“But, remember this: It’s My Ball!”

I’m not really into Social Media. Well, not that much; I have recently joined up on Twitter, but its early days, and I’m still trying to work out which button to depress. I occasionally see the  stream of photos on the Daily Mail sidebar depicting leggy females ‘going shopping’ or even sparser-dressed females ‘doing underwear photo-shoots or ‘on holiday wearing the skimpiest swimwear known to man’, or further females, all of whom are completely unknown to me coming from, or going to, the gym, but must have huge exposure on various digital sites.I have yet to understand why these photos must be so interesting to many; but, there again, it surely gives a living to photographers, so it can’t be all bad.

But, in the manner in which many things digital have been ‘taken over’ by the ‘Woke’, there seems to be an enormous amount of bullying going on, some of it purely silly, but at least one pushing against the largest of them all.

The silly? Take the example of Jodie Comer. Now this young tv actress has been vilified all over the Twitter pages. (Can’t attach a link as my desktop computer hiccups when a Tweet link appears.) Seems as though this young woman preaches on gay rights, and other topics; but has committed the unforgivable crime of dating one James Burke 

The vilification seems to stem because he’s a villain …mass murderer ….trans…. Lacrosse player …..wealthy ……..etc.?  Nope to all of the aforementioned.

He’s a REPUBLICAN! 

As Joseph Conrad said, “The Horror, The Horror!”

The largest? Apparently Mark Zuckerberg committed the unforgivable sin of stating that he believed in Free Speech. 

He said, at Georgetown University (Of all places, Mark: dear, oh dear!) “That it’s important that “we hold each others’ right to express our views and be heard above our own desire to always get the outcomes we want.” He noted that free expression has been central to the worldwide struggle for democracy. And he hailed US Supreme Court ­jurisprudence that has strengthened First Amendment protections. In sum, he said, “I’m here today because I believe we must continue to stand for free expression.”

One flashpoint was Zuckerberg’s reference to the importance of the First Amendment to the cause of civil rights over the years. This was a true and unassailable point, but one that activists considered offensive, coming from Zuckerberg — as if he’s Bull Connor, rather than a Silicon Valley ­executive with reliably progressive views on ­social issues.

Another was Zuckerberg’s ­insistence that Facebook wouldn’t censor politicians or fact-check political ads, taking an appropriately modest view of the company’s ability to fairly police political content involving wildly divergent worldviews and values.

The final straw was Facebook’s holding out against pressure in late May to act against President Trump’s infamous post saying “when the looting starts, the shooting starts.” This wasn’t the smartest thing to say, especially when you are the President, but it wasn’t an incitement to violence. In keeping the post up, ­Facebook wanted people to draw their own conclusions; it wasn’t an endorsement, but an invitation to debate — exactly what activists want to curtail.

So the removal of adverts began, and accelerated. Millions of dollars of ad revenue disappeared  overnight, but Zuck? He remains firm, going in with the old line; “You play ball with me, I’ll play ball with you, but, remember this: It’s My Ball!”

 

Ships and stranded Seafarers Wi-Fi

In one of the very few Govt. idea regarding virus which I heartily approve of and agree completely: all the ships with stranded seafarers on board, stranded because of virus:are to be given Mobile WiFi units to keep in touch with family. This idea, coming directly from the UK  International Maritime Virtual Summit on crew changes, will, in my own view, help to break the cycle of loneliness and mental anguish, prevalent amongst crew members who have been virtually press-ganged into working above and beyond what they signed up for.

This agreement to support all seafarers, stranded in ports all around the globe, is the first and possibly, if all nations hold to their agreements, the major step towards getting relief crews on board the ships; and the repatriation of the old crews who are either out-of-contract or have been delayed time and time again from leaving their ship to go home; as is their lawful  right!

This is possibly the very first time that the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has told its 300,000 members that they are lawfully able to withdraw their labour, as I previously wrote about in this  linked article entitled ‘you have the Right to return home’

This virtual meeting, and the  speedily agreed compromises, is, I believe, the direct result of a decision by the IMO to strike; and it is also perhaps the very first time that I, personally speaking, have endorsed any Union call to strike. You will not see any mention of that call, no Minister, of whatever Government speaking will even mention it, but without that threat, I believe that that strike would have happened.