Enemies of Reason Poundshop potshots at the media moral maze.

Homophobic crime and the Mail

A horrific homophobic* hate crime has seen a man stamped to death in Trafalgar Square after receiving vile abuse from a gang, according to the cops.

Our favourite newspaper has reported it, of course, and as ever has allowed readers to have their say. Did you think someone would blame 'political correctness' for a man being stamped to death? Of course someone would:

Hmmmm - the more the Polital Correct Crew are getting their way - the legalisation of Gay marriage, children being taught gayness in schools etc. The more this sort of crime is rising......
There is no excuse for violence and It's not right, but I think society is fed up with being told what to think about such matters, normal hard working people are being ignored for minority groups be it for promotions, benefits, opportunities etc.
The more people are told what to think the more they will rebel.
- Lee, Banstead, Surrey., 15/10/2009 1:02

Ah, there you have it. Given red arrows by readers, thankfully, but it's there. Another reader wonders:

is this not just a case of PC Police, Politicians, or your reporter trying to "sex up" what is already a disgustingly common random crime by our feral young on our streets without the victims sexuality being a factor?

...or, perhaps eyewitnesses saw that the man was targeted as part of a hate crime? Who knows. Of course some of the rest of the reaction is predictable

Bring back hanging and flogging and save the country millions
- tonana, bath, 14/10/2009 21:14

but some is less so

It's a bit rich of the Mail to complain about abuse hurled at a man for being gay when it employs Richard Littlejohn, isn't it?
- Andrew, Durham, 15/10/2009 1:23

but don't worry, the more classical Mailite ejaculations are there as well

Sick godless society breeding illiterate, evil, immoral,degenerate, celeb worshipping yobs, ruled by money grabbing, pocket lining, self interested, inept ineffective politicians.
It breaks my heart to see how my once great country is seen now by the rest of the world. Did you know that there are missionaries being sent to our inner cities from Africa.
What a turn around.
- david, SafelyawayfromUK, 15/10/2009 5:45

You can almost see the spittle-flecked computers screens as people foam at the mouth as they type, can't you? Bonus points for a 'once great country' shout out of course.

Anyway, I think all homophobic hate should be clamped down upon with the full force of the law; anyone who calls for adoption by same-sex couples to be outlawed is clearly out of step, and an idiot, and such outdated and pathetic views should be consigned to the bin of history.

I guess we should be happy that Mail readers are generally annoyed by such a hate crime; except it's not the hate crime that appears to be upsetting them so much as the 'feral yobs' aspect. Ah well. You can't have everything.

* I don't know about you but I've always thought that the 'Islamophobic' and 'homophobic' labels don't really do justice to the underlying hatred of those people who have those views; it's not just fear - it's downright nastiness. However, that's just a minor point of semantics.

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