Vocal Voices

She said some things about the Johnson and the cabinet, which I will not repeat, and is refusing to apologise.

Now I am not a Raynor fan by any means, nor am I a fan of much of her politics, but I do like her stance on this.

I am sick of people in public life saying things that are divisive or offensive and then almost immediately apologising, as if that makes things right. They meant what they said at the time and they also knew exactly what they were doing and what the reaction would be - and that reaction came about. So then they make a mealy mouthed apology and all is forgiven, eh?

Not Raynor, she has stood by her remarks, and good for her. I might not agree with what she said but I do have a bit of grudging admiration for her sticking with it.

I don't agree with her, I don't like her stance, and I have absolutely no respect for her. As disreputable as Corbyn. Admiration, phooey - I wouldn't vote for her if you paid me!

Hmm, it did not come across as intended.

It was not about Raynor or politics, it was supposed to be about weasel words and double standards by public figures. We see it all the time....

Here's one. Tory MP, James Gray, has apologised after making a "sick joke" about delivering a “bomb” to a Labour MP’s office. He made it in reply to another Tory MP', Rob Largan's, request “Does anybody know where Anneliese Dodds' Commons office is based? I need to deliver something to her office.”. So, his apology makes it OK, does it? Other Tories have come out in support because it was only a "joke".

Had that conversation been between two oiks making a "joke" on social media those same MPs would be demanding that the police go round quick-sharp and make charges under "Hate" laws.

And that is the problem. We have lost our sense of humour and everything escalates into the stratosphere like a struck match in a forest 6 weeks into a drought.

The Tory MP clearly tried to use a joke to highlight extreme frustration and anger about the other party. It was clearly a joke if in bad taste. Then again I grew up with '"put a bomb under him", "light a fire under him", "Kick his arse". Not the mealy mouthed namby pamby weasel words everyone has to use today just to say "I'm Pissed off with you now stop it or I'm going to ruin your whole day".

On the other hand Tory Scum is in no way a joke or a way of making light of something. It is a denigrating slur which was meant and heartfelt. It tells the difference between the two cases. One was clearly a joke, the other was deadly serious and has no place in the house of commons where, sometimes, the only thing barring physical violence between the differing parties is an overwhelming set of rules, standards of conduct and language.

There is a difference between "OK I made a joke in bad taste and it was misjudged" and "I really do believe he is scum and I'm not going to back down on him because I hate him and his politics".

Yes dear, we know you hate him and his politics; but you are bound to the same standards of conduct, behaviour and language; that the rest of them are. If you don't like it, Leave!

Scum / scummy are rather mild ways of saying that somebody or something is a bit unpleasant or contemptible. Hardly the insult of the century.

However, I now wish that I had never mentioned Angela bloody Raynor as my message is lost..

My ire is about those in high places or positions of influence saying things to get a reaction then immediately apologising knowing full well that the effect they wanted had been achieved. Politicians, slebs and business people do it all the time and are well protected - so long as they make a 'sincere apology' and are in the correct clique. And we mugs appear to be blind to it all or to accept it without question.

An apology is the 'get out of jail free' card. Say something *ist or *phobic then apologise and all is well...

Workingman wrote:My ire is about those in high places or positions of influence saying things to get a reaction then immediately apologising knowing full well that the effect they wanted had been achieved.

It wasn't lost on me. I just thought that your example didn't fit the case. There are far better cases out there, Galloway is one particularly good example. But he's Labour (sort of), so not the example you are trying to create.

They are out there I know. But I'm so hacked off with the whole PC and WOKE world right now that I'm happy for someone to joke about sending someone a bomb. However much it may offend other sensibilities.