EVERY SATURDAY MORNING we take a look at all the best comments left on the site by our readers over the past seven days.
This week there was a lot of talk about the refugee crisis, water charges and victim blaming.
The 5 most popular comments this week
1. Following the huge anti-water charges protest last Saturday, mrs b got 3,213 likes for this comment:
I fully agree with “littleones” comment above.. The people are protesting about water but it’s so much more.. If the company had been set up right and not manned by arrogant snobs followed by sneers and threats from Alan Kelly etc they may have got people on board.. I personally don’t think the majority of people would have minded contributing a small sum towards the upkeep and maintenance but they can see that their money is going to pay the Elizabeth Arnetts, John Tierneys & Denis o briens of this world and that’s a whole different thorn in their side.
2. The second most popular comment of the week appeared under the same article. David Hanlon received 2,662 green thumbs for this contribution:
Exactly, I don’t disagree with paying for water based on consumption, I am firmly against paying for a gold plated quango set up as a retirement home for failed civil servants and FG lackeys.
3. Peter Slattery summed up what a lot of people were feeling when it emerged two sisters in India are to be raped as punishment for their brother running away with a married woman. Some 2,651 of you agreed with him.
That is one of the most horrific things I’ve ever read. What is wrong with these people?
4. Under an article on Andrew Trimble missing the Rugby World Cup, Aidan McGarrity got 1,916 likes for this comment:
Would rather Trimble than Fitzgerald
5. During the week, Chrissie Hynde sparked outrage when she said victims of sexual assault need to accept some responsibility for being raped if they wear certain clothes. Some 1,858 people approved of Julz‘ comment on the matter:
Unbelievable, in this day and age that people still use the “short skirt” excuse to justify the filthy actions of a rapist.
NO ONE has the right to touch anyone else without their given consent.
The top 5 articles which received the most comments this week
1. Poll: Should every town in Ireland take in 10 refugee families? (471 comments)
2. ‘We’re not going away’: Crowds brave awful weather to keep water charges issue live (455 comments)
3. Poll: Is Ireland doing enough for the migrant crisis? (351 comments)
4. Bomb squad called after suspicious package delivered to Alan Kelly’s office (347 comments)
5. Taoiseach and Tánaiste defend Ireland: One country cannot fix Europe’s ‘enormous catastrophe’ (338 comments)
Standout comments of the week
The tragic images of Aylan Kurdi, the three-year-old boy whose body washed up on a beach in Turkey, brought the reality of the refugee crisis home. His brother and mother also drowned while attempting to reach Europe from Syria.
Aylan is one of thousands who have died making the same journey. Many of you were deeply shocked and saddened by the images, with geri‘s simple comment summing it up:
Heartbreaking
The story of Cian McDonnell Lynch got a lot of you talking this week. The four-year-old’s family is trying to raise €1 million for a potentially lifesaving lung transplant.
Joe Harbison had this to say:
Really awful situation. Tragically there is huge competition for donor organs and there are only a handful of organs coming available for kids of this age every year. They go to the patient most likely to get a favourable outcome. In the US how much you can pay can influence whether you get the transplant, which isn’t the case on this side of the world.
Meanwhile, Chuck Eastwood added:
Just to put a little perspective on it. The reason mostvtransplantsxare turned down is because they think the recipient might reject the tissue. They are in the awful position of playing god and choosing between a small group as to who might stand the best chance of living if they receive the transplant. many other factors obviously but the doctors have their reasons for turning people down.
On an entirely different note, news that the woolliest sheep in the world was sheared inspired B. Yourself to write this beautiful poem:
I wandered lonely as a cloud,
My coat so heavy I stood so proud,
I baa’d and baa’d quite aloud,
And drew in a worldwide crowd.
I stand quite slim with my new jacket,
The ould’ wool gone I’ll make a packet,
Off I go to meet the Easons throng,
My book signing and my new song -
Baa baa bald sheep have you any wool?
No Sir, no Sir all the bags are full!
Speaking of animals, Kermit the Frog was forced to deny he’s in a new relationship this week. He and Miss Piggy split up last month, shocking many fans.
Caroline Mangan-Reid noted:
It’s as sad as when Barbie and Ken broke up
Before adding:
Celebrity couples they never last
Meanwhile, the DailyEdge.ie looked into why some fashion magazines are trying to make ‘Swinter’ happen – even though it’s not going to happen.
We’ll leave the final word to Niall Martin, who said:
I’m sure this won’t last long, probably not even til Wummer.
See any good comments? Send them on to orla@thejournal.ie
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