The ‘Cancel Christmas’ story in the December 6th Sun is a masterpiece of the genre. Another Andrew Rilstone analysis of tabloid nonsense and lies. However entertaining his writing is these do seem a bit pointless, though he has a very valid point. “Either the Sun reflects what its readers think; or it reflects what Tony’s boss Rupert thinks that they think; or it reflects what Tony’s boss Rupert wants them to think. Either millions of my fellow countrymen are paranoid; or else someone is trying very hard to make them paranoid. Either way paranoid people are scary. They elect scary governments.”
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About this site
In June 2000 I started blogging at peteashton.com and 10 years later in June 2010 I decided to stop. Blogging here, that is. I started a clean slate over on I Am Pete Ashton and maintain all manner of other web presences which are all listed here along with my contact details.
You probably came here via a Google search or from following a link on some old blog post somewhere. I hope what you find is useful in some way, though do check the publication date - it might be rather old now.
Thanks for your eyeballs.
Pete Ashton
So far as I know, no-one else is specifically trying to refute this rubbish, and (if my theory is right) we are talking about a socially acceptable outlet for borderline fascist — in the case of the Express, not really borderline anymore — propaganda. If three mainstream newspapers are committing themselves to promoting racisim rather than reporting the news, I think that someone ought to rage against the dying of the light. I do plan to swear off the subject for a while after Christmas, though.
I probably should have said “might seem a bit pointless”. I think what you’re doing here is important and it’s shameful that those with actual influence aren’t pointing this stuff out.
Personally I’m slightly overwhelmed by it all, not just the endless stream of newspaper “stories” but the fact that people lap this stuff up – they want it to be true regardless of the facts. But then I’ve never really identified with “normal” people, and I don’t mean that in a wanky boy-outsider kind of way. I just don’t want to be part of that society.
So, more power to you Andrew. Keep it up.