and asked the same old man,"What are the people like here?"
"How do you find the ones where you live now?"
"Oh, they are so pleasant. We all help one another, and support each other when trouble strikes."

"Well, you'll find them just the same here."

This is an unpleasant thread, starting with the title.

I thought we were better than this on Gransnet.

Like

Well, I have always felt respect and sorrow for Liz Jones. She clearly has deep psychological issues that go back to childhood and she has been incredibly brave in being prepared to bare all without holding anything back even though she must be very aware of the deeply hostile response she gets from so many people.

Many people with so many protective layers missing as Liz Jones has retreat into themselves, steroetypically the elderly female recluse who prefers cats and dogs to people because there animals love them unconditionally and people cannot bet rusted. She has come out all guns blazing and been determined to live and mix with other people in that most unforgiving of careers, jourbalism.

Yes, some of her views make me step back and take a deep breath, but more often I just wish to give her a hug and tell her life really isnt that bad.

I'd echo that FlicketyB - her diary is written for effect I think. When I've read other pieces she's written I've often found myself agreeing with her. I am also impressed by the fact she says what she thinks, knowing she'll be receiving a huge amount of hate and vitriol via the Internet. I presume she doesn't read all the comments people make.

Jingle, The title of this thread, good or bad, is under the AIBU banner. I don't mind a bit if you think I am being unreasonable but I do think it's a topic worth discussing or I wouldn't have started it. I apologise to anyone who doesn't like the title but petallus, I don't consider the thread to be unpleasant - I think the article was. The fact that this topic has run for five pages shows that some gransnetters were interested enough to comment and surely that is why we have a forum which is open to all.

Quite Merlot, well said.

FlicketyB I agree with you. I hope she doesn't read some of the vile things that are written about her by people who have never met her or know anything about her.

The article was certainly hard hitting although I agreed with some of the things in it.

I think it's fine to disagree with the article and say it's unpleasant.

However, calling the author of it bitter and twisted and especially an OLD HAG? No.

Incidentally, what does it meant to call a woman an old hag?

Seems to be using her age and looks as a weapon against her. It's sexist language.

LJ can be pretty vitriolic herself.

Quote:
FlicketyB I agree with you. I hope she doesn't read some of the vile things that are written about her by people who have never met her or know anything about her. (*janthea*)

I think journalists who do a hatchet job on another individual either in the media, in public life or "ordinary" people like us, has probably got a thick enough skin. If they did not, they would find it hard to be so gratuitously insulting about others - whom they, in turn, may not know personally.
What goes around, comes around.

All I know is I really don't want to wake up in the morning and find it jumping out at me from the top of Active Conversations.

It's somehow a bit of an insult to nature.

It's the "bitter and twisted old hag" bit.

Greatnan if doing unto others as they do unto others is justified, presumably it would be okay to hang murderers?

In case that's not clear, my point is that just because LJ is vitriolic, does that mean that is a license for me to be vitriolic to her?

No, I don't want to be a vitriolic person.

I've already apologised for the title but it's nothing compared to some of the things Liz Jones has written about people in the past.