I see The Herald were forced to reconsider Martin William’s hasty article, posted first online last night but now amended, where they repeat an erroneous claim that in 2001 Celtic claimed the word ‘hun’ is sectarian. The current version of the article makes no such reference.
Much of what remains of the article is a random collection of quotes, appeals and one assertion by Williams that “Celtic warned fans they can no longer call Rangers fans ‘h***’ 14 years ago”, which appears to be based on a quote by then club employee John Cole’s etiquette requirement for a forum he administered.
This is a classic manipulative argument technique (and by classic I mean the ancient Greeks first identified it). Take a statement by someone, for example:
The word f*** is not allowed on CQN, because the administrator acknowledged that it “can cause offence”.
Ignore the fact that the same administrator would never dream of chastising someone for using the word away from the blog, as the word is not inherently offensive as it does not, for example, offend at a comedy show.
State that some people believe the word to be inherently offensive in itself, or worse.
Build momentum for your argument by reminding readers that CQN’ers have been warned they can no longer use it, without issuing any caveats to the context.
Then allow your tenuous references to dovetail into an argument.
It’s an absurd and driven technique for the hard of thinking. It is also patently transparent.
Celtic picked this matter up at the time of first publication and are considering their position in relation to various items published yesterday.
As a friend said last night, “What a sad little country”.
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Morning all (for me anyway)
Livibhoy – an interesting alternative view on “What a sad little country we live in.”
There are many and varied ways to measure the greatness/sadness of a country.
(Don’t start me on ‘proud’ Americans who only seem to want regime change in every country, including their own – by any means!)
My personal criteria…
1. How well are the most vulnerable and least powerful people in any given country actually treated?
2. How readily do “other citizens” step up/in to protect or speak up for those who are being subjected to intolerance/unfairness/discrimination/media abuse?
We can speak up for ourselves as much as we want, but where are the regular men and women in the street in this “sad little country” – who deplore the distortion and manipulation by the media, the corruption, collusion and cronyism in some institutions, and the pervasiveness of a culture of Scottishness that is out of step with anything I have pride in.
When the discrimination around doesn’t apply to you AND you still step up to protest it.
That is not a sad, little country.
Just saying.
Tamsons Bairns CSC
It’s a sad sad situation but I’m reluctant to talk it over. It certainly is getting more and more absurd.
The way I see it is that the RST statement was written by a hun for a hun audience. I doubt anyone outside their deluded sectarian bubble would even be interested in reading it. The only danger I can see is if outsiders were to consume it as fact. However, I doubt they would read it in any great numbers and most would surely be wise enough to treat it as the garbage it is.
I love Scotland.
I love Celtic.
I cannae stand politics.
Gonnae geez peace?
Haw, Giggsy!!! Don’t dis Fools and Horses by associating it with the HUN shambles!!
Apart from both being comedy gold of course.
HH
triggersbroomcsc
It’s international week intit?
The week when CQN goes all around the country and the world to find issues to fall out over.
Usually entertaining.
The HUNS are to Scottish society what ISIS are to Islam.
Hamiltontim. The Country is fine some of the folk who live in it are very iffy. H.H.
Syd negakev
The hint is that Chris Graham is the author.
The problem is when msm pick it up and run with it making it real.
Only what we focus on is real at any given moment.
So Speirs heading into BBC Scotland radio to talk about it this morning keeps up and indeed widens the focus, making the issue even more real in people’s minds.
Next week it will no longer have the same focus as this. In effect no longer be real.
RWE
It’s Paul’s blog and he can say what he likes but I certainly disagree that Scotland is a sad little country.
I understand it is a kneejerk frustration though most of us have muttered or typed it at some point. I was surprise dit was on the main article though.
I have said my piece on it.
LB
coolmore mafia
12:15 on 25 March, 2015
‘It’s just my belief, but I think that it will take a radical change away from unionist westminster politics to slowly ‘cure’ Scotland of it’s latent sectarianism, and it will take decades.’
###
So how come Scotland has a problem with ‘latent sectarianism’ in the first place?
Are the English to blame?
Or could the Scots themselves claim responsibility?
… tis sad indeed.
But in the bigger picture of living / dying / surviving / incurable diseases / wars / plagues / famines / air crashes…. etc, etc.
Is it worth giving them the oxygen?
My POTY so far would be Broonie.
Hamiltontim
12:22 on
25 March, 2015
It cannae be that bad a country.
________________________
Looks ok from around 2.5 thousand kilometers away. -))))
HT-Ditto with Gordon,Izzy and Johansen not far behind
Livibhoy
Agree with all of that.
It is a better country than many, as far as I can tell, but at times I feel let down by what transpires in it.
Another barometer for the health of a country might be the real independence of it’s media..
..but that is another can of worms.
HH
with all these * going about I thought Ramgers had redirected and won another 10 titles.
coolmore mafia
12:18 on
25 March, 2015
Bawsman – your a British Nationalist – we get it.
=========================================
I generally don’t have an issue with labels, Scot, Brit, European, unionist, Republican, socialist……….Nationalist give me the creeps though, you quickly go from nationalist to police powers increasing, civil rights being curbed, demonising neighbours/individuals……….never happen eh?
Resurrected . Damn auto correct.
Hamiltontim
My POTY so far would be Broonie.
Jo Hansen for me up till now.
HT Johanson for me too
Broonie for me
I have a thought gnawing away that Jo Hansen is a bit of a wimp when it comes to tackles, he runs in as if he is going to clatter the opposition player only to wimp out,
Broonie doesn’t know how to wimp out of a tackle..
I love Jo Hansens energy so much that I oft refer to him as the duracell bunny
Hamiltontim:
Great minds.
I have Broonie as the POTY by 500 country miles.
HH
The Herald has a long list of people who economise with facts….
One reason I stopped buying it.. Many of these so called journos inhabit twitter..they spout forth there too…
HH
Craig Gordon
Burgas
What’s that in miles? :-)
Bada
All of your mentions would be up there too but I think Broonie’s leadership has shone through this season so he’d edge it for me.
Someone is doing something right when we have many worthy candidates for POTY.
Johansen just edges Broony for me,Jason D has to be a shoe in for YPOTY
sandman
12:31 on 25 March, 2015
The HUNS are to Scottish society what ISIS are to Islam.
———————————————————-
Is that not being a tad hard on ISIS?
The worst thing about this sad wee country is the weather.
Followed in a close 2nd place by many in the sporting media.
An undisputed 3rd place belongs to huns.
Although nothing can be done about the first, plenty can be & is being done about the 2nd. Switch off or don’t buy.
The 3rd makes me smile.
Their team popped its clogs.
The reincarnation is pish.
They don’t have the money or intelligence
to alter this state of affairs.
Smile. Be happy.Enjoy life as much as possible. Especially be thankful we’re not them. HH
Backtoworkcsc
Craig Gordon
HH
BT
I complete agree about what you say about Johansen not tackling. However, I think that’s a more continental style of play where they focus on closing down the space and the player without actually tackling.
Kit
Fools etc
Hope you’re well sir.
right from the start of this omnishambles when the original rangers keeled over and died we were mostly in agreement that Celtic as a club should say nowt and keep our powder dry . I dont think we can do so for much longer . I keep wondering what if , we had met the SFA full on at the start of all this “same club etc etc” mince and expose it for what it was/is . Would we still be getting all this s@it from every angle ? We are an easy target as we as a club dont say very much and rarely defend ourselves . I would like Celtic to be real leaders of Scottish football acting with honesty and for not only our interests but the interests of all other clubs who play by the rules . Scottish football needs dragged into the 21st century and I think Celtic should be very vocal about whats wrong with the game up here, get other clubs on board and cleanse this SFA/SPFL. As for the media , would like to see Celtic challenge them more often, hope this is Celtic taking the kid gloves off, though probably not. I would love PL to make a clever statement ( that he cannot be sued for !!!!) implying that Celtic fans would be mad to buy the red tops !!! It still saddens me that many Celtic fans still give money to these “journalists” when in reality they would love to see us die
The Nominations for POTY are..
Brown
Johansen
Gordon
Open that golden envelope will ye
And just when it seems things couldnt get crazier,Ronaldo could be looking at a suspension for his Calm Down celebration in front of the Barca fans as it could be deemed provocative…..really……Spain huh,what a sad little country…….
Johansen would be hard to beat as POTY , but Broonie would be a close second and Bitton would defo be in the top 4 for me, makes a cucumber look sweaty.
HUNS.