The book that came out on it the other
year is an enjoyable read.
Dave Perry claims not to be bothered, but still sounds annoyed by people not taking his side. To be fair, the wider context does make it look a bit like bullying.
(
monkeon schmonkeon, Wed 20 Dec 2023, 19:15,
Reply)
I'm absolutely certain that Perry perceived it as bullying.
But I don't think Diamond and Co. were acting maliciously. It only ever came across as friendly teasing to me, the same way a bunch of mates might constantly take the piss out of that one friend that gets a bit too emotionally invested in the footy or in tabletop gaming.
I'd put money on Perry being a notorious sore winner/gloater whenever he came out on top of the competition, so I can totally understand them ripping the absolute piss when he lost the end of series challenge.
In hindsight, they should have been a bit more considerate of his feelings, but this was the late '90s and it wasn't really the done thing between groups of young blokes back then.
(, Wed 20 Dec 2023, 19:45, Reply)