However, I think we can agree to disagree on the ‘laughing at them’ – because in debate, I think they’ll make themselves laughable anyway.

Thanks for replying.

D

I disagree that laughing at them in any way is the thing to do. That is giving them attention, it is proving to them that you heard them and as long as you laugh they will continue to act as they wish. I believe the way to react is to treat them exactly as any other minority political interest with regard to TV / radio / other media but to otherwise ignore them. Allowing them to speak is not the same as being made to listen. No reaction back at them can only annoy them but they cannot escalate that because you are giving them nothing to react against – and if they do react they show their hand.

Why is one little man setting the news and political agenda? Because of attention. This blog post too I suppose.

The words on Boris’ blog just show that they have made an impact on him, enough that he publishes. I would have expected him to know what – as Thatcher called it – the ‘oxygen of publicity’ can do and how best to withdraw that. I was surprised he would be wasting time on them.

I believe that the best course of action is to pretend they do not exist. Which is why people stopping him from speaking is so bad. As for the BBC…. they do not appear to have many news priorities right.

I look forward to 2 things which need a public platform:
1. Question Time (with someone like Boris there too)
2. A legal challenge when someone on the BNP’s forbidden list applies for membership. Has to happen, should happen.

But otherwise we should ignore them. If we do and if the politicians do a better job then they will go away.

Boris did not write that song parody – I did.

And had you clicked through and read the rest, you would have noted that actually I don’t agree with the use of eggs as a tool for political debate. In fact, I actually agree with you.

I think Griffin and his gaggle of wannabe stormtroopers are an odious bunch of untermenschen – their views are abhorrent. However, the way to deal with them is to debate, thus proving just how risible they really are.

Banning, hurling eggs and ranting about them serves no purpose other than to increase column inches. Let them be the ones ranting and raving – then laugh at them, make jokes of them, and in laughing marginalise them.

I would request that you please read THIS before jumping to conclusions about whether I, or Boris, were doing anything other than pointing out how counterproductive (and, in many ways, equally repressive) yesterday’s ‘egging’ incident was.

Regards

Dungeekin