Fictional Character Peter File released after case of public illiteracy.
I was first introduced to the concept of 'moral panics' when a friend of mine at University was discussing his dissertation on the hysteria surrounding MDMA. His investigation was into the cause of moral panics and the effect which global media has upon them. Although it may seem to be a forgone conclusion, where you come to the decision that 24 hours news networks and social media make every kind of public outcry into a near-breakdown of civilisation.
In all truth, what social media and global news actually does is reduce the overall impact of a story because instead of learning about it from a stern-faced news reader we actually get it in dribs and drabs from complete strangers on the internet. It was no surprise to me then to learn that Jim Davidson had been arrested as a part of Operation Yewtree, slang name 'Jimmy Savile Paedo Investigation'. The link to which many people were subsequently jumping was that 'he's a paedo' when in actuality he'd been arrested 'on suspicion of sexual offences' a very important distinction. And one which we should all be aware of when discussing the subject.
I don't need to recount the now cult-like status which the final episode of Brasseye has taken on, and the accompanying moral manic (incidentally, the episode is now available in full on the Channel 4 website). You do have to sign up for an account to view it though, so perhaps they're monitoring what type of people watch the satirical show and are starting to consider whether or not a follow-up would appeal. Or not. The outcry at the Brasseye episode, and the subsequent attacks on paediatricians lifted what was a relatively niche entertainment program into infamy. The irony being that the reaction the show gained was identical to that which it was mocking.
The events which led to the instigation of Operation Yewtree are clearly horrible but they have caused the worst aspect of moral panics. The po-faced academic discussion of the topic. In this case; sexual politics, gender rights, the nature of the media and general pussyfooting around the topic of the medical causes of paedophilia . It's not that these topics shouldn't be discussed, rather it is that it takes a crime to provide the catalyst for the discussion in the first place. It also gives people with less sense and more time to flood message boards and comment threads with notions as out-dated as the suggestion that sexual harassment is ok in the workplace.
Paedophilia is a trigger word for moral panic. It's like tax-evasion, child murder or spending cuts. They're all words and phrases which provoke a knee-jerk reaction whereby the actual story gets lost in all of the words being thrown around like tomatoes at Tomentina. To the point where everyone is just covered in red stuff and there is no way of actually distinguishing any one single point out of the mess that is left behind.
In some ways the attempt to rationalise paedophilia through abstract discussion of it as a medical condition is worse than going crazy about it. At least when you post an ill-worded and badly spelt comment on a website, your views are clear and easy to understand. Academic discussion of a subject is an attempt by people who consider themselves too clever and rational to panic to make everyone realise just how level headed and rational they really are, whilst in their head they're no different to Dave from East Barnett. All angry and misunderstood by their peers so they are forced to vent via the Internet.
I'm concious that I'm not doing anything to aid the situation, and that there is an irony is talking about how we should all really stop talking about something. Even though that it isn't actually my point. It's important that taboo subjects are addressed and calling for sense and sensitivity via the Internet isn't going to do much. If you do agree with me though, how about not discussing the accusations against Jim Davidson until we know a little more, perhaps until the Police, or Jim himself decide to make a statement.
Moral panics are very much like Tomentina, everyone goes crazy for a short period of time. We all become disorientated and all we know is that what we're doing is ok because everyone else it doing it. Whereas someone on the periphery will have every right to think that you're all just insane.
When everyone loses their shit and goes crazy, it's hard to not get covered in the stuff. None of us are innocent or immune in this panic, unless you're a hermit. In which case, you've now involved yourself in the shit-slinging by reading this blog.
Good work.
I don't need to recount the now cult-like status which the final episode of Brasseye has taken on, and the accompanying moral manic (incidentally, the episode is now available in full on the Channel 4 website). You do have to sign up for an account to view it though, so perhaps they're monitoring what type of people watch the satirical show and are starting to consider whether or not a follow-up would appeal. Or not. The outcry at the Brasseye episode, and the subsequent attacks on paediatricians lifted what was a relatively niche entertainment program into infamy. The irony being that the reaction the show gained was identical to that which it was mocking.
The events which led to the instigation of Operation Yewtree are clearly horrible but they have caused the worst aspect of moral panics. The po-faced academic discussion of the topic. In this case; sexual politics, gender rights, the nature of the media and general pussyfooting around the topic of the medical causes of paedophilia . It's not that these topics shouldn't be discussed, rather it is that it takes a crime to provide the catalyst for the discussion in the first place. It also gives people with less sense and more time to flood message boards and comment threads with notions as out-dated as the suggestion that sexual harassment is ok in the workplace.
Paedophilia is a trigger word for moral panic. It's like tax-evasion, child murder or spending cuts. They're all words and phrases which provoke a knee-jerk reaction whereby the actual story gets lost in all of the words being thrown around like tomatoes at Tomentina. To the point where everyone is just covered in red stuff and there is no way of actually distinguishing any one single point out of the mess that is left behind.
In some ways the attempt to rationalise paedophilia through abstract discussion of it as a medical condition is worse than going crazy about it. At least when you post an ill-worded and badly spelt comment on a website, your views are clear and easy to understand. Academic discussion of a subject is an attempt by people who consider themselves too clever and rational to panic to make everyone realise just how level headed and rational they really are, whilst in their head they're no different to Dave from East Barnett. All angry and misunderstood by their peers so they are forced to vent via the Internet.
I'm concious that I'm not doing anything to aid the situation, and that there is an irony is talking about how we should all really stop talking about something. Even though that it isn't actually my point. It's important that taboo subjects are addressed and calling for sense and sensitivity via the Internet isn't going to do much. If you do agree with me though, how about not discussing the accusations against Jim Davidson until we know a little more, perhaps until the Police, or Jim himself decide to make a statement.
Moral panics are very much like Tomentina, everyone goes crazy for a short period of time. We all become disorientated and all we know is that what we're doing is ok because everyone else it doing it. Whereas someone on the periphery will have every right to think that you're all just insane.
When everyone loses their shit and goes crazy, it's hard to not get covered in the stuff. None of us are innocent or immune in this panic, unless you're a hermit. In which case, you've now involved yourself in the shit-slinging by reading this blog.
Good work.
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