Riots in Southport

Wyllow3

Have we the power to block X and similar? People do get banned from these platforms.

I don't think we do. In any case, unless we want to live in a country like North Korea, we can't stop people from accessing social media which originates from other countries. I do, however, think that people (starting with schools) should be educated about how misleading social media can be - and, in some cases, downright dangerous. Everybody should always question any information they're given from any source.

Does anyone actually sit down with these groups and ask them what they want and exactly why they are rioting or are they just immediately labelled as far right thugs ? Many of them probably are thugs but not all - some will have strong feelings which are being ignored to the peril of the rest of you. Communication doesn’t seem to happen at all. Very easy to chuck round labels but that probably just encourages them and gives fuel to the fire.

I doubt if there would be much point "talking" to them. Bigotry is in their DNA. They're bullies and don't want to listen to anybody else's point of view. They're not "immediately" labelled as far right thugs, but what would you suggest they be called? They've been here for as long as I remember under various guises, but every so often, circumstances allow them to come out from the woodwork. FWIW they have Reform now, so maybe they should try and be represented in Parliament because that's how things should work in the UK.

I am ashamed to learn that I read social media pseudofacts that were lately found to be implanted by foreign (maybe Russia) media? I don't know who or what reported incorrectly on this and had it repeated one thousand times on social media. I fell for it and am utterly ashamed. I am sorry that the rioters fell for this trap too. I am beyond words.

Re - social media.

Yes we all need to sort of re-learn our attitude to social media - even on this forum.

I am now beginning to check everything i read.

One of the first ones I remember on GN was back in 2016 - it stuck in my mind because the username was the same name as the person who murdered Joe Cox. That username was around spouting extreme incorrect “facts” right up to 23rd June 2016. Then disappeared. There were others and have been others over the years.

I’m the bore who keeps saying on Gransnet that I don’t believe anything until I’ve read it on several reputable sites. The social media frenzy of the Nicola Bulley case was my wake-up call, it really upset me.

Cadeby

*It started when a person of a certain religion was found and arrested heading to the vigil with a machete*

As if by magic, vans full of creatures wearing specially designed items of clothing turn up? Too hideous to even type the details.

And yet similar ‘creatures’ (Muslim this time, let’s not mince words) corralled themselves outside that school in Batley in 2021. Both sides are at fault. Both sides are out of control at times.

“Three years ago, on 25 March 2021, a teacher from Batley Grammar School (BGS) in West Yorkshire was forced into hiding after a religious studies class he gave led to protests from Muslim parents and to death threats. Today, that incident has been largely forgotten. Except by the teacher.”

Source: The Guardian

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/mar/31/batley-school-what-teacher-in-hiding-can-tell-us-about-our-failure-to-tackle-intolerance#:~:text=Three%20years%20ago%2C%20on,Except%20by%20the%20teacher.

And more recently, Leeds?
I hate this so called ‘two-tier policing’. It inflames tensions.

Urmstongran

Cadeby

It started when a person of a certain religion was found and arrested heading to the vigil with a machete

As if by magic, vans full of creatures wearing specially designed items of clothing turn up? Too hideous to even type the details.

And yet similar ‘creatures’ (Muslim this time, let’s not mince words) corralled themselves outside that school in Batley in 2021. Both sides are at fault. Both sides are out of control at times.

“Three years ago, on 25 March 2021, a teacher from Batley Grammar School (BGS) in West Yorkshire was forced into hiding after a religious studies class he gave led to protests from Muslim parents and to death threats. Today, that incident has been largely forgotten. Except by the teacher.”

Source: The Guardian

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/mar/31/batley-school-what-teacher-in-hiding-can-tell-us-about-our-failure-to-tackle-intolerance#:~:text=Three%20years%20ago%2C%20on,Except%20by%20the%20teacher.

And more recently, Leeds?
I hate this so called ‘two-tier policing’. It inflames tensions.

And inflames unrest!

Meant to say comments like these. However, just my opinion.

I wonder why publishing lies in the news isn't against the law. Or is it?

Macadia

I wonder why publishing lies in the news isn't against the law. Or is it?

I think they sometimes have to apologise but it’s usually hidden away on one of the back pages. I’ve never got over the front page headline saying ‘The Queen supports Vote Leave’ which was a blatant lie. As someone that was brought up to not lie it’s something that I’ve never been able to comprehend. I even get embarrassed if I’m telling the truth but feel that people think that I’m telling a lie.

It’s considered unethical journalism

Re social media, I am surprised when some on here ask for advice from any doctors or other professionals on this forum, you have no idea if people are who the say they are.

As someone that was brought up to not lie it’s something that I’ve never been able to comprehend

MayBee I feel the same.

I don’t understand how some people (in all walks of life) can lie so easily. Social Media presents a perfect platform for lies! It just doesn’t seem to bother some people

The right wing media have allowed politicians such as Donald Trump and Boris Johnson to normalise lying.

Advertisers have always known the value of coining a snappy slogan and repeating it again and again.

The Trumps and Johnsons of this world have exploited that behaviour, enabling a much repeated lie to go unchallenged to the point where their followers regard it as truth that can never be challenged.

Even when presented with undeniable evidence that the statement is a lie, they have knee jerk reaction akin to putting their hands over their ears.

‘The big lie is the name of a propaganda technique, originally coined by Adolf Hitler in Mein Kampf, who says “The great masses of the people… will more easily fall victim to a big lie than to a small one,” and denotes where a known falsehood is stated and repeated and treated as if it is self-evidently true, in hopes of swaying the course of an argument in a direction that takes the big lie for granted rather than critically questioning it or ignoring it.’

I'm glad to see that James Cleverly has condemned the riots. See on X

"We cannot let rioting thugs and extremists win.

Their violence and attacks on the police can never be justified.

The Government must back our police to do what is necessary to maintain law and order and stop any further escalation.

Drawn an important and responsible "line in the sand

The rioters are overwhelmingly male (violence being their default way of life) and I therefore suggest that chemical castration would concentrate their minds and efforts elsewhere.

I lived in Southport for many years, then we moved to Banks. I’m saddened that local people joined these rioters, but happy that others cleaned up the rubble and wreckage, replaced the glass in the mosque windows and stood for a group photo, muslins and other men, together.
Floral tributes all over the town at many sites. People bringing buckets to keep the flowers alive. Police filling the buckets with water. Teddies rescued and taken inside overnight to save them getting rained upon and rearranged outside next day. The town lit up in pink.
All the above to honour the memories of the lost girls AND to stick two fingers up at the thugs. There are good people out there.

It was really heartening to see that Quokka and to know that the majority of people (the "ordinary" people these rioters claim to stand up for) came together for their community and didn't forget the girls who were murdered.

Yes, the way people stood together was truly heartening.

J52

Meant to say comments like these. However, just my opinion.

Was the policing in Leeds really "two-tier"? It's obvious the police were unprepared for the violence, so backed off for their own safety. My understanding is that at least four people have been arrested, including the one who set a bus on fire. That case involves child protection issues, which is possibly why the public hasn't heard much more. It's not in the public interest to know more.

The same in Manchester - the ones who attacked the police (who are Muslims) have been charged. I think most of us have seen the video of the police office stamping on the man's head and kicking him. I wouldn't say that's "two tier" policing.

In any case, I don't see the logic of inciting even more violence against the police, even if two tier policing could be proved. Did they think they'd be let off because "it's not fair". That's the kind of thing toddlers might say.

Assuming they are 100% thugs doesn’t help. I am certain not all of them would be and there needs to be some sort of dialogue with them. Obviously not going to happen anytime soon so the riots will likely continue. Things are not always black and white.

Not easy to have a dialogue with someone that’s throwing bricks at you. They now have representation in parliament with their beloved Reform party. They could air their grievances through them.

nanna8

Assuming they are 100% thugs doesn’t help. I am certain not all of them would be and there needs to be some sort of dialogue with them. Obviously not going to happen anytime soon so the riots will likely continue. Things are not always black and white.

People have been having "dialogues" for years! Politicians shouldn't be giving way to people who injure people destroy the infrastructure of the society they are allegedly defending. The truth is that most of them are racists. They're even represented in Parliament - they can speak up for them.