Why do papers often say somebody is a loner when a crime happens.

[MartinBev58]

I have read 3 newspaper reports recently and they have all said that the convicted person is a loner.
In the street I am in there are 7 widowed men in 4 bedroom detached houses.
3 of them are in a similar position to me in the fact they inherited the houses when they had early retirement after working in London.
Yes we do live in large houses on our own but we do not go out doing things like attacking children.
We are all grandfathers. As it happend we all have granddaughters and none of us has a grandson.

Martin

[Brinjal]

I think that when they refer to someone as a loner they mean that they don't have close family or socialize with people. Don't really have any friends.

[starone]

Newspapers have a strange way of describing people. I would really hate to be described as 'mother of two', although I am. Is this this the only claim I have to fame, to be a mother of two? If you just glance through your newspaper you will find this description used many times, mother of, and of course father of.....

[ummmm]

Star, If something bad has happened that's just to inform the reader that they have family.

Loner is not someone who lives alone. It's someone who doesn't mix. Doesn't appear to have family or friends.

[friedgreentomato]

A loner will either have no children or family or will not speak to them - they will not speak to their neighbours or colleagues (if they work) they will almost be a shadow seen occassionaly but no one knows what they do!

[boxtops]

I've always thought Loner meant not someone who lives alone, but someone who doesn't socialise or act in a friendly manner with his neighbours.

Our local rag is worse than that, ummm - they'll speak of some business project and just have to stuff in "Jane Smith, nan-of-six" or "mum-of-four" - it's completely irrelevant to the story.

[boxtops]

^ sorry, that's for starby not ummm :-(

[Johnblor]

I can remember somebody I worked with being accused of many things at work like cutting wires or putting washing up liquid in the kettle.
I also lived near him and if some damage happened on the estate he was always the one to get accused.
The person is now deceased.
He was retired early and the wire cutting went on after he left and on a few occasions he was accused of crimes which happened when he was in the police station being interviewed about other crimes.
As far as I know he was never taken to court or convicted of anything.
When I spoke to people they just said he was the only man in a bums and tums class, he lived in a large house on his own, ran a mini and went into local school fete's where he purchased some raffle tickets and some home made pies / cakes. I do not know if he had any connection with children but I saw nothing wrong if say he just wanted some home made food and went to the school to buy it.
On 1 occasion he won a voucher for Marks and Spencers. The ticket was drawn after he had gone.
Many of tht parents thought a re draw should happen as he was not a very well liked person but a few did say he had purchased the ticket and should be given the prize.
I took the voucher to his house. He took the voucher and donated the equivalent amount to the school.
I know he was annoyed once as he had been detained all of a Sunday in the police station when he was wanting to work on his garden and released without charge at about 9pm.

John

[wolf63]

Johnblor - that is just sad and wrong. Poor man.

I am a loner, I only go out if I have to and have only one good friend (many people that I speak to) and my only close (geographical) family are my cats. I am also mentally ill (bipolar disorder), fat and do not work.

Makes me wonder what the papers would make of me.

:-)

[Zeuhl]

Just pray no-one in your street is murdered with poisoned Whiskas

[boxtops]

^ pardon?

[wolf63]

Crazy Cat lady here :-)

[boxtops]

.. and here :-)

[bigbadmarty]

You've got freinds here wolf :)

[wolf63]

Thanks marty - my brother is an AB visitor but I am not sure if he counts as a friend. :-)

Zeuhl - nah, it'll be Kit-e-kat they have just been served it for the first time and they did a quick sniff and then stomped off.