[Bones McCoy]

[mattomac]

My blood pressure has gone down markedly since I de-Twittered myself.

I certainly miss developments at times but then I realise do I even need to know every twist and turn? I've never ever had the desire to have BBC news push notifications to me, In fact considering news in general I don't particularly think thats healthy. I stick solely to sports and Whatsapp for that.

Probably the only one I actually missed recently was Norman Tebbitt's death and frankly I don't really care.

[Boiler]

Battery Sergeant Major Williams applies.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn5kp53yq3po

[soulboy]

Referring to the cancellation of a Hatey Katie show that Boiler links to above, Hopkins says

We can provide security

Tommeh and his boys? That always ends well.

[RedSparrows]

My blood pressure has gone down markedly since I de-Twittered myself.

I certainly miss developments at times but then I realise do I even need to know every twist and turn? I've never ever had the desire to have BBC news push notifications to me, In fact considering news in general I don't particularly think thats healthy. I stick solely to sports and Whatsapp for that.

Probably the only one I actually missed recently was Norman Tebbitt's death and frankly I don't really care.

I have almost all notifications turned off, across platforms, apps, services etc. Just leave me alone, and let me check myself.

Push notifications, alerts, flags, etc etc etc. Jog on.

That plus only going on Reddit and Bluesky (and here) keeps me far saner than before. I could do without the former two tbh, but we all have our vices.

[Tubby Isaacs]

Bluesky has become overloaded with gobshites, but nothing can be as bad as Twitter. Reddit is pretty self-selecting on any issue.

[davidjay]

I'm sure we're all surprised that the Union Jack dress girl (a 12 year old, remember) will be giving her speech at the next Tommy Ten-Names roadshow.

[Boiler]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c70rgkrr6rpo

Cue the victimhood of the protesters...

[Boiler]

An article mentioning the current protests against asylum-seekers, and how the protestors are styling themselves as "concerned citizens" - https://eastangliabylines.co.uk/lifesty ... concerned/

[mattomac]

The original protests came in the aftermath of the Southport attack which had no relation to asylum seekers in hotels. Also why now?

[Andy McDandy]

School holidays, bored teenagers hanging around, parents suddenly 'concerned' about what their kids are doing and where they're hanging out, nice weather, no real sport (i.e. men's football) on the telly, lack of other news elevates refugee coverage in media, creating impression of greater importance, go start a riot.

[Boiler]

The original protests came in the aftermath of the Southport attack which had no relation to asylum seekers in hotels. Also why now?

From the BBC:

Unrest began in Epping - a town near the M25 in west Essex - after allegations were made about an asylum seeker living at The Bell Hotel.

Hadush Kebatu was charged with sexual assault, harassment and inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity on 7 and 8 July.

During a hearing at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on 17 July, it was said he arrived in the UK via a boat on 29 June.

The 41-year-old denied the offences and was remanded in custody ahead of a two-day trial from 26 August.

The first protest took place on 13 July and was followed by similar demonstrations on 17 and 20 July.

[davidjay]

An article mentioning the current protests against asylum-seekers, and how the protestors are styling themselves as "concerned citizens" - https://eastangliabylines.co.uk/lifesty ... concerned/

You missed "excellent" as the second word.

[Boiler]

Apologies....

[Boiler]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8739w8py4jo

French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte have filed a defamation lawsuit against right-wing influencer Candace Owens, who claims that France's first lady was born male.

The suit, filed Wednesday in the US state of Delaware, said Owens has been spreading "outlandish, defamatory, and far-fetched fictions".

Owens has regularly repeated the claims on her popular podcast and social media channels, and in March 2024 stated that she would stake her "entire professional reputation" on her belief that Mrs Macron "is in fact a man".

Owens is married to George Farmer, a British-American entrepreneur and the son of Baron Michael Farmer, a House of Lords peer and former Conservative Party treasurer who has distanced himself from some of Owens' views.

[davidjay]

A few other politicians should start suing as well.

[Youngian]

Under the traditional Engish libel law standard of 'lowering your reputation in the eyes of right minded people,' a lawyer for Candace Owen could mount a defence that right minded people don't take any notice of this silly person. A lawyer could easily produce all sorts of nonsense to demonstrate just how ridiculous she is. No one who's been called a reptile by David Icke has taken him to court.

[Boiler]

However, the papers were filed in Delaware and American laws on defamation are very different to those in the UK, not least because of the First Amendment: the BBC article says that in order for the action to succeed "[...]the Macrons will have to prove 'actual malice' – meaning that the defendant knew the information was false, but published or broadcast it anyway."

There's the difference to English defamation law - the burden of proof is on the Macrons, not on Owens. I don't know how things have changed under the Defamation Act 2013 compared to the 1996 Act, but the 2013 Act was introduced to reduce the amount of "libel tourism" that England was becoming notorious for. I think even South Park referenced it once where a character shouted "I'm gonna sue you... in England!"

IANAL an'all that.

[Tubby Isaacs]

School holidays, bored teenagers hanging around, parents suddenly 'concerned' about what their kids are doing and where they're hanging out, nice weather, no real sport (i.e. men's football) on the telly, lack of other news elevates refugee coverage in media, creating impression of greater importance, go start a riot.

Also, Epping has always had a far right presence. The BNP won some council seats in Loughton/Debden.

I'm sure things were pretty bad in Llanelli, but they'd be a lot worse in Epping, all things being equal.

[davidjay]

I'll be pleasantly surprised if we make it to September without riots. The only advantage we have this time is that it'll be expected.