Roy Manterfield

Love, equality and tolerance; reject hate. Humour, social media, politics, humanism, cats, chocolate and Nottingham.

[Roy Manterfield @MumblingNerd]

I am on other platforms, so if for some reason you still want to continue following my puns, politics and Nottingham history, my current favourite Twitter-like replacement is Threads, where I am MumblingNerd: https://t.co/zkkAtPaZf4

Love, equality and tolerance; reject hate.

[Roy Manterfield @MumblingNerd]

I am no longer posting on X.
The tolerant, rational and inclusive people of what was once Twitter are leaving in droves.
The far-right thugs, fascists, racists, misogynists and homophobes are arriving in droves.
Elon Musk, you have ruined this once great platform. Shame on you.

[George Monbiot @GeorgeMonbiot]

The longest sentence handed down to a violent racist rioter this week is shorter than the sentences imposed on entirely peaceful environmental protesters last month.
Labour must repeal the Tory laws that treat peaceful protest more severely than violent disorder and assault.

[Roy Manterfield @MumblingNerd]

@law83692622 That looks good 🍽️, now I'm hungry :^)

[Nadia Whittome MP @NadiaWhittomeMP]

Let’s not be classist/ableist when condemning far-right riots.

Racism isn’t a “working class trait”. It’s woven into the fabric of our society and comes from the top. One of the few things that has trickled down.

But it doesn’t have to be this way - we can build a better world.

[Roy Manterfield @MumblingNerd]

7 August 1712 ► The Weekly Courant was first published on Bridlesmith Gate in #Nottingham, by William and Anne Ayscough. Later title changes included Nottingham Weekly Courant, Ayscough's Nottingham Courant and Nottingham Journal.
#NottinghamHistory https://t.co/lFm13opGfh

[Roy Manterfield @MumblingNerd]

A shout out to all those who have had to replace their shellac 78s for vinyls, their vinyls for tape cassettes, their tapes for CDs, their CDs for MP3s and their MP3s for subscription services.
Now we have cellars, attics, garages and cupboards full of useless technology…

[Roy Manterfield @MumblingNerd]

Alpha males…

[Roy Manterfield @MumblingNerd]

6 August 1868 ► #Nottingham philanthropist and abolitionist Samuel Fox died aged 86. Fox supplied burials for cholera victims, food for people starving and helped start the first free school in Britain for poor adults.
#NottinghamHistory https://t.co/fe9qgw0oku

[Nadia Whittome MP @NadiaWhittomeMP]

“Swarms”
“Invasion”
“Hurricane”

For years, rightwing politicians and sections of the media have scapegoated migrants and asylum seekers, demonised Muslims, and emboldened racists.

Far-right violence doesn’t come out of nowhere. Those who stir up hate must be held accountable.

[Roy Manterfield @MumblingNerd]

@PeggyBrava Are you trying to keep me on my toes Peggy? No, only questionable ones, and I don’t want to put my foot in it; I think you’ve defeeted me.

[Roy Manterfield @MumblingNerd]

“Unlike the stomach, the brain doesn’t alert you when it’s empty.” ~ Arabic proverb

[Humanists UK @Humanists_UK]

The surge in far-right demonstrations and racist violence across our country, targeting Muslims, asylum seekers, and others on account of their ethnicity or identity is contemptible and has no place in an open and democratic society.

The violence started after lies were spread online that the perpetrator of murders in Southport was a Muslim asylum seeker. In fact, this was not the case – the accused is a British citizen, born in the UK. But this shouldn’t matter. Nothing justifies the violence that has followed. It is worrying seeing how easily misinformation has spread across social media, and how easily the far right has been able to organise. This reflects both a failure by social media platforms and the state to tackle misinformation and incitement online, and by the state to effectively counter the growth of far-right networks. Urgent action is needed on both fronts.

Intimidation and violence directed at asylum seekers on the streets and in their own homes is particularly shocking. Asylum seekers are among the most vulnerable people in our society, often having fled persecution, violence, and abuse to get to the UK. Many have left everything behind and faced extremely difficult journeys. We support non-religious asylum seekers fleeing persecution because of their beliefs, so have seen this first hand. They should always be met with compassion and support, not further hatred in what should be their places of safety and shelter. The political and social atmosphere that has enabled this violence and emboldened racists is not new, but has been generated over many years. It must be addressed by a responsible change in rhetoric and approach from all public authorities and from the media.

Equally, in a society that enshrines freedom or belief in our law, no-one should face discrimination, intimidation, or violence because of their religious beliefs or identity. Attacks on Muslims and on mosques are a sickening example of blind hate. Again this is nothing new. Muslims experience some of the highest levels of hate crime of any section of our society and we should all stand against anti-Muslim bigotry.

How can we, as humanists, best respond to these events? Some will choose to take part in counter-rallies. This can be a proportionate and welcome response, where it assists the authorities in protecting people and property, but it is vital that it doesn’t engender more violence or hatred, or lead to people putting themselves at risk.

We can all take heart from the many communities where people of different backgrounds, identities, and beliefs are coming together to clean up damage, make connections, and build community. These efforts are to be commended and we encourage humanists everywhere to take part. The future of the UK will be one of increasing diversity: diversity of ethnicities, opinions, identities, and beliefs. The actions of the people of good will who come together now will illuminate that future.

[Roy Manterfield @MumblingNerd]

@SamInNotts @X I agree to an extent Sam, but there are still a lot of decent, considerate, inclusive and progressive voices on X; shouldn’t we be encouraging and supporting them, and continue calling out the vitriol and hate?

[Nadia Whittome MP @NadiaWhittomeMP]

Solidarity with all Muslims, migrants, refugees and people of colour affected by the current violence.

We must not only defeat these far right thugs, but the ideology that drives them. We must combat racism, Islamophobia and anti-migrant hatred wherever they rear their head.

[Roy Manterfield @MumblingNerd]

5 August 1922► #Nottingham’s Valley Road, Basford, was opened.
#NottinghamHistory https://t.co/LJgTAngWSL

[Roy Manterfield @MumblingNerd]

5 August 1905 ► Whitehall's tenement factory, on Wollaton Street, #Nottingham, was destroyed by fire.
#NottinghamHistory https://t.co/jC96ckJKaS

[Roy Manterfield @MumblingNerd]

608/1000

[Roy Manterfield @MumblingNerd]

Our old family photos seem to indicate that we were always cat people…

[Roy Manterfield @MumblingNerd]

4 August 1937 ► #Nottingham’s Tom ‘Torpedo’ Blower swam the English Channel in 13 hours 29 minutes and 24.1 seconds.
#NottinghamHistory https://t.co/jf6NmfQSKT