tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3784053810150516425.post7990848842308509492..comments2021-01-07T13:20:48.662+00:00Comments on Plum's plums: The Fry debaclePlumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08068131072561763946noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3784053810150516425.post-72527359560516751232009-11-02T19:20:21.834+00:002009-11-02T19:20:21.834+00:00I got blocked ages ago by @warrenellis (when he wa...I got blocked ages ago by @warrenellis (when he was at about 12000 followers) for what was a poor and all caps attempt at giving him a backward compliment. He wrote "...okay. That was a weird response. Let me help you out with the block button there, strange shouty person" which I thought was just priceless language, to be called "strange shouty person". It's dangerous out there! Glad you're coming down off the cliff! http://www.blog.steig.com/2008/12/im-mortified.htmlAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06568874073171899734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3784053810150516425.post-4214119620229728302009-11-02T16:13:23.488+00:002009-11-02T16:13:23.488+00:00It is amazing at the amount of time/energy/ink tha...It is amazing at the amount of time/energy/ink that your comments generated. I am writing you because of a link posted on my email account. <br />As both private citizen and a pastor in our community, I just want to say I empathize w/both you and the person you made the comment about. <br />In both roles, I manage to put my foot in my mouth more than ocasionally. I have insulted people - most unintentionally - and always try to apologize when I am made aware of my faux pas. (Not sure of the plural of pas). <br />On the one hand - to be sure - your intial comment was pretty innocuous and if that's the worse thing that were ever said about anyone - we'd be in much better shape I'm sure.<br />But being someone who also has experienced clinical depression and shall we say, insecurity - I'd might have reacted as well. (Funny though, how the word "boring" can generate real angst.<br />Either way - whether on line or in person - people have managed to step on one another's toes throughout the ages. The key is, how can we respond and perhaps grow from our experiences. <br />Best to you in your future endeavors.<br />Joanna T.Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13863056296219141562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3784053810150516425.post-86022415577661645022009-11-02T13:15:21.751+00:002009-11-02T13:15:21.751+00:00Mr Fry's Twitter gives people the illusion of ...Mr Fry's Twitter gives people the illusion of proximity to him. "Oooh, I know that Stephen had marmite on his toast this morning!" (I made that up - he might not like marmite at all, of course).<br /><br />And then when he threatens to leave Twitter, they can't bear it. "Noooo, don't take away my personal hotline to the famous!" <br /><br />So upset were they that they sought a cause, and found you.<br /><br />Heck - I once said his Twitter userpic made him look like Jeremy Clarkson, and he replied "Oh no! Last profile pic looked like James May according to many of you & now I'm being told the new one makes me resemble Jeremy Clarkson." That's surely worse than saying he's "boring", and presumably he was in a good mood that day and didn't take it the wrong way (and having had Clarkson on QI I doubt he was that devasted - had I accused him of wearing jeans, it could've been a different story).<br /><br />But it didn't matter to the hoardes what you'd said - they held you personally responsible for taking away their link to the famous on twitter (something to do when not pitching a tent in Mr Fry's front garden or rummaging through Chris Evans' bins) and they would give no quarter.<br /><br />Rather odd to see but, speaking as a veteran of several internet punch-ups (10 years of it! Ten years!), if someone says something nasty to you, step away and don't reply to them personally. It's really not worth it.Helen Highwaterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08087854313840436307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3784053810150516425.post-79849081421615294392009-11-02T11:24:03.279+00:002009-11-02T11:24:03.279+00:00I'm here via a link from the first page of the...I'm here via a link from the first page of the New York Times online, complete with photo of Stephen Fry to draw us in. My sympathies! <br /><br />Non-Tweeter in New Jersey.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18332523323991158067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3784053810150516425.post-9666910745645537122009-11-02T04:52:54.959+00:002009-11-02T04:52:54.959+00:00Holy lord. I just wanted to say I don't know y...Holy lord. I just wanted to say I don't know you I don't know Stephen Fry, and I really can't remember how the heck I even found this but WOW. Did you honestly think one little twitter statement would lead to all of this?! And having to change things in your blog just because of it is sad. (taking pics down)<br />I hope things die down quickly for you. But you might have a new reader or two because of it. (I think I'll have to peek around!)Mirandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07374759585682438535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3784053810150516425.post-39431110859243118562009-11-01T18:17:41.838+00:002009-11-01T18:17:41.838+00:00I cannot believe this made the national news! No-...I cannot believe this made the national news! No-one is to blame, it's just one of those things. We all do it, heck I did it the other day, but because the person involved wasn't famous no-one noticed or cared.<br /><br />Both of you have the right to say what you like, and I find it astonishing that your calling him boring was considered news.<br /><br />Still, I hope people are nicer to you now, and I think it's very commendable of Mr Fry for backing you in his Twitter stream.<br /><br />:-)selinawragg.co.ukhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08650651056527593466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3784053810150516425.post-25962880220531308582009-11-01T17:51:47.648+00:002009-11-01T17:51:47.648+00:00I read Alan Davies' comments to you last night...I read Alan Davies' comments to you last night, and when he said the statement about doing things 'in the Essex way' he was responding to you asking "what business is it of yours?". He explained that when people diss your friends, you step up for them. He did NOT suggest doing that physically! Stop being a drama queen. You've explained, now just keep the facts in view. It's over.<br /><br />With all due respect, Subz.Subvillehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15215243747626422994noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3784053810150516425.post-65046024968211989832009-11-01T16:38:13.598+00:002009-11-01T16:38:13.598+00:00What the general public tends to forget about cele...What the general public tends to forget about celebrities (usually because we're all so busy deifying them) is that they're normal people, with normal fears and foibles, desires, impulses, illnesses... they just have a better job than we do. There are recently deceased celebrities that very well might still be alive if we, the general public, remembered that.<br /><br />To expect @stehenfry (or anyone else, for that matter) to behave anything other than human is unreasonable and illogical. He's just Stephen Fry; Regular middle-aged British gentleman who just so happens to have a job that people like to watch.<br /><br />If we as a public would take that into consideration more often and were not so quick to hold them to an artificially elevated standard, then perhaps Diana would still be alive, Michael Jackson probably wouldn't have thought he needed anaethesia to get a good night's sleep, anf George Clooney would still be able to buy his own groceries.Juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05478012771103180425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3784053810150516425.post-8666353357012483972009-11-01T12:45:56.781+00:002009-11-01T12:45:56.781+00:00Glad things seem to have sorted themselves out. It...Glad things seem to have sorted themselves out. Its amazing how tiny things can blow up into an enourmous and unpredictable sh1t-storm. Good luck to you. I think you've handled yourself with dignity through what must have been a terribly trying time.PPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02055930721322688454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3784053810150516425.post-68491829382414321432009-11-01T12:29:41.993+00:002009-11-01T12:29:41.993+00:00This is just a case of wrong place wrong time I th...This is just a case of wrong place wrong time I think. Being bipolar myself, I know Stephen felt really hurt by your comment and am sure he's just as sorry about his reaction today! Not his fault, not yours! <br /><br />That's with the quick and short messages we can send all over the world these days. It can go wrong without anybody really meaning it. <br /><br />Let's get over it and I'm glad you didn't chase Stephen away for good :-))Sandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13145811916990474038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3784053810150516425.post-40878413670374624872009-11-01T11:33:26.026+00:002009-11-01T11:33:26.026+00:00I am glad this is settled.
What I would say, howe...I am glad this is settled.<br /><br />What I would say, however, is that twitter is not a 'ultimately insignificant glorified chatroom' and this whole media storm proves it. Twitter is an easy way of easing people into new media and is changing the ways people use the internetAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3784053810150516425.post-80677882913518963292009-11-01T11:15:56.849+00:002009-11-01T11:15:56.849+00:00Hi Plum,
I'm afraid I've never followed y...Hi Plum,<br /><br />I'm afraid I've never followed you on twitter, nor have I ever heard of you :-( (although I do follow a couple of the bloggers that you do).<br /><br />I sent a message of support to @StephenFry when I saw his tweet that he was considering leaving, just as I would for anyone of the people that I follow if I saw that someone was feeling down.<br /><br />It wasn't a case of taking sides for me, and I'm aghast that there are people out there who have said the awful things that they have. But such is the nature of the internet's anonymity.<br /><br />This is just today's "story" though, and twitter is a fickle thing. It will die down and you'll probably be thrust out of the limelight very soon.<br /><br />But one good thing's come out of it for me at least, I've found a blogger and tweeter that I didn't know before and look forward to (hopefully) following you and your blog for a while yet!<br /><br />I hope you don't feel too bad about this whole furore, and wish you the very best!<br /><br />EthanEthan leSabrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08114778629395136669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3784053810150516425.post-48242803596746749562009-11-01T10:51:18.697+00:002009-11-01T10:51:18.697+00:00Wow, I followed Stephen Fry when I first went on t...Wow, I followed Stephen Fry when I first went on twitter but (I think he was doing a travelling show) I would log in and get about 50 twitters from him at least filling up several entire pages of history so I just had to block him - I'm so glad I didn't pass any comment to him otherwise I might have been the subject of TimesOnline articles also, phew I was lucky obviously!Isabelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08393337932998653095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3784053810150516425.post-36522497298184631642009-11-01T10:44:23.615+00:002009-11-01T10:44:23.615+00:00Just a few weeks ago, Aled from Radio 1 said : ;.....Just a few weeks ago, Aled from Radio 1 said : ;....watch[ing] QI. Struggling to get into it. Pompous so far'. @stephenfry jovially responded '@ahj So sorry you think that.' and '@ahj Hey. It's cool. It's not against the law to dislike it!' and nobody was vilified then!Andrew Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08176785581277158754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3784053810150516425.post-74516786348307503252009-11-01T10:31:46.333+00:002009-11-01T10:31:46.333+00:00I've said it to you during what happened and I...I've said it to you during what happened and I'm saying it now. Everything might have been blown out of proportions, but why did you follow someone that you found boring? Either accept that and keep quiet about it or stop following. That's really easy. I know that small words on the internet can easily be interpreted as something else, but you can't know how the other person is feeling, can you? So careful next time. And next time maybe not pick on someone with close to a million of friends;)Nexahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10790129897729338749noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3784053810150516425.post-44506896918185939172009-11-01T10:06:29.217+00:002009-11-01T10:06:29.217+00:00You poor man. I am so sorry you have been catapult...You poor man. I am so sorry you have been catapulted into the media for a benign and honest comment, which has been blown out of all proportion by the media. Stephen bravely speaks of his bi-polar disorder and when the lows come cognitions become skewed and Stephen obviously took it deeply. However, sometimes even great, genius, artistic people are boring, and I am sure that a comment like yours, on a good day, would be received with challenge and playfulness. You just caught him when he was down. Hope you are reassured by all the comments on here and have a lovely sunday. You sound like a nice guy.gailchristinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10043703513035522588noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3784053810150516425.post-62338726329700055952009-11-01T09:42:51.219+00:002009-11-01T09:42:51.219+00:00Sorry - I'd just like to add that, in the inte...Sorry - I'd just like to add that, in the interests of transparency, I'm @TrustTommy :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3784053810150516425.post-31833623870058622112009-11-01T09:39:06.893+00:002009-11-01T09:39:06.893+00:00I saw the tweets from Fry leaving in my stream and...I saw the tweets from Fry leaving in my stream and did some investigating to find the cause - and had a genuine moment of 'wait, seriously?' when I saw the cause. And frankly, TimesOnline and BBC covering it is silly - is there honestly nothing better happening?<br /><br />I find the backlash of people against you positively scary. I did some research back in May (http://trusttommy.com/2009/05/20/when-you-think-about-it/) where I DM'd him asking him to tweet about whether he should join Reddit- then I analyzed his @replies. <br /><br />Seriously though, that amount of power is scary - the ability to send a wave of hatred at any chosen user. He should be more careful.<br /><br />In short, fully support you! :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3784053810150516425.post-30980493269036743072009-11-01T09:19:10.460+00:002009-11-01T09:19:10.460+00:00Seriously cannot believe how far your rather innoc...Seriously cannot believe how far your rather innocent Tweet went. It was pretty run of the mill, and to have it blown up like this is rather unfair to you. I think your responses here and on Twitter have been kept very reserved and totally beyond reproach. <br /><br />But on the bright side you're finally infamous!! <br /><br />I now owe you several more hugs and some tea and sympathy. *hugs*Jae Kayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17816403017115766947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3784053810150516425.post-76665946923233075042009-11-01T04:07:07.209+00:002009-11-01T04:07:07.209+00:00To JB and Laz... there are two hashtags I see that...To JB and Laz... there are two hashtags I see that might be read as referencing Fry's homosexuality. But if you take a look on this blog you'll find fairly convincing evidence that brumplum was referencing himself both times. ;-) Which is how I initially read #envioushomo, by the by--I just scanned the blog for evidence to back up my impression.<br /><br />I don't know brumplum from Adam, I'm just here in the wake of the sad mess this post is about.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3784053810150516425.post-42181755902236052302009-11-01T03:57:29.507+00:002009-11-01T03:57:29.507+00:00I have no problem with anyone calling anyone else ...I have no problem with anyone calling anyone else boring - it might be slightly unkind but it's not nasty and it isn't necessarily untrue. The #envioushomo hashtag later in your stream, on the other hand, IS offensive.Lazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06296227271111381208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3784053810150516425.post-82410704065469816312009-11-01T03:55:56.125+00:002009-11-01T03:55:56.125+00:00Hi Richard. Good post clarifying. I had not follow...Hi Richard. Good post clarifying. I had not followed the twitter stream yesterday and late in the night, while checking some news sites, I had a feed saying, from BBC World, that Mr. Stephen Fry would be quitting twitter. Due the lateness of the hour and my own fatigued situation I retired to bed. This morning when I read the whole episode, you and Mr. Fry had patched which was indeed a good ending. <br /><br />A couple of days back, I had @ replied to Mr. Fry stating that, perhaps he is the only person, to whom, I would have tweeted more than a 100 times without a response from. I have never and will not in the future take any offence considering the fact that my one little tweet would be lost in that ocean of his timeline. I was one of his earliest followers and he had the courtesy to follow me back. I could have Direct Messaged him but, found it rather ridiculous to do so. <br /><br />I am sorry that you had to endure some pretty nasty comments from others. And you were right. It did become an international episode. I live in India. Cheers.<br /><br />-Shrinath Sundaram<br />@javashriShrinathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05354009878479703387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3784053810150516425.post-40032052441629145042009-11-01T03:34:02.593+00:002009-11-01T03:34:02.593+00:00I wrote about this in my blog, here http://wp.me/p...I wrote about this in my blog, here http://wp.me/pbkzL-19<br /><br />What I said to you directly in it was "@brumplum: What was the point of telling @stephenfry that you found his tweets boring? My mother taught me that if I didn’t have anything nice to say, then not to say anything at all. In this case, that would have been the better policy. Nobody can please everybody all of the time, not even Stephen Fry. If you find his tweets boring, just unfollow him or don’t read them. I can see that you’ve apologised and understand that Stephen did over-react, but there was just no need in the first place. I hope Stephen’s fans don’t treat you like Scott Baio’s fans treat the “haters”."<br /><br />It looks like everything is cool in the school again and I hope not too many people have been beastly to you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3784053810150516425.post-78695388952465342572009-11-01T02:52:52.432+00:002009-11-01T02:52:52.432+00:00This whole situation is so petty and idiotic. I re...This whole situation is so petty and idiotic. I really do sympathise with you. I'm sure Stephen has received more than his fair share of @ replies calling him 'boring', yet you happened to be the unlucky person he snapped with. I'm sure this whole situation will sort itself out soon and we'll all have forgotten about it in a month's time. Take care!CrackityJanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10539405954947752098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3784053810150516425.post-34144733792974942612009-11-01T02:16:25.141+00:002009-11-01T02:16:25.141+00:00I don't think you did anything wrong. You can ...I don't think you did anything wrong. You can voice your opinion, and your opinion wasn't malicious in the slightest. Don't get me wrong, I adore Stephen fry but i also have first hand experience of bi-polar disorder so I know it's possible to catch someone on a bad day. Take care, and don't listen to the fanatics. Maria xThe Inadequate Kidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15621678094875775455noreply@blogger.com