WDYTYA - tiny gripe

[Gillg]

A few months ago I was contacted by a WDYTYA researcher, who had found me via RootsChat.  She wouldn't say who she was researching, but I gave her the records I had and she kindly informed me later that they appeared to be correct!  I'm now waiting to see if I am connected to some "celebrity" in the next series.  Trouble is, I shall have to record the whole series, as I don't know who to look out for.

[fallingonabruise]

talking of gripes, it gets on my wick when they always say 'she was a strong woman' or that they have come from a line of 'strong women' or 'thats why I'm a strong women'
no they were normal people that do what normal people do, suffer hardships, have kids, get married, divorced, bereaved etc and live through it otherwise none of us would be here.

[Daonnachd]

talking of gripes, it gets on my wick when they always say 'she was a strong woman' or that they have come from a line of 'strong women' or 'thats why I'm a strong women'
no they were normal people that do what normal people do, suffer hardships, have kids, get married, divorced, bereaved etc and live through it otherwise none of us would be here.

I agree. I also find the expression uncomfortable as it implies that other people are so-called 'weak', and that so-called 'weak' is somehow negative. I thought we were beginning to get away from that idea with attitudes changing about mental health issues etc. etc. Besides which, some people would equate 'kind' with 'weak'.

What we can never know is what support mechanisms people had around them. Yes, we can see if they lived with a number of people, but not everyone gets on with their families, and someone apparently on their own might have a multitude of friends providing support in a hundred different ways.

Documents can only tell us so much, and we find out through social history about the background in which they lived, but we absolutely cannot tell what their personalities were really like, or their relationships with people around them.

[Ruskie]

talking of gripes, it gets on my wick when they always say 'she was a strong woman' or that they have come from a line of 'strong women' or 'thats why I'm a strong women'
no they were normal people that do what normal people do, suffer hardships, have kids, get married, divorced, bereaved etc and live through it otherwise none of us would be here.

I also greatly dislike that term (it seems to be used a lot these days). I always wonder if by 'strong' people mean 'tough' or 'hard' ...

No one would ever refer to a male and say "he was a strong man" (unless they meant it in the physical sense). 

[Liviani]

I didn't like the Shirley Ballas episode at all, and it was all because of her manner. Her family history was very interesting and varied, however, it was herself that made it boring for me. She was very bland and unwatchable in that setting for me.

[Roobarb]

A few months ago I was contacted by a WDYTYA researcher, who had found me via RootsChat.  She wouldn't say who she was researching, but I gave her the records I had and she kindly informed me later that they appeared to be correct!  I'm now waiting to see if I am connected to some "celebrity" in the next series.  Trouble is, I shall have to record the whole series, as I don't know who to look out for.

How did you know she was genuine Gillg? Not doubting you, I'm just curious. Must admit I'm suspicious of everyone. 

[Finley 1]

You are kidding us Gillg 

it is YOU they were after

wow -- now you  must tell us all   'Who are you?'''


xin

[Phil Goater]

Isn't it time they introduced some DNA evidence into WDYTYA ? We could probably learn a lot/have a good gripe about the way they interpret it. It should certainly help unlock Shirley Ballas's past and give a clue to the father of the Otto children.

Phil Goater
(who isn't quite so sure about his Goater and Langdale ancestry anymore ....)

[KGarrad]

As I said before:
The day they introduce DNA Testing into WDYTYA is the day I stop watching the programme.