Ace

Michael, you are truly a wealth of knowledge. Is that a board game version of Pacman? How did that work?

I had a Turnin' Turbo Dashboard too, and a Kettler go-kart, although I seem to remember mine being silver. The neighbours never enjoyed the sound of the solid plastic wheels sliding all over the pavements outside their houses. Which is probably why they always looked at my GTO with disdain.

He is obviously living well off the back of performing his skills on this group of "subjects".

Well, just for fun - I am still out of a job, with absolutely no options on the horizon. Have applied for a good 25 positions or so, receiving about four replies, all of which were negative. Even looked at joining the Metropolitan Police, only to be told (unofficially and off the record, in their words) that I'd have to join an eight MONTH waiting list to get on the training programme - because I'm a straight, white English man. If any of those adjectives were not true (ie if I were gay, or non-white, or not English by descent), I could be drafted straight in to the training programme, which is eight months long itself. So telling the truth means I'd have to wait 16 months before being offered the chance to being a fully fledged bobby. Says something about the state of the country when even the police forces, who are supposedly crying out for new blood, are selective about who they can immediately take on. A mate has offered a "lifeline" into property management for the firm he works at, but it would mean a massive drop in salary and it is dependent on his superiors deeming me enough potential to warrant an interview. It would be a backward step but one I'm willing to take if it means the chance to take two steps forward in a relatively recession-proof profession. Disclaimer: this is not intended as a racist, homophobic or ethnic slur, neither should it be viewed as such - merely wish to highlight my frustration at being out of work and the hurdles faced by the unemployed when trying to find gainful employment. I would appreciate if any moderators could read through and see if any of this post could be regarded as inflammatory, risky, or slanderous so I can edit/remove as necessary. Rant over.

Of course you've not had your fun with it. Get your money's worth, man. Although you might have some interest if it goes for sale...

I hope nobody asks the same question about Kent. Oh no, wait - hang on...

No surprise you never spotted me - I was in a Clio, on the slip road to Longfield/Ebbsfleet International, trying to keep alongside as long as possible to admire the motor. As you can imagine, thanks to the immense power of the 1.2l engine, I got only a fleeting glimpse before you roared off. Your pictures do not do that car justice.

Was it a Manx TT...?

Aha - but what is your favourite breed of cat?

Sunday afternoon, just after 5pm, coming onto the A2 from the Dartford/M25 slip road. Pulled out from behind a lorry and then sauntered past. Looked very nice. Blonde lass in the passenger seat too.

Bought both of those on their respective days of release - an HK album always accompanies me in the car. It seems to sound even better in weather like this, too.

Spaghetti and meatballs will never have quite the same appeal again.

That's what I did. Nine weeks on, and I'm still searching. Not that I'm trying to urinate on your bonfire, or anything - last thing you need is a kick when you're down.

Hold out for a UK manual if that is what you really want. The general consensus is to wait until you find a motor with which you are perfectly happy; rather than jump in and buy the first one you see just because you are too impatient to wait for the right one.

Sorry to hear about the redundancy. Hop on the good ship Unemployment. I've been on it for two months now. Choppy, but you won't be lonely. And a free bump into the bargain too.

That is a more direct way of what I was trying to say, but my responses seem to come out far too politely

Which is a good point - but of course, you risk offending someone on here who is a big Jackson fan; there is no question he reached out to millions of people with his music. And, as this thread is proving quite well, people will remember the bad things about people long before they remember the good things. I'm not suggesting that you cannot voice your opinion, but there is every chance that you will be remembered for "some inappropriate encouragement of those anti-Jackson jokes", which is the bad thing. Rather than "Mathew, that nice and helpful bloke off the MkIVSupra forum" - which is the good thing. That is just the nature of the beast when it comes to society. This forum is a microcosm of society - a good sampler of the "outside world". Echoing Charlotte's words, it's really something for another time.

I'm sorry to hear that. I'm not making light of it, but I'll use your reply as a case in point - how would you have felt if people had heard the news of your grandmother's death, and then proceeded to slag her off, and re-hash old rumours (that may or may not have been true) about her? I think THAT is the underlying point of discussion throughout the last seventy-odd posts. Yes, everyone has their beliefs and opinions on the way Jackson conducted his life, but there are times and places to air them. Perhaps within 24 hours of his death isn't one of those times.

Mathew, I've quoted two of your posts on this now, so if it appears I'm picking on you, I'm not, honest But do bear in mind that there is the possibility that some people may have had relatives die, and have heard hurtful and spiteful comments about that relative (perhaps on hearing the news, or at the funeral, at the wake, etc). Experiencing that first hand would be enough for some people to ensure that they do not want to put a fellow human being through that same emotional turmoil. Not unlike spitting on their grave, or kicking someone when they are down. Again, I reiterate that I am not adopting a "holier than thou" attitude - but let's remember that there are a very small number of genuinely decent people out there, who would not search for humour in the misfortunes of others, no matter how shallow or deep those misfortunes may be. We shouldn't speak for them, neither should we assume they do not exist.

Perhaps mikeyb10supra is suggesting it is disrespectful to Michael himself? As stated earlier in the thread, he never got any peace in life; let's at least be decent enough to offer him some in death.

I'm surprised you didn't mention by how many posts it was nearly the first joke.

Did you say that whilst rubbing your hands together and grinning with glee, akin to a mad professor?

I am glad you noticed the relative analogy

Well said. I'll get my coat and we'll get the bus together - I'm waiting for someone to misconstrue my opinions as defending Jackson to the hilt. Which I'm not. Misconstrue away, everyone.

Indeed. Strange how society operates. At base level, Glitter and Jackson are the same - pop idols of their day, and both associated with child molestation. However, I've never heard anyone say one positive thing about Glitter. Everyone wishes him ill will. Mind you, he made NO secret of trotting out to Cambodia for a couple of teenagers. Neither was he in the same stratosphere as Jackson, as a pop idol. Ultimately people will believe and say whatever they want to; it's just a shame that Jackson isn't even cold yet, yet he is enduring the verbal equivalent of a Middle Age public stoning.