Southport, riots and classism on MN - middle class woman started the rumours

[twodowntwotogo]

One aspect of MN that I find tiresome and upsetting is the classism, for example describing someone's taste as 'chavvy', and then the multiple posts characterising the riots as not happening in 'nice' places, and the rioters as uneducated, oiks, etc.

Today the Times is carrying an article about the instigator of the unrest:
'The woman accused of being first to post a false Muslim name for the suspect is the managing director of a clothing company. The mother of three in her mid-fifties enjoys walking, is married to an artist and counts an actor among her children. The family live in a £1.5 million farmhouse in the rural north.'

Non-paywall version here: <a class="break-all" href="https://archive.ph/2024.08.07-184043/www.thetimes.com/uk/crime/article/mother-of-three-sparked-havoc-with-false-claim-about-southport-suspect-bd6kkzgpn#selection-2207.0-2207.307" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://archive.ph/2024.08.07-184043/www.thetimes.com/uk/crime/article/mother-of-three-sparked-havoc-with-false-claim-about-southport-suspect-bd6kkzgpn#selection-2207.0-2207.307

So AIBU to want MN posters to dial down the classism and stop jumping to conclusions and understand that Farage and BoJo and countless other middle/upper class people may not be out on the streets setting bins on fire, but often provide the spark through inflammatory speech?

Luckily for her they have whites-only towns and the gun laws are more liberal there so she will be right at home.

Here's another one.🙄

https://metro.co.uk/2024/08/07/tory-councillors-wife-arrested-saying-set-fire-migrant-hotels-21375410/

Is this sarcasm, or is this pp totally lacking in self awareness? I thought this thread was about how we shouldn't be attributing particular behaviour to a particular class.

Are you saying the riots weren't in deprived places and didn't involve largely working class white men?

If you did recognise the part that deprivation plays in riotous behaviour and racism, where people who are deprived of opportunity have their anger focused on others who are disadvantaged you might come to conclusions about embedded and widening inequality that might serve your argument better.

And ‘middle class’ can sometimes verge on a term of abuse on here.

This heartbreaking story is why we need to ensure the instigators and agitators of these riots face serious consequences. While these keyboard warriors are busy stirring up discontent, it’s deeply vulnerable people like Stacey Vint who pay the price.

www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/aug/11/rioting-swift-justice-real-motivations-behind-uk-rampage

More sentencing today:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/clyg90d4d14t?post=asset%3Af8f5a5ac-5089-4be2-9360-33d38ef16e25#post

Let's hope they are tough on them. Apologists suggests what harm is a burning bin etc. However, a burning bin in a hotel has the potential to kill people and cannot be excused as a little error.

The ones who spread hatred online and instigate then stand back and watch really need dealing with in a youth no nonsense manner. Usually cowardly scumbags who share misinformation and incite hatred hide away

That Tory Councillor is at the Crown Court for what? She has not admitted her charge has she? I assume she can say not guilty still

Nothing new.

Divide and rule.

It's served the elite very well for many centuries.

And still so many of us don't see it.

Which, again, serves the rich and powerful very well.

Keep us at each others throats about pennies while they hoard all the pounds.

Never fails them, does it?

The far more interesting issue is what’s happening with men across both the UK and US. They’re not just blaming migrants, they’re blaming women.

Absolutely. This particular woman and other suspected instigators should be held responsible to the full extent that the law allows for her/their role and actions. But let's not lose sight of the fact that even IF the Southport killer HAD had a Muslim-sounding name and/or was a Muslim, the reasonable and "normal" (and legal) response is not to go out and riot, physically attack police and bystanders, and pull local people's houses and shops down to get materiel to throw at other people. Nor is it a reasonable response to target random Muslims. There's a lot more wrong here than some presentable suburban Mum shitposting on social media.

I needed to read this today - I've spent the last month scratching my head and thinking, why can't people see it. Thankfully, there are others out there that do, so I can't be entirely crazy. The ugly classism on here is startling. Society has never been more fragmented and broken.

@IncompleteSenten
Do you think there should be a revolution?

Is the middle class woman who lied about the murderer one of the elite? Or one of those being manipulated by the elite?

"Northampton: Lucy Connolly, the wife of Tory councillor Raymond Connolly, is expected to appear at Northampton Crown Court today. She's charged with one count of publishing written material to stir up racial hatred"

She can plead not guilty as anyone can.

Off with their heads sort of thing?

Never going to happen.

Off with their heads sort of thing?
Never going to happen

You never know…..

I expect a not guilty plea. Presumably since she faces prison; it will be interesting to see if her social status plays into the coverage versus your average keyboard warrior

I agree. Will she be treated lightly compared to the others, will be interesting to see.

She's a millionnaire South African businesswoman with a long history of race baiting and promoting conspiracy theories on twitter. She was banned, but re-instated when Musk took over and currently has 50k followers. She has also made appearances on GB News.

She is not the poor naive housewife who posted something by accident that she is being portrayed as.

Thanks for the clarification. I note that the guy who was jailed for 38 months for tweeting 'satirically' the same thing she did is being talked about on twitter as if there weren't also several other tweets he made about getting a car with no number plates and gloves in order to go burn down an immigrant hotel.

It seems some people are painting a picture of it not being safe now to tweet anything in case you get arrested. I wonder why they are lying?

Expect a lot of sobbing, outstanding member of the community stuff. However look at what she said! People do not want to believe that “nice” women think stuff like this.