Jack Monroe #136 We lived in a house, it had a roof

[PoorPatrol]

So after starting a hashtag () entirely based on writing template letters to your MP about NHS wages, and encouraging people (the day before a HoC vote) to write a letter to their MP about Universal Credit cuts, today Jack is on the front page of the Guardian discreetly slagging off Marcus, Tom, Jamie et al for... writing a letter?

People barely need to engage their brain to see the fault here. What is the matter with everyone?!

I feel terrible for RM, tbh. She’s obviously a hothead and I relate to that and don’t see anything wrong with being authentically angry but she’s clearly had her head turned a bit by Jack’s nonsense. And as has been noted much more eloquently by others, Jack has all kinds of privilege protecting her from backlash, that RM doesn’t. Jack’s a real witch for allowing it to play out like this and pouring poison in RM’s ear. She could have sent her the letter in a private message first to ponder its authenticity, or just waited until after RM’s meeting with Chartwells, but instead she chose to throw the grenade from outside the room and close the door as chaos ensued.

I feel bad for her, too. RM’s being really aggressive and playing this all wrong, IMO, but we know how toxic Jack is. You have to pity anyone that has been sucked in by her, and unwittingly turned into a flying monkey.

Again, how the hell Louisa is watching all of this play out and not trying to put a stop to it is beyond me. Is she complicit, or just another one of Jack’s victims?

 

[Mogmog]

A more jack-centred comment - I found this on my timeline this morning. Almost 2 hours to cook pasta? Stealing recipes? Mrs Beeton sounds like Jack's culinary hero.

I just read a bit more about Mrs B and apparently she became a journalist and food writer in her early 20s, despite having no previous experience. She also used to recommend boiling any vegetable for about 90 mins

 

[Captainmouse]

I’m becoming more of the opinion that - those that can, do, and those that can’t, Tweet

Or in mackies case twit!

 

[Veronicaaa]

Also, you just *know* that this tweet means that Jack's BUSY, BEHIND THE SCENES pitching the 'exclusive' to various publications which will garner her more attention. Which is probably why RM's being so circumspect. They want some sort of media splash.

 

[OhhBacon]

I feel terrible for RM, tbh. She’s obviously a hothead and I relate to that and don’t see anything wrong with being authentically angry but she’s clearly had her head turned a bit by Jack’s nonsense.

Me too, but I have learnt that it doesn’t get you anywhere! Last week I had to have a few conversations with a couple of companies that I was pretty furious with...car insurance and car payments me! One of their mistakes could have had a big impact on my credit rating.

I was fuming but politely spoke to the operative, explained calmly what I wanted to happen, had a bit of a laugh with them and through polite and considerate conversation things got sorted. Over the years I have really learnt how to hold back my temper and that calm conversation gets things done.

The Chartwells bloke doesn’t have to engage with RM, he has chosen to...ok for PR effect but ranting and raving at him will not be tolerated. There are signs everywhere that say abuse of our staff won’t be tolerated (schools, GP’s etc all have them) just because he earns big money doesn’t mean he should accept it either.

It is a shame because I listened to RM on the radio and she was really good, I would rather listen to her voice on this that JM but people won’t put up with shouting and rage, nor should they!

Also the accepted outcome needs to be reasonable, because the media won’t be positive if they have someone ranting about their expectations of what Chartwells should deliver if it is out of realistic boundaries.

 

[Captainmouse]

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Pot, kettle, someone who scams people for a living, sitting on their Mediterranean arse twatting about on twitter all day really shouldn’t throw stones

 

[bignose28]

Memories light the corners of my mind...
Misty water coloured memories...

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WTF is even under this egregious filter abuse? Is food? Cannot tell.

 

[Five hundred dogs]

I feel sorry for RSM, she’s in way over her head. She’s not had media training, she’s not a journalist, okay so I’m speculating here but being a traveler she probably doesn’t have a high level of education and she’s probably not used to being attacked on SM so she’s hell bent on defending herself to people, many of whom can probably run rings around her because they live for that kind of thing. Jack has thrown her a lifeline, “come and join me, I know what I’m doing and we can fight the power together” kind of thing. It’s not surprising RSM has grabbed the lifeline with both hands.

 

[Sour Pickle]

Just gone 9am on a Monday morning and my grunk through from 11pm last night has already exhausted me. Feel it’s going to be a long week with Jack. 🥱

 

[MarthaFarkus]

I hate this ‘on it’ bullshit that she comes out with, like she’s some kind of roving reporter. If she had dealt with all this in a calm, measured way a la Marcus, then maybe people would her get on board with her. Instead she wazzes around on Twitter, trying to look important and getting absolutely nothing done.

 

[jenny2603]

[

Oh dear. I wonder how Jack will reply.

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The reply will be along the lines of these people have been persecuting me for eights years since DKL because I am smol politically difficult pixie etc etc. In fairness to RM most people don't appreciate unsolicited advice so I can see why she's pissed off. Her tweets over the last day or so have been disappointing and I do understand why people would want to warn her but if any of our lurkers are responsible, can I suggest that contacting her like this is counterproductive. She's either smart enough to work it out herself or she's not.

 

[Sour Pickle]

I hate this ‘on it’ bullshit that she comes out with, like she’s some kind of roving reporter. If she had dealt with all this in a calm, measured way a la Marcus, then maybe people would her get on board with her. Instead she wazzes around on Twitter, trying to look important and getting absolutely nothing done.

Jack is the real life Jake Gyllenhall character in Nightcrawler.

 

[Veronicaaa]

Just gone 9am on a Monday morning and my grunk through from 11pm last night has already exhausted me. Feel it’s going to be a long week with Jack. 🥱

Saaaaame, about halfway through my grunk I got a feeling of dread in the pit of my stomach at the thought of losing another entire week to keeping up with the grift.

 

[MarthaFarkus]

Jack is the real life Jake Gyllenhall character in Nightcrawler.

I don’t what that is but I will take your word for it

 

[bladiesla]

Jack is completely is her habitat and therefore has no interest in RM and Chartwell coming to an agreement/solution or having a productive meeting. She thrives on conflict, shouting, snark and being the victim (and praise from squiggles for her shouting). RM is her way into the spotlight this week, so she won't let go of that.

 

[Nottonightbabe]

I'm glad others have said they are finding this uncomfortable, as I thought I was being a bit over sensitive. Not enjoying watching this unfold at all, RM yes is a grown adult but Jack is a manipulative, toxic witch . Horrid to see a narc play somebody vulnerable and not be able to do anything about it.

 

[bladiesla]

She never responds with 'on it', when Patreons ask for their recipe cards. They always get a whole spiel of her ailment du hour.

 

[HarderFaster]

My least favourite aspect of the saga has been Jack's faux-nice bullshit claim of "oh sorry, I didn't tag you in re: this scandalous letter because it's Sunday evening and I thought you'd need the rest. I, on the other hand - tireless campaigner - never rest."

It's a simultaneous pass-agg put down and a performance of warped respect for family life (that she doesn't afford to her own son). RM was visibly on Twitter while Jack posted that letter. They also apparently have private channels of communication. There was nothing stopping Jack waiting for feedback or permission from RM to post the letter, or leaving it until RM had her follow-up with Charlie. Instead she let RM see it second-hand and go nuclear.

It's very, very crappy behaviour.

 

[colouredlines]

On a lighter note, there's a very interesting article in today's Guardian about how food trends happen. Miguel Barclay makes a big appearance and disses Instagram sellouts...

This bit also jumped out at me: Similarly, Lap-Fai Lee, a professional cook and tutor in Birmingham, finds chefs putting their “twist” on east and south-east Asian foods “laughable, juvenile, mildly racist. No western chef would put basil in carbonara...

Jack Monroe: hold my beer!

How do food trends happen – and what will we be eating in 2021?

Food fanatics used to obsess over kimchi – and this year it might be teff or guanciale. Brand consultants, market analysts and chefs explain how a product gets to be cool

www.theguardian.com

 

[FrumpyCat]

Yeah...

I think it's okay to defend oneself on Twitter, and it's prob quite a human instinct to do so. But no good comes of it, as it's just rising to the bait.

I think it is a mistake for her to so expressly align herself to Jack. She just doesn't know that.

Yet.

ETA this tweet. I feel for her.

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it is a carbon copy of a Sad Jack tweet.

And I need to stop rubbernecking and get on with my work.