Abuse.
There’s been several accusations and counter-accusations of abuse recently. So let’s look at that abuse.
Firstly, two probably irrefutable facts:
1. BAS and I have had abuse levelled at us recently for highlighting what we perceive as instances of racism.
2. BAS has levelled abuse at those perpetrators of what he (and I) perceives as racist abuse.
Now let’s look at the reasons for that abuse and the degree of acceptability of that abuse.
Reasons first:
1. The abuse levelled at BAS and I have been to try to prevent and restrict us from highlighting racist abuse.
2. BAS has levelled abuse at those perpetrators of racist abuse as a form of public rebuke.
Now let’s look at the degree of acceptability of that abuse.
1. Is it acceptable to publicly rebuke those who we perceive of seriously misbehaving in a public arena? Is it then acceptable for others to publicly rebuke those objecting to the serious misbehaviour? I would suggest it is not. I did use the examples before of miscreants throwing stones at emergency services attending an emergency situation. That is totally unacceptable. But it is a similar situation to those trying to prevent and restrict others from doing what they perceive as their public duty.
They can if they wish enter into a logical, adult and intelligent conversation about what is perceived as racism. But as soon as they resort to abuse, that logical, adult and intelligent conversation abruptly ends, and their argument is lost.
2. Is it acceptable to publicly rebuke others who insist on seriously misbehaving in public?
I don’t know BAS, but I suspect that he is the type of person who does not hesitate to publicly rebuke those he perceives as seriously misbehaving in public. It is perhaps a quality we could try to emulate, although it may have its risks.
Publicly rebuking and trying to shame those misbehaving is understandable. It is not a tactic that I would employ, but I would not attempt to prevent it from happening, and if anyone objects to it, especially by employing their own brand of abuse, I would not hesitate to rush to support those publicly rebuking the miscreants.
I could go further and explore the argument whether describing someone as racist is a form of abuse. But I suspect it is a foregone conclusion. Especially if it is likened to describing someone who espouses socialism as a socialist, or someone stealing as a thief, etc.
Perhaps another time, another post, another place.