Private Poetic Patter
What better time for a bitta Private Poetic Patter, launching this membership site coincidentally on the 1st April 2024, the day the Hate Speech Bill is introduced in Scotland, and although labelled a ‘Hate Speech’ bill seems pretty straightforward and possibly to some might seem like a sensible approach. However, the parameters of what this covers extends to comments made online and even in your own home, if found to be offensive, then serious action could be taken.
The legislation covers the criminalisation of threatening or abusive behaviour towards certain protected characteristics such as age, disability, sexual orientation and transgender identity.
Yet again Scotland is being used as a testing ground for strict legislation and in this instance it goes against Article 10 within the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects freedom of expression and specifically; your right to hold your own opinions and to express them freely without government interference. This includes the right to express your views aloud (for example through public protest and demonstrations) or through: published articles, books or leaflets. television or radio broadcasting. I don’t support hateful comments any any manner, and believe you get back what you put out into this world, but I do support the ability for anyone to express themselves in the manner that they choose without overreaching government intervention.
Good luck to everyone as this starts to make ripple effects in Scotland, we must never let them silence us. Let the cards fall as they may.
Anyway, back to Poetry…..
This private membership site will be a work in progress and I will be uploading as many private poems to this platform as I can, which seems like the sensible option given social media are either restricting certain poems being published all together, or restricting reach and making them less and less visible as time passes. It is what it is, hopefully we can gather a wee poetry club on here, and take the power back from the social media channels that seem to control far too much of our lives and society as a whole. It’s a toxic place, and this is a move towards liberation from doom scrolling our lives away on TikTok, Facebook or Insta, I try and avoid the cesspit of Twitter/X, and lining Elon Musks pockets….I dipped my toe for a bit, but I can’t see me back for a paddle anytime soon!
By popular demand, I will also have some Poetic Prints soon, I am just working on this, but as this is strictly a ‘wan wumin show’ it’s taking me a bit of time to pull everything together in the background, but I am moving in the right direction, ‘wae wan fit in frontae the other’.
Hopefully this blog page works in the manner it is intended and you can leave comments on the blog posts, again, it is a work in progress, so we will figure it out together. I have also been told about an app called ‘Discord’, are we interested in that?? I think it is basically like a whatsapp group, might be something I introduce once I have everything else setup, but you can let me know your thoughts on this!
So I look forward to speaking to you all, and writing more, and of course reciting more Poetic Patter for you all in private, here’s to free speech, freedom of choice and being brave enough to speak your truth in the face of government overreach and totalitarian control.
We are Scotland the Brave, and never let them convince you otherwise!
Peace out x
