It's hard to know where to begin with Hugh Sykes's highly characteristic contribution to Broadcasting House from Cologne this morning, but it's probably best to start with his reporting of a highly convenient conspiracy theory:
This is all very strange. Arabs and North Africans attacking German women in several cities, not just Cologne, is like a gift to PEGIDA and people like Tommy Robinson.
And there are conspiracy theories in the air that the New Year's Eve attackers were encouraged to make sexual approaches to German women, told that it was the normal thing to do on New Year's Eve.
If true, they may have fallen into a well-laid trap.
Now, if Hugh was merely reporting the existence of such conspiracy theories that wouldn't be wrong. It would simply be reporting.
However, despite the caveat emptor use of 'If true', that sounded to me very much as if he was saying that it could be true...because it's "all very strange" and highly convenient for PEGIDA and the like...
...in other words, giving it some credence.
So was Hugh flying this conspiracy theory up the flagpole and seeing who saluted here?
However, despite the caveat emptor use of 'If true', that sounded to me very much as if he was saying that it could be true...because it's "all very strange" and highly convenient for PEGIDA and the like...
...in other words, giving it some credence.
So was Hugh flying this conspiracy theory up the flagpole and seeing who saluted here?
Again, it "seems odd", says Hugh there, and the conspiracy theories were told to him by "two people not given to flights of fancy".
And Richard Vergette, whose first tweet showed him to be already someone inclined towards accepting such a conspiracy theory then answered Hugh by agreeing it was "odd" and calling it "very worrying", as if his belief in the possible truth of that particular conspiracy theory had been strengthened.
Hugh, unfortunately, didn't reply top tell him 'caveat emptor', thus allowing Richard to keep on thinking the conspiracy theories might be true after all - just as Hugh also appeared to do on Broadcasting House this morning.
Very odd. Very strange.
Update: DB is on the case.
And Hugh's response?:
Ah but, what if you also point out some reasons to believe that conspiracy theory as well? Doesn't that weaken the 'caveat emptor'?
******
Update: DB is on the case.
And Hugh's response?:
Ah but, what if you also point out some reasons to believe that conspiracy theory as well? Doesn't that weaken the 'caveat emptor'?
You're being too kind to him.
ReplyDeleteIt is totally desperate, disingenous, distorting stuff!
There is absolutely no evidence whatsoever of any "far right" incitement. And even if there were, isn't that to treat Muslims in the same condescending way as Red Indians were looked on back in the day - naive and uncivilised people who only needed one drop of "firewater" to turn into rampaging savages. Is that what Hugh Sykes thinks about Muslims?
While there is no evidence to back Sykes' bonkers conspiracy theory there is evidence of conspiracy to assault Kaffir women. The Helskinki Police Chief explained they were able to ward off trouble on New Year's Eve through additional policing, because they had had intelligence of the planning going on in refugee camps in Finland.