A few people objected to this post when we first ran it a year ago, then came to regret their decision. So for their sake we’re putting it up again, in a new and updated form, in the interests of civilised and productive discourse about Scottish politics.
It’s the most constructive contribution we can think of to make Twitter a less toxic place over the next 12 months. It’s our block list.
We’ll be honest, there are some bits of this that make us wince, and unfortunately most of them come in the first two minutes where they’ll do the most damage in terms of getting a persuadeable voter to watch the rest of it. But it’s an important piece of work, containing stuff even we didn’t know about, and it should be seen.
The tone of coverage deployed by the Daily Express (Scottish and English editions alike) with regard to the First Minister of Scotland in recent weeks has been both bizarre and disturbing. Yesterday the paper ran this “story”:
It’s a load of gibberish, obviously. But if the FM was preparing herself for a punch-up, you could hardly blame her given what’s apparently been going on.
“Bias” is a word we hate. Other than in the article you’re about to read, you’ll almost never find it used on this site, for a string of reasons. It’s one of those words that – regardless of context or literal justification – simply makes people switch off instantly and dismiss your arguments. (See also: “Zionist”, “Quisling”, “fascist”, “Liebore”.)
It’s also largely irrelevant, because there are very few people or organisations who have any duty NOT to be biased. When it comes to Scottish independence we’re as biased as all heck, and there’s no legitimate reason to expect the Daily Record or Scotsman or Daily Mail to be any more impartial than we are. They’re privately-owned businesses and entitled to take any position they like.
(The difference, of course, is that unlike them we’re committed to still telling the truth when we’re being biased, and to always providing linked original sources so you can judge our biased interpretation of facts and events for yourself.)
100%Yes on Happy Anniversary: “Mark, no one in this household is voting SNP I also stated I couldn’t and I won’t ever again.” Apr 16, 17:47
Marie on Happy Anniversary: “My Reform candidate couldn’t even give the correct name for my constituency. No Sale.” Apr 16, 17:34
Lorncal on Happy Anniversary: “If you mean the English, Mark, very few of us hate them. Honestly. We just want our independence which is…” Apr 16, 16:48
Lorncal on Happy Anniversary: “Essentially, syd, because most of those who vote for them await the nirvana of independence – which will never come…” Apr 16, 16:41
Iain More on Happy Anniversary: “MI6 Still ate it I see.” Apr 16, 16:29
DaveL on Happy Anniversary: “Urghh…put me in mind of Leon Brittan! Once billed as the ugliest man in politics and probably a pedo too.…” Apr 16, 16:25
Sven on Happy Anniversary: “Any chance of reinstating ‘Airborne’ for young offenders, Peter ? Very high success rate in preventing reoffending.” Apr 16, 16:03
Skip_NC on Happy Anniversary: “I clicked on the link to their manifesto to see what they had to say about other protected classes (eg,…” Apr 16, 15:47
Mark Beggan on Happy Anniversary: “Well at least that’s one pothole fixed.” Apr 16, 15:43
J Robertson on Happy Anniversary: “sydthesnake: Why do they still get so many votes ? Nae credible alternatives and by promising yet more Freebies (…” Apr 16, 15:34
Mark Beggan on Happy Anniversary: “He can always read the Motorcycle Diaries whilst languishing in a Venezuelan hospice. Taco Murray and the journey to Caracas.…” Apr 16, 15:30
Captain Caveman on Do You Believe In The Westwood?: “Is that you projecting again, Rambo? I mean, I knew you were ancient, but didn’t realise you were fat with…” Apr 16, 15:28
Peter McAvoy on Happy Anniversary: “I pressed submit accidentally before finishing. Prevent NHS privatisation. Put Scottish fishermens future before EU member states. Separate support for…” Apr 16, 15:26
Captain Caveman on Do You Believe In The Westwood?: “Altogether now! A onnnne, a twoooo, a one-two-three-four! “… So Rambo, Rambo’s falling a-part… againnnn, Rammmbooo, Rambo’s falling a-parrrrt. Again.”…” Apr 16, 15:24
Alf Baird on Happy Anniversary: ““in Ireland’s case it took 18 years of the collaborationist party under Redmond before it started to fall apart” Aye,…” Apr 16, 15:21
Mark Beggan on Happy Anniversary: “….So draw a line in the sand. Doom is at hand.” Apr 16, 15:17
Young Lochinvar on Happy Anniversary: “Cover picture; Have you ever seen an overloaded staircase that you secretly wished would collapse? Where’s cartoon Hamish with a…” Apr 16, 15:14
Peter McAvoy on Happy Anniversary: “As a disillusioned independence supporter I believe the SNP election manifesto should contain the following policies. Keep Alexander Dennis factories…” Apr 16, 15:12
Young Lochinvar on Happy Anniversary: “Maybe the SNP will relocate their office from Edinburgh, it sounds ideal for the current crop of deviants and enablers…” Apr 16, 15:09
Cynicus on Happy Anniversary: “Happy Anniversary Rev. Is it a year since that wonderful pic of the joyously victorious women emerging from the UKSC…” Apr 16, 15:06
Young Lochinvar on Do You Believe In The Westwood?: “HMcH Back off weirdo; no hugs from you “reacharound” Beaker Queer fan.. Checking my pockets to see if you’d rifled…” Apr 16, 15:02
Hatey McHateface on Happy Anniversary: “If he chose to get some cheap tats while he was there, I hope he paid very careful attention to…” Apr 16, 15:01
Hatey McHateface on Do You Believe In The Westwood?: ““Name me a country they’ve not bombed or assisted in regime change” Norway. “They’re fucking parasite’s” What? Danglers, perhaps? Honestly,…” Apr 16, 14:58
Young Lochinvar on Do You Believe In The Westwood?: “CC Yer waffling yet again Wilma. And you forgot to say “maaaaate”..” Apr 16, 14:52
Aidan on Do You Believe In The Westwood?: “Yes Geri – and the UN Charter explicitly prohibits external interference into the domestic affairs and territorial integrity of other…” Apr 16, 14:44
Sven on Happy Anniversary: “Mark Beggan @ 14.17. A shift in the way we behave, Has brought on a structural wave. The norms we…” Apr 16, 14:43
