Famous, centuries old Sycamore tree chopped down by a brat.

[Ag3ma]

Guy in his 60s has been arrested now too, which seems a bit more plausible.

So much for age conferring wisdom.

 

[Hawki]

Hadrian’s Wall Sycamore Gap tree – in pictures

The 300-year-old tree, set in a dramatic dip near crumbling Roman walls, drew photographers and tourists from all over the world until it was felled in a suspected act of vandalism

www.theguardian.com

"We're going to build the wall, and make the Celts pay for it!"

 

[The Rogue Wolf]

I'm just kind of bemused at how people will stand by like sheep while corporations raze rainforests, but a kid chops down one specific tree and the rage erupts.

 

[Baffle]

I'm just kind of bemused at how people will stand by like sheep while corporations raze rainforests, but a kid chops down one specific tree and the rage erupts.

I think it's a shame because it was a very picturesque tree, and locally a lot of people identify with it as a landmark, but yeah I agree. People seem more annoyed about this than the shit being pumped into rivers or the many other things that are fucked up at the moment. (Yes, I understand people can be annoyed about more than one thing at a time, but the response here seems out of proportion, given the willingness to shrug about other problems.)

 

[BrawlMan]

I'm just kind of bemused at how people will stand by like sheep while corporations raze rainforests, but a kid chops down one specific tree and the rage erupts.

I think it's a shame because it was a very picturesque tree, and locally a lot of people identify with it as a landmark, but yeah I agree. People seem more annoyed about this than the shit being pumped into rivers or the many other things that are fucked up at the moment. (Yes, I understand people can be annoyed about more than one thing at a time, but the response here seems out of proportion, given the willingness to shrug about other problems.)

​

 

[Elvis Starburst]

I'm just kind of bemused at how people will stand by like sheep while corporations raze rainforests, but a kid chops down one specific tree and the rage erupts.

I think it's a shame because it was a very picturesque tree, and locally a lot of people identify with it as a landmark, but yeah I agree. People seem more annoyed about this than the shit being pumped into rivers or the many other things that are fucked up at the moment. (Yes, I understand people can be annoyed about more than one thing at a time, but the response here seems out of proportion, given the willingness to shrug about other problems.)

While I agree that the other kinds of shit happening in the world is awful, engaging in whataboutisms doesn't really do much good for any of the situations in question currently or those proposed further. This event, while not remotely proportional to the ones mentioned above, is still significant to many. It's a historical icon being torn down by people with a complete lack of care about it

 

[Baffle]

While I agree that the other kinds of shit happening in the world is awful, engaging in whataboutisms doesn't really do much good for any of the situations in question currently or those proposed further. This event, while not remotely proportional to the ones mentioned above, is still significant to many. It's a historical icon being torn down by people with a complete lack of care about it

I'm not sure it's a whataboutism to ask 'This really makes you angry, but this thing that is very similar doesn't?'. Hey, if this tree coming down makes people care about the other things, maybe some good will come of it.

 

[Worgen]

I'm just kind of bemused at how people will stand by like sheep while corporations raze rainforests, but a kid chops down one specific tree and the rage erupts.

Don't forget all the farmers and ranchers that are also destroying it.

 

[Gergar12]

I don't care. It's a tree that happens to survive due to the local hills protecting it. Give the boy a stern talking to and leave it alone.

 

[Kwak]

I'm not sure it's a whataboutism to ask 'This really makes you angry, but this thing that is very similar doesn't?'. Hey, if this tree coming down makes people care about the other things, maybe some good will come of it.

But the other things don't have the simple visceral impact this one does. The destruction and malevolent stupidity are on display on the surface here.
But the other wider-ranging destruction is hidden by just how big and all-encompassing it is and also by how society "allows" destruction done in the name of progress by politically-sanctioned corporations.
It's easier to rage against a single dumb human than a monolithic entity we have no power to effect.

 

[Kwak]

Don't forget all the farmers and ranchers that are also destroying it.

Objecting to them means you're against 'good honest working families just trying to put bread on the table and a roof over their heads', etc.

 

[Thaluikhain]

It's easier to rage against a single dumb human than a monolithic entity we have no power to effect.

Very much this.

Though often it works the other way, it's often easy to rage against something faceless you've not power to affect, than someone with a face, if it's you that has to do the affecting.

 

[Zykon TheLich]

Clearly this child needs to be burnt alive on a pyre fashioned from the remains of the tree. May the fiery conflagration and his agonised screams be a warning to all.

Seriously though, community service seems like a good option.

 

[Baffle]

But the other things don't have the simple visceral impact this one does. The destruction and malevolent stupidity are on display on the surface here.
But the other wider-ranging destruction is hidden by just how big and all-encompassing it is and also by how society "allows" destruction done in the name of progress by politically-sanctioned corporations.
It's easier to rage against a single dumb human than a monolithic entity we have no power to effect.

Oh yeah, I get all that. When I first read about it I was shocked, just why would you do that?! But also, I think if you're angry about this but also feel it's okay to run over Just Stop Oil protestors in your Range Rover, you should have a ruddy good look at yourself.

 

[Thaluikhain]

Apparently someone else has planted a sapling next to the stump to replace it.

 

[Baffle]

Apparently someone else has planted a sapling next to the stump to replace it.

It's since been de-planted on account of the general public not being allowed to just plant stuff at UNESCO World Heritage sites!

 

[09philj]

Absolutely not to take away the gravity from this heinous act, but in America (well, ANYWHERE,) I would seriously take anything like this over a disgruntled kid shooting up his school or a mall or any place where innocent people can reasonable expect to just go about their everyday lives.

Rural Northumberland is a place that is so utterly devoid of joy that it is a miracle that nobody has committed a terrorist attack in Haltwhistle just to feel something.

 

[CaitSeith]

Yeah, but... did the kid say something like "I cannot lie, I cut down the cherry sycamore tree"? I heard somewhere that's supposed to be important for some reason...

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

But also, I think if you're angry about this but also feel it's okay to run over Just Stop Oil protestors in your Range Rover, you should have a ruddy good look at yourself.

Range Rover drivers don't cast reflections.

 

[Thaluikhain]

Sycamore Gap tree in spotlight as cinema to show one-off Robin Hood screening

The Forum Cinema in Hexham will host a one-off screening of Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, with a portion of the profits going to the future regeneration of the area

www.chroniclelive.co.uk