Ash Sarkar - twitter really is grim

[Xanthangum]

The story is in the papers now: www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/reading-stabbings-muslim-journalist-death-22227933

I'm diametrically opposed to Ash's views on some issues. But this is quite clearly a) racist bullying, b) misogynistic bullying and c) people using a very horrible incident to unleash their own prejudiced vile viewpoints.

Yes the photo was taken at 5:24pm, it obviously was not taken at 10pm from the fact of daylight.

When she took the photo the attacks had not happened.

When she posted it 4 hours, 40 minutes later, they were headline news.

I find it difficult to believe Ash Sarkar didn't know at 10 pm of attacks that happened at 7pm. I'm assuming she is probably glued to her phone and it will have news feeds /what's trending popping up.

I don't know what her motives were in posting a rather silly photograph of herself sucking an ice lolly (beyond of course her obvious egotism and narcissism) or what the significance of adding 3 oranges was. Any thoughts anyone on that? She made a conscious decision to add them- why?

It does seem to me spectacularly tone deaf to have posted a picture of herself enjoying a nice day out in the park at that time.

Very clearly she did not take the photo planning to use it to take the piss out of a terrorist attack.

Any thoughts anyone on that? She made a conscious decision to add them- why?

Because the lolly was orange flavoured.

FWIW I think you're right shoots. It fits perfectly with her persona as well.

WTF is going on with this thread?

No I didn't. I said that was one possibility.

No, you said: My money is on 'she knew what would happen, it did, and it's feeding her brand very nicely'

The words you use mean you reckon that's what happened, not that you are presenting it as merely a possibility. If you now want to backtrack, great, because it really is a very bad look to suggest a woman who's now experiencing rape and death threats orchestrated the whole thing for attention. But you wrote what you wrote.

As a journalist very active on social media the chance was exceedingly small. Put it that way.

But you didn't put it that way. This new statement is moving the goalposts: you said there was no chance, not a small chance. Although you're still reaching.

DuDuDuLangaLangaBingBong

Any thoughts anyone on that? She made a conscious decision to add them- why?

Because the lolly was orange flavoured

Is she 10 years old?

Why choose to post a picture of her having a nice day out in a park 3 hours after a horrific attack in a park?

She did not deserve death threats. Questioning her utter tone deafness and crass behaviour on the other hand was legitimate.

And her bike has orange wheels and an orange saddle.

*PrincessConsuelaVaginaHammock

Indeed, and this is frankly starting to sound like some of the JK Rowling apologism. We condemn violence against women, of course we do, and some of the comments crossed the line but well, she was behaving rather badly wasn't she? Some of these women they just make it up for attention. And they bring it on themselves.

exactly. I support JKR and on this issue I also support AS*

Same.

I don't know what her motives were in posting a rather silly photograph of herself sucking an ice lolly (beyond of course her obvious egotism and narcissism) or what the significance of adding 3 oranges was

She likes orange ice lollies. Pictures like this are very normal on instagram and twitter.

It does seem to me spectacularly tone deaf to have posted a picture of herself enjoying a nice day out in the park at that time.

Because she didn't think it was inappropriate. You may think she was insensitive and tone deaf, but that doesn't mean that she was trying to send any message other than 'It was a sunny day. I like orange ice lollies'.

@TheProdigalKittensReturn

WTF is going on with this thread?

Fuck knows.

It’s definitely gone toxic. Funnily enough, the people attacking Sarkar are the ones who usually attack us for being ‘transphobes’ iirc.

TheProdigalKittensReturn

WTF is going on with this thread?

What ? Questioning Sarkar's behaviour? I hadn't realised the timing. I don't believe for one minute she didn't know about the attacks. Posting that picture was tone- deaf, crass and insensitive.

@TheProdigalKittensReturn

WTF is going on with this thread?

Basically, some posters are borrowing the language of rape apologists to caveat condemnation of death and rape threats to a woman they do not like. And here was me thinking the posters insisting on regaling us all with their views on photos of shorts and lollies were a pain in the arse.

I dunno, maybe she'd had a nice afternoon and evening out and about and off social media and hadn't checked the news yet?

@TheProdigalKittensReturn

WTF is going on with this thread?

I know, genuinely shocked, I’m most shocked at how many people are saying she shouldn’t be able to wear shorts as a professional!!!

It seems if something bad happens and you have any form of fun or enjoyment on that same day you’re insensitive. Lets hope no one has taken a nice photo during lockdown!

Because she didn't think it was inappropriate. You may think she was insensitive and tone deaf, but that doesn't mean that she was trying to send any message other than 'It was a sunny day. I like orange ice lollies'

Then she's an idiot. I don't see any problem with someone pointing out that it was a crass, stupid thing to post.

Basically, some posters are borrowing the language of rape apologists to caveat condemnation of death and rape threats to a woman they do not like

Nothing of the sort. There is a huge distinction between saying that was a crass and insensitive post and death threats.

I dunno, maybe she'd had a nice afternoon and evening out and about and off social media and hadn't checked the news yet?

Sarkar lives by the media. I don't believe for one minute at the point at 10 pm when she posted on twitter she was unaware of the attacks.

The death threats are wrong. The fact they were made do not mean any criticism of Sarkar is off limits.

It’s definitely gone toxic. Funnily enough, the people attacking Sarkar are the ones who usually attack us for being ‘transphobes’ iirc.

Eh? Sarkar posts batshit nonsense about Julie Bindel being a transphobe who has done nothing for women in prison.

twitter.com/ayocaesar/status/1053248532377976832

The men offering up rape threats etc. to her are not the sort of people that call Mumsnet transphobes, they are right-wing men.

This is distinguished from the left-wing men who offer up rape threats to JK Rowling because she might not think men can be women.

Commonality is both are men.

But observing that Sarkar is tone-deaf and/or trolling was something first pointed out by a woman, as I said.

That doesn't make the rape threats acceptable, but we should deconstruct this just a little, in that Sarkar is getting positive media coverage about the nasty right-wing men sending her rape threats, whereas JK Rowling got weeks of 'authors quit agency', 'JK Rowling a transphobe', 'Daniel Radcliffe says JK Rowling a witch' [or whatever] , etc., and nobody really covered her being told to choke on my she-cock or whatever.

There is a wider narrative here.

@DidoLamenting

Because she didn't think it was inappropriate. You may think she was insensitive and tone deaf, but that doesn't mean that she was trying to send any message other than 'It was a sunny day. I like orange ice lollies'

Then she's an idiot. I don't see any problem with someone pointing out that it was a crass, stupid thing to post.

You state that opinion very unequivocally for someone who's been sure to make clear their lack of familiarity with the behavioural norms of the generation being talked about.

I know, genuinely shocked, I’m most shocked at how many people are saying she shouldn’t be able to wear shorts as a professional!!!

Nobody actually said that.

And that is right-wing misogynists are bad, but left-wing misogyny is just fine if it's towards a woke cause.

@ShootsFruitAndLeaves

And that is right-wing misogynists are bad, but left-wing misogyny is just fine if it's towards a woke cause.

Absolutely none of the feminist posters on this board believe that, so who are you addressing?

If it’s The Guardian, or Sarkar, you’d be better off writing directly.

But observing that Sarkar is tone-deaf and/or trolling was something first pointed out by a woman, as I said

The call out was made by a gender critical woman. The post by Sarkar was tone- deaf, crass and insensitive. There is nothing wrong in pointing that out. The defences on here of "oh well that's just what her generation are like" are feeble. Maybe Sarkar should have thought twice before posting it.

Since any criticism of Sarkar is now being twisted into support for death threats I suppose I had better post again that of course the threats are not acceptable.

The post by Sarkar was tone- deaf, crass and insensitive.

Only if you think every other person in the UK who posted something mundane and happy that evening, is also tone-deaf, crass and insensitive. That is quite a high bar.

The call out was made by a gender critical woman.

Was it now?