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 general election and the death of Terry Wogan.
The 5 most popular comments this week
1. There has been plenty of talk about the general election in recent days as the nation gears up for 26 February. Under our poll about who people will vote for, Dylan wrote:
If you choose not to vote you’re part of the problem.
Some 1,355 of you approved.
2. Many people were shocked and saddened by the death of broadcaster Terry Wogan. Anon Ymous got 1,206 likes for this comment:
Another one who I thought would always be around. RIP Terry.
3. Cormac Harrington had this to say about Wogan:
One of our best exports. RIP Terry.
His comment got 1,046 green thumbs.
4. On an article about what the colour of your snot means, Lester Jeffcoat wrote:
This is the best article on snot I’ve read so far today.
That one got 907 likes. Thanks Lester, we do try.
5. Beano had this to say in reply to someone who suggested people take up cycling instead of driving (under an article about a woman awarded €16,000 in damages after suffering whiplash when a driver ‘tipped’ her car):
Good luck sticking two kids on the back of a bike, dropping them to school/crèche, then cycling up the N7 to work every morning
Some 912 of you agreed.
The top 5 articles which received the most comments this week
1. Labour TD reveals ‘absolutely disgusting’ hate mail (332 comments)
2. Labour reckons its incredibly fabulous candidates can win 36 seats (303 comments)
3. Poll: Who will you vote for in the general election? (288 comments)
4. A misogynist ‘pro-rape’ group called Return of Kings is planning a bizarre meeting in Kildare (279 comments)
5. There’s bad news for Fine Gael but Labour has gained in the latest poll (264 comments)
Standout comments
During the week Mattress Mick told a very personal story to Humans of Dublin about a past love who died from cancer. She called him to say goodbye shortly before her death.
Here’s the end of the story:
Every time I think about that phone call I get very sad. It was the nicest phone call I have ever received in my whole life. It meant so much to me. That someone who knew they were terminally ill and hadn’t a lot of time could actually think about me, and tell me that … I guess it is true, it’s never too late to tell somebody how you feel. She died that week, but she’ll always be in that very special place in my heart.
It prompted a lot of discussion, with Mr Phil Officer noting:
“Be kind to strangers, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about”
Nigel Tuffnel wrote:
It goes to show everyone has a story. The humans of Dublin is very interesting, the people you walk past daily have lived through some extraordinary things. As for Mick he seems like a genuine bloke.
After Lorraine Courtney penned a column arguing that naming doctors in fitness to practice inquiries should be scrapped, Colin Davenport wrote:
Thank you for the article. As a doctor, I feel that the keypoint here is that while doctors should definitely be held accountable if unprofessional or incompetent, the current system involves a lot of trial by media before any of the facts come through. Complaints about doctors should be investigated in full (and in the current system that takes place with a lay-person majority, so it’s not just doctors judging doctors), but I think that the investigation should take place first, and only if wrongdoing is found should the information be released to the public. Otherwise a doctors career, reputation etc can be maligned all over the country on the basis of allegations and not facts. It’s also an interesting point the author makes regarding the need for the medical council to protect doctors as well as patients, as it must be somewhat difficult for one body to represent both sides of any issue fully and equally.
Under a post about what happens in the run-up to an election, Colette Kearns asked people to spare a thought for the babies who will be kissed in photo ops the length and breadth of the country:
Agh its a terrible time for babies, god love them!!
During the week, we had a poll on who you would like to be the next US President.
Hillary Clinton may have come out on top, but we could get on board with Jessie Paden‘s suggestion:
Tom Hanks
However, Drew TheChinaman :) disagreed:
No way…. Harrison Ford was clearly the best cinematic portrayal of POTUS.
Tough call.
Sticking with all things political, Kerry’s Michael Healy-Rae released a general election song earlier this week.
Lester Jeffcoat had this suggestion:
There’s only one thing for it. Eurovision.
Under a story about Groundhog Day, Pauliebhoy wrote:
Think I read this story already
We see what you did there.
Meanwhile, AARO-SAURUS hit the nail on the head about a Lotto winner failing to come forward to claim €1 million:
You’d be absolutely sick if you copped it a day late.
On another note, students queued outside garda stations in a number of locations across the country this week to register to vote in the general election.
This prompted james to write:
I for one welcome our new student overlords.
Speaking of voting, Peter Mc Hugh had an alternative option for our poll on who you’d like to see as the next Taoiseach:
I voted other. I think I should be given the job. Because…I’m great.
You make some really good points, Peter.
Finally, after ice cream flavours at two Sligo shops were named among the best in the world, Helen O’neill-clayton commented:
There goes the diet, I may well have to take a trip up there, sure it’d be rude not to after them winning an award. Just for research purposes of course. Not because it looks savage. Research.
Can we come?
See any good comments? Email them to orla@thejournal.ie.
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