What's wrong with this picture? - Whitby Sophie Bench?

[ebony_dawn]

I've just read that some folks are getting together through WGW to get a memorial bench in Whitby and maybe plant a tree or two if they raise enough for that unfortunate goth lass, Sophie Lancaster, who, like so many people (alternative types or not) wasn't safe walking around her neighbourhood. Apparently the bench is going to cost £1600!

Personally, I think that although it's a lovely idea, I don't agree with getting a bunch of strangers to donate money for a bench in memory of person they didn't even know. If there should be any reason for asking for donations for anything, surely it should be for something that could make a difference...like a charity that could help raise awareness of such crimes or help the victims?

Discuss.....

Comments

[jozafeen.livejournal.com]

This is just one reason why you are ace!

Though what happened to the girl and her partner is absolutely awful, I haven't seen any indication that she was part of the wider goth community, or that she even ever attended Whitby.As you say, a bench there would do absolutely no good whatsoever and the money would be better put to use in her community to stop it happening again.

Thank you for having the guts to say what many people must be thinking.

[orkney-rob.livejournal.com]

Hadn't heard of this, having been outside of the general goth scene for quite a while... but I do agree with you entirely. It's like these mass displays of public grief that seem to be going on all the time since that blond horse face bint that shagged the son of a large department store died and just about every other "high profile" death since. If it isn't someone I know personally then I really don't see the point in stuff like this - and to be honest even if I did know them I would probably do something more useful than sticking a bench somewhere with a meaningless message screwed onto it.

Just so I don't seem utterly callous - I did know a guy paralysed from the neck down following a big mountain bike accident. He was rescued, and his life saved, but the Air Ambulance Service which depends entirely on donations... so as a result I will do what I can to help raise money for them :-)

[daevid.livejournal.com]

This (http://forum.topmum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=737) may shed some light on why they are doing it...

[ishkhara.livejournal.com]

I totally agree. I saw the original post and felt that the money would be better spent going to a charity she supported or suchlike. I doubt a bench at Whitby, although a touching gesture, is going to make anything better for the community where she lived. Perhaps raising awareness through charity work is a better idea? I always liked that about TNAC.

[medusa.livejournal.com]

I found this post via jozafeen and totally agree. As I said on Kriss' journal:

I am not against people raising money for stuff like benches and memorials and things like that because clearly people want to commemorate what happened and feel like they are contributing something and doing something worthwhile but I think that in this case public feeling is so furious and revolted about what happened that they could probably pitch a bit higher and do something to help all the thousands of kids/young adults and adults who have to deal with violent crime like this all the time. It isn't as if this is an isolated incident after all and there are communities who could probably do with more help.

Apparently the council in question have said they can't afford a warden or someone to patrol the park where the attack took place so right away there is something that maybe people could be directing donations at or trying to sort out. Maybe paying for a park warden is a bit optimistic but funding CCTV cameras would be useful maybe or just, y'know, something practical that will ensure that this doesn't happen again or that someone else out there is getting some help.

[clockwork-satan.livejournal.com]

Gah, that story made me feel sick to the pit of my stomach.

The thing that I keep thinking is that I bet things would have been ALOT different if it had've been a gang of Goths who'd went and kicked some chav/ned to death. Imagine the media circus there would've been... Goths = EVIL, and the like.

...And I'm not sure if a bench is really going to make a difference. Sure, it's a nice gesture and all, but it leaves me feeling slightly cold. The money could definately be better spent on a poster campaign or charity making the public more aware of incidents like this.

[spacelem.livejournal.com]

£1600 sounds like a very expensive bench. Is it silver plated?

It's tragic when anyone dies in this manner, and it is intolerable that this society breeds hate groups in this manner - all the individuals were under 17, and have clearly been raised so badly that they think this sort of behaviour is acceptable. It was probably rationalised as: "I hate those fucking goth types, let's go teach them a lesson for being different." I wouldn't be surprised if alcohol was involved too.

I think the money would be better going to charity rather than into building a bench, but it is really up to the parents what happens to it, and whether people wish to donate or not.

[luckylove.livejournal.com]

Poor lass but I agree with you. I wouldn't donate money if it was just for a bench but I would consider it if it was going to a charity to raise awareness or help victims.

£1600 is a bit much for a bench.

[kissmeforlonger.livejournal.com]

Then don't donate to that, donate to a bullying or awareness raising charity instead. Donating to any charity is a choice, you don't have to give if you don't agree with what they're doing. It really is that simple.