John Davison BAFTA Tourette’s incident and competing rights

The treatment and criticizing he has come in for just shows how shallow and meaningless their much boasted DEI slogans and virtue signing is. When face with a real situation where kindness was required they totally failed to live up to their to own mantra's.

Name me a slur he could’ve called an able bodied, straight, Christian/non-religious white man that’s on par with the N word and would’ve caused hurt and humiliation to the people presenting and global outrage? I’ll wait…

He has, and been arrested.

But they had the CHOICE to leave and 'segregate' themselves following a warning informing them that he may make offensive tics. He had no CHOICE re the timing or the content of his tic.

From what I understand, he has been beaten up by plenty of white able bodied men who didn't understand his condition and were offended by his tics.

It wasn't 'random' because the nature of coprolalia is that the person who has the condition says something grossly offensive or inappropriate in the circumstances, hence him saying 'fuck the queen' when being awarded an MBE. In the documentary about his childhood he is filmed in a supermarket shouting that his mother is a slag.

None of that means that he is singling out anyone for abuse.

I think the film is so powerful and basically demonstrates the misunderstanding and intolerance of a totally awful disability. Which then manifested itself at the baftas and the intolerance and misunderstanding has been proven on social media.

Years ago when I was walking down argyle street in Glasgow a man who was jerking about and moving weirdly caught my eye and he shouted at me "I'll rape you with a spiked stick". I was so shocked and upset but then I could see from his demeanor and manner that he didn't mean it, his eyes were teary. I didn't know a bloody thing about tourettes but I immediately understood that what he'd shouted was involuntary and he looked in a lot of pain. I just raised my palm in a kind of 'its ok' gesture and walked on. It was still a shock to hear but my offence did not matter compared to him having to live with that each day. I feel for John, he should not be getting abused on social media. I also feel for the actors, but again, they can do what I did and realise that something like that is not an intent to be bad, it's not. It's a disability. And an awful one at that.

He either "hides himself away" - i.e. doesn't attend - or he turns up, knowing that he is likely to shout out something embarrassing. We know it was the latter, and he says he is deeply humiliated. Neither option is perfect. But it was his choice to attend, and take the risk. I don't think the BBC should be shouldering all the blame here.

You think they are immune from offensive tics?! Oh please people watch this fucking film or the documentaries.

They should’ve been briefed then on coprolalia, the consequences and then could’ve made an informed decision. Take the malicious intent out of the word, as there wasn’t any.

I’m sure you could’ve looked this up yourself but your brain thinks of the most offensive thing it can say, despite your personal beliefs being the opposite.

There couldn't have been a better demonstration of the intolerance shown to sufferers of Tourettes. What happened to tolerance and understanding? What was the point of the film?
Words are only offensive if they are intended.
I hear lots of words I don't like but if they aren't intentionally aimed at me or anyone else, so what.

Wow, this film went completely over the heads of most people.

@AccidentallyWesAnderson Yes but the black people were there. It’s inevitable there would be swearing. Not entirely sure it’s completely random - did the situation “suggest” the word?

You’re ok with suggesting that disabled people should segregate themselves though? Why is that acceptable to you? Why is a film about disability ‘virtue signalling’?

The audience should have been warned in advance and anyone who felt they might me unable to cope with his tics should have excluded themselves.

I do not think that black people are uniquely unable to to cope with people with coprolalia.

Sorry, Davidson.

Bafta sent a message to all attendees warning them. Everyone who could potentially been offended could have chosen to self exclude. Which basically means anyone who could be potentially slurred.

or they could all act like grown ups.

Well it’s not just black people is it. Tourette’s sufferers don’t know how their tics will manifest. Could be directed at anyone, as the previous documentaries show. Ginger, white, fat, thin. It’s the tics not them.

A few words were said minutes before the ceremony began; they might’ve thought they’d hear a few swear words but without a proper briefing, if someone shouts the N word at you while you’re on stage presenting an award, I think you would still be totally shocked.

MBJ and DL had as much right to be there as John as their film had 13 nominations and they were presenting.

@nicepotoftea So Black people should have excluded themselves? How would that be acceptable? That’s segregation isn’t it and no one would agree to that. Maybe I’m moving towards no “cause” films. It’s all a bit virtue signalling.

@attichoarder What other events/places should a person with Tourettes not attend? Funerals, weddings, school plays, the supermarket, a hospital? Are there any other restrictions you think should be imposed on them?

So in what kind of situation do you think his presence can be tolerated?

Maybe everyone who thought they might be offended could have excluded themselves?

I think where the language used is so offensive that those who use it should avoid some situations. I think given the reason for attending this ceremony I believe that maybe arrangements could have been made or separate rooms perhaps but I do that there are some cases where someone with Tourette’s which may result is such offensive language should not attend certain events. Not everyone can do everything, if you are blind you can’t drive - fact so there are cases where disability does exclude people and I think this should be another case

I now think that the language used was so offensive and directed at individuals

The nature of his condition is that his tics are very offensive and directed at individuals.

If the Queen could tolerate him shouting 'fuck the Queen' when she was awarding him an MBE, why can't other people, at an awards ceremony featuring a film about his life, be expected to show understanding?