Message in a bottle? You're just a litter bug

[Whomp]

British sarcasm, litter or just good fun?

by Melanie Vass

Harvey Bennett and his bottle

AN American Coast Guard captain who put a message in a bottle and tossed it out to sea was stunned to receive a reply from Poole - accusing him of being a litterbug.

Harvey Bennett, of Long Island, New York, received the grumpy response four months after dispatching his bottle from his home town of Amagansett last September.

The letter, from someone calling themselves Mr Henry Biggelsworth, said: "I recently found your bottle while taking a scenic walk on the beach by Poole Harbour.

"While you may consider this some profound experiment on the path and speed of oceanic currents, I have another name for it, litter.

"You Americans don't seem to be happy unless you are mucking up somewhere. If you wish to foul your own nest, all well and good. But please refrain in the future from fouling mine."

Mr Bennett, 55, whose ancestors originated from Weymouth, said: "My first thought was that the guy needed to get a life. I couldn't believe it. I know Americans are not liked in many parts of the world anymore but we don't all go around mucking up.

"Americans get a real bad rap in this world because of our politics but you can't judge all the people in this world that way.

"I threw that bottle in the ocean for one thing - for fun."

He said Mr Biggelsworth's stern rebuke will not stop him from sending further bottles - but he hopes the next one will prompt a friendlier response.

"I've travelled extensively around the world and I've always thrown bottles in the sea," he said.

"In the day and age of emails and satellite phones, I think it's such a wonderful way to communicate."

Poole councillor Ron Parker, the cabinet member with responsibility for tourism, said the borough was rightly protective of its beautiful beaches and shoreline.

"However we are a friendly resort which attracts many international visitors every year and they will always receive a warm welcome here in Poole," he said.

"We have a long association with our American friends in particular dating from the Second World War when the American Coastguard was stationed here and the associations with the D-Day landings, not to mention the town's close links with Newfoundland."

http://www.thisisbournemouth.co.uk/dorset/bournemouth/news/BOURN_NEWS_NEWS2.html

 

[vbraun]

I can understand where Mr Biggelsworth is coming from, but his response was pretty harsh. Actually the whole American rant shows his own ignorance..

 

[Bugfatty300]

I can understand where Mr Biggelsworth is coming from, but his response was pretty harsh. Actually the whole American rant shows his own ignorance..

My thoughts exactly.

This reminds me of when people in the UK where sending letters to Americans telling them how to vote and how outraged some British posters where over the nasty responses from the people who got the letters .

 

[DBear]

Geez, WTH has happened to England? :shakehead

 

[Elrohir]

Biggelsworth seems like he was smacked once too few as a child.

 

[amadeus]

Sounds phony to me.

 

[Till]

My first thought was that the guy needed to get a life. I couldn't believe it.

My thoughts exactly. How stuck up do you have to be, to label a message in a bottle litter? Biggelsworth should give the message to children, they would have appreciated it.

 

[Ultima Dragoon]

Where has the british sense of humour gone?

:shakehead

 

[azzaman333]

Some people take things 2 steps too far, then another 2, then another 52.

 

[Jawz II]

hehehe, it must be a joke

 

[nonconformist]

Absolutely hilarious!

 

[ComradeDavo]

Absolutely hilarious!

Indeed

It's clearly British sarcasm at work!

 

[Hitro]

Where has the british sense of humour gone?

:shakehead

He gave the best reply possible, won't you say?

 

[Dreadnought]

I don't think the response was needed. Its just a fun thing he's doing...

 

[Chukchi Husky]

I don't have a sense of humour.

 

[ComradeDavo]

He gave the best reply possible, won't you say?

 

[Mega Tsunami]

Is this all a bit fishy?

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/ny-libott0204,0,4466983.story?coll=ny-linews-headlines

The story of Bennett's bottle traveled this week from the local media to the London press. But despite the international uproar, could this just be a big fish tale?

Fact: A search of public records turned up no Henry Biggelsworth in Poole or neighboring Bournemouth.

Fact: On a customs label affixed to the package, the sender used a slightly different spelling -- Bigglesworth -- when signing his name.

Fact: The sender left out the "e" in Bournemouth on the return address. There is also no street in Bournemouth called "The Bowery." And the postal code should have begun with "BH" not "BJ."

Fact: In the "Austin Powers" films, "Mr. Bigglesworth" is the name of Dr. Evil's cat.

 

[Whomp]

This hit the national nightly news in the United States. So what do you think the real story is? Some dude on the Jersey shore playing games with Mr. Bennett's head? If not Dr. Evil has struck!!

 

[sysyphus]

Geez, WTH has happened to England? :shakehead

What are you talking about? England has always been like that.

Actually, if anything, it's getting less like that.

 

[Abaddon]

I would love to find a message in a bottle.. im going to chuck one in the sea right now....