I liked this comment from Dr David Berger in the British Medical Journal:
So very true. I have had enough of the pearl-clutching, hate-inducing commentators who scream foul whenever they think their sensibilities have been offended whilst they go about trashing everything of real value in this world.
David Barger is right to have spoken out against this form of oppression.
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On a related topic (to disrespect), it’s worth watching this short segment on Sarah Palin and the link to Donald Trump (and the emergence of the current Republican Party) from the Chris Hayes show on MSNBC last evening: https://www.msnbc.com/all, and why Palin became so popular and is now trying to relaunch a political career.
Interestingly, it also has direct relevance to your other blog about the sale of C4 and the unfitness for cabinet office of Nadine Dorries, as it seems to me Dorries shares much in common with Palin – and with the other contemporary female right wing trolls (as well as trolls in general) such as Marjorie Taylor Green and Lauren Boebert (e.g. that ignorance of politics and government, conventions, and a hatred of so-called ‘wokeness’ are badges of honour).
Palin back? It makes me shudder
But the key point in the video is just that – the aim of these people is simply to upset the left, not to actually achieve anything
You guys are so right about Palin. Richard, I not only shudder, I lose my appetite whenever I think of the possibility. I loathe her along with Dorries. Both are socio-cultural vandals.
I agree with Berger completely. I have even done what he says should be done a good bit of my life. And have alienated some creeps when doing so while puzzling others who are not creepy and nasty. I don’t like doing it, but feel it necessary to call out real nastiness when confronted with it. I try to do it in the nicest way possible. However, sometimes the other person makes this impossible. Fortunately for my mental health, these kinds of incidents do not arise very often.
Kindness, justice, ritual (politeness).
The MP ReeSmogg is unfailingly polite in discourse. However, with respect to justice or kindness, the tory policies he supports are the antithesis of these two elements. I’d thus suggest that the odious arse (and plenty of other tories) uses politness (coupled to a plummy accent) as a cover for evil policies, and I’d suggest that his professed Catholic belief is a puss-filled sop to his conscience.
Good post by the way in terms of what matters more – kindness (& acts of kindness) or polite blather.
Mike, you are so right about ReeSmogg. I wouldn’t be able to resist taking him on. It would be a real struggle but it would probably be necessary to be as polite as he pretends to be, otherwise anyone taking him on would likely lose the argument, not on substance but on the superficial patina he smears his verbal rubbish with whenever he speaks. My feeling is that he would have to be met on his own ground while concentrating on the substance to gain the argumentative advantage.
As is Gove. Another dangerous character.
This seems a close relation to those who believe that democracy begins and ends with the ballot box and that any other demonstrations, particularly the loud and public kind, should be illegal.
Dr Berger is absolutely correct. As are you Mike. Fascists, and those who support them, very often like to be immaculately dressed and, in public at least, polite. The cleanliness of appearance and word belie the viciousness and cruelty of their beliefs and policies.
Hitler, in his smart suits and immaculate uniform. The SS and their Hugo Boss desgined black outfits. Moseley, Franco, Mussolini.
And today, what of our immaculately turned out Home Secretary, and her cruel, stupid, immoral policies and her bullying nature?
Very finely tuned words indeed from the good doctor.
My view is that I will apply this lesson as much as I can.
But you know what – I still think that the Tory party and most of the Rightwing Left are just fodder for ridicule.
That’s really how to get them back in my view – in the short term at least.
Rip the shit out of the lot of them I say. Leave nothing un-ridiculed about them – everything about them should be fair game. They need to be constantly hounded for being the uncaring idiots that they are.
They want it all. They want power and to be at the top – rule makers not takers – so lets make sure that they are made as uncomfortable as they can be whilst they’re up there.
I think often the claims of victimhood are completely cynical.
“Oh no, I’m being cancelled” say Rees-Mogg or Dorries knowing full well their claims will be broadcast into homes across the nation while people who are actually being oppressed (eg Yemeni civilians) never get a voice.
It’s pretty annoying the way they equate someone being impolite with the horrific harms that are done to some people in the world, as if they were being strangled, gulag-ed or bombed instead of merely disagreed with.
Ivan (April 5th) I agree with all you say except for your reference to female (right wing trolls). Let’s not fall into the trap of criticism based on gender. Would you refer to black, disabled, gay right wing trolls? These women are to be opposed regardless of their gender and reference to it is harmful.