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Language is important. The choice of words used can have huge ramifications.
As a journalist and editor who has been on the receiving end of a solicitor’s threat to sue on more than one occasion I know this all too well.
That’s why this week’s story about Penyrheol councillor Jon Scriven has intrigued me.
Cllr Scriven, who is a member of Plaid Cymru, posted on Facebook a picture of himself posing with what appears to be an air rifle.
His status read: “Ogmore-by-Sea tonight for a quick swim and make sure there wasn’t (SIC) any English people trying to cross the channel.”
Cue social media outrage and yet another example of the worst these platforms bring out in people.
In the subsequent opinion of Cllr Scriven, who has apologised, it was an ill-judged joke.
As with any other story, we thought about its context and discussed it before we published.
One of the arguments I put forward was that if the roles were reversed and it was a councillor in England making the same comments about Welsh people, would it still be seen as a joke?
I used to live in England and I had my fair share of jibes aimed at me. Some were funny (if they were coming from warm-hearted friends) others were nothing more than thinly-veiled prejudice against my nationality. Context is everything.
I understand the satire of the post – taking aim at right-leaning UK national press coverage of immigrants crossing the English channel and the vitriol often unleashed on those poor souls.
But social media does not lend itself to explanation and nuance. Comments have ranged from accusing Cllr Scriven of inciting domestic terrorism to those labelling people who took offence as ‘snowflakes’.
Unfortunately, polarised opinions are all too common these days. You’re either with someone, or against them. Moderation is severely lacking, and that saddens me.
I don’t know Jon Scriven personally, but I do know of the work he does supporting his community – we’ve covered the success of Caerphilly Boxing Club in the past.
As Cllr Scriven probably realises, since he deleted the post, he shouldn’t have published the picture and status. It has taken attention away from all the good work he does – but does Sky News and other media care about that? No. Do social media judges care about that? No.
There are certain rules, written and unwritten, that councillors and other public figures have to follow. Publishing a picture with a rifle explaining you are on the lookout for English people is something a councillor shouldn’t do. Remember, social media reaches far and wide and the further it travels, the further context is lost.
Plaid Cymru was right to suspend him from the party pending an investigation, and the police need to do their job following a complaint.
I’m not defending Cllr Scriven’s ‘joke’ and I’m not criticising those who have criticised him, but perhaps what I’m trying to say is that life is often not clear cut.
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