You're History

[JTRSickert]

Do eye witness accounts place him in a top hat? No

In fact, Mike, the whole top hat and cloak thing seems to be reminiscent of "Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde." Since some witnesses say he had a deerstalker hat, it sounds like he looked more like Sherlock Holmes.

[tnb]

...Gardener:

Was that directed at me or SMG? I didn't find it very clear (that could just be me though). If it was the former, then I must admit I am a little confused by it - while I would never be pretentious enough to insist I was 'taken seriously' I do not feel I have done anything 'cranky' or 'macabre' or glorified or excused any such. What exactly have I done wrong? I am comfortable enough in my own reasons (and everyone's are slightly different, I would suggest) for my interest in the case, in the way I use the information, documents etc, and in what I 'get' out of said interest. In my case my interest is largely historical, with an extra bit of 'spice' added by some strong family connections to the area. With that in mind I was comfortable in attempting to disentangle some of the various conceptual threads that may underlie what I think we all agreed on first reading was a bad, bad idea. It was not an endorsement and nor do I think it could reasonably be read as such.

I find it interesting that an artist who had recreated the Miller's Court murder got about half a dozen pages of replies to their posting, which I personally found much more disturbing than these t-shirts - I am talking in purely 'first impressions' terms, notwithstanding any differences in intention, intended use etc. etc. I am making no value judgements on the respective merits of either project, but as I said I do find it interesting that one project was relatively sympathetically (if challengingly) discussed and those who offered some support did not find themselves attacked. Do we trust the merits of 'artists' more implicitly than commercial ventures? If so I suggest we take a bit of a closer look at the reasons and potential implications of such attitudes.

I have only just looked at the designs and I must say they are a bit more 'graphic' than I'd expected - in my mind I could see something more like the silhouette that adorns a lot of books on the subject; I didn't look before commenting on the idea for 2 reasons, firstly because I wanted to comment purely on the concept in the first instance (which I am pleased I did) and secondly because I know I would never buy one, and so what is the point?

One thing I will say having now seen the design is I feel that including a 'victim' in the picture is massively misguided.


In summary: I have done nothing to besmirch the good name of Ripper studies - if SMG has then that is a matter for his/her own conscience. Each answerable to their own, for me.

[The Good Michael]

Suspect shirts might be fun, especially more obscure ones. The majority of people would have no idea, but we'd be able to pick each other out in a crowd... good or bad.

Cheers,

Mike

[The English Gardener]

Arr, you've misunderstood me, tnb, and you have my apologies. I quoted that particular passage of your words because I felt you'd put your finger on something particularly cogent that bore repetition. My following statements were intended to further my own thinking on the seed you'd planted. Probably should have made myself clearer... *mumble, mumble....*

[tnb]

...Gardener:

No worries, no apology necessary. I still think my subsequent post expands on some interesting points raised by this whole thread and a bit of my own personal 'philosophy', so I hope it doesn't appear totally pointless now.

Originally I had read your post in exactly the way you explain it, it was only the way you then went on to refer to SMG in the third person nearer the end that made me wonder if it wasn't addressed to him/her after all - I should trust to first impressions a bit more perhaps!

My apoologies too if you feel a little 'attacked' in mock retaliation. This thread seems to have done its time now (probably for the best) - but I'll 'see' you around elsewhere sometime soon, I think we may find we have a little in common.

Mike - still not sure I'd actually wear a suspect shirt - either all or all but one of them are innocent after all - but your suggestion did give me a laugh thinking up a few. 'Monty did it', and 'Who is David Cohen?' were personal favourites...