Confession: when I worked in Woolworths we used to regularly under-ring friends' purchases and our friends would do the same for us. Also , used to eat sweets, crouched behind the sweet counter. I had a wake-up call when I was threatened with the sack for eating sweets I hadn't paid for. All I could think of was what my mum would say, which would be worse than losing my job. It turned out that the supervisor who reported me and another girl often lifted pick'n'mix sweets in passing and ate them. When I said this, Mrs Harris (terrifying but fair) let us off. I didn't nick sweets again.
When I was seven I used to take my girlfriend to Saturday Morning Pictures on the bus, but we always walked home so we could spend the bus fare on pick n mix. We used to nick those erasers that you put on the end of your pencil.
I too am very law/rule abiding, but as I get older I get less patient with some of the less logical rules, especially if they are not fairly and consistently applied. I think you are definitely right about the effect that a less than exemplary police force has on public attitudes. When those in authority don't set an example it is very difficult to expect the citizens to take being told what to do. I think rooting for the bad guy comes from our human empathy. If the character has extenuating circumstances, or a good reason to break bad rules, we sympathise and want them to succeed. That's why people like vigilante movies.
I always enjoy hearing your considered response to my work, Jules. And this is no exception. Yes, we are complex creatures, and often live in the grey areas of life.
I've certainly done my share of naughty things...but I struggle with tv series which only glamorise evil people, particularly violent people. Never watched The Sopranos. I'm afraid I was rooting for the Met in The Gold.
The lady detective and Lord Grantham were easy to cheer for. Exciting and honest. But still, John Palmer. He deserved his adventures and his freedom. All he did was melt a few bars of gold.
The real interesting character was Handsome Noye. We loved him at the start because he was charming and clever and a bit mischievous. Prison turned him into a monster though, and we couldn't wait for him to be locked up again. The good guy/bad guy thing wasn’t just about being naughty.
Yes, I did actually like the detectives, but there was something about the portrayal of Palmer that made me root for him. Gotta say, I don’t extend my sympathies to Noye. Vile individual. You’ll be aware of the road rage incident in Swanley. He’s ruined many lives.
Charming mischief maker at the start. Nasty lowlife by the end. I was especially upset that he killed someone in Swanley because I used to go swimming there.
What a well chosen subject! It's a real paradox that we root for villains. I mean we all benefit from society but we're happy to cheer as someone challenges it's very existence. All the examples you cite are characters I love, despite their sociopathic tendencies. Maybe charm and villainy are joined at the hip but I wonder which is the cause and which the effect? Another great piece Sharon, beautifully written.
This is great and so true Sharon 😂 I’ve never been attracted to a bad boy though ! lol , maybe cos my mum married one ! (My dad) 🫣😂😂 long time divorced!!
Such a pleasant read on a miserable Tuesday morning. Made me laugh, groan and think. So thank you 💕 my mam hated all my friends, they were rogues and well ya know, but the ones that are still alive are still friends. Speaking with one recently and we came to the conclusion I kept him from making some really bad choices and he stopped me being a proper boring effer 🤪 and he's grown up and become less roguey and I've become boring 🤷♀️
Such a fun read, Sharon and so true! When it comes to sticking it to The Man, I definitely root for the stickers. I always considered myself a rule follower but that didn't stop me from giving away free coffees when I worked as a teenage barista knowing the regulars would just put the cash in our tip jar. Or, when I managed a bakery in my early 20s, I used to give away tons of food to my broke friends and make long distance calls on the bakery line. That's when it cost around .50 cents a minute or something outrageous. By some miracle, the boss didn't fire me, but he did take the cost of the calls out of my paycheck, which was basically my whole paycheck.
Confession: when I worked in Woolworths we used to regularly under-ring friends' purchases and our friends would do the same for us. Also , used to eat sweets, crouched behind the sweet counter. I had a wake-up call when I was threatened with the sack for eating sweets I hadn't paid for. All I could think of was what my mum would say, which would be worse than losing my job. It turned out that the supervisor who reported me and another girl often lifted pick'n'mix sweets in passing and ate them. When I said this, Mrs Harris (terrifying but fair) let us off. I didn't nick sweets again.
I defy anyone who worked at Woolies during those halcyon days NOT to nick from the pick n mix!
When I was seven I used to take my girlfriend to Saturday Morning Pictures on the bus, but we always walked home so we could spend the bus fare on pick n mix. We used to nick those erasers that you put on the end of your pencil.
The Brinks Matt robbers had nothing on us.
A long time since I’ve thought about how I rooted for Top Cat over Officer Dibble!
Weren't we supposed to root for Top Cat though? He was OUR cat who represented freedom, and Officer Dibble was the symbol of oppression.
The like-minded among us felt that way! Great piece by a fellow Substacker on T.C:
https://open.substack.com/pub/animated/p/top-cat-hanna-barbera-1960s-cartoon-legacy?r=7tva4&utm_medium=ios
He's the undisputable Top Cat. He's the Leader of the Gang.
Yup!
I too am very law/rule abiding, but as I get older I get less patient with some of the less logical rules, especially if they are not fairly and consistently applied. I think you are definitely right about the effect that a less than exemplary police force has on public attitudes. When those in authority don't set an example it is very difficult to expect the citizens to take being told what to do. I think rooting for the bad guy comes from our human empathy. If the character has extenuating circumstances, or a good reason to break bad rules, we sympathise and want them to succeed. That's why people like vigilante movies.
Really interesting piece, Sharon, thanks.
I always enjoy hearing your considered response to my work, Jules. And this is no exception. Yes, we are complex creatures, and often live in the grey areas of life.
An interesting read Sharon. Nice to know your perspective. I recall unashamedly being part of a dog-napping to save a mistreated furchild. 🐶🐾🐶
I've certainly done my share of naughty things...but I struggle with tv series which only glamorise evil people, particularly violent people. Never watched The Sopranos. I'm afraid I was rooting for the Met in The Gold.
That’s interesting to hear Sarah. In reality, they must’ve been very satisfied to have finally put John Palmer away.
The lady detective and Lord Grantham were easy to cheer for. Exciting and honest. But still, John Palmer. He deserved his adventures and his freedom. All he did was melt a few bars of gold.
The real interesting character was Handsome Noye. We loved him at the start because he was charming and clever and a bit mischievous. Prison turned him into a monster though, and we couldn't wait for him to be locked up again. The good guy/bad guy thing wasn’t just about being naughty.
Yes, I did actually like the detectives, but there was something about the portrayal of Palmer that made me root for him. Gotta say, I don’t extend my sympathies to Noye. Vile individual. You’ll be aware of the road rage incident in Swanley. He’s ruined many lives.
Charming mischief maker at the start. Nasty lowlife by the end. I was especially upset that he killed someone in Swanley because I used to go swimming there.
What a well chosen subject! It's a real paradox that we root for villains. I mean we all benefit from society but we're happy to cheer as someone challenges it's very existence. All the examples you cite are characters I love, despite their sociopathic tendencies. Maybe charm and villainy are joined at the hip but I wonder which is the cause and which the effect? Another great piece Sharon, beautifully written.
Thanks so much Colin.
Aaah yes.. good old coyote. We cheered for the underdog and hated that smart, smug, annoying little road runner. A great read Sharon.
It made me think about those crafty nuns in The Sound of Music when they cut some engine wires to help the Von Traps escape the Nazis. Shocking lol.
Love this Jen. As an ex-convent school pupil, I can confirm that most nuns are rogues, underneath those habits! Thanks for reading x
I think you'd *love* The Diamond Heist on Netflix, the main guy is a total dodgy geezer but impossible to dislike.
This is great and so true Sharon 😂 I’ve never been attracted to a bad boy though ! lol , maybe cos my mum married one ! (My dad) 🫣😂😂 long time divorced!!
Such an interesting idea Sharon. I think I definitely fall for a bad guy. I v much enjoyed The Gold btw. But they do have to be charming.
I’m thinking Robin Hood and The Dandy Highwayman.
And Jules’s point about failure in authority and systematic ineptitude does make you rather disenfranchised with the whole thing.
Such a pleasant read on a miserable Tuesday morning. Made me laugh, groan and think. So thank you 💕 my mam hated all my friends, they were rogues and well ya know, but the ones that are still alive are still friends. Speaking with one recently and we came to the conclusion I kept him from making some really bad choices and he stopped me being a proper boring effer 🤪 and he's grown up and become less roguey and I've become boring 🤷♀️
Funny Siwan. Life’s all about balance, eh? 😀
Such a fun read, Sharon and so true! When it comes to sticking it to The Man, I definitely root for the stickers. I always considered myself a rule follower but that didn't stop me from giving away free coffees when I worked as a teenage barista knowing the regulars would just put the cash in our tip jar. Or, when I managed a bakery in my early 20s, I used to give away tons of food to my broke friends and make long distance calls on the bakery line. That's when it cost around .50 cents a minute or something outrageous. By some miracle, the boss didn't fire me, but he did take the cost of the calls out of my paycheck, which was basically my whole paycheck.
I’m heading you Hilary. The devil is clearly in us!
😆