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Ding, dong the bitch is dead
August 4, 2004 7:27 AM Subscribe

Margaret Thatcher dies, aged 79. [hoax]
posted by i_cola (63 comments total)

Hoo fucking ray.
posted by biffa at 7:28 AM on August 4, 2004

She knew her onions?
posted by Red58 at 7:29 AM on August 4, 2004

Ding dong, the witch is dead!
posted by chrid at 7:29 AM on August 4, 2004

Hoax.
posted by psmealey at 7:31 AM on August 4, 2004

? It's a joke site. But I was still cueing that Hefner song.
posted by neustile at 7:31 AM on August 4, 2004

The reporter is named "Connie Lingus".

I remain skeptical pending confirmation from other sources.
posted by briank at 7:31 AM on August 4, 2004

Saddam was said to be in a state of shock today, on hearing the news of Thatcher's demise. Saddam Husein has asked guards for compassionate leave to attend Lady Thatcher's funeral. "She was an inspiration to me." He said.

That was mildly amusing. That other stuff... ehhh. Not that funny.
posted by psmealey at 7:32 AM on August 4, 2004

Bloody hell, a wind up. How annoying.
posted by biffa at 7:32 AM on August 4, 2004

Chris Morris would have done it better.
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 7:33 AM on August 4, 2004

This has GOT to be a hoax if for no reason other than this: Imagine if you were an earnest, hardworking reporter whose for real name WAS "Connie Lingus." You'd get so tired of everyone thinking your stories were a hoax based on your name that you'd change it, wouldn't you?

Unless this story is part of the professional awakening of "Connie Lingus."
posted by chinese_fashion at 7:34 AM on August 4, 2004

That's not funny.
posted by dagny at 7:36 AM on August 4, 2004

That's not funny

well, it is well designed
posted by matteo at 7:37 AM on August 4, 2004

i_cola: That was truly evil, I was so busy deciding who to email first that I didn't have time for details. Totally sucked in.
posted by biffa at 7:38 AM on August 4, 2004

Being Irish I shouted it out in the office.
Having read no more than the link!
posted by kenaman at 7:43 AM on August 4, 2004

*heheheh*

Some clicking on links will get you thru to some scarier web design & even the George Bush as Benny Hill cartoon...
posted by i_cola at 7:43 AM on August 4, 2004

weak.
posted by hackly_fracture at 7:44 AM on August 4, 2004

Footer:
"GuardianNews.co.uk © GuardianNews.co.uk - TOTALLY SATIRICAL 2004"
posted by brownpau at 7:44 AM on August 4, 2004

man.. i rushed to tell all the brits i knew. they asked me for a source, and i pointed them to the link.

who's the goose? ME.
posted by lotsofno at 7:46 AM on August 4, 2004

well, i was hook, line and sinkered.
posted by seanyboy at 7:47 AM on August 4, 2004

Stephen Hawking, in response to Thatcher's death has ordered a new computer generated voice. For years now he has spoken with his 'Trade mark' Robocop (sic) voice, but as Phil A Show writes, Hawking loved the PM so much he has asked expertsd to make him a voice like Thatchers. hehe.
posted by tcp at 7:49 AM on August 4, 2004

Crap. Dumb joke or yet another way to spread spyware? Note to self: read comments BEFORE following link.
posted by maudlin at 7:51 AM on August 4, 2004

What's with the super loud breaking news voice over hawking a tee-shirt? If that wasn't a sign it was faked...
posted by macadamiaranch at 7:54 AM on August 4, 2004

That is totally fucking sick...whether you liked her or not...I didn't, but I still don't wish her dead.

Calm yourselves down people...
posted by mattr at 7:56 AM on August 4, 2004

piss poor
posted by jonvaughan at 8:01 AM on August 4, 2004

She saved the damn country from an economic morass that's still suffocating the continent, and all you people can do is bitch. It's so very english.
posted by leotrotsky at 8:02 AM on August 4, 2004

I hope this gets deleted:

1. Hoaxes posted to fool the readership are not the best of the web.
2. Hoaxes make people read the comments first, which leads to people commenting before reading the links, which leads to bad discussion.
3. It pisses me off to get fooled by a hoax, and makes me hate the poster.

(big middle finger)
posted by norm at 8:04 AM on August 4, 2004

*cues Morrissey's "Margaret on the Guillotine," reads comments, cues "I Don't Mind If You Forget Me" instead*
posted by onlyconnect at 8:17 AM on August 4, 2004

Like, it would've killed ya to put a "wink" smiley on the FPP text or something?
posted by alumshubby at 8:20 AM on August 4, 2004

She is still alive?

Excellent. Go on Mrs.T

Truly a great woman.
posted by Frasermoo at 8:24 AM on August 4, 2004

i don't see how it is funny to wish for someone's death. yes, metafilter has been heavily propagandistic lately, but this is just a bit too much. what's next, a countdown to gwb's death as an FPP? I vote to delete the thread as tasteless - and not funny.
posted by bokononito at 8:27 AM on August 4, 2004

connie lingus: survivor of sexual violence.
posted by quonsar at 8:30 AM on August 4, 2004

tigger: survivor of sexual violence.
posted by soyjoy at 8:33 AM on August 4, 2004

i_cola dies, aged 79
posted by Outlawyr at 8:38 AM on August 4, 2004

I agree with Norm - and not just cause I interupted my director in an importnant meeting with the news.

Sh#t -sh#t - sh#t
posted by Samuel Farrow at 8:40 AM on August 4, 2004

For the record, I had absolutely nothing to do with this.
posted by CunningLinguist at 8:44 AM on August 4, 2004

That's not funny.

Yes it is
posted by twistedonion at 8:45 AM on August 4, 2004

Great. I had already poured out my breakfast tea on the carpet as a sign of respect.

Now where will I get more breakfast tea?
posted by jazzkat11 at 8:45 AM on August 4, 2004

... and somewhere, a gracefully aging Morrissey does a little dance!
posted by insomnia_lj at 9:09 AM on August 4, 2004

Don't forget Elvis.
posted by Pretty_Generic at 9:11 AM on August 4, 2004

Thatcher's spirit was bound up with Ronald Reagan's.

Her pining for the 'Ol Gipper undermined her will to live.
posted by troutfishing at 9:17 AM on August 4, 2004

For the record, I had absolutely nothing to do with this.

Too late CL. I've already told everyone that you're Connie Lingus.
posted by Stynxno at 9:23 AM on August 4, 2004

Aaaargh, when will she die!

(also, "saved the damn country from an economic morass"? We're still suffering the side-effects of that with the added bonus of nothing working because the bloody woman and her damned government had to privatise everything. So, no, I will not be sad when she dies. I know no one in this household will be.)
posted by Katemonkey at 9:25 AM on August 4, 2004

Excellent. I too shouted the news out across the office before having to retract it two seconds later. The guardian weekly stuff was nicely done too.

And jesus, metafilter, lighten up. How is this wishing her dead?
posted by ciderwoman at 9:25 AM on August 4, 2004

Oh, and meant to add that my mistake could have been more serious as I work next to a news desk who are broadcasting live.
posted by ciderwoman at 9:27 AM on August 4, 2004

And THAT is why I always go visit Drudge BEFORE I come here.
posted by konolia at 9:32 AM on August 4, 2004

there's this hysterical scene in abfab (i think it's the episode where the father dies), and gran is in the kitchen taking a magazine quiz and the question is:
Margaret Thatcher was prime minister for:
A: 7 years
B: 12 years
C: 500 years

and gran says "C: 500 years."

: >
posted by amberglow at 9:34 AM on August 4, 2004

Throughout London, people remembered her passing in the traditional manner...
posted by insomnia_lj at 9:35 AM on August 4, 2004

And THAT is why I always go visit Drudge BEFORE I come here.

Oooh, you know you've been dissed when someone rates Drudge as a more reliable source of information than you.
posted by briank at 9:45 AM on August 4, 2004

Lame. Premature announcements of the death of public figures is only about a quarter step up from making jokes about the noises people's butts make when they take a shit.

I wonder if the Guardian is pissed about their name being attached to it?
posted by fenriq at 10:07 AM on August 4, 2004

Her pining for the 'Ol Gipper undermined her will to live.

That's exactly what came to my mind when I saw the post: Aww, she's gone to be with her political soul-mate Ronnie, breaking unions and supporting despots in the afterlife, before that spoiler Nancy comes up (err, down) and ruins everything.
posted by Ty Webb at 10:08 AM on August 4, 2004

on the other hand, Henri Cartier Bresson did die today.
for real, unlike Thatcher
posted by matteo at 10:37 AM on August 4, 2004

Jeez, matteo, that could use a FPP -- I had no idea until reading this thread.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 11:22 AM on August 4, 2004

Well designed, poorly executed.
posted by The God Complex at 11:23 AM on August 4, 2004

*arrests languagehat*
;)
__________________

Civil_Disobedient,
agreed. can you wait until tomorrow, 1:11 PM Eastern?
in the meantime:

Cartier-Bresson sur le Web

«Le plus aristocratique des anarchistes»
posted by matteo at 12:17 PM on August 4, 2004

Let's not forget Margaret Thatcher was the original Spice Girl.
posted by fredosan at 12:51 PM on August 4, 2004

To be honest, when Maggie does pop her clogs, it will be interesting to compare the national reaction to it with America when Reagan died. The difference will be most illuminating. While Reagan was treated with respect, even from his political opponents, there will be dancing on the street when Maggie dies. I'm sure that reflects badly on British society, but by God, I'll be out there dancing with the rest of them.
posted by salmacis at 12:59 PM on August 4, 2004

She could be dead but instead she's drooling in a playpen somewhere imaging her opinion still matters. Her opinion probably being something like "The EU is an evil institution that will undermine ... ooohh, look at the pretty lights!"

Maybe I'll do a little jig when the old bitch passes into the void, but for now I'll take comfort from the fact that her evil little brain is out of harms way.
posted by dodgygeezer at 1:04 PM on August 4, 2004

Do you weep, Mrs Thatcher, do you weep?
Do you wake Mrs Thatcher, in your sleep?
Do you weep like a sad willow?
On your Marks and Spencer's pillow?
Are you tears molten steel?
Do you weep?
Do you wake with 'Three million' on your brain?
Are you sorry that they'll never work again?
When you're dressing in your blue, do you see the waiting queue?
Do you weep, Mrs Thatcher, do you weep?

posted by John Shaft at 3:46 PM on August 4, 2004

You Thatcherites by name, lend an ear, lend an ear
You Thatcherites by name lend an ear
You Thatcherites by name, your faults I will proclaim,
Your doctrines I must blame, you will hear, you will hear

You privatise away what is ours, what is ours
You privatise away what is ours
You privatise away and when you make us pay
We'll take it back some day, mark my words, mark my words
posted by Mayor Curley at 3:59 PM on August 4, 2004

die die die die die die.

What a truly terrible woman. She treated the country like a toy and we're still suffering because of it. They only good legacy is that there will be "no such thing as society" to honour her.

With most right-wingers its all about the money, honey. With her it was personal in a way I've seen in no other politican. I doubt Americans will ever understand the vitriol.

Leotrotsky, you're a fud. You do know she ran the economy like an experiment ... and fucked it right up. Don't you? And hell, she stole our milk.
posted by bonaldi at 6:00 PM on August 4, 2004

Margaret Thatcher is....
posted by amberglow at 6:08 PM on August 4, 2004

Rubbish - Thatcher was the greatest British leader since Churchill. She took this country from the grip of the three day week, and brought about the economic prosperity us Brits enjoy today. When she came to power Britain was the sick man of Europe, paralysed by trade unions only interested in their own Members, still in retreat from Suez and treated with sad distain by the rest of the world. She was by no means perfect and the errors she made towards the end of her term were grievous.

But the reason she is hated so much by some people is that she won the political fight so completely that old Labour was utterly and completely finished. No serious politician could ever hope to suggest that companies should be nationalised, or that striker should be allowed to paralyse the nation, or that the Government should artificially regulate the economy ever again. If anything she was too politically successful - destroying the most extreme parts of Labour to the extent it became electable again.
posted by prentiz at 3:54 PM on August 6, 2004

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Ding, dong the bitch is dead August 4, 2004 7:27 AM Subscribe

Ding, dong the bitch is dead
August 4, 2004 7:27 AM Subscribe