tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30598467.post6435220586963121493..comments2023-08-16T12:07:22.995+00:00Comments on The Daily (Maybe): Not boycotting those who will not boycottJim Jeppshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410387006098326671noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30598467.post-30049056678589962142010-03-16T13:32:40.203+00:002010-03-16T13:32:40.203+00:00I love this sentence you wrote:
"Blog wars o...I love this sentence you wrote:<br /><br />"Blog wars of this kind have nothing to do with real politics even when they work".<br /><br />At last someone who said it loud and clear. How refreshing. The real world, alas, could not care less about such "intra-blog" politics.claudehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11498799178450479883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30598467.post-88777955372761326072010-03-15T17:22:02.361+00:002010-03-15T17:22:02.361+00:00I agree. My issue with the boycott thing is that t...I agree. My issue with the boycott thing is that the focus is actually just trying to get one over on a Tory - which may be a worthy aim at other times but it is a misuse of anti-fascism and no platform.<br /><br />I think this boycott is a distraction at best from genuine anti-BNP activity.<br /><br />No platform is about combatting that normalisation - which is why I'm still in favour of it - but it is certainly harder now that all the news agencies have caved in, followed by most mainstream political figures.Jim Jeppshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17410387006098326671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30598467.post-23384315215469194962010-03-15T14:32:49.079+00:002010-03-15T14:32:49.079+00:00Surely the real issue is how we fight the normalis...Surely the real issue is how we fight the normalisation of the BNP?<br /><br />How else do we make the case that neofascism should not be normalised.<br /><br />The alternative is to roll over and accept the BNP as legitimate as the Greens, and that their philosophy and all that follows is legitimate as the Green's (which I don't accept).<br /><br />We need to keep the pressure up in delegitimising the BNPs' very existence and their views.ModernityBloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06354254639321208955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30598467.post-59541272212702872092010-03-14T12:27:49.034+00:002010-03-14T12:27:49.034+00:00I remember the day the Scottish Green Party confer...I remember the day the Scottish Green Party conference rejected no platform. It was about to go through until a passionate delegate from the Highlands protested that he would be denied the right to point out the fascists' flaws at hustings. His right to free speech required us not to go down that route, as, he argued, did the tactical arguments. <br /><br />I'm still convinced, although I would never do what Dale did and Question Time did and actually encourage them.James Mackenziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07707473889170111139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30598467.post-5533139653346642022010-03-14T01:20:04.250+00:002010-03-14T01:20:04.250+00:00Which is precisely why I said "The success of...Which is precisely why I said "The success of the boycott call will be judged by how much harm it does a Tory blogger even as it helps the BNP get its message out which, in reality, is a side issue to the call - which is a big part of why I don't trust this initiative."<br /><br />Scuppering the Total Politics awards is not 'a result' if it has increased the profile of the Nick Griffin interview, amplifying his voice. There is a complete lack of proportionality in this boycott.<br /><br />It neither helps contain the BNP nor does it increase the number of people who advocate no platform. Those are the only metrics of success that we should use when assessing an anti-fascist tactic.<br /><br />Anti-fascism is not a stick to beat the Tories, especially when it helps the BNP get their message out.Jim Jeppshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17410387006098326671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30598467.post-41703780873314383352010-03-14T00:32:43.449+00:002010-03-14T00:32:43.449+00:00Nobody is suggesting it is a principle to boycott ...Nobody is suggesting it is a principle to boycott those who give fascists a platform. It can, however, be an appropriate and effective tactic. In this instance it is fairly obvious why Total Politics is targeted: if lots of left-wing bloggers boycott the blog awards process, it scuppers those awards. It can therefore achieve a result, in a way that promoting a boycott of The Guardian or whoever else couldn't do.luna17https://www.blogger.com/profile/03754650933188634442noreply@blogger.com