I’ve deliberately stepped away from facebook in recent weeks for a variety of reasons, many of which relate to the behaviour of certain individuals which has embarrassed and saddened me. In recent days when I have been back on, I’ve not just been saddened but disgusted but some of the comments I’ve seen on facebook regarding tomorrow’s referendum, particularly by (a minority of) London-centric friends who have no direct link to Scotland and who are basing their opinions on what has widely been accepted (by Yes and No supporters, and by a raft of other countries) to be a biased media. I’m not going to respond to any comments or posts or anything relating to #indyref on facebook (as I haven’t previously), but I am considering whether I want to be associated with certain individuals in the future. Absolutely not because of their political views (my facebook friends range from communists to UKIP supporters), but because of the sheer bile that has been spouted and encouraged over the last few days and weeks. My office is divided, my household is divided and my family is divided over tomorrow’s vote: but each and every one of us respects democracy and I’m so proud to have had so many interesting and challenging, impassioned discussions about the future recently. There is a sense of hope in Scotland right now that I have never felt associated with a political process before. 97% of the eligible electorate has registered to vote tomorrow. The Highland Council, for example, has already received over 90% of all their registered postal votes. All of this is huge, and it’s something which Scotland’s electorate have taken very seriously, on both sides. Condescending, dismissive and belittling comments and jokes at the expense of individuals add nothing to the debate. This world (as wonderful as it is) is already sad enough without more nastiness and mockery at the expense of others, simply because you disagree with them. So if I do drift away from some of you in the coming days, it’s not because I don’t want an intelligent, informed debate: it’s because I’m not sure any more that you’re capable of that. And this, to me, is one of the two saddest things to come out of what should have been (and still is, for the most part) a positive, democratic process.
Posted on: Wed, 17 Sep 2014 11:55:25 +0000