My màthair named me after Alba
or would've if she'd spoken ɡælɪk. She'd never been (
and I didn't stay; sorry ma). I've always had a romantic notion of the place
Don't eat the food thoughand was thrilled on my first visit
back when Humza was a pup. Some of my most memorable cycling has been above the border.
Next time I'll bring my skisThe
Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021 coming into effect on my very birthday* is a horrific
abuse of state power, and makes me ashamed to be a former Scott.
The CriticThe puerility of the [Hate Monster] is so audacious, I wonder if whoever dreamt him up was consciously trying to make him beyond parody...
Genuinely bigoted people obviously exist but this a law that will silence dissent, not tackle actual life-threatening crime. There is no endemic problem with “hate” within the Scottish electorate, however you wish to define it. There is however endemic contempt amongst the institutions that govern us.
A selection of posts from that bastion of fermented disgust, Mumsnet's feminism board:
There's a children's book called Barbara throws a wobbler and I think this must be what they've based the hate monster on. Well that and a programme called Love Monster on cbeebies (let's reverse it!) plus bits of the muppets. Is the person who made the campaign basically a knackered parent of toddlers???!
In the book Barbara has a massive tantrum and a big giant red wobbler appears above her head which grows and grows, until she learns to control her emotions and shrinks it back down.
I didn't think a book intended for 2 year olds or a cbeebies programme would be used as inspiration for a campaign to sell a shit law to a whole population of adults.
You know what matters is not that a specific phrase or word or view is deemed unsayable but that the current discussion is on 'what can we say' and 'what can't we say'. There seems to be a tacit implication that there are some thoughts it's beyond the pale to think, or voice, and we're discussing the fine points of where that line should be, and I don't recall us ever having that conversation, as a nation.
This is not Mao's China and we are protected by the UNDHR, our freedom to think and speak is protected. We can't have that freedom chopped up into tiny pieces and replaced with approved attitudes.
He [Humza Yousaf] added that the freedom to criticise, insult and offend “exists and should be treasured"
Ah Schrödinger's insult! Is it a hate crime, or is it a treasured freedom?
This law seems impossible to define or police. It will probably either come to nothing at all, or there will be mass vexatious reporting. Who knows. Once the hate monster is unleashed, they may be no controlling it.
the logical and obvious outcome of this, should it actually happen as opposed to end up in total farce and be laughed out of existence before it happens.... is that obviously people will avoid, like mad, having to take the risk of being around or interacting with those from groups known to be hovering with one finger on the fast dial report button, with a very distorted view of their own entitlements and realities and a very low capacity to cope with other people. It will be the main defense of the general public; to just stay the hell out of Dodge...
And as we see on this board constantly, and on X, and at rallies however, there is nothing more than some of the most vocal, verbally aggressive and reality-optional activists appear to find harder than women not being present and giving them attention. I'm not sure this is going anywhere sunny and glittery for anyone.
Hatey gone 404Internet hate crime offenders are not limited by national or international boundaries.
Many sites carrying messages are hosted in countries outside the UK where their content may be protected by laws, such as safe guarding free speech under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. This means that the hosts are not willing to pass on user information without a USA Court order, which is not attainable for a majority of hate crime reports the police receive.
NACF is hosted in the USA. Just thought that worth mentioning.
*If you can choose your sex, surely you can choose your b'day.