So here we are in 2024, probably close to 10 years since I wrote my last wittering. And stuff has got bad. Really bad.
We seem to have arrived at a point where:-
Opinion is worth more than fact
If our opinion doesn’t align with yours, you must be an idiot
If you’re progressive you must be Hard Left
If you’re conservative about some things you must be Far Right
If you voted differently to me you must be insane/corrupt/destroyed
If you dislike something then no-one is allowed to like it
These are just a few of the behaviours which strew the Internet. Whether on X or BlueSky no-one is able to have a contrary view and be allowed to express it without at least some “contributors” jumping on them like they were eating babies or killing kittens.
The behaviours of the true Far Left and Far Right are pretty damned similar: aggressive sometimes violent protests; stifling “free speech”; claiming “free speech” gives you the right to insult, libel, denigrate or in fact write just any old shite; constant blame culture; cancel culture; the claiming of a priority of imaginary rights over those of others’ imaginary rights.
Outright insults and threats of violence are other tools in their boxes and, naturally, many on both sides have lawyers who’ll take their money to fight their “causes” at the drop of a hat.
The obvious truth is while, of course there are extremists, the vast majority of people sit somewhere in the middle of the möbius ring and are stuck on the sidelines wondering just what the hell is going on. In many cases they themselves feel unable to raise their own disquiets publicly for fear off being set upon by the extremists.
They wonder, “Can I say something about the issues which arise from seemingly unfettered immigration, or am I just going to get called a racist?” and they refrain from entering what should be a valid and rational debate.
So, let’s try to take a look at a few current hot potatoes.
Trans rights
A seriously hot one right now.
Immigration
Wow, this is a biggie
Our beloved NHS
Mmm, let’s not touch that golden idol
The Middle East
You’re skating on thin ice now BrityBoy
