Yesterday
Yesterday, first-hand, I saw Twitter achieve two apparent results for civility. In the morning, I posted a tweet drawing attention to an online report of a tube official seemingly humiliating an elderly passenger who had his arm caught in a door. A little while later I RTd (‘re-tweeted’: passed on) Charlie Broker’s strongly-worded thoughts on Jan Moir’s unpleasant article of dailymailia. The latter was then picked up by Stephen Fry, and by the end of the day it had gained such widespread awareness that both stories had made the evening news. The tube official was investigated under pressure from Boris Johnson and received a suspension, and Moir issued a statement saying she was a victim of an orchestrated campaign.
Moir’s interpretation was wrong, and betrays a misguided notion about the nature of Twitter and similar forms of networking. There is no orchestration – just the rapid spread of information. Tweets (posts) are passed on, word gets around, and when a Twitter giant like Stephen Fry mentions it, a million people hear and many pass it on themselves. The response to Moir’s article came from areas much further than the Twittersphere, and although the accusation made was one of homophobia, her critics were not defined by sexuality. Ads were withdrawn from her online article, a strong critical voice was heard, and the Daily Mail became mortal for half a day. If the Mail exists to motivate the small-minded complaining communities of outraged middle England, for once it had a clear voice of outrage hurled back at it.
I hope that the tube official was fairly investigated and deserves his suspension. And that the complaints lodged against Moir have a worthwhile effect. As vast numbers shun print and turn to the net for their news, yesterday sounded an interesting note: an infamous newspaper held to account by a sharp, informed, conscientious public. It may even be a first. I did not know Gately, but there was time when he feared the press ‘outing’ him. If his passing has caused this familiar form of mawkish, snide journalism to be held to account, then perhaps we could see that as a tribute to him. And to the astonishing impact of Twitter, and the shared decency of its users.
DBx
HURRAH FOR US!
Boo for homophobes and evil tube station men. Boo on you.
Your article is almost poetic and deeply provoking.
It warms me when humanity of all genders, ages, beliefs and backgrounds come together as one voice against this kind of discriminating and insensitive behaviour.
I do believe the Daily Mail were right to print it; she has the right to say what she likes.
But we have the right to remove her from post and pride.
Once a power for good, the Daily Mail will surely die; the true symbol of facism.
They have another article on twitter twits today an obvious riposte, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1220989/Twitter-twits-But-biggest-celebrity-twitterers-internet.html all they do is try to dampen the value of twitter to make it seem trivial so they continue to get away with anything.
The mass of people commenting about how horrific Moir’s article was on twitter made me feel quite proud (:
I think both are examples of a wonderful new age in information technology. Previously these articles and incidents would never of been recorded and spread across networking sites and blogs and public pressure never applied because these incidents never received the light of day in the news.
Hopefully this will be a new age in media and information technology and that for once, perhaps, people will start being held accountable for their inappropriate behaviour.
Well done on being one of the whistleblowers.
The Moir column, according to tweets, according to Radio 5 Live, is the most complained about article, ever; she’s been reported to police for inciting hatred; and the Mail “accidentally” deleted the comments from the article in question, before Twitter forced them to put them back…
Hear hear 🙂
Derren, Did you actually read the article, or simply RT?
Because frankly (although I am a fan of yourself & Stephen) you are guilty of nothing less than inciting a mob. A virtual mob nonetheless, but a mob all the same.
With many followers comes great power. And if you have that power you should study your emissions more closely. Both of you.
I applaud your actions WRT the Tube official. But I *have* read Moir’s article and it doesn’t ask any questions that I have not already asked. It’s not homophobic in any way other than to those *looking* to find something to turn into an issue.
All you may have achieved is stifling freedom of speech.
Well put.
Moir didn’t have much of an arguement anyway, so she was bound to come up with some lacking jibberish.
Silly woman.
Perfectly put, Derren.
Well said :P…I read the article she’d written and although I’m a trainee journalist (and wannabe novelist…among other things :P) I was shocked by what she had written. I think it was in bad taste that she did it the day before his funeral as well.
I couldn’t believe how fast it circulated on twitter…I bet your glad you got it now 🙂
Also as for the ‘dick’ who shouted at the elderly man on the tube…I’m glad he’s being looked into and I hope he loses his job….the worlds bad enough without people like him making someones day just that little bit worse than it already is!!
Katie-Nan
xx
Amen to that.
Knew we could rely on you to put it sum it all up so well.
It was, for want of a better word, ‘pleasure’ to have been part of both issues yesterday, in the sense that I felt we on Twitter achieved something worthwhile.
Twitter is so often deriding as facile or fatuous, but I think yesterday demonstrates that so often this is not the case. It can have a real impact on controversial matters, and like yourself Derren, I can only describe my friends on it as thouroughly decent individuals.
As someone who has serious psychiatric problems, I might actually go so far as to say I may not even be here but for the support and kinship I’ve found through this service. The fact that it doesn’t just make a difference to this one life, though, but potentially to serious social issues is testament to its power and its users.
Thanks so much for your tweets on both of these subjects.
Delicious irony of The Fail being the victim of a “campaign” of complaints, after their very own orchestrated witch hunt against Brand & Ross over “Sachsgate” Hoisted by their own petard?
As for the Tube incident, although it looks cut and dried, we must make sure we do need fall into trial by Twitter or we risk being just like the Mail. The evidence is damning (there was no need to swear, but the old chap should have been behind the line for his own safety) but due process must be allowed to occur.
Couldn’t agree more.
Beautifully put, Mr Brown. I fear we have a way to go yet before the Daily Mail is anything like a respectable publication, but this campaign (and the sterling work of @polljack) hopefully make its denizens aware of what decent people think of them and their loathsome “journalism”.
Well said. In this day and age of instant global media, it is to be expected that the response to said media will also be instant – and global.
Not so long ago, Moir’s comments would have caused a fuss, but it would have taken a couple of days, and would have remained within the UK. In the internet age, the response is instantaneous and worldwide.
I’m proud of my fellow twitterers! And I’m proud of my mum, who after years of buying the Daily Mail (because she likes the puzzle section) is now boycotting them.
Love the blog. difficult to read on a mobile though. any plans to make it mobile friendly?
Well said!!!
Another good response to yesterdays madness.
decent human beings should always defend others.
WELL SAID DERREN. X
Damn straight Derren, yesterway was amazing. I showed my gf the link about the tube and was disgusted at the staff (though I have seen it first hand) . The article by Moir was jaw droppingly bad. Reading her say it was a ‘organised attack’ by social networks and that her statements had no homophobia in them is comparable to Hitler believing he was cleansing for the good of mankind. To even bring up the issue that he was gay displayed more about her than anything else, clearly implying it was sleazy because he was gay!? She needs an education in culture, in this day and age I expected more from journalists. Hurrah for Twitter!, u and Stephen
Well said, Derren. A particularly pertinent conclusion; for a long while I’d questioned the point of Twitter – yesterday’s amazing events seem to have single-handedly justified its existence. I just hope this sense of outrage towards the Mail doesn’t lose momentum. The likes of Littlejohn get away with publishing roughly this level of unpleasantness weekly; let’s hope this level of direct reaction permanently replaces the previous, slightly toothless, net-based methods of protest (vote-rigging, etc.). Also let’s hope Stephen Fry is managing to get a bit of peace and quiet 😛 x
Beautifully put Mr Brown. I hope if you ever meet Moir, you’ll use your mind tricks to make her poke her own eyes out.
proud 🙂
Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act. Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Got it in one Derren. Its about time the daily mail realised how many people do not support their views or methods. I think its sad that people like Jan Moir find the world so threatening they are unable to have any understanding or compassion for others. It reflects more on them than on the targets of their vitriol
Good post. There’s an interesting segue about the 2 stories you mention, actually: on a DM article about the tube incident, the comments section is dotted with people sneering at the accused tube worker…simply for having long hair. Because in Daily MailLa-La-Land, the only men with long hair are subversive liberals and homosexuals. So instead, let us trim our hair in accordance with the conservative lifestyle…
Well said. I’m really glad you made a difference – just goes to show the power we hold if we work together.
Well Done Derren and all the users of twitter. This was disgusting and i’m glad it’s been revealed. No one group in society should ever be discriminated against and it’s amazing the power people have when they work together. Be proud 😀
I love the irony of the Mail lot feeling victimised and blaming some kind of liberal conspiracy when they’re always happy to encourage the pile-on for something like Sachsgate. I bet more people read Moir’s article than heard that on the radio before complaining.
How does it feel being on the other side, guys?
Terrific stuff. It would be nice if the Daily Mail was taught a lesson by this and stopped adopting its hate-filled, pompous stance whenever the opportunity arose. Maybe if a few more advertisers and readers voted with their feet, we might see some change.
Well said Derren, the time of the Old Media is passing and they can either continue to cynically manipulate public opinion with no feedback or join the 21st century and realise they are part of a growing community of individuals who will take them to task when they get as bigoted and haughty as that horrible Moir woman.
All Hail the Internet!
Spot on Derren
If Mr Moir had been innocent he would not have been on twitter, you would not have mentioned it, Stephen Fry wouldnt have mentioned it and he would not have had been suspended.
Just like that chappy from sheffield University who was pictured urinating on the war memorial this week and thusly he is in trouble with his local authority, it is his own fault.
Its not how you caught that is the problem, its the crime or you distasteful behavior you indulge in that is the problem.
Nice work Derren (and also good on Stephen Fry and Charlie Brooker for holding Jan Moir to account). Regretably the Daily Mail’s brazen response demonstrates that for the likes of Paul Dacre being unrepentant means never having to say you’re sorry.
Checked the Daily Mail’s webpage today out of curiosity, for signs of remorse and the closest thing I could find was an article having a jab at twitter in general and Stephen Fry’s twitter account specifically. The whole thing smacked of sour grapes.
Just confirms what I already knew, that the Mail is a poisonous tabloid rag I wouldn’t stoop to wipe my ass with.
couldn’t agree more…
Well said Derren – as one of the people who originally heard about Ms Moir’s hateful comments because I follow both Mr Fry’s and your own philosophical musings – I am incredibly heartened at the swift and justified reaction to the Mail’s grubby little hate mongering and thank you and Stephen for making objective information available to me via your links and recommendations. What a valuable public service you provide 🙂 Thank you x
Congratulations Derren and to all the other people involved in what can only be described as a history making ‘change’ in the way people in the public eye are portrayed by the press.
The press have always had (first) chance to sit in judgement and ‘destroy’ someone’s life while claiming that they are ‘just doing their job’ … Not anymore it seems. The internet and social networking sites like Twitter give people the voice they have always dreamed of having and the scales of justice are now a little more balanced…..well done all.
Sue xx
I have to confess, I used to think that the hype over Twitter was overblown and point-blank refused to join. Still, when I saw how funny and interesting people were – especially Stephen Fry who is the first person I followed – I decided to give it a go, and was amazed at what I found. You’re very right, Twitter is powerful and, despite the fact that I still receive follow requests from strippers now and then, most of the people there are strong-willed, intelligent and thoughtful. I just love this coming together and forming a real loud voice – I for one simply loathe the press.
Well said.
Well said. I couldn’t agree more.
i admire you for standing up for what you believe in and its just unfortunate that some people don’t appreciate that. At least it seems to be sorted now, well done you derren. 🙂 Xx
i feel a unity of people through twitter. its a beautiful thing, so many people standing together, no matter who or what they are, united by whats right. I hope justice is done, Twitter has the power to change things as it expresses the voice of the vast majority of people….a voice that cant be ignored.
xxx
Hear hear! Two wonderful victories for armchair activision.
You’re a lovely, thoughtful man.
Wow 🙂 well I think it’s brilliant that when injustice is served, we all band together, renews my faith in britain as a whole x
You are fantastic, Derren. Like all bigoted bitches, Moir says that she’s the victim when her shit gets called.
Bravo