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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To really, really hate Toby Young

232 replies

MargaretCavendish · 04/01/2018 13:24

So, yes, I'm an academic and I think Toby Young was a crap choice for his new job (as does just about anybody who knows anything about it). But it has also just reminded me of the depth of my hatred for him - I think he is the person who I most hate in the world, which is unreasonable really, given he isn't actually a mass murderer or genocidal dictator. But... is it? IABU to think that Toby Young is the world's most odious twat?

OP posts:
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6
Piggywaspushed · 06/01/2018 14:37

First time posting toby device ??!

Grin
thecatfromjapan · 06/01/2018 14:39
Sad

the thing is, the appointment of Toby Young basically says, loudly, and in terms no-one can mistake, that our present government deems it acceptable to promote eugenicist arguments, to denigrate the lives and reality of disabled people, to demean women.

The objections of groups of people - especially women - do not concern the government.

It's a very serious statement as to who this government is prepared to accord actual, full, political subjecthood - who they are prepared to take seriously.

That is why it is so much more serious than 'Right On Bingo'.

There is a structural difference between the position of a Rent-a-Mouth contrarian-For-Attention-And-Money and a serious public role.

It's becoming some sort of litmus test to observe those that can't tell the difference between the societal spaces those two positions occupy, and the sort of seriousness expected - because the latter position ultimately speaks on behalf of the government appointing people to the role about who and what they consider appropriate (and who they, ultimately, don't give a shit about).

Now, Kirsty Allsop has been all over Twitter defending this appointment. Fair enough. Kirsty Allsop looks at houses with people and makes tat on television for a living. She is, frankly, someone who performs harmless, posh, fuckwittery for a living. We expect no more and no less from her. Much as I would not chastise my cat for not being able to do Maths.

Boris Johnson - well, he is just this side of criminal, frankly. I do wonder if Young has been employed by the Team Johnson in the hope it might deflect attention from rancid clown Boris. The tactic isn't working. The two, Young and Johnson, seem to amplify each other's shortcomings, really.

And for other people who wish to argue in favour of this appointment?

Well, it;s a tell, really.

thecatfromjapan · 06/01/2018 14:48

And, one last thing:

He's a smokescreen. A squirrel. A dead cat. A distraction.

His appointment is timed to distract from high-profile resignations.

Of committee members and Andrew Adonis. Of civil servants fleeing in droves.

He's a scrape. A scraping from the street, appointed because this is the most shambolic, talent-free, chaotic, chaos-driven government I have ever seen in my life-time.

thecatfromjapan · 06/01/2018 14:50

Toby 'Scrape' Young.

That'll be in his obituary.

It'll make for a different read from that of his father.

Piggywaspushed · 06/01/2018 14:50

I might stop watching Location Location (sorry, Phil). I am finding Allsop increasingly awful. And out of touch.

But I feel like I can't do anything to boycott Toby Young.

Piggywaspushed · 06/01/2018 14:55

And on Jan 3rd Kirstie said the abuse towards most women on Twitter is intolerable!!

Right-o Kirstles.

Piggywaspushed · 06/01/2018 14:57

Interestingly (on a roll now) KA says she is defending Toby because she is his friend and has known him for 17 years.

The writer in the Times has known him for considerably longer and called him repugnant!!

deviceNotRecognised · 06/01/2018 15:02

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

thecatfromjapan · 06/01/2018 15:12

You're new to MN, Device.

You can say 'bitch' or 'cunt'.

Saying that it is inappropriate to judge Kirsty Allsop's commentary on a political and moral issue by the same yard-stick as one might judge that of someone who is a professional commentator or expert on political and moral issues, when Kirsty Allsop is, actually, a television presenter chiefly famous for showing people around houses and making tat, is, I think, an example of me being very fair to Allsop. I don't think it is a good example of me being a bitch or a cunt.

The analogy of the cat being judged negatively for not being able to do Maths was, I think, appropriate.

I would be very silly to tell my cat off for not helping my daughter with her Maths homework. Mad, even. It is not a skill a cat, behaving as a cat, is likely to have. it would be wrong and unjust to chastise my cat for a skill it does not possess, nor should it possess.

Likewise with Kirsty.

Piggywaspushed · 06/01/2018 15:16

You really think a teacher wouldn't have to have been disciplined by Toby and his Board Of Governors at West London free School, had they tweeted in the way he has? Come off it. You'd be appalled if nay teaching colleagues did that.

And, of course you haven't read the tweets. He deleted them.

How can you be an ex SEN specialist? You are either a specialist, or you aren't. And if you are , then heaven help us all. Confused right back at ya.

Personally though I think he will just sit on his entitled backside and do nothing in his new job.

thecatfromjapan · 06/01/2018 15:17

You know, there is another poster on MN who is also a teacher with a SEND child, who also thinks that Mumsnetters are way too 'politically correct' about special needs and disability.

She, like you, thinks there is way too much mollycoddling when it comes to speech around disability - in the real world and on MN.

She posted that she has taught her daughter to be robust in debate, and to welcome disablist speech.

You two should get in touch. It must be quite hard feeling that you are in such a minority amongst all the MN PC oppressors of free speech.

Piggywaspushed · 06/01/2018 15:18

And your last sentence makes you sound rather like someone trying to write in the style of a typical MNer. Just thought I should point that out.

I'd quite like to be a cat.

If you are offended by that , I find it impossible to believe you wouldn't find Toby's turns of phrase entirely repugnant.

thecatfromjapan · 06/01/2018 15:22

And LOL at the idea that me suggesting Kirsty Allsop is chiefly famous for 'harmless, posh, fuckwittery' makes me a cunt, whilst Toby Young being offensive for a living and propagating eugenicist views makes him some sort of champion of free speech.

I'm not even going to comment on your attempt at getting 'down with the people' with your use of the terrible 'give your head a wobble' colloquialism. Bless. Very authentic.

20nil · 06/01/2018 15:24

Reading his offensive tweets would take less time than writing that pile of nonsense. Educate yourself.

thecatfromjapan · 06/01/2018 15:24

Actually, Piggy, you're right. I'm wrong.

That last sentence jarred. And it pissed me off.

But you've put your finger on it. That is why he was using it. Not a colloquialism at all. An attempt at an MN-ism.

BigBaboonBum · 06/01/2018 15:24

He made a comment about an underage girls breasts. Tongue in cheek? Get out of here. He’s a weirdo.

Fineganbeginagain · 06/01/2018 15:25

I read his tweets and am repulsed by them.
Based on what he said in these, he is not fit for public office.

deviceNotRecognised · 06/01/2018 15:27

catfromJapan

I'm not "quite new" and know that direct insults towards other posters are not allowed.

Suggesting you're acting like a cunt would be against the T&C so I wouldn't do that.

If you're suggesting I'm sockpuppeting then please do report me. Any mod could see I'm not and I have no idea which other poster you think I'm like.

I don't feel like an oppressed minority. Do you? I didn't mention mollycoddling of speech about disability. I said that inclusivity as an absolute target is awful and you'd find I'm in the majority if you speak to those who parent, are carers for or educate those with AEN.

Piggywaspushed

You can be an ex-specialist by moving to another role and not keeping abreast with best practice or by being in a non-specialist role for a number of years. I think I'd insult others if I did call myself a specialist.

As an ex-SENCO (of 7 years), I'd say I'm an ex-specialist. Honestly, I wrote quite quickly so may have made a semantic error.

20nil · 06/01/2018 15:30

I’m fucking furious about this. How can anyone possibly try to justify this appointment? People can and have been sacked from posts for saying the sorts of things he tweeted. And rightly so.

Piggywaspushed · 06/01/2018 15:31

And there's the pint.

It isn't about whether his tweets are a bit shocking or 'sophomoric' or whatever I read some to somewhat unreconstructed DH and he wound me up by saying he sounds like a legend : but he himself would NEVER put anything like that in print and knows not to.

People in public office absolutely have to be beyond reproach. Many heads have rolled recently. Hence the rapid Tweet deletion I suspect.

How Trump has got away with this, who knows - but Young is not Trump. He was not voted for and he can be easily deposed.

Piggywaspushed · 06/01/2018 15:31

point, not pint!

deviceNotRecognised · 06/01/2018 15:32

thecatfromjapan

And you called me "he". Why? Well, it's clear. You have issues and assume that women are a homogenised blob who group-think and act as one.

It's like you're a caricature of everything wrong with AIBU. I'll happily leave the thread as you're intent on domineering and shouting down any dissenting opinion but I do wish there was a way to show to you that not all who disagree with you are men.

Piggywaspushed · 06/01/2018 15:34

I am an ex Head Of Year. I have made it my business to keep abreast of educational development and news : and I also read about issues outside my specialism.

I have a nephew with Downs Syndrome and, as an aside, find it offensive that you called the condition an illness. But that is your choice.

JassyRadlett · 06/01/2018 15:35

Suggesting you're acting like a cunt would be against the T&C so I wouldn't do that.

Oh no, dear. You need to read the Talk Guidelines again. You seem a bit muddled. (As well as more broadly.)

thecatfromjapan · 06/01/2018 15:38

I quoted the other poster, with regard to the mollycoddling and free speech.

I don't think you're sock-pupetting. I think it's actually hilarious how often teachers-with-SEND-children turn up on threads with the same 'Free Speech!' opinion.

I'm not even doubting your persona. I remember when someone astonishingly like Mr. Ex-London teacher, then BNP leader used to post on MN. It was before he was well-known and when the site was a lot smaller. What a delight he was. So I know that all sorts of people, with all sorts of opinions become teachers. And some of them even rock up here.

However, as an ex-teacher yourself, I think you must know how incompatible Toby Young's speech is with his new role.

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