This week on Taking The Myth, Stephen Knight and A Scotsman Abroad discuss the big topics with guest callers. We talk about: The police and free speech, Islamic advertising, Sadiq Khan becoming London Mayor and the ASLAN Awards.
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Listeners get a free audiobook and trial with Audible at http://www.audibletrial.com/gs
It’s such a shame that those eager to limit freedom of speech never do us the courtesy of starting with their own stupidity. I’m always amazed when people who enjoy a free, western democracy pay lip service to theocracy. It’s especially concerning when such a person happens to be a Chief Inspector for Greater Manchester Police in the UK.
Chief Inspector Umer Khan thought it was a good idea to share this pearl of wisdom today on his Twitter account:
At the tail end of last month it was reported that Maryam Namazie was subjected to harassment and intimidation by members of The Islamic Society during a planned talk at Goldsmiths University. Video footage arrived shortly after confirming these reports to be true. Goldsmiths Student Union promised an investigation on the 3rd of December, however alarm bells began to ring when instead of immediately condemning the inexcusable behaviour documented in the video – the Student Union demanded the removal of the footage, in what appears to be a cynical attempt at damage control. Read more
My excellent guest for this week’s podcast is Arif Rahman (@ArifArifUK). Arif is a Bangladeshi blogger and activist currently living in the UK. We’ll be talking about the tragic murders of 5 Bangladeshi bloggers/publishers this year – some of whom were friends and colleagues of Arif’s. He’ll also be explaining the religious bias of the Bangladeshi constitution. I also ask him why the authorities don’t appear to be doing anything to stop these Islamist murderers.
Also available on iTunes and Stitcher.
Support the podcast at www.patreon.com/gspellchecker
Listeners get a free audiobook and trial with Audible at http://www.audibletrial.com/gs
I recently blogged an open letter to Twitter after they informed me that my Twitter account @GSpellchecker would be ‘permanently suspended’. This produced a flurry of interest and support on a scale far greater than I had anticipated nor experienced for anything else I’ve been involved with before. It seems my fellow Twitter compadres have a potent dislike for injustice.
Well, today my Twitter account was reinstated in record time and I received an apology email from Twitter. Hurrah!
Although the email (pictured above) is generic and unrevealing, it is the desired and correct decision from Twitter. Below is my brief reply to it:
Hi,
Thank you for your prompt and positive response.
I would please urge you to review and investigate the individual, or individuals responsible for these bogus reports – and review any other suspensions they’ve caused as I’m aware I’m not their only victim.
Thanks again,
It does appear to confirm my suspicions however – individuals (or an individual) are making bogus reports of ‘abuse or harassment’ to silence criticism, or people they simply do not like. This is clear given the ‘review’ carried out by Twitter deemed the initial reports against me were not substantive enough to warrant the suspension or banning.
It’s amusing to note just how much this attempt to shut me down has backfired; indeed as a result, my blog visits have hit record numbers and downloads of my podcast have spiked. Not to mention my Twitter ‘followers’ have now crossed a 50,000 milestone. I’ve also had media enquiries and received my first new Patreon supporter in weeks. So, I suppose this is a thank you to those responsible for my suspension too.
As before, I will continue to use my voice to critique bad ideas and their ideologues, with civility – but without abuse or dilution.
I will always oppose abuse and harassment in all its forms, but it’s equally important that those who wish to stifle legitimate criticism, satire and dissent via disingenuous tactics be exposed and held to account for their behaviour also. I hope Twitter takes a good look at the responsible parties in this instance and revokes the privileges that allow them to influence automatic suspensions and bans.
I want to say a HUGE thank you to those of you who’ve shared my open letter, contacted Twitter on my behalf and sent messages of support my way. For the first time since joining Twitter I’ve actually been unable to cope with the sheer volume of tweets coming my way, so I apologise if I’ve not replied to your well-wishes, but please know it’s appreciated and has not gone unnoticed. It’s overwhelming, thank you.
You can listen to The Godless Spellchecker Podcast here, and support it by becoming a patron here.
Evolutionary Behavioural Scientist Gad Saad drops in for this week’s #GSPodcast. We talk gender differences, the issue of free speech within academic institutions and…pet cloning. Consider this your ‘trigger warning’. We also cast a disapproving eye on liberal feminism’s betrayal of Ayaan Hirsi Ali. #Gadfather. Follow him on twitter: @GadSaad
Also available on iTunes and Stitcher.
Support the podcast at www.patreon.com/gspellchecker
#GSPodcast Theme by Dorian Silk & The MCH
Relevant Links
Gad Saad’s Books
Gad’s YouTube Channel
