National Library of Scotland censors The Women Who Wouldn't Wheesht

[OhBuggerandArse]

Took it out of their centenary exhibition because the staff LGBT+ network kicked up a fuss. Craven. This really needs massive public challenge and push back - if the National Library isn't able to fend off the censors we are utterly lost. https://x.com/EthelWrites/status/1955390550494023958

Yes but so will their bosses and at a more senior level. Generally contacts with stakeholders mirrors the hierarchy of an organisation so the Board members will know each other, the CEOs will know each other, senior managers will know each other. 20 something activist staff will generally be in contact with their equivalents elsewhere so why don't their actual bosses tell them to get back in their box?

remember when hatchette young activist staff kicked off about JKR? They were told they couldn't refuse to work on her books and if they didn't like it other jobs are available

why do these tough senior ppl crumple so easily

All this publicity is working well sales wise... people love banned books.

Lucy Hunter Blackburn

It looks like Amazon's stock of the paperback has sold out in the last few days. Other formats (hardback, audiobook and Kindle) still available. Paperback still available on Waterstones site - and in shops! https://waterstones.com/book/the-women-who-wouldnt-wheesht/susan-dalgety/lucy-hunter-blackburn/9781408720721/

I’ve just bought the hardcover.

Fuck you, National Library of Scotland!

Oh, that is very good news.

Amina didn’t seem to think that library sponsors with views on biological sex /free speech existed and that their views are important too.

How bad does the NLS want to look in this? Are they going to put the demands of some tantrumming and highly prejudiced staff over a donor that funds apprenticeships among other things?

The NLS is a non-departmental government body.

Income last year of over £22 million.

https://www.oscr.org.uk/about-charities/search-the-register/charity-details?number=SC011086

Oh wow. I feel for you having to work in an environment that is so hostile to your views. I hope you are part of the underground network and have support that way. Maybe you could all organise an ‘uprising’ at some point?

Oh dear, get out of bed the wrong side again Bee?

The Women Who Wouldn’t Wheesht was a Sunday Times Bestseller btw 👍 hug you keep telling yourself that.

'The book now being treated as too high-risk for a National Library of Scotland exhibition is a best-seller from a major publisher, well-reviewed, contains current and former mainstream party elected politicians, among others...

Could we just stop and notice how mad this is?'

Lucy Hunter Blackburn

x.com/LucyHunterB/status/1956494112347111817

You would think after the NHS Fife ET, where line managers had to justify their previous actions not only to a judge, but to a very interested public, that people would be a bit more wary of what they say and do!

Think about it as well - this is a book about a fairly niche subject (Scottish public institutions and Government - even as a Scot, I can't imagine there are many triple best sellers on this subject!) which is now selling out mostly due to the footstamping of organisational activists and those on social media, including on here. It's brought enormous amounts of public attention.

'You raging, aye?' 😆

Exactly. About as mad as staff setting up a ‘safe room’ to protect themselves from Deputy FM Kate Forbes.

I'm trying to picture it - did they lock themselves in? Did they fill it with beanbags, comforting trans flags and earplugs do they could risk hearing her voice as she passed in the corridor?

What would have happened if she’d KNOCKED ON THE DOOR…

Will they grow up one day and be mightily embarrassed at how carried away they got?

I can’t get over how all these people at the top of Scottish institutions can be so stupid and blinkered as to think everyone holds their idiotic beliefs. The Scottish people I know well (including relatives) are sensible people who have no time for this bullshit.

I'm imagining Kate Forbes wandering around Summerhall like the penguin in the film Gregory's Girl for some reason 😆

https://thecritic.co.uk/the-national-library-of-scotland-is-a-national-embarrassment/

Excellent article here.

'As a rule though, the establishment — especially governments — exists to be criticised, lampooned or, at the very least, scrutinised. In Scotland though, not only do our cultural tastemakers avoid offending the SNP establishment, they tend to act as its promotional mouthpiecee. This is not just sinister, it’s embarrassing. Frankly, if you are someone who loves provocative, truth-hungry art, and cares fiercely about freedom of expression and genuine diversity, Scotland feels a mortifying place to live at the moment.'
...
'this book has pulled the mask off the face of the establishment — not just Sturgeon, but the once-proud cultural institutions of Scotland that have sold their souls and, consequently, become national disgraces.'

100%

https://archive.ph/OM0MV

'Back to Scotland’s self-identifying ‘newspaper’, which has planted itself at the centre of a row over the delisting of a gender critical book from a national library exhibition. ... The Times ran the initial story, titled ‘censorship row as library bans gender-critical book’. The National then took it upon themselves to claim this wasn’t true – insisting the National Library had ‘debunked’ accusations of censorship. But Scotland’s only pro-independence newspaper doesn’t appear to have examined the facts all that thoroughly – and has even been accused of defamation over its piece.'

Steerpike in the Spec.

Even more people lining up to beclown themselves.
Why are they all so hellbent on destroying their credibility and reputations? It’s like a lemming mind virus at this point.

That story last week made me laugh so much at the utter hyperbole and ridiculousness. Honestly they are like tantrum toddlers.

Good luck @VoleForceOne for next week at work, my work, also public sector in Scotland, is also completely mad on this but I'm starting to get braver in pushing back. The EDI team, the LGBT network and their "allies" have been bullying people for too long now.

I'm thinking two copies of 'Frankly' 😁

It's absolutely embarrassing.

We used to be known (as a nation) as take no shit, acerbic straight talkers.

Now we've got greeting faced weans, clutching their blankies in a safe room, too scared at the mere sight of a woman with a different view.

There are many reasons to be embarrassed (as well as hugely proud and grateful) to be Scottish at the moment. I thought I’d become used to our peculiar Scottish brand of batshittery but I have to say this one left me feeling like I needed a duvet day!

I think if one is able to stand up then now is a good time to do so.

If we don't then we can continue to expect this nonsense going forward.

The more of us who are able to take a stand the better. Doesn't need to be much. A single line email can help give an indication to the NLS that they are failing to represent the views of readers and the Scottish public.

And tbh, one doesn't even need to agree with 'gender critical' views to see the issues here.

Primarily this is a freedom of speech & belief issue - whether partisan political views should be suppressed and/or promoted by non-departmental government bodies.

They never fail to excel themselves 🤣

At least you can enjoy your duvet day safe in the knowledge you will never wake up and realise that you’ve been such a grade A numpty - in public!