Flusapochterasumesch

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Successful vs unsuccessful

Hi Flusapochterasumesch, I'm sorry you found the term "successful grooming" offensive. What I meant was exactly as you say: "completion". Smyth presumably had an end in mind, beating, and grooming was the method by which he aimed to achieve it. If he was able to beat a boy, he was successful in his grooming. When I was 15 or 16 and attending that school, Smyth took me to his Morestead house on at least two occasions for his infamous Sunday lunch, and although I didn't know it at the time, he was grooming me. I found him creepy, must have indicated that to him in some way, and so he did not achieve what he wanted. He groomed me, but he was unsuccessful.

On reflection, maybe I shouldn't have started editing this page at all, as I am way too close to the subject and it has made all sorts of unpleasant feelings rise to the surface. Maybe, too, I've also temporarily lost my powers of coherent and polite expression (as you seem to suggest), as I still feel so angry about it all. But when I read the page a couple of days ago it seemed to give no real idea about the extent and severity of what he did, and as I knew it would have 200,000 or so views in the proceeding days, I wanted to redress that by giving the relevant details. Best regards, Ericoides (talk) 07:18, 14 November 2024 (UTC)

I said I found the phrase "successfully groomed" "difficult to assimilate". Nowhere did I say it was offensive. And for you to claim that I 'seem to suggest that you've lost your powers of coherent and polite expression' is another instance of you taking an unjustified jab at me. Flusapochterasumesch (talk) 14:29, 14 November 2024 (UTC)

I assumed it was what you meant with: "The extent of Smyth's crimes may never be known & it's trivial and offensive to suggest only those beaten were groomed". Maybe I should have read it more closely and not so early in the morning. The "polite" remark connects to the "offensive" one, so if that's not what you meant then my apologies. I think we both probably agree with each; either I misunderstood you, you misunderstood me, or both. No jabs given, not from my side. Regards, Ericoides (talk) 15:24, 14 November 2024 (UTC)