Thread by @ajcdeane, Dear Owen - I was appalled to hear that you had been [...]

Dear Owen - I was appalled to hear that you had been attacked. Now that you are hopefully feeling a little better I wanted to drop you a line. @OwenJones84

First of all, some people have doubted your account and suggested that you cannot know that your attack was political. I do not, and I think that you have every right to say and think that it was.

Having been the victim of crime, I am sure that you feel horrible. Goodness knows you’re entitled to be very angry, and to press charges if possible. I hope that you do.

In the meantime I hope that, having had this happen to you, you won’t suggest that such appalling things might be OK if they happen to others.

There are two types of people. Those who *do* think that violence is sometimes OK against those one disagrees with politically, and those who *don’t*. You are someone who *does*.

Before you make the mistake of denying that, here are a couple of examples. There may be others.

Here is you saying it’s OK to punch someone if they’re someone you think is a Nazi.

Here is you saying it’s OK to throw things on people, as long as you don’t like them enough (and, perhaps, if you find it funny enough).

You think that, if only you dislike someone enough, then violence is sometimes OK towards them.

The trouble, Owen, is that someone might wholly irrationally really dislike *you*. If *I’m right* when I say that violence is never OK, then whilst debate is fine, no physical harm is ever justified. But what if *you* are right, that violence is sometimes OK?

My point isn’t that violence toward you is OK - of course - it’s that you are wrong to think that it’s ever OK, towards anyone.

Indeed, there are those who suggest the most stupid things - such as that you somehow “deserved it”. You don’t. Nobody does. I would never blame the victim - but you do.

This is why Matthew - or, if one prefers, Godspell - offers not just good moral advice but also a much better human environment for us all when it’s said "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you".

Violence towards others is never something to be lighthearted about, to make jokes about, to trivialise, to justify. Those who do such things should feel ashamed. I hope that you now agree.

If you’ve followed this thread I highlight the fact that Owen has now responded, here: https://twitter.com/wallaceme/status/1166988561851310080?s=21