Stroud brewery

[topcat2014]

Just mentioning this news story where two journalists had a private event cancelled at Stroud brewery.

You'd think that a councillor, and people running a business, would know that the only reason you can legally refuse to provide services etc to a holocaust denier is that holocaust denial is not WORIADS. Or, you know, they could ask a lawyer. Excellent example of Dunning Kruger - the very deficit that causes their ignorance robs them of the means to rectify it.

Idiots. I presume there’s legal action in the pipeline.

You can still leave a review for the establishment....on Facebook

Seems that a lot of people are stating the pub is notable for its anti-women stance.

Hopefully it will backfire for her too, silly woman.

So the original comment from the Brewery about cancelling the event is still on their Facebook, but they have obviously edited it because it no longer has the bit about the author's views...

I've got to say, I'm uncomfortable about leaving bad reviews for a small business who have fucked up in this manner. Some of them are under heavy pressure from TRAs and don't appreciate the position they're in.

Fair enough to comments on FB and X because the context is clear.

Honestly, I'd rather they just listened, apologised and did the right (lawful) thing.

I don't like cancel culture tbh. I'd rather persuade or make clear the law than run someone out of business.

They aren't helpless here. They've taken a business decision that is not only illegal but discriminatory.

They HAVE listened - to the TRAs, they've likely apologised to their upset staff, and they believe they are doing the right thing.

They've also boasted about their values.

Who is this magical "someone" who you think is going to help them come to some sense?

Asking people to stay silent or avoid mentioning the exclusionary stance isn't going to change a thing and will keep them fixed in their sense of rightness.

Agree @PersonIrresponsible are people now doing a “ohhh no dont actually make the brewery face the consequences of being twats” who were happy enough to cancel the authors and event in their pathetic self righteousness?

@PoppinjayPolly welcome to Stroud the sense of self righteousness and virtue signaling is in its DNA

That's probably because someone, their lawyer perhaps, has informed them that JB's 'views' are "grounded in fact and law".

To late, the internet never forgets, and I bet there are a million screen shots of them dropping themselves right in it. 😂

It seems almost even worse that they edited it. It is petulant and sneaky, and shows they never really believed it in the first place; or they'd stand by it. OR delete the whole thing and explain properly.

It's a shame you can no longer see the edit history on FB posts too but as pp say, there is no way to disappear on the internet.

(The only good thing would have been footage of them doing the edit. I bet it was tantrums ahoy!)

How disappointing. I’ve been there for food and it was lovely. I won’t be back now.

Yes, it does seem rather, erm, naive, to think they can just quietly edit out the bit where they admit to blatant discrimination and then everything will be fine. It actually draws more attention to the fact that they know they're in the wrong. They should have just deleted the whole thing.

Their laws have probably told them they have to withdraw that part to mitigate the damage. Then they can offer to hold it another time, again mitigate the damage as far as you can.

Why don't you drop them a line expressing how much you enjoyed the brewery, but how disappointed and compromised you now feel about it.

It is going to be excruciatingly difficult for them now. They imagined their core, and most likely vocal, constituency to be the local green mafia who they couldn't upset by hosting a "notoroius transphobe" - but they are now unexpectedly caught up in something much larger - which may also threaten their business.

This is going to be a minefield for businesses that don't take proper legal advice. And I don't like to see small business in trouble, but, unfortunately, it is going to require legal action and some businesses being made an example of before the message gets out that it is not ok to discriminate against those with GC views when TRAs kick off.

And I have seen some TRAs claiming that is is GC people, who talk about valuing free speech, who are being the bullies in this scenario by threatening legal action. Can they really not understand that suppressing lawful free speech that you disagree with is a problem for society? And that legal action is the only was to respond to this. Do they expect people to just accept being discriminated against? How quickly would they change their minds if a venue refused a booking by someone who believes in gender ideology? They can tell themselves that GC views are hateful and that we are all fascists all they like. It doesn't change the law.

None of this is helped of course by the abysmal stance the government is taking. Perhaps mounting legal action against businesses, who won't be happy with getting no direction from government on this issue, is the kick up the arse they need.

I don't think these people do think things through. They are caught up in group think and the need to signal virtue - as is every trans activist or purported ally. Imagined righteousness is all they are concerned with. It is really quite dystopian. Censorship really is the stuff of totalitarianism.

I’m local to Stroud and was in the middle of trying to draft a post about all of this but ItsCoolForCats has nailed it. And much more pithily than I would have managed.

All of this. With bells on.

This attitude is mirroring that of businesses fifty years ago who despite the Race Relations Acts being introduced still had signs reading "No Blacks. No Coloureds" because their customers didn't like rubbing shoulders with foreigners. Eventually they all complied with the law but it was grudging as they couldn't see what they were doing was wrong. Doubtless if social media had been a thing back then they would have been talking about wanting a safe environment for their customers.

Hi! Fellow-local here! And yes, agree with all that you say. So frustrating. I'm a leftie, progressive, tolerant, eco-mum, with loads of mates in Stroud Sisterhood. I'm beyond frustrated that they seem so quick to throw women, and lesbians, under a bus. Really feel I can't open my mouth around here. Feeling lonely, so just wanted to say hi!

@crackersancheese I know what you mean you can’t say anything on that FB group and there are so many hand maidens and complete lack of intelligence and critical thought ! Hello ❤️

@Parsley4321 @crackersancheese

Join WRN, if you haven't already. Meet like-minded local women from across the political spectrum, and have some fun too!

@BusyAzureTraybake whats that please

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