As Twitchy reported earlier, Brandon Darby lit up Burger King for what was clearly an endorsement of someone’s throwing a milkshake at Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage. “We’re selling milkshakes all weekend. Have fun,” went the tweet, complete with #justsaying hashtag.
Paul Crowther, arrested for throwing a £5.25 banana and salted caramel Five Guys milkshake on Nigel Farage, said as he stood in handcuffs: “I was quite looking forward to it, but I think it went on a better purpose.” pic.twitter.com/mMQdEURtzs
— Tom Wilkinson (@tommywilkinson) May 20, 2019
It made the news and made Farage look like a sympathetic figure to many. Plenty argued that throwing a milkshake at a politician with whom you disagree isn’t violence, but where is the line drawn, exactly? What can you throw at someone?
Jonn Elledge, who’s been an assistant editor of The New Statesman since November, figured that “someone god awful” had retweeted him and started an actual written debate over the propriety of throwing things at people.
The idea that throwing a milkshake is violence, but inciting hate against minority groups isn't, is responsible for a decent-sized chunk of all the world's political problems, I think.
— Jonn Elledge (@JonnElledge) May 20, 2019
I thought I knew who you were on about with the milkshake comment, but then you said "inciting hate against minority groups" and I've no idea anymore.
— Rich Hargreaves (@rkhargreaves) May 20, 2019
Can you just refer me to a few of those "inciting hate against minority groups" quotes for a book I'm compiling.
I'll wait.
— Chris Brennan (@chrispb13) May 20, 2019
Recommended
"Inciting hate" is a platitude.
— Phil, Human Accountant (@earlp1231) May 20, 2019
Throwing a milkshake in this instance is:
i) Assault;
ii) Criminal damage;
iii) An offense under the Public Order Act.Those are all criminal offenses.
A responsible journalist does not justify crime because it suits their political objectives.
— MPMHORN (@MPMHORN) May 20, 2019
He is out there campaigning for Brexit. I know you don’t agree with it, but really? It’s a cowardly and abusive act.
— 6th day (@6th_day_Mcr) May 20, 2019
Whataboutism. But. Who is inciting hate against minority groups? Brexit party isn't. Farage isn't. Inciting hate against minority groups is creating a social situation where that hate festers – can thank labour and the conservatives for that one with a lib dem cameo role.
— Martin Nicholls (@streaky81) May 20, 2019
Inciting hate against minority groups isn't acceptable, and the punishment shouldn't be getting milkshake thrown at you. It should be getting dismantled by you, the media. You're not a journalist, you're an activist.
— George o'callaghan (@GeorgeOC97) May 20, 2019
I would say making a justification for assaulting people in public is itself a massive example of inciting hatred… hypocrite.
— Craig B (@BezPNE) May 20, 2019
Words are violence but hitting people with stuff isn’t…… https://t.co/XlRG3EzJTt
— EducatëdHillbilly™ (@RobProvince) May 20, 2019
Assault isn't violence; WORDS are violence!!!
We need to ban speech and legalize assault!!!!
?
What?
That's the "logical" outcome of your "thought process" here…
How could it not be a good thing?— Bert Difig (@BertDifig1) May 20, 2019
So words are violence, but actually throwing things at people is not violence. ?pic.twitter.com/BF6Kx3T4cy
— Andrew S. (@shoutingboy) May 20, 2019
They're both wrong and unacceptable you muppet.
— talia (@tjjoe05) May 20, 2019
The “logic“ that goes into thinking that actual physical violence (albeit a mild version) is NOT a problem but vaguely defined and often misidentified “hate speech“ IS…
Well, I guess the dumpster fire that is Twitter isn’t going to fuel itself. pic.twitter.com/VaDvTtH9SD
— DEBLASIO 2020: MAKE GROUNDHOGS FEAR AGAIN (@mikebreslin815) May 20, 2019
I disagree. I have never argued that Farage's odious views were not damaging, but our democracy is damaged further when pathetic and loutish behaviour is excused because the person against whom it is directed is widely held in contempt. One does not cancel out the other.
— Ruairaidh Sheumais MacInnes (@RuairaidhM) May 20, 2019
One is violence, the other is talk. We live in a society where we talk through our problems, not resort to trying to do actual harm to one another. That gets us nowhere, escalates further action and cedes all arguments at the door.
— Dave Robinson (@5ypher) May 20, 2019
No. Throwing a milkshake is responding to hate with violence, albeit largely harmless violence. But it’s still stooping to his level whilst allowing him to play the victim. Not only a bad tactic but morally dubious too.
— Roy Allen (@Roy_Allen) May 20, 2019
Given that it was unprovoked, and not in self defence, it’s considered unlawful, regardless of who it is.
But those who consider it just fine and doesn’t deserve to be condemned, that also forms a chuck of all the worlds political problems.
— Kurtis (@kurtisssprosser) May 20, 2019
Violence and incitement to violence (whether directed at minority groups or otherwise) are both crimes and both abhorrent. Battering people with milkshake is beyond the bounds of reasonable discussion and is thus also abhorrent behavior.
— Mickleshake (@Mickleshake) May 20, 2019
Yeah, lets go round throwing things at each other ? that will sort all the worlds problems out
— mickey (@miggsi1987) May 20, 2019
But throwing a milkshake over someone you dislike *is* violence – about as low level as it gets but violence nonetheless – using words against them is not
Which of them is *worse* depends on the words, obvs
— marc blanc (@blancmarc20) May 20, 2019
I realize this happened in UK . . . but throwing a milkshake or other projectile at someone would be assault under laws of US, whereas political speech is protected. If you're not from US, maybe you have the old "sticks and stones" adage where you come from.
— Kirk (@Kirk__K) May 20, 2019
It’s literally assault and battery.
— Brad Moorland (@Mrmoorland) May 20, 2019
Throwing a milkshake is assault and battery.
— Delightfully Offensive (@atlharp) May 20, 2019
You'd probably change your mind if you were at the receiving end of a milkshake.
— danisahne #FTEU (@danisahne00) May 20, 2019
Until the next milkshake has acid in it. Would that be violence?
— @davenoisome (@Davenoisome) May 20, 2019
Yes.
This was not the hard question you thought it would be.
— Jonn Elledge (@JonnElledge) May 20, 2019
The threat and fear of violence is ok then, by your statement? This was a case of common assault. It also falls under the legal definitions for harassment and criminal damage. But as it’s someone we don’t like, that’s OK? Great message ??
— MishMish (@imyselfme) May 20, 2019
"Words I don't like deserve a physical response".
~ Assistant editor, New Statesman
Your magazine is an absolute cesspit.
— Anglian Reed (@Anglian_Reed) May 20, 2019
The smallest “minority group” is the individual. A decent sized chunk of the world’s political problems are caused by hypocrites in the media who want to pick & choose their minority groups.
— IlluminArchie (@colizgg) May 20, 2019
— Villain ? ???????????????? (@Villain1982) May 20, 2019
Do you think? I mean literally do you think?
— Jamie ramage (@jramage84) May 20, 2019
How about nobody throws stuff? Simple. Hear that, Antifa?
Related:
Masked protester hits Daily Wire's Michael Knowles with unknown substance during 'Men Are Not Women' speech at U. of Missouri-KC https://t.co/FPjBqdJtUl
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) April 12, 2019
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