National News Nicola Bulley

[Pete Burrett]

Assuming the body found in the River Wyre is indeed that of missing Nicola this whole 'story' has clearly bought out the worst in at least a section of the British public and the social media industry that serves it.

I've heard several 'interested members of the public' explaining that their very presence along this section of the river is reasonable and understandable. 'I heard about it and wanted to see for myself' muttered one man who was 'helping' the search process by breaking into a shed in someone's private garden in the hope that the police, search teams and even the shed owner hadn't already considered this possibility.

Then there were the continuing rumours on assorted social media sites. Clearly the husband must have something to do with it, reasoned more than one.

Then mention of menopausal problems and apparent associated alcoholism made by Lancashire police. More fuel to the rumour mill, more square footage to the acres of unsubstantiated claims of yet more uninformed people.

Even worse, social media became alight with the claim that the body found in the Wyre yesterday must have been put there recently, presumably by someone who has kept Nicola hidden until their opportunity arose then managed to place it in the river under the glare of the international press and hundreds of citizens.

Perhaps we get the social media we deserve. Perhaps we just have to accept that a proportion of the British public will always sink to the bottom of the pond.

 

[Steve McAvoy]

Agree in large part with this. My understanding is that the appalling intrusion into this tragic person’s personal circumstances (as well as her friends and family’s) was prompted in part by the Police believing this was about to be disclosed by the Media. No fan of the Police especially but they can clearly be stuck with a balance of risks to manage. Personally, I hope that there is an effort made to build on the work already commenced by the Press Standards inquiry that has been left hanging in the breeze…

 

[werthersoriginal]

My wife heard one of the conspiracy theories, which was quite incredibly far fetched. Unfortunately there are a lot of very thick people around, and conspiracy theories make stupid people feel clever.

 

[QR]

My wife heard one of the conspiracy theories, which was quite incredibly far fetched. Unfortunately there are a lot of very thick people around, and conspiracy theories make stupid people feel clever.

What you mean like 'Turkey is about to join the EU'? Yeah, you make a good point.

 

[mooro]

Agree in large part with this. My understanding is that the appalling intrusion into this tragic person’s personal circumstances (as well as her friends and family’s) was prompted in part by the Police believing this was about to be disclosed by the Media. No fan of the Police especially but they can clearly be stuck with a balance of risks to manage. Personally, I hope that there is an effort made to build on the work already commenced by the Press Standards inquiry that has been left hanging in the breeze…

...and of course the media go all in on the police for releasing the details, conveniently ignoring the reason why (in other words, they've knackered our exclusive, so let's paint them as the bad guys).…

 

[Marked Ox]

Assuming the body found in the River Wyre is indeed that of missing Nicola this whole 'story' has clearly bought out the worst in at least a section of the British public and the social media industry that serves it.

I've heard several 'interested members of the public' explaining that their very presence along this section of the river is reasonable and understandable. 'I heard about it and wanted to see for myself' muttered one man who was 'helping' the search process by breaking into a shed in someone's private garden in the hope that the police, search teams and even the shed owner hadn't already considered this possibility.

Then there were the continuing rumours on assorted social media sites. Clearly the husband must have something to do with it, reasoned more than one.

Then mention of menopausal problems and apparent associated alcoholism made by Lancashire police. More fuel to the rumour mill, more square footage to the acres of unsubstantiated claims of yet more uninformed people.

Even worse, social media became alight with the claim that the body found in the Wyre yesterday must have been put there recently, presumably by someone who has kept Nicola hidden until their opportunity arose then managed to place it in the river under the glare of the international press and hundreds of citizens.

Perhaps we get the social media we deserve. Perhaps we just have to accept that a proportion of the British public will always sink to the bottom of the pond.

One moron filming for his Tiktok account got arrested by the river, apparently spending 20 hours* in the nick because of it. He was charged with a public order offence.

Things like this are odious and social media has a lot to answer for in this regards.

*The moron claimed it anyway in his filming coming out of the Police station.

 

[Eaststanding]

My wife heard one of the conspiracy theories, which was quite incredibly far fetched. Unfortunately there are a lot of very thick people around, and conspiracy theories make stupid people feel clever.

The fact that a FB post suggesting she was abducted by aliens got at least 18 immediate likes and counting says it all…But these rumours just grow and grow.
With media releases, the police are often damned if they do, damned if they don’t, and if they wanted to really steer social media along the right course would need someone monitoring and if necessary commenting on social media 24/7. I’d rather they were looking for my loved one than dedicating staff trying to ‘deal with’ social media all day and night.

 

[bashamwonderland]

What you mean like 'Turkey is about to join the EU'? Yeah, you make a good point.

It's a Nicola Bulley Brexit special. Your finest display of crowbar politics to date.

On a wider note, I think the enormous, global popularity of Tiktok (and the types of content and people that become big on Tiktok) demonstrates that the lack of social decorum and general decency isn't a UK only phenomenon. Western society is breaking down.

 

[holdsteady]

It's a Nicola Bulley Brexit special. Your finest piece of crowbar politics to date.

On a wider note, I think the enormous, global popularity of Tiktok (and the types of content and people that become big on Tiktok) demonstrates that the lack of social decorum and general decency isn't a UK only phenomenon. Western society is breaking down.

Social media has just sent the village idiot global and they all have to try and outdo each other, setting a higher bar for idiocy. the best thing to do is to limit your exposure as much as you can to the junk that is most social media and don't take any of it to seriously. its very hard to avoid completely, but that was true of the old village idiot you met in person, but you didn't go out actively looking for him/her.

 

[tonyw]

On a wider note, I think the enormous, global popularity of Tiktok (and the types of content and people that become big on Tiktok) demonstrates that the lack of social decorum and general decency isn't a UK only phenomenon. Western society is breaking down.

There's more TikTok users in the Asia-Pacific region that North America & Europe combined, so surely it's not just Western society breaking down?

I'll be honest and say I'm in two minds. I still have zero understanding of the allure of social media. I saw a presentation from a (very successful) startup CEO the other week that said that data showed that for a majority of young people, the ability to share an experience had become more important than the quality of the experience itself. As someone who's never written a tweet, hasn't posted on Facebook for more than a decade, has never downloaded TikTok or Instagram, and still kind of likes the idea of privacy and sharing my experiences only with those I meet face-to-face......this whole concept is still just completely weird and alien to me.

But rather than proclaim it's the end of civilization.....maybe I'm just old, and have been left behind by the modern world (just like some of the generation before me, who resisted the allure of emails and the internet)? And maybe that's OK?

 

[werthersoriginal]

Social media has just sent the village idiot global and they all have to try and outdo each other, setting a higher bar for idiocy. the best thing to do is to limit your exposure as much as you can to the junk that is most social media and don't take any of it to seriously. its very hard to avoid completely, but that was true of the old village idiot you met in person, but you didn't go out actively looking for him/her.

The trouble is that social media lets the village idiots find each other and also helps create a whole lot more.

 

[Essexyellows]

Social media opens your front door to people you would cross the road to avoid, and then allows all their mates in for a party.

The village idiot has indeed gone global.

 

[Scotchegg]

It's been horrendous with two-bit journalists and twitter muppets trying to tell experienced and highly acclaimed detectives how to do their jobs. Right from the outset, Police responded to a missing person report, quickly escalated it due to significant vulnerabilities, immediately searched the river and surrounding areas, quickly eliminated all but one exit point, sought witnesses and dash cam's to eliminate the final exit point, and therefore said with some confidence that Nicola had likely ended up in the river and washed away from the immediate scene. They said that a body can often take three weeks to be found, but went along with all the additional checks of buildings/woodland etc. Then 3 weeks later a body is discovered as expected. The police don't always get things right, but they've dealt with this incredibly well considering all of the shite they've had to endure from idiots online and clamouring around the scene.

 

[Malc]

Bit like football forums then.

 

[Essexyellows]

Tidal stretch of water the body will move while submerged as in a drowning, 3 weeks later decomposition creates enough gas to raise the body and someone sees it.

Of course you can`t say things like that because folk are so distanced from reality these days.

At least the family have closure rather than not knowing and the media vultures can move on.

 

[bashamwonderland]

There's more TikTok users in the Asia-Pacific region that North America & Europe combined, so surely it's not just Western society breaking down?

I'll be honest and say I'm in two minds. I still have zero understanding of the allure of social media. I saw a presentation from a (very successful) startup CEO the other week that said that data showed that for a majority of young people, the ability to share an experience had become more important than the quality of the experience itself. As someone who's never written a tweet, hasn't posted on Facebook for more than a decade, has never downloaded TikTok or Instagram, and still kind of likes the idea of privacy and sharing my experiences only with those I meet face-to-face......this whole concept is still just completely weird and alien to me.

But rather than proclaim it's the end of civilization.....maybe I'm just old, and have been left behind by the modern world (just like some of the generation before me, who resisted the allure of emails and the internet)? And maybe that's OK?

Maybe, but I'm actually quite young so I'm not looking forward to when this modern world leaves me behind! I've got another 60 years of this!

 

[Peterdev]

I read a report saying that there was another fatality at the same spot some 50 years ago and the body was washed up some three weeks later. Very similar to this tragedy.
As has been stated there is at least closure to relatives and friends.
Meanwhile the police emerge with strong criticism of their conduct in all of this. When I heard the announcement in the media that the poor woman had mental health issues and alcohol related problems I immediately thought how dare they bring that up.

 

[Scotchegg]

Unfortunately when the police stated that there were significant vulnerabilities to explain why a missing person investigation was escalated and managed the way it had, the internet was awash with speculation about affairs, violence between Nicola and her partner as well as people accusing the owners of the caravan site etc. The family requested that more information was put out to stop these rumours. They were damned no matter what they said, and the media and so called experts stoked the fires for their own gain.

 

[Eaststanding]

The faux moral indignation and outrage shown by politicians and others really grated with me. For Penny Mordaunt in particular to say it was sexist to reveal that information is just bonkers, she clearly had no idea about the nuances of the case and why it was revealed.

 

[QR]

I read a report saying that there was another fatality at the same spot some 50 years ago and the body was washed up some three weeks later. Very similar to this tragedy.
As has been stated there is at least closure to relatives and friends.
Meanwhile the police emerge with strong criticism of their conduct in all of this. When I heard the announcement in the media that the poor woman had mental health issues and alcohol related problems I immediately thought how dare they bring that up.

This morning radio 4 said the police release the information (with the knowledge of the family) because someone had sold the 'story' to the tabloids and they wanted to limited any... er... damage.