jargentyOct 5
Emeritus Prof Christopher May

The most dangerous word in politics is 'but'....

as in 'the right to peaceful protest must be upheld but....'

'I'm not a racist, but...'

'Everyone has the right to withdraw their labour, but...'

'of course, markets should be regulated, but...'

'we need to preserve our democracy, but...'

'[organisation x] must remain independent, but...'

'yes, consent is important, but...'

'of course, equal rights are important, but...'

and so on, and so on

#politics #democracy

Oct 5 at 8:49amWeb
Show threadJonathan SchofieldOct 5

@ChrisMayLA6 often preceded with “Look”.

“Look, consent is important, but…”

Important not to miss the opportunity to condescend

Show threadMostlyTatoOct 5
@urlyman @ChrisMayLA6
Interestingly, a certain Mr Farage always prefixes a reasonable sounding lie or conflation with the words 'Now look... '
Show threadJonathan SchofieldOct 5
@MostlyTato @ChrisMayLA6 all the major parties do it. It’s a Westminster trope
Show threadinpcOct 5
@ChrisMayLA6 I’m a big fan of ‘and’ as two ideas can be true at the same time eg. killing these people is bad and killing those people is bad…. although kajagoogoo is much more fun to type so, the right to peaceful protest must be upheld, KAJAGOOGOO.

(Broadly agree with the point tho).
Show threadwebhatOct 5
@inpc @ChrisMayLA6 I found that replacing but with and changed the way I think, talk and write
Show threadSchroedingers_CatOct 5
@ChrisMayLA6 It combines what the person wants to project as their view with the reality which utterly contradicts this.
Show threadJohn MaguireOct 5

@ChrisMayLA6

As Ned Stark said... "Nothing someone says before the word 'but' really counts"...

Show threadEsslar2Oct 5
@ChrisMayLA6 I'm not a racist/homophobe/misogynist/anti-Semite (etc.) BUT... My feeling about these bigotries is, be willing to admit to yourself (at least) that you may well have these prejudices because then, and only then, will you be able to work towards overcoming them.
Show threadJohn UlrikOct 5
@ChrisMayLA6 Imagine the possibilities if all these were “and”s …
Show threadAssimilateborgOct 5
@ChrisMayLA6 they are all butt-holes
Show threadMachine Lord ZeroOct 5
@ChrisMayLA6 Gotta kick their buts.
Show threadPatrick Morris MillerOct 5
@ChrisMayLA6 Ned Stark phrased it best: everything before the word *but* is horseshit.
Show threadstaringatcloudsOct 5
@ChrisMayLA6 Labour supports the rights of all LGBTQIA+ people, INCLUDING trans people ..... BUT!
Show threadFediThing Oct 5

@ChrisMayLA6 There's an early 1970s Monty Python parody of Hitler giving a speech and his most prominent words are "I am not a racialist but..." https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UE7y42cXPRs

Also contains bonus anticipation of astroturfing and fake engagement.

Monty Python Hitler Speech

YouTube
Show threadHoward CohenOct 5
@ChrisMayLA6 All buts smell bad.
Show threadLAURENOct 6

@ChrisMayLA6

It is the word that stops change in its tracks.

Show threadDariusOct 6
@ChrisMayLA6 I always read for “but” Bullshit Until This. That works well.
Show threadDave McOct 6

@ChrisMayLA6 I agree... ... but...

How do you tackle, "Everyone has the right to free speech!... but that doesn't include hate speech, etc.". Is there a robust response?

Show threadEmeritus Prof Christopher MayOct 6

@guigsy

By defining free speech clearly in the first place.... not rights are comprehensive; all have some sort of public good exceptions

Show threadDave McOct 6
@ChrisMayLA6 isn't that essentially the same thing? Couldn't you just clearly define racism to be narrower so it doesn't include Alf Garnett?
Show threadEmeritus Prof Christopher MayOct 6

@guigsy

Yes, I think that's fair... but conventionally, free speech has never included the freedom to shout 'fire' in a crowded public building, and while speech may be free unforced accusations (lies) are often also subject to legal limitations.... so while we might say racism is an absolute, we might have difficulty with the re-adoption of racist language by the subjects of racism - perhaps the most obvious example would be the use of the 'N-word' by black Americans?

Show threadSimeon NedkovOct 6
@ChrisMayLA6 @Rhodium103 Another is “it’s complex, you can’t just…”
Show threadJohanna's GardenOct 19
@ChrisMayLA6 This is a really good post. Chilling.