(Kelly’s article is here. Link to Grok’s answer here. The ChatGPT analysis that triggered the article can be read in this tweet thread. A verifiable analysis by Grok of the debate, based on a neutral question, can be read here.)
Warning: despite the quite zingy title this is actually going to be a very dry stats post, readers. It is, on the other hand, based on a man having something disturbingly close to a complete psychotic mental breakdown, so there’s always that for a bit of colour.
Because the paragraph above, and in particular the highlighted part, is without a doubt the most dishonest, diametrically false and wildly extreme lie about Scottish politics that we’ve ever seen anyone tell in the 13.5 years of Wings Over Scotland’s existence.
We’re stuck indoors waiting for a repairman today, so we had a little read-around of some of the less popular Scottish politics blogs to pass the time, and noted this:
James Kelly of Scot Goes Pop, which we gather from its front page was seemingly one of the “Top 50 Left-Wing Blogs of 2011”, is noticeably insistent on making the argument that we’re “stalking” and “obsessed” with him.
But in fact the headline on the STV News website – whether intentionally, through innocent misunderstanding or, as we suspect, a result of being deliberately misled by government ministers – is a flat-out lie.
In fact the Scottish Government has done the exact opposite. It has taken Dr Hilary Cass’s four-year report and set it on fire, so that it can continue to irreversibly destroy the lives of Scottish children in the name of gender ideology.
In many ways, the fabricated, hysterical furore of Humza Yousaf Vs Elon Musk is the ultimate in summer-silly-season politics stories.
Absurdly plainly, the former First Minister ISN’T going to take any legal action against the billionaire owner of Twitter. He only likes bullying small nurseries, and even then he doesn’t follow through. He didn’t even sue us for calling him racist a few months ago, so there’s zero chance he’s going to square up to the world’s richest man.
Normally in cases like these, there’s an instant and concerted attempt to rubbish the judgement, both from amateurs and activist lawyers like Robin Moira “Barry” White, Jolyon Maugham, and the anonymous “Pissed Off Lawyer” tweeting as @legaltweetz. They’ll issue spurious “analyses” dismissing the findings with jargon terms like “obiter”, and either question their correctness or attempt to minimise their significance.
For some reason that didn’t happen this time. The hyper-antagonist online trans army has very conspicuously failed to rush to the defence of ERCC CEO Mridul Wadhwa, perhaps because Judge Ian McFatridge’s conclusions were so relentlessly, brutally and comprehensively excoriating of Wadhwa’s appalling behaviour that no amount of spin or disingenuity could disguise it.
But then, on white charger and with papoose, enter a hero.
We watched Question Time last night for the first time in about nine years, and this comment from SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn raised an eyebrow.
Because we couldn’t remember ANY times that Flynn had publicly expressed any problems with the Scottish Greens during their governing alliance.
Last week SNP MP Fulton MacGregor told Newsnight that the grotesque, draconian Hate Crime Act was necessary because “hate crime is a major problem across Scotland”, which “wreaks havoc on individuals, on communities and on families”.
If there have been stories of rampaging mobs terrorising gay people, of a wave of violence against Sikhs, or widespread arson campaigns against Italian chip shops, they’ve escaped our attention.
But of course, the onscreen discussion focused mostly on the group that the Scottish Government is obsessed with to the exclusion of all others – transgender people.
Hatey McHateface on Well, this is a little embarrassing: “Hmmm. I see the opposite, Andy. Anybody wanting to damage Scottish Indy would be best to use a total nut…” May 18, 11:33
Hatey McHateface on Well, this is a little embarrassing: “Perhaps you could oblige us with your summary of their analysis of the great energy rip off. How does it…” May 18, 11:24
Hatey McHateface on Well, this is a little embarrassing: “Loving your double taps. How does it go again? One in the chest and one in the head? No doubt…” May 18, 11:06
James Cheyne on Well, this is a little embarrassing: “How do you hold onto the idea that it is a real union? It may once have been ( may)…” May 18, 11:03
Vivian O’Blivion on Well, this is a little embarrassing: “The appearance in the Hamilton constituency was touted in advance as “canvassing”. In the event, it was a photo opportunity…” May 18, 10:13
Andrew on Well, this is a little embarrassing: “I posted the same on the other website, but this is not what LLMs are suitable for. They are probabilistic…” May 18, 09:47
Andrew Abel on Well, this is a little embarrassing: “I posted the same on the other website, but this is not what LLMs are suitable for. They are probabilistic…” May 18, 09:47
100%Yes on Well, this is a little embarrassing: “Here is the video of the SSRG conference for those who are interested. The most important part is @ 1:45.17…” May 18, 09:24
Andy Ellis on Well, this is a little embarrassing: “I don’t doubt that the spooks take interest in the cause of independence, but if they’re using someone with the…” May 18, 08:58
MaryB on Well, this is a little embarrassing: “It seems to me that James Kelly is being paid by the spooks as a disruptor. Of course, that might…” May 18, 08:53
Bilbo on Well, this is a little embarrassing: “One consequence of Brexit has been changing the inflow of high levels of white East European legal migrants to the…” May 18, 07:26
Bilbo on Well, this is a little embarrassing: “As amusing as the article is, it does highlight the shortfalls in AI at this present time, namely it doesn’t…” May 18, 07:18
Jim Tadgercock on Barbie Stories: “Spot on mate all by design.” May 18, 06:53
Young Lochinvar on Well, this is a little embarrassing: “I see the Herald is leading with a picture of the selfie queen (SHE whose name shall not be uttered)…” May 18, 03:22
Young Lochinvar on Well, this is a little embarrassing: “I hate to direct anyone to the NatAnal rag anymore but a history search reveals a non paywall rendition of…” May 18, 02:55
Andy Ellis on Well, this is a little embarrassing: “The idea has legs Mr McHateface! Sadly* I see that many of those who would have been most embarrassed by…” May 17, 21:29
sarah on Well, this is a little embarrassing: “@ 100% Yes at 6.30: the KC Prof Robert Black was forensic in proving the falsity of the “United Kingdom”.…” May 17, 21:22
Fearghas MacFhionnlaigh on Well, this is a little embarrassing: “« I’m off out to feed the swans. » (recent Stu Campbell remark) _________ « we may as well do as Rev does…” May 17, 21:00
Hatey McHateface on Well, this is a little embarrassing: “I’ve enjoyed reading the Grok analysis and assessment of the “debate”. I wonder if it would catch on BTL too.…” May 17, 20:58
Hatey McHateface on Well, this is a little embarrassing: “I’m not sure it’s not a folk memory now. The place bears little resemblance to what it was in my…” May 17, 20:34
Hatey McHateface on Well, this is a little embarrassing: “Sounds like your post needs fixing. How about “explosive stuff regarding the union by a fake KC” Any political and…” May 17, 20:20
Bilbo on Barbie Stories: “I was trying to stick the dagger deep but others have done so much better than me. She’s certainly no…” May 17, 19:08
TURABDIN on Well, this is a little embarrassing: “Cutting to the crux, unless Scots grow a pair their country will just be a folk memory. There are no…” May 17, 19:07
100%Yes on Well, this is a little embarrassing: “This is what annoys me, people who claim to want Independence then advocate two votes for the SNP 1&2 when…” May 17, 18:30
aLurker on Well, this is a little embarrassing: “@Willie John Aye, pick a nitter instance that is currently in good health [1]. Then use the nitter service instance…” May 17, 17:20
Skip_NC on Well, this is a little embarrassing: “Stu, if we are to believe James Kelly’s characterization of you, you were born in Hanover in 1960 (a few…” May 17, 17:00