I wrote a piece on a woman who published something I found objectionable because one of her parents is a Tory MP and I have a belief in the fundamentally evil nature of Tory ideology that clouded my judgement as to whether this woman was a legitimate target for derision. In hindsight, it was mean of me to do so. I have apologised to the woman in question.
editor[at]recessmonkey.com
Loading ...
I suppose she will have to wait for an unreserved apology bereft of excuses? The main thing is that you mean it. Not sure if you’re a “legitimate” target for derision, but you’re certainly a nice big round target. Just realised that your messagespace ads have trips to Prague advertised, so I’ve probably spent too much time here. C U later, buddy - (I suppose this is where everyone finds out whether that is some sort of racial epithet back in the midsts of time).
Praguetory said this on November 23rd, 2007 at 8:13 am
Has PragueTory unreservedly apologised to George Osborne yet for the slur he cast upon his character in respect of substance abuse? I think we should be told.
Bob Piper said this on November 23rd, 2007 at 8:53 am
Nice one dude.
David T said this on November 23rd, 2007 at 9:50 am
Has mad nad apologised for the paedophile slur yet???
Billy said this on November 23rd, 2007 at 10:14 am
I think it’s quite sad actually Alex - but at least it’s allowed us an insight into the narrow mindedness that persists among these scumbags. Now chin up and let’s get back to basics… Gloves off time, me thinks.
NudeEel said this on November 23rd, 2007 at 10:20 am
Nice one, RM.
Westmonster said this on November 23rd, 2007 at 10:56 am
It’s good to make an apology but do you really see Tories as evil.
It would seem to be to be a fundamental assumption of democracy that decent men can honourably disagree. The conventions of the House of Commons are more than mere formalities: you can disagree with another member’s opinions but you cannot question his motives.
The reason for this is logic. Because logically if your opponent really is evil then the rational thing to do to him is to have him arrested.
The fact that we choose to see differences of opinions as good is the reason we have democracy rather than the other way round.
I have often felt that they left have a particular problem with this. Tony Blair, for example, justified his abuses of power by saying that he was a reasonable kind of guy and, by implication, his critics were not and could therefore be ligitimately silenced.
The left will not rise again until it sees Conservatives as mostly genuine people who differ on the means of progress not its ends. That is the prerequisit for rational debate and indeed progress.
Scary Biscuis said this on November 23rd, 2007 at 11:33 am
Did Simon Smith of Schillings dicate that one to you over the ‘phone Alex? Looks like their skilled PR work to me.
Chris paul said this on November 23rd, 2007 at 12:05 pm
And on the BBC News today…warnings not to post personal in formation on social networking sites as it may damage your future career(or somebody elses presumably). How apt.
Sir Humphrey. said this on November 23rd, 2007 at 12:17 pm
I’d like to apologise for something I said to Nigel Greening in 1956.
Hughes Views said this on November 23rd, 2007 at 12:38 pm
“fundamentally evil nature of Tory Ideology”
Where to start…oh, you never respond to me anyway, but suffice to say you might want to have a look at how much “Tory ideology” is currently central to Labour thinking. Not that you seem to have any understanding. A mindless, unjustified, intellectualyy redundant and vacous hatred would be my observation. In fact I think I’ve just described the word bigot.
British jobs for British workers….
90 days detention
ID cards
Weakening the powers of the upper house
Priceless stuff
Fishcake said this on November 23rd, 2007 at 12:39 pm
Was this a real apology or a half heated reaction to a lawyers letter? In any case with the Tories running a 9 point lead and Gordon a quivering reck it is nice to know our labour researchers have nothing better to do than write infantile slurs dredged up from facebook. Brings Nero to mind.
Northern light said this on November 23rd, 2007 at 12:46 pm
No need to apologise if you ask me…
mutleythedog said this on November 23rd, 2007 at 1:43 pm
What a mealie mouthed pathetic apology. Christ no wonder you’re 9 points behind the “evil idealogy” of the Conservatives. People are starting to see through the inherent shallowness of the Labour Party which is espoused by people like you.
If you want the Tories to get in at the next election just carry on in the vein your going now.
Essex Boy said this on November 23rd, 2007 at 2:00 pm
http://hobycartoons.blogspot.com/2007/11/old-strip.html
Hoby said this on November 23rd, 2007 at 2:44 pm
Hilton, you really are a pathetic wanker aren’t you?
Can you not realise that whatever views you may or may not hold of ‘tory ideology’ are utterly irrelevent in the case of you breaching the privacy of an unlected young woman.
Family is and always should be firmly off limits in politics, and in this case you have demonstrated yourself to be the halfbaked, intellectually vacuous speck on the windscreen of politics that your party has always considered you.
Grow up and come back when you’re willing to write about something interesting, in the style of an adult.
Alex said this on November 23rd, 2007 at 5:18 pm
Have Dorries and Spink apologised to ben Goldacre yet?
Gus Friar said this on November 23rd, 2007 at 6:07 pm
Who the f*** is Ben Goldacre? No, don’t tell me, like I care anyway.
Nice one Alex, people may speak to you agin now. Was it geting very lonely then?
Tipsy said this on November 23rd, 2007 at 8:25 pm
By mean of you do you mean wrong or you?
zxcvgx said this on November 24th, 2007 at 1:12 am
I’m afraid I’ve never heard of Alex Hilton until today. His geeky little apology makes him no better than some of the ghastly rightwhinger researchers who infest the Tory party. The awful thing is that he probably thinks is being terribly clever or awfully amusing, rather than sad and chippy. What a shame.
Jerry Hayes said this on November 24th, 2007 at 12:57 pm
Why all the fuss? That ************** needed to be named and shamed. Dorries can go fuck herself and that goes for all her defenders.
Essex Boy, why don’t you fuck off. Our party doesn’t need scum like you.
Mustapha Kunt said this on November 24th, 2007 at 6:35 pm
‘fundamentally evil nature of Tory ideology’, I quite believe that’s how you think. When I came into politics I was continually surprised by Labour activists whose entire purpose appeared to be to bolster their own sense of being on a higher moral plane than the Conservatives. Of course, it makes grown-up debate impossible because their view was and is that Tories are evil and therefore their position on any issue is motivated by their service to the Prince of Darkness. Well I have news for you: it is possible for adults to honourably disagree about serious issues without anyone being servants of Satan, especially if they represent the broad political views of a significant fraction of the population. If you don’t recognise that then you aren’t evil, just stupid.
Steve Horgan said this on November 24th, 2007 at 11:16 pm
And I, in turn, have a belief in the fundamental evil of socialist and liberal ideology. So there!!
Mr Angry said this on November 24th, 2007 at 11:18 pm
Fair play to you RS - very honourable move. Far more honourable that Dorries and Spinks own pile of horseshit.
You’ve absolutely done the right thing and are back on the moral high ground.
Carl Eve said this on November 25th, 2007 at 12:05 pm
Fair play? Do you not realise how much damage Alex has caused us with this/ Every labour MP wants his balls on a plate> he has told every freakin weirdo tory researcher to go have open season on Labour MPs kids.This escapade will come back to haunt you Alex. When you see one of our lots kids all over the Mail, just remember whose fault it was.
Tipsy said this on November 25th, 2007 at 8:31 pm
I liked Tipsy’s comment. Should RM ever get selected my facebook group to campaign against him will draw support across the political spectrum.
Praguetory said this on November 25th, 2007 at 11:47 pm
Care to name them Tipsy? Or are you just a Tory troll?
Ace said this on November 26th, 2007 at 1:45 am
Why did she have the N-word on her facebook page in the first place? She’s not a child either - this is an adult of 22 years who should take responsibility for her actions and choice of language. Even though she’s not an elected representative, she’s a (racist?) adult and is a fair target for criticism.
Children’s views often reflect those of their parents - hence the relevance of such comments to a blog like this. Given the number of times I’ve heard remarks of a similarly dubious nature from Tory peers, MPs and researchers (”I always follow a policeman’s orders, even if he is black!” is my persoal fave from last year’s conference) I’d say the use of such a vile and offensive word is quite typical of a very ugly sentiment that the Tories usually keep buried as far away from voters as possible.
Always follow a policeman's orders... said this on November 26th, 2007 at 11:45 am
Always follow etc - I thought it was Labour who were discriminating on racial grounds, or did I miss something when they nicked a policy straight from the BNP? Somebody better monitor Gord’s kids right away….
Mikey said this on November 26th, 2007 at 1:08 pm
[…] through if you’re having a slow Monday. Hilton eventually caved in and issued a grudging apology on his blog, Recess […]
Race wars at First Drafts - The Prospect magazine blog said this on November 26th, 2007 at 4:07 pm
If you think Tory philosophy is evil then you have very poor judgement. As does your party that keeps trying to steal Tory ideas. So that’s no imagination or judgement. Given today’s revelations about planning applications near the A1 and waging war on the basis of an outright lie it appears your lacking morality also.
Sad.
Man in a Shed said this on November 26th, 2007 at 6:08 pm
It takes a man to say sorry, so good effort. The teenage years are always the most dificult
Lobster Blogster said this on November 26th, 2007 at 7:15 pm
The Tory ideology isn’t evil. It is based on a different conception of human nature to that of socialists; but there is no way to judge who is right and it is debatable whether there is such a thing as human nature anyway. Floating voters judge parties on the actual outcomes of their policies, political types like us judge them on the desired outcomes. The Liberals ARE evil, no question.
Brandy Hart said this on November 26th, 2007 at 8:30 pm
Follow the story, she didn’t say it, a Black Nigerian girl left it as a post on the MPs daughters facebook, which the MPs daughter highlighted as one of her favourite comments, probably because she thought it was funny that a Black girl left it, who I think was her flatmate. So what does that say about the Black girls parents then eh that their daughter uses the N word?
Tipsy said this on November 26th, 2007 at 9:41 pm
Sorry Tipsy, you were saying? I dropped off for a moment there.
Lobster Blogster said this on November 27th, 2007 at 12:31 am
The early signs of Recess Monkey developing a spine are beginning to appear, but it is still in its early stages. I can only assume that it took you this long to realise you were completely out of order because the letter from Nadine’s lawyers took a couple of days to arrive in the post?
The fact that you didn’t apologise immediately is more than enough evidence to show that you still think what you did to her daughter was fair game and you’re only apologising now because you are in serious trouble over it.
A truly hollow gesture.
http://lettersfromatory.wordpress.com
Letters From A Tory said this on November 27th, 2007 at 10:44 am
Personally I have no difficulties with this episode. Dorries uses her familly as electoral props - If they cant take it they should not hand it out !
Gareth Williams said this on November 27th, 2007 at 1:11 pm
Good on you Alex - I think you have showed real character in issuing this apology.
Mike Ion said this on November 27th, 2007 at 1:19 pm
Nice one Hoby! Hang on, i’ll repeat on your blog
2Tall said this on November 27th, 2007 at 1:23 pm
Mickey: What BNP policy has Labour adopted? British Jobs for British people is apple-pie, freedom and motherhood, hardly a policy.
Tipsy: She was quoting something a black friend once said. I also assume she found it amusing. For black people to use that word, it means something quite different than when white people use it. That word is in the process of being re-appropriated but that process is long and we are not at the stage yet where it is acceptable for white people to use it, even if quoting someone else.
Always follow a policeman's orders... said this on November 27th, 2007 at 3:25 pm
You are a shit.
David Abrahams said this on November 27th, 2007 at 4:21 pm
Excuse me
Language moderation please - Ladies, children & Junior Eagles read this Blogge Keenissimo
It’s never easy to apologize and this Primate deserves full credit for his efforts in this regard
G Eagle Esq said this on November 30th, 2007 at 10:57 am
You are one the maddest bloggers I have ever read. I doubt there’s a more venemous lefty since Pol Pot passed away. At least you’re harmless.
Regards
Spank the Monkey said this on December 2nd, 2007 at 11:02 pm