Not enjoying the Janey Godley pile on....

"It is," = I am,

Godley: This prompted a statement from Ms Godley on Twitter saying: “I deserve all the criticism that comes my way.” She also said that as an “outspoken comedian” she felt like she could get away with saying anything but that she was “completely wrong”.
…
Sturgeon: "She’s a comedian, as she said herself she thought that gave her license to say things that she now accepts were completely out of order and unacceptable.

This is reading as an integrated PR policy.

It is, however, wondering where Godley's thinking was on Linehan, or do comedy writers not qualify for the same pass as self-declared comedians.

If Marion Millar were to self-id as a comedian and frame her comments in that context (the ones that I understand to be the basis for the court case) would that be sufficient to exculpate her and earn redemption from SNP figures?

Choosing JG to front a govt funded health campaign pretty much sums up the state of Scottish politics, the SNP and NS.
All of it is depressing beyond words.

Scottish Enlightenment, anyone?
How can NS and the SNP live and work in Edinburgh and not be constantly aware of the academic, intellectual and cultural giants who have gone before them and not feel utter shame about what they’re doing to Scotland.
Every time I think it’s impossible to set the bar lower, there’s another example of staggering stupidity, this being the latest in a long line.

“These things happen, the important thing is that action has been taken, Janey has apologised, I think she’s been pretty straightforward and dignified in her apology. She’s a comedian, as she said herself she thought that gave her license to say things that she now accepts were completely out of order and unacceptable"

www.scotsman.com/news/people/janey-godley-hurtful-tweets-were-completely-unacceptable-says-nicola-sturgeon-but-apology-was-dignified-3378145

I have seen lot of people use words lime out of order and unacceptable about these tweets, why is it so hard to say they are racist. Nicola finds it easy enough to praise the apology.

I'm not saying they're the same but I DO think a lot of people have an incredible lack of empathy and understanding of how they come across. The moral pitchfork also convinces them that they are unassailably good, and it's just banter.

Again, that doesn't make it OK.

I think this is the most likely explanation. Some people splurge nasty stuff all the time but really don't seem to realise it has an affect on people or that they could be called out on it.

I think this is what the SNP are missing. They don’t see a problem with the pattern of behaviour as long as they agree with the targets.

Baddiel referred to an anti-semitic tweet being fake, but not sure what that was, and whether it was the tweet itself or the account, as it's deleted.

Apparently there are some screenshots of blatantly anti-Semitic tweets being retweeted as part of JG's greatest hits but those are fake. The rest are not however, there are plenty of racist tweets from her to go around. Just be careful whether you take any particular tweet as gospel.

Oops effect

She had zero self awareness to stop & think 'hang on, should I really go there?'

I think this is the most likely explanation. Some people splurge nasty stuff all the time but really don't seem to realise it has an affect on people or that they could be called out on it. My mum is the same! (completely different I realise but I do think many people just don't realise how awful they are.) Rude, hurtful, critical, racist, and on and on but when I stand up to her she's absolutely shocked that anyone could think she's not lovely.

I hope Godley does let it sink in this time but also, when cases like this do blow up, I hope it pulls other people up on their twitter tendencies too.

If the person was 20 and had posted these tweets 5 years before, one might forgive a childish rant but this was a middle aged woman slurring the disabled and people of colour.

I don’t like the inference on this thread that we should ‘go high’ when faced absolutely vile behaviour from TRAs.
…
Like many here I’m not a fan of cancel culture but in her case I can’t muster up much sympathy.

Is it 'go high'? But then I don't know what some people have called for (aside from Hunter).

And, as for 'can't muster up much sympathy', isn't that behind every commenter who says, effectively: 'No, [Laurel Hubbard; the eviction of women from social media spaces; Forstater losing her job etc.] they're not good but I can't muster up much sympathy as women/feminists brought it on themselves'.

That said, would I sign the Chubby Brown petition - no.

I'm thinking my way through various matters and in no way am I proffering the thought terminating cliché of #BeKind. - I am, however, disturbed by those who are offering redemption in the absence of any knowledge as to whether personal apologies have been issued to those at the heart of Godley's abuse or orchestrated public scolding/humiliation etc.

My DOI is that I had no idea about Godley and the more that I learn about her, the more surprised that I am that nobody in Scots Gov. conducted any due diligence before deciding to award her public funds or choose her as a public-facing figure.

WRT to all the 50 Cent tweets, Godley was called out on it on that thread 2 years ago. She could have reflected on her behaviour then, apologised and deleted anything offensive, but she didn’t.

I don’t know whether she thought she was untouchable, or whether she thought it was “just banter”, or whether she thought it was an acceptable form of self-promotion.

It’s only now that she’s higher profile and been unmasked in a much more public way that she’s come over all contrite.

I dislike this culture of dragging up what people said 5+ years ago and using it against. Yes, it may be justified in some cases (ie they haven't really changed, which we should judge off what they say now) but it promotes a view of the world where we dont believe people can change their minds in response to new information/debate/research/realising they were a dick. What is the point in engaging with anyone on racism/misogyny/anti vax/climate change denying whatever, if we then turn round and say "oh but you tweeted this so now we're going to hound you out of work". And I don't accept that you can only change your mind under a certain age - I like to think that even over 50s (shock horror) can realise they were being racist for example and change.

This non changing view of the trickles over into politics too. Lambast Brexit supporting politicians on billboards because several years ago they supported remaining in the EU (but probably be happy if someone changed their mind the other way). Sure some politicians are self serving and will follow the popular trends but I'd prefer to live in a world where we recognise politicians change their mind (hopefully on the basis of information and debate!) even if personally don't like the change of view.

Her quote tweeting of Alex Arthur (Alba candidate who had posted derogatory things about homeless people of a particular ethnicity & I think some sort of Covid conspiracy stuff) holding him up as morally deficient knowing what she herself has said which is way waaaaaay worse, exemplifies her addiction to this online tribe she was part of. She had zero self awareness to stop & think 'hang on, should I really go there?'

Honestly, her hypocrisy is what I think she deserves to be criticised for as much as the offensive shit she's done for years.

Thanks, PlayYou, it's informative to see the story behind it all.

[quote Gimlisaxe]@TedImgoingmad

When I read it originally I thought she meant some of her tweets were faked, but I think what she actually means is she tweeted racist and vile shit against fake accounts who were insulting her.[/quote]
Thank you, @Gimlisaxe

Baddiel referred to an anti-semitic tweet being fake, but not sure what that was, and whether it was the tweet itself or the account, as it's deleted.

If she's been racist against "fake accounts" (not a twitterer, so not sure what that means - troll accounts? Anonymous accounts?), that implies she (and possibly Baddiel) thinks racism/racist language can be used as an attack mechanism in the right circumstances. That argument doesn't really stand up to scrutiny.

I'm generally in favour of free speech, but also believe you need to accept that this comes with consequences and accountability. Comedians as a group seem to be very keen to ensure that they are allowed to treat as comedy (however unfunny their brand of comedy might be) any topic they choose, whilst at the same time, policing the discourse of everyone else in public life. That's how Frankie Boyle gets away with it. He has the backing of his community, and appears that so does JG.

It's the game she played

Or the game to which she became addicted - the buzz as the likes roll in, the sense of righteousness, the distraction from everyday life.

I think this is a danger for anyone on Twitter, and any self aware person realises this.

Like many here I’m not a fan of cancel culture but in her case I can’t muster up much sympathy. She’s been such a loud cancel culture advocate for “wrong speak” and has now been exposed to have toxic racist views herself. Those tweets were rank, we’re not just talking mildly politically incorrect here, it was blatant and disgusting racism. If you’re gonna live by the cancel culture sword, gotta be prepared to die by it.

Godley Tweeted more than 200 times at 50 Cent in 2012, picked up on this thread in 2019

It’s not in Mhairi Hunter’s gift to grant forgiveness as she wasn’t the target of any of the tweets.

However, surely somebody more senior at the SNP can see that people with this kind of Twitter habit are likely to become a liability?

This is interesting.

https://twitter.com/iainmacwhirter/status/1436017878348804110?s=21

This links to a pic of an exert from something which explains what's happened & how Godley got dragged into this & fell foul of the 'cancel culture' she's been revelling in herself.

The reason I don't believe she's genuinely sorry for what she's posted and is simply sorry she's been targeted is that she's been flagged up for her racist tweets in the past & shrugged off any criticism. She's has many opportunities in the past to self reflect and just acknowledge how out of line her words were. Had she done so, her apology now would ring more true than hollow. I think she genuinely does feel awful but it's why she feels that way that's relevant.

She really has been hoisted by her own petard here. It's cringeworthy/satisfying (depending on how you view the social media shaming that's she's so keen to engage in & is now the target of) to witness but she's really not the 'innocent' & 'unaware' bystander suddenly caught up in something that is disproportionately targeting her. It's the game she played. You can certainly argue that she's getting worse treatment than the men who McWhirter mentions in that piece linked above. But she's played this game a long time & is fully aware how offensive she was/is as it's been her schtick for years. Her mistake was getting on board with the morally superior bullies who weaponise that self identified superiority to destroy others. She enjoyed that part of her 'tribe' & never thought they'd come for her. But as that link above mentions, the 'right' are starting to learn the dark arts of cancel culture & it's not going to be pretty when it comes for those morally superior bullies who have been revelling in their power they're wielding to dominate as much discourse as they can.

Godley is definitely suffering right now & this is probably going to impact her career. To what extent I've no idea. But her sincerity is just lacking over what she's said over the years as she's only now addressing that because she can't shrug it off this time. And knowing her stance on Marion Millar, and how she's gleefully added onto her stress for nothing that even compares to Godley's sustained & prolonged output, I really don't have much/any sympathy for her predicament. If that makes me callous 🤷🏻‍♀️

I don’t like the inference on this thread that we should ‘go high’ when faced absolutely vile behaviour from TRAs. For a couple of reasons really. One being it doesn’t work - TRAs have had their way for years now by being the voice that shouts the loudest, logic went out the window a long time ago so you can’t rely on being right and gracious to have any impact on the situation.

Secondly, because it buys into this bullshit narrative that women ‘should’ be kind, fair, give people the benefit of the doubt, ‘see’ the good in the bad etc. It’s playing a stereotypically ‘female’ role in the argument, while leaving the TRAs to take the stand of ‘male aggressor’. And we know who always wins in that.

So yes, I will be enjoying seeing people like Jane hoisted by their own petard. I think any pile on can only show her EXACTLY how unfair it is that you face additional hate and venom as a women, and give her a taste of what she has been putting other people through. Her ‘jokes’ were vile and this also shows just how selective some people are at which minorities they respect.

[quote Ekofisk]Godley Tweeted more than 200 times at 50 Cent in 2012, picked up on this thread in 2019:

twitter.com/politicaiicious/status/1188539137088983042?s=21[/quote]
Rather ironically that's not dissimilar to the bizarre twitter obsession Trump had with Kristen Stewart.