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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think there is a worrying trend to cancel folk for opinions and thoughts

208 replies

ConnieLinggusThe69th · 18/07/2023 23:26

I'm not saying I agree with the opinions of Roald Dahl (I dont) but I understand if people want to cancel folk for their actions - don't like cancel culture but that seems reasonable somewhat to react to someone's actions

But why the fuck are we extending cancel culture to the thoughts that someone expressed? He hardly evangelised his anti semitic beliefs- he simply held them... but chose to write fiction books... the impact he left on the world was some good stories for most people

Just read they were putting a sign up to apologise for his beliefs in the Roald Dahl museum - he's dead now, how can you apologise post death for someone else's thoughts?!

OP posts:
Mamai90 · 18/07/2023 23:32

Your family can apologise for the hurt that your views might have caused, we know he's dead so he obviously can't directly apologise but I think it would be wrong to just ignore it.

AgathaSpencerGregson · 18/07/2023 23:40

Mamai90 · 18/07/2023 23:32

Your family can apologise for the hurt that your views might have caused, we know he's dead so he obviously can't directly apologise but I think it would be wrong to just ignore it.

How is the apology meaningful if it comes from someone else? I’ve never understood this. “I am terribly sorry for something that someone who I had no responsibility for did.” It’s nonsense.

Original poster
ConnieLinggusThe69th · 18/07/2023 23:43

@AgathaSpencerGregson well, I agree there but what has he actually done? Beyond thought (I dont like his thoughts but he hardly acted upon them)

OP posts:
AgathaSpencerGregson · 18/07/2023 23:47

ConnieLinggusThe69th · 18/07/2023 23:43

@AgathaSpencerGregson well, I agree there but what has he actually done? Beyond thought (I dont like his thoughts but he hardly acted upon them)

Well we know his thought from what he said and wrote. I think he may not have been terribly nice to his wife either? Perhaps not a nice man. But nothing to do with his work (or at least if you think it is and you don’t want to celebrate him, don’t go).

Original poster
ConnieLinggusThe69th · 18/07/2023 23:53

Mamai90 · 18/07/2023 23:32

Your family can apologise for the hurt that your views might have caused, we know he's dead so he obviously can't directly apologise but I think it would be wrong to just ignore it.

Why should they? My mum has some batshit and homophobic thoughts however she doesn't picket soldiers funeral's so I really won't feel the need for myself who holds entirely different beliefs to her to apologise for her

OP posts:
Moonberri · 18/07/2023 23:56

I think we're becoming more of an intolerant society. Ironically it tends to be the supposedly "inclusive" sections of society that seek to censor other people's thoughts and language. For example calling people bigoted for not believing that a man magically becomes a woman if he puts on a dress and a wig.

Elephantsdontlikechocolate · 19/07/2023 00:13

Moonberri · 18/07/2023 23:56

I think we're becoming more of an intolerant society. Ironically it tends to be the supposedly "inclusive" sections of society that seek to censor other people's thoughts and language. For example calling people bigoted for not believing that a man magically becomes a woman if he puts on a dress and a wig.

Absolutely. Libernazis.

SalmonEile · 19/07/2023 00:17

AgathaSpencerGregson · 18/07/2023 23:40

How is the apology meaningful if it comes from someone else? I’ve never understood this. “I am terribly sorry for something that someone who I had no responsibility for did.” It’s nonsense.

Show quote history

Well the apology is from the people who founded/run the museum I suppose.
”we’re celebrating this persons works and legacy but we’re aware of some shitty things he might have said - please don’t hate us for still having this museum”
or something like that

AnotherTownAnotherTrain · 19/07/2023 00:21

I wouldn't use RD as an example of cancel culture . They didn't close the museum, they haven't as far as I am aware banned his books have they? Having said that I have noticed a worrying trend in demonizing notable people for having differences of opinion . Not even awful opinions like anti Semitic opinions but things like "men can't breastfeed" or "women don't have penises."

AnotherTownAnotherTrain · 19/07/2023 00:22

ConnieLinggusThe69th · 18/07/2023 23:26

I'm not saying I agree with the opinions of Roald Dahl (I dont) but I understand if people want to cancel folk for their actions - don't like cancel culture but that seems reasonable somewhat to react to someone's actions

But why the fuck are we extending cancel culture to the thoughts that someone expressed? He hardly evangelised his anti semitic beliefs- he simply held them... but chose to write fiction books... the impact he left on the world was some good stories for most people

Just read they were putting a sign up to apologise for his beliefs in the Roald Dahl museum - he's dead now, how can you apologise post death for someone else's thoughts?!

I do agree there is a trend and I hate that "crimes of thought" could become a thing . Seems worryingly Orwellian.

Annaishere · 19/07/2023 00:27

Well I didn’t know this about Roald Dahl

Original poster
ConnieLinggusThe69th · 19/07/2023 00:28

@SalmonEile well fair enough but I don't know how long they've been open but have they ever felt the need to say that till 2023?

Or did nobody really care about what people thought enough if it wasn't what they were famous for if they didn't commit any horrendous acts before?

In case it's just recently opened and my example doesn't make the point I'm trying to express... Nigel Fartarse has his bank account shut down... women can't think men aren't women... you can't think anymore without the threat of being cancelled for thinking (or at least I feel we are moving towards that being the case)

OP posts:
Mumtothreegirlies · 19/07/2023 00:34

I think people are just pathetic these days.

GarlicGrace · 19/07/2023 00:38

YANBU. It's all heading in a worrying direction. I mean, I'm far from Nigel Farage's fan base but I do believe his bank shouldn't cancel his account because his values don't align with theirs. He was with Coutts but high street banks are also cancelling customer accounts for having the wrong thoughts.

People are losing their jobs, professional opportunities and sales platforms for wrongthink. The police are criminalising opinions. I'm normally quite cynical, but never expected the UK to become so ideologically authoritarian. Once a system's started down this route, it can go further very fast.

You're right; it is "libernazi" driven!

Original poster
ConnieLinggusThe69th · 19/07/2023 00:39

AnotherTownAnotherTrain · 19/07/2023 00:21

I wouldn't use RD as an example of cancel culture . They didn't close the museum, they haven't as far as I am aware banned his books have they? Having said that I have noticed a worrying trend in demonizing notable people for having differences of opinion . Not even awful opinions like anti Semitic opinions but things like "men can't breastfeed" or "women don't have penises."

There's definitely better examples I could have posted. This was just the one that tipped me to I want to rant on mumsnet one tonight

OP posts:
Original poster
ConnieLinggusThe69th · 19/07/2023 00:40

Rant on MN tonight*

OP posts:
AnotherTownAnotherTrain · 19/07/2023 00:40

ConnieLinggusThe69th · 19/07/2023 00:28

@SalmonEile well fair enough but I don't know how long they've been open but have they ever felt the need to say that till 2023?

Or did nobody really care about what people thought enough if it wasn't what they were famous for if they didn't commit any horrendous acts before?

In case it's just recently opened and my example doesn't make the point I'm trying to express... Nigel Fartarse has his bank account shut down... women can't think men aren't women... you can't think anymore without the threat of being cancelled for thinking (or at least I feel we are moving towards that being the case)

I think Nigel Fartarse's account being shut down was possibly due to concerns about money laundering. But there was a vicar in Yorkshire who ha d his bank account closed for expression his opinion that banks shouldn't be promoting Pride. Considering some Christians believe LGBT to be against the bible I am shocked that religious beliefs aren't protected by law.

AnotherTownAnotherTrain · 19/07/2023 00:41

ConnieLinggusThe69th · 19/07/2023 00:28

@SalmonEile well fair enough but I don't know how long they've been open but have they ever felt the need to say that till 2023?

Or did nobody really care about what people thought enough if it wasn't what they were famous for if they didn't commit any horrendous acts before?

In case it's just recently opened and my example doesn't make the point I'm trying to express... Nigel Fartarse has his bank account shut down... women can't think men aren't women... you can't think anymore without the threat of being cancelled for thinking (or at least I feel we are moving towards that being the case)

Nigel Fartarse

I love it! 😀

maltravers · 19/07/2023 00:43

The lack of tolerance for different opinions is concerning. Also, I see within my teens’ peer group that they demonise what are often pretty minor aberrations and this seems to be used as a power play to target someone out of favour. There’s often a whiff of the Witch Hunt about it, pious denunciations included.

justinhawkinsnavalfluff · 19/07/2023 00:54

maltravers · 19/07/2023 00:43

The lack of tolerance for different opinions is concerning. Also, I see within my teens’ peer group that they demonise what are often pretty minor aberrations and this seems to be used as a power play to target someone out of favour. There’s often a whiff of the Witch Hunt about it, pious denunciations included.

That is spot on...Also it doesn't seem to be applied consistently...Morrisey is still played everywhere despite his questionable views.

NewNameNigel · 19/07/2023 00:59

I'm far from Nigel Farage's fan base but I do believe his bank shouldn't cancel his account because his values don't align with theirs

I'm pretty sure that it came out that it was shut down because he no longer enough money in there to reach their threshold and he tried to pretend it was his views to outrage people. Happy to be corrected if this isn't true though.

Middlelanehogger · 19/07/2023 01:00

I agree OP.

I just go about my day thinking my wrongthoughts without worrying about it though :)

Original poster
ConnieLinggusThe69th · 19/07/2023 01:07

NewNameNigel · 19/07/2023 00:59

I'm far from Nigel Farage's fan base but I do believe his bank shouldn't cancel his account because his values don't align with theirs

I'm pretty sure that it came out that it was shut down because he no longer enough money in there to reach their threshold and he tried to pretend it was his views to outrage people. Happy to be corrected if this isn't true though.

There's another thread in the feminism board on him, I think there's proof in it that thread Coutts lied and he isn't lying about it but see what you think

I'm just relieved I haven't done anything yet to be particularly known for and also sad about the fact that should I ever accomplish something (like being a brilliant author) my thoughts might fuck it up rn

OP posts:
NewNameNigel · 19/07/2023 01:08

ConnieLinggusThe69th · 19/07/2023 01:07

There's another thread in the feminism board on him, I think there's proof in it that thread Coutts lied and he isn't lying about it but see what you think

I'm just relieved I haven't done anything yet to be particularly known for and also sad about the fact that should I ever accomplish something (like being a brilliant author) my thoughts might fuck it up rn

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I literally just saw this! I hope for all of our sakes they are wrong.

araiwa · 19/07/2023 01:12

Who to believe.... Scummy liar grifter farage or scummy banks

Considering some Christians believe LGBT to be against the bible I am shocked that religious beliefs aren't protected by law.

I'm glad. They can fuck off