The speed of stupid.
It's hard to disagree with Chris when he writes of a turn away from politics. Not in the sense of apathy, but in how so many appear incapable of seeing the wood for the trees. Never has it been so possible to fully immerse yourself in politics, and yet many of those who chose to do so spend much of it squabbling at the margins.
Take just today's example: Labour MP Emily Thornberry tweets a picture of a house in Rochester with three England flags adorning the outside. There's also a white van in the drive. Image from #Rochester is the message. Almost instantly she's jumped on for her apparent blatant snobbery, veteran idiot Dan Hodges describes it as "an entire political movement defined by a single tweet", and those whom should know better like Anne Perkins are describing it as Labour's biggest mistake since Ed Miliband stabbed Myleene Klass live on TV (is this right? Ed).
Small things like how Thornberry had already tweeted a photo of a "vote Felix" sign and what ordinary voters had told her under a Tales from #Rochester hashtag obviously don't matter. Her explanation, that she was surprised by how the flags were blocking a window entirely also makes no odds. Clearly just a feeble effort from an Islington liberal to deny her own bigotry. Right on cue, in calls a hopping mad Ed Miliband to reprimand Thornberry for not considering absolutely every possible way her tweet could be interpreted, and the inevitable apology is made.
Which is the key. Being incredibly loud and not giving in works. It's why #gamergate is still going on, despite everyone having long since forgotten what it was meant to be about. It's why Sheffield United have now retracted their training offer to Ched Evans, Julien Blanc was refused a visa, and a real life Nathan Barley received far more attention than his alleged comedy had previously once he became the target for campaigners. Both left and right can lead a monstering in this brave new world, where tribalism meets narcissism and threats are the most powerful currency. Forgive me if nihilism seems ever more attractive.
Take just today's example: Labour MP Emily Thornberry tweets a picture of a house in Rochester with three England flags adorning the outside. There's also a white van in the drive. Image from #Rochester is the message. Almost instantly she's jumped on for her apparent blatant snobbery, veteran idiot Dan Hodges describes it as "an entire political movement defined by a single tweet", and those whom should know better like Anne Perkins are describing it as Labour's biggest mistake since Ed Miliband stabbed Myleene Klass live on TV (is this right? Ed).
Small things like how Thornberry had already tweeted a photo of a "vote Felix" sign and what ordinary voters had told her under a Tales from #Rochester hashtag obviously don't matter. Her explanation, that she was surprised by how the flags were blocking a window entirely also makes no odds. Clearly just a feeble effort from an Islington liberal to deny her own bigotry. Right on cue, in calls a hopping mad Ed Miliband to reprimand Thornberry for not considering absolutely every possible way her tweet could be interpreted, and the inevitable apology is made.
Which is the key. Being incredibly loud and not giving in works. It's why #gamergate is still going on, despite everyone having long since forgotten what it was meant to be about. It's why Sheffield United have now retracted their training offer to Ched Evans, Julien Blanc was refused a visa, and a real life Nathan Barley received far more attention than his alleged comedy had previously once he became the target for campaigners. Both left and right can lead a monstering in this brave new world, where tribalism meets narcissism and threats are the most powerful currency. Forgive me if nihilism seems ever more attractive.
Labels: Emily Thornberry, Labour, media analysis, media stupidity, politics, something is wrong on the internet, stupidity
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