Lewes Forum thread

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Bonfire Boredom

On 3 Nov 2010 at 5:00pm Curious wrote:

I'm curious. Why is it socially unacceptable to dislike Lewes Nov 5th celebrations? Or to suggest that they are boring, repetitive, lacking in imagination or grounded in religious bigotry?
I should stress that I am not necessarily taking a position but am more interested in why Lewes' self-congratulatory tradition of free speech gets suspended when ever this topic is raised.

On 3 Nov 2010 at 5:20pm Annette Curtin-Twitcher wrote:

I find Christmas boring, repetitive, lacking in imagination and steeped in materialism and hypocrisy, but I don't have the luxury of avoiding it by simply going away for a couple of days, like bonfire-haters can.
It's a huge part of Lewes life, has been going on for far longer than any of us (although I could sometimes swear that Newmania has been going on longer

), so I suggest you get over it.
And bonfire actually does change from year to year. The tabs are new every year, different costumes appear, different bands play from year to year, new banners and other stuff are added, the visiting societies vary from year to year and different street fireworks go off. The routes of some processions have changed and there's even a whole new society that didn't exist a few years ago. How much change do you want, ffs?
Of course, you'd have to know a bit about bonfire to be aware of that, rather than just making it up as you go as you along.

On 3 Nov 2010 at 5:21pm Down and Out wrote:

Dear Curious

Where do you get 'socially unacceptable' from? I'm sure that anyone in Bonfire would tell you that you are most welcome not to like it. It's your choice. However, you do get a number of 'anti' posts on this forum which suggest that Bonfire is stupid, or that people who take part in Bonfire are stupid. It's inevitable that such comments will draw responses in kind. Under what circumstances do you suggest that 'free speech gets suspended'?
You say you are 'not taking a position', but you entitled your thread 'Bonfire Boredom'. I'd call that taking a position. Wouldn't you?

On 3 Nov 2010 at 5:39pm Clifford wrote:

We've got a friend coming all the way from Costa Rica to see it. I'm sure he is going to have a good time.

On 3 Nov 2010 at 7:02pm Guy wrote:

Bonfire is undeniably socially unacceptable on both religious bigotry and health and safety grounds. Simple.

On 3 Nov 2010 at 7:09pm Guy's mate wrote:

Won't somebody think of the children, eh Guy.
Now, where did I put that bumper pack of cotton wool to wrap myself in. Can't have any risk, can we.

On 3 Nov 2010 at 7:44pm jrsussex wrote:

Clifford - Are you serious that someone is travelling all the way from Costa Rica specifically to attend Lewes bonfire night, or is it that they are visiting the UK and are going to take in bonfire night?
Before anybody starts on me I think bonfire is OK, not in the fanatical way that some do but I have no problems with it and I am Roman Cathol;c.

On 3 Nov 2010 at 7:50pm Burn em! wrote:

Guy - define religious bigotry...

On 3 Nov 2010 at 8:02pm Clifford wrote:

JR - It did sound a bit much, didn't it? He was planning to visit us in Lewes at some point and we had told him about bonfire night so he decided that was a good time to come. As a good lapsed Catholic he loves the idea of the burning pope.

On 3 Nov 2010 at 11:20pm Thread Bear wrote:

Guy you are undeniably socially unacceptable on both religious bigotry and health and safety grounds. Simpler

On 4 Nov 2010 at 12:38am IMEYOU wrote:

What Is Religion ?

On 4 Nov 2010 at 12:40am IMEYOU wrote:

And What Is Bigotry ?

On 4 Nov 2010 at 8:24am Mr Forks wrote:

Guy you are a buffon, now go away and move your car!

On 4 Nov 2010 at 10:07am Annette Curtin-Twitcher wrote:

People who don't like things that are popular often feel marginalised and a bit isolated as a result. They like to whinge about the fact that hardly anyone agrees with them.
Given that I dislike children and football, it's a good job I don't give a toss really.