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Stop this sick filth

Posted on July 02, 2012 by

An alert reader recently pointed us to a story we’d missed in last week’s Sun. Headed “SICK TAUNTS FOR ‘NO’ GIRL CEILIDH WATSON”, it describes the “vile internet abuse” suffered by the 2010 Miss Inverness after she appeared at the “Better Together” campaign launch. Oddly, the worst (in fact the only) example of these attacks the paper felt able to provide was one alleged “cybernat” saying “It’s amazing how low some will stoop for 15 minutes of fame”, which is a bit unfriendly but we’re not sure it quite reaches the level of “vile abuse”, particularly when directed at someone who’s voluntarily and actively involved themselves in a heated political campaign.

The piece also referred (we presume, being unaware of any other incident that fits the description) to this blog’s own brush with infamy last week, noting that we’d “posted sick images of a funeral cortege of dead squaddies passing through Royal Wooton [sic] Bassett”, apparently in response to Ms Watson speaking of her soldier boyfriend.

We still haven’t seen the launch event – there appears to be no footage of it available on the campaign’s website – so we had, and have, no idea what Ms Watson’s boyfriend does for a living. The image in question had absolutely nothing to do with him or her or anything she may or may not have said at the No campaign launch.

As for “sick images”, though, the picture we used in our mockup poster wasn’t edited in any way (except for blurring out the numberplates of the hearses in an attempt to protect the identities of the dead men, which were then spread across the internet anyway by Labour activists), so if it constitutes a “sick image” then pretty much every newspaper in Britain – including the Sun – is guilty of the same crime.

You can see the full story below, without having to visit the Sun’s website.

35 to “Stop this sick filth”

  1. TheMaganator says:

    ‘You need a check up, from the neck up” was also included in the tweet.

    Vile abuse? Maybe not. But unprovoked and uncalled for it was.

     

    Reply
    • Rev. Stuart Campbell says:

      “‘You need a check up, from the neck up” was also included in the tweet.
      Vile abuse? Maybe not. But unprovoked and uncalled for it was.”

      I’m not condoning any personal attacks on anyone, I think they’re ugly and counterproductive. But calling it “vile abuse” is ridiculous. She’s made herself part of a political campaign, and I’m afraid in this day and age that means you’re going to get called a few names – I seem to remember Alan Cumming copping for plenty after the Yes launch. She appears to have gotten off pretty light.

      Reply
  2. TheeForsakenOne says:

    Her boyfriend is just about to get his commission in the British Army (The regiment escapes me) although the idea that the funeral has anything to do that is tenuous at best (It has the army in it so it must be related!).

    Reply
  3. Seasick Dave says:

    Pet lambs.

    Reply
  4. Doug Daniel says:

    Interesting to see an example of media lies that you can categorically state is telling porkies. It’s also interesting to speculate if they came up with this ruse themselves, or if they were put up to it by a Labour or Lib Dem apparatchik.

    At least we know the Sun has learned nothing from Leveson as yet… If Salmond was really in cahoots with News International, he’s not doing a very good job of it!

    Would it be a “cruel taunt” to suggest “stunning” is a bit of an overstatement? She’s nae bad, but she would hardly stand out in a poncy bar on a Saturday night…

    Reply
  5. TheeForsakenOne says:

    I find the whole tone of the article a bit creepy. It reads like a rabid fan of a celebrity getting upset because someone doesn’t like their chosen idol.

    Also I do not find her particularly attractive anyway. *shrugs*

    @Doug: The fact Jack McConnell pops up at the end does seem to hint that Labour were behind this one.

    Reply
  6. Peter A Bell says:

    I saw that piece in The Sun. And immediately dismissed it as bearing all the hallmarks of a Labour press release concocted by the likes of Paul Martin.

    Reply
  7. Jim Campbell says:

    The usual Sun exageration 
    Or media mountains out of molehills.

    (Was  J. McConnell on page 3 as well ?)

    Reply
  8. andrew_haddow says:

    It seems that’s the worst they can find. I’ve seen far, far worse coming from the Britnat side.

    Reply
  9. Gordon says:

    While it pays to be careful what you send out it shows how much the Sun is a SNP / independence open newspaper.

    Reply
  10. James Sneddon says:

    Well, if you fly with the craws you get shot down with them.  Compared to the rubbish Alex gets chucked at him she’s got off lightly.  I’m sure we are all aware enough not to pander to sexist stereotypes but  pot calling the kettle black springs to mind regarding the Sun’s vile objectification of women and the whole celeb thing.

    Never bought it for over 30 years to be honest. 

    Reply
  11. YesYesYes says:

    Although I’m as straight as the proverbial ten-bob note, I think I fancy Alan Cumming more than I fancy her. If she wasn’t Miss Inverness, I’m sure she’d fit in quite well behind the checkouts at Tescos. 

    Reply
  12. daneel says:

    Am I wrong, or is that Union Flag hung incorrectly? Not too sure when it comes to hanging it vertically, but I’d say it’s up backwards.

    Reply
  13. Appleby says:

    Clearly the Labour spin machine at work. You can be sure if this was the SNP or indy supporter then they’d be told to suck it up and move on if they dared to complain. Just look at the threats and abuse towards the Yes campaigners in the past that is hardly reported, played down or swept under the carpet.
     
    She’s pretty but they’re obviously over doing it with the flattery to build her up for the story before ranting about “evil cybernats”. The public tend to feel more sympathy for pretty people when bad things happen to them.
     
    Unless someone has compared her to at least six dictators it’s not worth hearing about.

    Reply
  14. Appleby says:

    @daneel
     
    Well spotted. You’re right.

    Reply
  15. MajorBloodnok says:

    I thought the one on the left (of the picture) was the beauty queen – the femme in the cerise jacket.  She’s certainly not there for her brains, that’s for sure.

    Reply
  16. Dál Riata says:

    Ah, the MSM abusing the English language to try to do Scotland down again…

    “Sick taunts”, huh? Well, I believe most people educated to at least a minimum standard using English as the core language will know what constitutes a “sick taunt” and that “It’s amazing how low some will stoop for 15 minutes of fame.” does not fall within the minimum and maximum ranges of what could be described as such. 

    So. let’s see. “sick taunts” ; an adjective (sick) to describe a noun (taunt)

    sick
    adjective: delighting in or catering for the macabre or sadistic; morbid 

    “It’s amazing how low some will stoop for 15 minutes of fame.” Macabre?…Don’t be silly! Sadistic … No, definitely not. Morbid … Naah, can’t see it, myself.

    Moving on to:

    taunt
    noun:  cruel, unpleasant remarks

    “It’s amazing how low some will stoop for 15 minutes of fame.” Cruel? … Not in its purest sense. If the subject of the sentence feels it is ‘cruel’, then he, or she could be said to have insecurity issues. Unpleasant? … Perhaps. Though borderline in assumption. Much depends on the subject’s id and maturity. 

    But that is only one “taunt”. Where are the others? To constitute as a plural noun there should be at least two of said noun.

    So, what have we got as evidence of the other “taunts“?…

    A mock-up poster published on a blog that does not name any individual of any sex, creed or colour and is related to the UK sending its armed forces to fight, and possibly die, in illegal wars …? This qualifies as a “taunt”, does it? As in, being deliberately made to “taunt” a lady whose boyfriend is a serving soldier…? Ehhh… sorry, but that does not qualify. There is no specific connection made to said lady.

    So, then, there must be others, yes? One dubious example of the noun,  “taunt” does not allow the addition of an ‘s’ to make it plural. … What? There are no others?… Ahhh…!

    The UK’s MSM – Lying to you since the 17th century.  

    Reply
  17. YesYesYes says:

    @MajorBloodnok,
     
    Well spotted Major. In fact, if you zoom in on the Bitter Together picture, I’d say the wee lassies standing either side of Willie Rennie are better looking than Ceilidh.

    Reply
  18. Dál Riata says:

    @MajorBloodnok

    LOL! Yes, I’m not sure who that captivating enchantress is on the left … Miss Bitter Together?

    Reply
  19. Appleby says:

    The sooner the MSM implodes and vanishes forever, the better.

    Reply
  20. UkFacepalm says:

    As vile internet abuse goes, I get worse when I get home at night. But theres little doubt that Miss Watson is a damn sight smarter than her fellow “real Scots” like  “sausage rolls and wee dugs” Ryan. Shamelessly wrapping herself in the union jack, and making 90% of her posts about The Forces, is a sure-fire way to maximise much needed self-promotion. You just can’t buy that kind of 3rd rate celebrity tabloid publicity, her agent must be delighted.
    Her twitter exchanges are now drawing the attention of adoring unionist pond-life, several with a history of genuine anti-nat vile abuse with a distinctly sectarian flavour.
    And to anyone who thinks they’ve seen her before…you’re not wrong. Here she is a wee while back.
    link to barbieoftheday.com
     

    Reply
  21. G. Campbell says:

    She didn’t even win the competition.

    “MISS Inverness, Ceilidh Watson, flew south this week to contest the Miss Great Britain finals with a dress she designed especially for the competition.

    The 23-year-old had just two weeks to prepare for the contest after Deone Robertson, a contestant from Glasgow who took the Inverness title at a judging event in the city, withdrew due to her forthcoming pantomime appearances in her home city.”

    link to inverness-courier.co.uk

    This is LOCAL sexism for LOCAL people.

    “URGENT discussions are taking place to decide whether organisers of the Miss Inverness competition should re-stage the event following controversy over last week’s winner.Deone Robertson, a 22-year-old dance teacher, took the crown in the city at Hush nightclub on Friday, sparking public debate because she comes from Glasgow and not the Highland Capital.

    Miss Robertson will represent Inverness at the Miss Great Britain contest in London in November but some residents have called for the rules of the competition to be overhauled. Organisers will discuss whether to run the event again, possibly with new entrants or allow runner-up Ceilidh Watson (22), who lives in Castle Heather, Inverness, to enter the London event alongside Miss Robertson.”

    link to inverness-courier.co.uk

    Mr Inverness 2010:

    link to farm6.staticflickr.com

    Reply
  22. Dál Riata says:

    Ah, The Sun … Crusading for Ceilidh Watson, while patronising her at the same time as only they know how, since December, 2010. Back then she was a “Highland hottie” and not yet a “beauty queen”!!

     link to thescottishsun.co.uk

    Reply
  23. Dál Riata says:

    I thought with a name like she has, Ceilidh Watson, she would be unique… But there actually is another one. Unsurprisingly, this Ceilidh Watson does not look as happy as her namesake!

    link to mugshotsonline.com 

     

    Reply
  24. Barbarian says:

    I see one or two comments above slagging her off because she doesn’t want to join the “Yes” campaign. And a comment from Brad Pitt suggesting she is not that good looking.

    When will you people learn?

    If you want to win your argument, focus on the policies not the people.

    Both sides are as bad as the other.

    Reply
  25. Rev. Stuart Campbell says:

    “Both sides are as bad as the other.”

    Well, not quite as bad. Some of us, for example, aren’t afraid of a bit of mild dissent.

    Reply
  26. douglas clark says:

    Barbarian,
    You might find this interesting:
    link to bloggerheads.com
     
     
     
     

    Reply
  27. Appleby says:

    “If you want to win your argument, focus on the policies not the people.”
     
    Then don’t make the argument all about yourself and have a strop about, like she has. Tsk. The unionist side is far, far worse than the other. You’d have to be blind or incredibly biased not to see that. The evidence is plastered across this blog and elsewhere.

    Reply
  28. Craig P says:

    This story has it all. We have British innocence and purity, in the shape of a beauty queen, we have British manliness and virility, in the shape of her army boyfriend, and threatening this cosy scene, we have a sinister non-British other, in the shape of anonymous cybernats. 

    Reply
  29. Juteman says:

    There is a fine line, and we have to be careful not to cross it.
    However, if you choose to stand up in public to represent one side or the other, then you have to accept that you have entered the public arena. That makes you fair game for comment.

    Reply
  30. Seasick Dave says:

    Lamont, Darling, Rennie, Davidson and erm, Miss Inverness; saviours of the Union.

    The arrangement is just so effing awful its hard to comprehend and yet people still buy it.

    Its enough to make you want to live on Rockall.

    Reply
  31. DougtheDug says:

    From reading this blog I am correct in saying that the whole, “evil cybernats heap vile abuse on saintly squaddie boffing beauty queen”, uproar was based on a single tweet?

    Reply
  32. Scott Minto (Aka Sneekyboy) says:

    @DougtheDug

    Yes. And a completely unrelated political poster that they felt the need to shoehorn in there as a personal attack(?).

    Apparently not wanting to have our forces sent off needlessly to fight and die in Political resource wars is actually a personal attack on Miss Inverness! Who knew?!?

    Reply
  33. Colin Dunn says:

    @DougtheDug

    One can only assume that they spent hours trawling around looking for something ‘better’, and this was the most extreme they could find. 

    Reply
  34. TYRAN says:

    Why didn’t MSM go with this one? 😀

    link to twitter.com  

    Reply


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