Displaying emotions

Whitewave, still no answer, do we have a right to demand or expect a public display of emotion. Again as queenie was vilified for not shooting back to London because her country needed her ,the country did not need her

I quite agree annie. This very public show especially by celebs is uncomfortable to me. The great British public seem to have developed a taste for wallowing in public grief. People seem to have to be seen expressing emotions or they are castigated as being unfeeling (Poor old Theresa May?).
We get furious watching the news when microphones are thrust at people and asked how they are feeling. Often, it seems to me, that they are random opportunists just wanting to get on the telly. I'm sure I'm being unkind though and will be told so!
I can't be doing with all this kissing and hugging nonsense but that may be because I worked with people with autism for so long. (note: people with ASD certainly feel emotional it's just that unexpected physical proximity may be stressful)

I will admit that it did cross my mind... why did/do celebrities turn up after the fact? If they were concerned/outraged about people living in poverty in dangerous high rise buildings - did they do anything about it? Why wait for a crisis or a tragedy?

But do WE who are not victims need to demand they turn out ? What being a helicopter pilot has to do with it I have no idea, the victims had not been in an plane or helicopter

Don't forget our demographic.

We were brought up with the opinion that it wasn't done to wear your heart on your sleeve.

I must admit I have difficulty showing an overt display. But I will do what I can by a quiet word or letter or donation to support those in need or grief or suffering.

My children to be honest are the same, but I do think that the next generation feel the need to display emotion in public

Oops. Went a bit off-thread there!

Perhaps those celebrities turning up means that the victims get more help from it?
I'm all for that.
Maybe I read the wrong papers, but I haven't noticed, apart from the queen and Prince William. Prince William has worked on rescue helicopters, so he was the right one to go with his gran.

If people choose to give money it's up to them, it's this need for showing emotions publicly that I don't understand , if anyone starts hugging do we know it's because they feel they should or it's a good photo shoot or they want to hug? We will never know

This is something that is different for each of us. I have never been touchy-freely although I care deeply. For me feelings are private. But over the years I have felt pressured to kiss and hug. It was a very difficult and gradual transition for me, and gave ended up kissing and hugging practically everyone I meet. i think everyone has been influenced by popular culture, whether American or not. My teacher DIL says that her female pupils hug when they are going if to different lessons, even.

Of course others I show affection to my family, especially DGS, although I know that my elder son doesn't like touchy freely either. But I am confident in his feelings for me. So no problem.

This has also been an issue with texts. Like many others I find myself ending texts with X or even xxx. If I don't, I may upset someone. Perhaps I am just a miserable cow!

I didn't say queenie shouldn't have visited , this is what the windsors do, always have , floods, fires, terrorIsts attacks , the royals visit victims it's part of the job description, but demanding queenie comforts the public who were not involved ?

Did anyone here need queenie in London? Should we demand - show us you care?

Call me cynical but I would be interested to know if so called 'celebs' follow up their photo opportunity with concrete help?

Two I saw articles about were Richard Branson and Adele- both fairly well off :-)... just wondered.

I tend to agree Annie I would be interested to hear what any of the survivours really thought about royal/celeb/politicians visits not just what was said on camera or to the press.
Did it help ?

I have said on the London fire thread that I am uncomfortable with the "celebs" turning up, complete with a photographer, and using this tragedy as a photo opportunity. I think the Queen's visit was appreciated by the victims and volunteers as she symbolised the sympathy and support of the whole country.

I agree with a lot of your post, annie but I'm sure the Queen's visit to Manchester and the survivors of Grenfell Tower was appreciated.

I think she gets it right.

Its difficult to strike the balance isn't it? It's traditional I suppose to sport the stiff upper lip and that will get criticised by some and applauded by others. I think recent tragedies have been so awful its hard not to show real sympathy- certainly hard even to see the images on the TV without shedding a tear let alone meeting people face to face. I do get your point about emotional incontinence though.