The thing I find truly insane about the left's attitude to physically attacking politicians, is that most of these people are the same people that claim hurty words are violence, yet they try to suggest physical attacks are not.
Insane, but it follows its own twisted internal logic. Classifying words as violence allows them to get over any residual moral sqeamishness at committing or defending physical assaults because it allows them to frame those assaults as defensive.
The craft beer world is a fine microcosm of the "right side of history" leftists that engage in mental gymnastics on issues such as this.
The guy who did the 2019 milkshaking of Farage was a "home brewer" and so disturbingly revered by the craft community that he even got a columnist job at a beer magazine following his notoriety. They couldn't help themselves make mention of the original action following Tuesday's event.
'lost' a connection or two for this, but I think it's disgusting to assault people just because you disagree with them, and I refuse to be silent about it.
These are the same people who froth at the nondescript genitalia for posters saying "punch terfs". They are also the same people who think words are violence, so it makes sense they would see actual violence as speech.
They are, in every way, backwards, and they should be treated as such.
Note: If I ever do get a goth band together, it will be called 'nondescript genitalia'
Thanks. I'm horrified that people are applauding this. I snapped back at Frances Ryan (another Guardian columnist) with a question as to how much assault is acceptable. If milkshake is fine, what about piss, acid, spitting on someone, slapping, punching, pulling a knife?
As a 'terf' i.e. a woman who believes in sex based rights and such extremist views as not banging up rapists with women, I'm considered fair game. I've been spat at, flashed at, threatened and faced with placards saying things like 'Suck my d**k you transphobic c**ts'. At least in Farage's case, the police acted. The police in Portsmouth were happy with leaving that placard on full view, all day, on a busy Saturday in the town centre. Women like me have been physically assaulted by male TRAs (many times) and then, if the police prosecute at all, made to refer to their male attackers in court as she/her.
I'm in two minds here: on the one hand, it is only a milkshake. I'm hesitant to label this event, or the Keir Starmer glitter incident, "assult", since the intention does not seem to be to physically injure the victim but simply to make them look a bit silly. That said, I do acknowledge this behaviour exists on a continuum with stuff like throwing bricks at Tommy Robinson, which genuinely *is* assault; a flying brick could kill you.
For me, the stronger argument; and moreover, probably the one more likely to persuade those cheering on the milkshake thrower, is the consequentialist one. You may think Nigel Farage is a fascist, but once you throw that milkshake at him, he becomes a victim. And populists love nothing more than playing the victim card; portraying themselves as heroic dissidents plagued by an establishment determined to destroy them. Milkshaking plays directly into he story that Farage wants to tell; don't give him the satisfaction.
The thing I find truly insane about the left's attitude to physically attacking politicians, is that most of these people are the same people that claim hurty words are violence, yet they try to suggest physical attacks are not.
Insane, but it follows its own twisted internal logic. Classifying words as violence allows them to get over any residual moral sqeamishness at committing or defending physical assaults because it allows them to frame those assaults as defensive.
The craft beer world is a fine microcosm of the "right side of history" leftists that engage in mental gymnastics on issues such as this.
The guy who did the 2019 milkshaking of Farage was a "home brewer" and so disturbingly revered by the craft community that he even got a columnist job at a beer magazine following his notoriety. They couldn't help themselves make mention of the original action following Tuesday's event.
'lost' a connection or two for this, but I think it's disgusting to assault people just because you disagree with them, and I refuse to be silent about it.
These are the same people who froth at the nondescript genitalia for posters saying "punch terfs". They are also the same people who think words are violence, so it makes sense they would see actual violence as speech.
They are, in every way, backwards, and they should be treated as such.
Note: If I ever do get a goth band together, it will be called 'nondescript genitalia'
Thanks. I'm horrified that people are applauding this. I snapped back at Frances Ryan (another Guardian columnist) with a question as to how much assault is acceptable. If milkshake is fine, what about piss, acid, spitting on someone, slapping, punching, pulling a knife?
As a 'terf' i.e. a woman who believes in sex based rights and such extremist views as not banging up rapists with women, I'm considered fair game. I've been spat at, flashed at, threatened and faced with placards saying things like 'Suck my d**k you transphobic c**ts'. At least in Farage's case, the police acted. The police in Portsmouth were happy with leaving that placard on full view, all day, on a busy Saturday in the town centre. Women like me have been physically assaulted by male TRAs (many times) and then, if the police prosecute at all, made to refer to their male attackers in court as she/her.
'Anti-fascism' now means categorising Jewish people and the Gender Factual as 'colonial oppressors' against whom ANYTHING is legitimate.
I'm in two minds here: on the one hand, it is only a milkshake. I'm hesitant to label this event, or the Keir Starmer glitter incident, "assult", since the intention does not seem to be to physically injure the victim but simply to make them look a bit silly. That said, I do acknowledge this behaviour exists on a continuum with stuff like throwing bricks at Tommy Robinson, which genuinely *is* assault; a flying brick could kill you.
For me, the stronger argument; and moreover, probably the one more likely to persuade those cheering on the milkshake thrower, is the consequentialist one. You may think Nigel Farage is a fascist, but once you throw that milkshake at him, he becomes a victim. And populists love nothing more than playing the victim card; portraying themselves as heroic dissidents plagued by an establishment determined to destroy them. Milkshaking plays directly into he story that Farage wants to tell; don't give him the satisfaction.
Thanks Stephen. Wise words, as ever, and much appreciated 👍🙂