Good from bad

[Peevemor]

Some of you may have seen some of this - Spurs supporter Neil Markham tweeted a video of his daughter Ella dancing in the concourse of their new stadium after the recent defeat to West Ham.

Ella has Down Syndrome and there was some pretty nasty stuff posted in response to the video.

Neil, who's my cousin, responded to the abusers, even posting his mobile number so that people could call him to discuss things should they so wish. Things escalated a bit and the story was picked up by the Daily Mail and the Sun, and Neil & Ella have since been on TV a couple of times to talk about it all.

https://www.itv.com/news/2019-04-30/dad-hits-out-at-trolls-for-abusing-his-teenage-down-syndrome-daughter-filmed-dancing-at-spurs/

Already some people have apologised for what they posted and have said that there are certain words that they won't use again.

Neil and his wife are of the opinion that if what's happened changes the outlook of even a small number of people, then at least something good's come out of it.

And to top it all, Ella was sent a video message by her hero Harry Kane inviting her to be Spurs mascot for their last home game of the season.

https://twitter.com/LastWordOnSpurs/status/1123694991371657216

[Bangkok Hibby]

Some of you may have seen some of this - Spurs supporter Neil Markham tweeted a video of his daughter Ella dancing in the concourse of their new stadium after the recent defeat to West Ham.

Ella has Down Syndrome and there was some pretty nasty stuff posted in response to the video.

Neil, who's my cousin, responded to the abusers, even posting his mobile number so that people could call him to discuss things should they so wish. Things escalated a bit and the story was picked up by the Daily Mail and the Sun, and Neil & Ella have since been on TV a couple of times to talk about it all.

https://www.itv.com/news/2019-04-30/dad-hits-out-at-trolls-for-abusing-his-teenage-down-syndrome-daughter-filmed-dancing-at-spurs/

Already some people have apologised for what they posted and have said that there are certain words that they won't use again.

Neil and his wife are of the opinion that if what's happened changes the outlook of even a small number of people, then at least something good's come out of it.

And to top it all, Ella was sent a video message by her hero Harry Kane inviting her to be Spurs mascot for their last home game of the season.

https://twitter.com/LastWordOnSpurs/status/1123694991371657216

I haven't read this story but I assume the exposure it got embarrassed enough people to make them apologise. Shame it happened but that's great. Unfortunately the country and world at large harbours many unthinking, unfeeling, unintelligent morons. As long as they have the internet this will never stop. I've left a couple of supposedly helpful forums due to the utter drivel from those who think they're comedians to downright abuse from the rest. I really dont think there is an answer bar censorship of every post on every forum or website and that's never going to happen.

[Peevemor]

It's still going.

My cousin's been inundated with literally thousands of messages of support, and now the Spurs fans look like they'll be singing Ella's name when she does the mascot thing.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6988463/Ella-Markham-Shes-one-Spurs-fans-vow-honour-trolled-schoolgirl-16-chant.html

If the overall result is that even a small number of people change there attitude toward those with down syndrome and other conditions then at least the world will be a slightly better place.

[Onceinawhile]

It's still going.

My cousin's been inundated with literally thousands of messages of support, and now the Spurs fans look like they'll be singing Ella's name when she does the mascot thing.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6988463/Ella-Markham-Shes-one-Spurs-fans-vow-honour-trolled-schoolgirl-16-chant.html

If the overall result is that even a small number of people change there attitude toward those with down syndrome and other conditions then at least the world will be a slightly better place.

Unfortunately it's likely that there'll always be people who use that sort of language and behave in that manner. Hopefully over the next 5-10 years that number decreases. I hope your cousin's daughter has a great day.

[calumhibee1]

Unfortunately it's likely that there'll always be people who use that sort of language and behave in that manner. Hopefully over the next 5-10 years that number decreases. I hope your cousin's daughter has a great day.

I've heard a couple of people in my work use the M word over the last couple of weeks. God knows where it's come from because I hadn't heard it at my work in the 10 years I've been there. Called them out on it and they were pretty embarrassed when they actually stopped to think what they were saying. :agree:

[lyonhibs]

I absolutely cringe when I think that maybe 18-20 years ago I used the M word without a ******g scooby what I was on about. :bitchy::bitchy:

Lovely story, and well done to Harry Kane and Spurs for turning a possibly sad tale into a positive story and shut up a few ********s into the bargain

[Sir David Gray]

You need to be a real lowlife to see a father's post on social media about his daughter and the first thing that you think of to do is to make fun of her disability.

Scourge on society.

[Peevemor]

https://www.itv.com/news/2019-05-12/young-spurs-fan-with-down-syndrome-leads-beloved-team-out-on-pitch-after-online-abuse/

[stoneyburn hibs]

https://www.itv.com/news/2019-05-12/young-spurs-fan-with-down-syndrome-leads-beloved-team-out-on-pitch-after-online-abuse/

Brilliant, the wee one must have been buzzing.