It’s when threats of trouble lead to event cancellations or exclusions. All is validated and vindicated if your side is forcing its will on others. Righteousness is satisfied.
While you might prove in one sense to be "on the right side of history", the thug’s veto works both ways. What is good for the goose is good for the gander.
By reliable accounts, the storytellers are flamboyant but not sexual in nature.
Glitter and glam can be lots of fun for children. Messages about diversity, kindness, anti-bullying and inclusion are surely no bad thing.
Not according to Brian Tamaki and Destiny Church members in their "crusade" against the two drag queens known as Erika and Coco Flash and their shows.
The drag queens say the hateful comments were defamatory and damaging to their business and are claiming $2 million. Mr Tamaki says the shows were "sexualising children".
Another performer, at a drag story time at an Auckland library last year, faced protesters who "stormed" the library and screamed through the windows.
Also appalling was someone "screaming homophobic abuse" at a 4-year-old and his parents because the boy was waving a rainbow flag in Dunedin eight days ago.
Young children adore the magic of rainbows. Let them light up their world and ours.
Erika and Coco Flash use the free speech argument. And parents taking children to drag library story times know what to expect.
The thug’s veto, in effect stand-over tactics, is applied too readily across the political and social spectrum. Meetings are cancelled or speakers are shouted down.
The "hate speech" justification is all too easy to invoke by both protesters and authorities.
Remember when two controversial Canadian speakers were denied access to Auckland Council venues? Protester threats and health and safety fears were cited.
Remember when Massey University’s vice-chancellor cancelled Don Brash, a former National Party leader, for supposedly the same reasons? (He was allowed to speak later.)
Remember when Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull (Posie Parker), a self-described women’s rights activist, had to abort her two-event New Zealand tour last year when her planned speech in Auckland’s Albert Park was drowned out by counter-protesters?
A then 20-year-old LGBTQI+ rights activist, filmed punching a 71-year-old woman in the head during the counter-protest, later pleaded guilty to assault. He was granted a discharge without conviction.
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Civis noted "disinterest" in a headline in the ODT a few weeks back and wondered what it meant.
Civis has an interest in the use of "disinterest" as distinct from "uninterest". These days they are virtual synonyms, meaning a lack of interest, or not being concerned or caring about something.
It was not always so. Traditionally, disinterest meant unbiased or impartial, a different meaning. Judges are supposed to be disinterested, and that didn’t mean they were bored.
Another word that at present has, mostly, shed its longtime skin is "presently". Once upon a time, it meant soon or in a short while.
Now it means now, currently or at present, as in someone is not presently available or she is presently working on his project.
The potential for confusion might make it a word best avoided in both meanings — for now, in a short while and into the future.
Shakespeare and Jane Austen both used presently in the old-fashioned way. More recently, another master (or should that be mistress?) of the English language, Beatrix Potter, did so as well.
Lettuce quote from The Tale of Peter Rabbit.
"Then he tried to find his way straight across the garden, but he became more and more puzzled. Presently, he came to a pond where Mr McGregor filled his water-cans."
