I'm not sure how we overcome this level of incivility and downright weaponised hatred. (David Blunkett, in the Financial Times.) It's hard enough to find the best least-worst solutions in troubled times as it is, but it's impossible if this is how political differences manifest themselves.
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I was out cycling today, stopped at a cafe for a coffee and cake. A few minutes in my attention was caught by a guy having a conversation with an apparent stranger at a table behind me. He was spouting endless conspiracy theories; covid, climate change, immigration, essentially reciting various made up Facebook/X posts. My favourite was him telling the guy that yesterday's so called 'unite the kingdom' rally bollocks was people "letting off a bit of steam".
When I turned round to catch a glimpse of him, it was a white guy in his late 20's. What shocked me was that his wife was Indian (actually Indian, not British Asian), and they had a 6-7 month old daughter. This guy surely can't be inherently racist, but he must be so consumed by social media and vulnerable to it that he was spouting 'ideas' and conspiracies that were completely contrary to his own personal relations.
I think much of the hatred and the vitriol as highlighted by the Labour Councillor has been created by online content. I don't believe, for many, that it confirms existing beliefs (obviously it does for some). I honestly think it is manufacturing them, and we underestimate just how many people are vulnerable to this crap.