This site is now a racist and homphobic playground. I choose to be an anonymous poster. I was a visible member for many years but opted out following one of Morrissey's recent outburts. I still use the site relatively regularly (mostly on the look out for Smiths related stuff) but nothing like the daily visits I used to make.
I understand why some registered users don't like anonymous posters and to some degree they have a point. However, a high percentage of registered users remain anonymous - using aliases, photos /avatars of anyone and deliberately misleading gender therefore, for me, being a registered user doesn't solve the overall issue that some may have with anonymous posters. At present I have considerable issues with some that describe themselves as registered users.
The abuse on the forum is now at breathtaking levels and the nucleus of this hatred sits with what seems like a dozen or so, relatively new, registered users. I'm all for free speech but when that freedom not only tips into to hate speech but is drowned in hate speech something is terribly wrong. For point of clarity: this is not an alt-right wing site? Is it? I presume it to be a Morrissey / Smiths fan site. However that is not how it looks, feels or reads and it hasn't for a considerable period of time. The relentless, relatively new registered users, hijack just about every thread, morphing them into an alt-right speak machines. They have been accused of entryism by some and I agree.
I believe the site has become a breeding ground for racial, religious and homophobic hate incitement and I know that I am not alone in my thinking. Hour by hour comments appear which to my mind have no place at all in a Smiths / Morrissey fan site. These comments clearly set out to abuse, blame, condemn and marginalise particular groups of people for no other reason that the grouping does not fit with the pernicious alt-right agenda that is currently sweeping societies. Why do these posts even appear? If this behaviour is monitored and the user continues to post inappropriate comments - ban them. Block their ISP, if possible. I appeciate that easier said than done but doing nothing is acceptance of these escalating behaviours.
When it comes to censorship the mantra of free speech is a hollow one. David, or whomever, actively censors posts. I know this because several of my posts - challenging racists and homophobes - never appeared. Several posts relating to 2 of they - let's call them key alt-right players, they'll enjoy the noteriety - have never seen the light of day. This is despite the utterly racist and homphobic remarks both have made, comments that seem not only acceptable to David, or whomever, but are seemingly condoned and supported as they cannot be challenged.
I think David has been extremely fortunate in so much that even that those that wholly disagree with Morrissey's current thinking still visit this site - although those numbers are dwindling. Comments on the site should be specific to Morrissey, his music and yes, his statements. Comments deviating from this, or that use this as a platform to dog whistle an alt-right tune, should be deleted.
To be clear I have reported the racist and homophobic hate speech and some of it's users to: the site hosts Cloudflare, the police (UK), Stonewall, Hope Not Hate, Galop, Pride in London, my MP and MEP. I have done this not in an attempt to close the site down, as some were quick to accuse, but to have the site better regulated than it currently is. Whether or not my actions will have any significant effect - only time will tell - I'm not holding my breath. However, I will out racist and homophobic hate speech wherever I find it. This is my right. My right in a democracy.
I believe the site can have a future. That future has to actively challenge alt-right hate speech. I have no interest at all in comments from the alt-right or their entryists stooges in relation to my comments.
Just to let you know: this is not Stalinist Russia. My right in a democracy is to air my opinions, and if you choose to feel insulted from opting to log on here and read them, that is your right also.
If you feel that all criticism of the Pride movement is 'homophobic' and all criticism of mass immigration is 'racist' nobody is stopping you from feeling that way. But I doubt anybody is interested either. Your hurt feelings are your own business. In the civilized world we debate, we don't attempt to
shut people up - because in doing so they will only shout louder I'm afraid.
Living in a free society comes with a price. You have to tolerate other people's viewpoints. You don't have to like them, but you must accept their right to air these views. This is the mutual price we pay for freedom. Many other countries in the world would not allow a pro-gay group like Pride to even exist within its borders so you should count yourself grateful that you live in a free country. But you must accept the criticism and musings of others, despite how much it may hurt you. For example, only a minority of Muslims in Britain accept gayness in any form, but most agree to live and let live. You must follow from this example.
But what I suspect you are
most upset about is learning (via this site) of the many Morrissey fans who empathize with his so-called controversial comments of recent years. Perhaps you find this shocking as you thought your particular viewpoint was universal on this matter. Well it isn't I'm afraid as no viewpoints ever are. But what must rile you the most is how here on this forum these fans (me strongly included) are free to support Morrissey's views and to elaborate on them, adding our own thoughts also. This must horrify and fill you will indignation. And unable to debate with these 'deplorables' you must run to some official body somewhere to extinguish their free speech as it personally offends you...
But let me inform you this. Nobody cares about your feelings. They are entirely a personal matter for you to mull over with your dear self (as we all have to when we are affronted).
But it's hate speech! It's incitement to hatred! Its... Its... Sorry to inform you, but it's life. It's called the real world. Opinions exist. A whole
cornucopia of opinions. There is nobody you can run to to magic these opinions away. And what's more, you
voluntarily use this site - nobody is forcing you! You are at liberty to choose not to and so save yourself the risk of feeling offended if you happen upon one of my posts, for example.
Stalinists like yourself are a menace to free thought and opinion. You want to silence people, and are living in some misguided delusion that there is actual legislation to stifle people's free thought and online musings. If you want to
really be offended go to Speaker's Corner in London on any day of the week where you will hear a level of screamed hatred that will blow your socks off - and more, you will notice the police standing idly by doing absolutely nothing about it. Why? Because it's a free country.
So thanks for reading my words and I hope you learn something from them, but do not hesitate to stick them far up your presumably damaged rectum if that is what you feel the need to do.
