Merseyrail axe Morrisey Posters

Neil Polo · 24 May 2019

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/ukne...upport/ar-AABRPb9?li=BBoPWjQ&ocid=mailsignout

Posters promoting Morrissey's new album have been removed from train stations by Merseyrail after a customer complained it was publicising someone with "pseudo-racist" views.

What do people think about this decision?

RailUK Forums

jon0844 · 24 May 2019

His views so seem to be quite toxic from a marketing point of view.

He's entitled to his views of course, but it wouldn't surprise me if nobody wants to give him a platform.

fowler9 · 25 May 2019

Not surprised or bothered in the slightest. They wouldn't advertise any of the band's I like so why they would advertise a fella who seems to be about white power these days would be beyond me. Not that me or the band's I am in to are white power bands.

sharpley · 25 May 2019

Morrissey has had accusations about his views for years. Not a massive surprise it took 1 complaint to get his ads pulled in this day and age.

GrimShady · 25 May 2019

Neil Polo said:
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/ukne...upport/ar-AABRPb9?li=BBoPWjQ&ocid=mailsignout

What do people think about this decision?

Disgrace to be honest. If you don't like his views then don't listen to them. There is absolutely zero reason to be complaining about an album cover featuring his face.

bionic · 25 May 2019

End of the day, if you are in the business of providing and selling advertising space you can sell it to whoever's you like. If Merseyrail don't want to give it to Morrissey that's their choice. TFL have stopped advertising junk food, and thats their choice. If I was in the business of selling advertising space I wouldn't sell it to washed up old musicians with offensive racist views either. Fair play to Merseyrail.

Scottychoo · 25 May 2019

So weak pathetic snowflake Merseyrail listened to the 1 person who complained, not the thousands who didn't.

Arrpi87 · 25 May 2019

jon0844 said:
it wouldn't surprise me if nobody wants to give him a platform.

Pun intended? :lol:

I disagree with Merseyrail, sure Morrissey might be a bit of a prick (I do love The Smiths though) but there was nothing offensive about the ad.

gazthomas · 25 May 2019

jon0844 said:
His views so seem to be quite toxic from a marketing point of view.

He's entitled to his views of course, but it wouldn't surprise me if nobody wants to give him a platform.

Great pun!

Gathursty · 25 May 2019

I would rather Merseyrail focus on giving training to ticket sellers, particularly those in the M-to-Go stores as I think some have been employed more for the shop expertise than ticketing queries basis.

urbophile · 25 May 2019

I'm not sure of the exact status of Merseyrail (it's not exactly publicly owned). But it is contracted to serve to the public of Merseyside), therefore there is no way it should be promoting the antisocial and divisive views of someone like Morrissey.

talltim · 25 May 2019

Martin1504 said:
So weak pathetic snowflake Merseyrail listened to the 1 person who complained, not the thousands who didn't.

You do realise the irony of your choice of wording?

tonysk14 · 25 May 2019

Gathursty said:
I would rather Merseyrail focus on giving training to ticket sellers, particularly those in the M-to-Go stores as I think some have been employed more for the shop expertise than ticketing queries basis.

In what conceivable way can you think that the two things are connected

fowler9 · 25 May 2019

Gathursty said:
I would rather Merseyrail focus on giving training to ticket sellers, particularly those in the M-to-Go stores as I think some have been employed more for the shop expertise than ticketing queries basis.

To be fair dealing with a decision not to advertise Morrisey probably took seconds.

ashkeba · 25 May 2019

I bet he's miserable now!

Correct decision. Even better if they replace it with antiracism ads.

Stuwhu · 25 May 2019

ashkeba said:
I bet he's miserable now!

Correct decision. Even better if they replace it with antiracism ads.

Wonder if there was a PANIC when the complaint came in

mpthomson · 25 May 2019

David Emmott said:
I'm not sure of the exact status of Merseyrail (it's not exactly publicly owned). But it is contracted to serve to the public of Merseyside), therefore there is no way it should be promoting the antisocial and divisive views of someone like Morrissey.

A lot of people died to allow free speech in the last World War. Shutting down people whose opinions we don’t agree with (and I think Morrissey is a bit of a male organ to be honest) is not the right way to deal with it.

Allowing him to have his say and then arguing why it’s wrong/ ridiculing him is a far more effective way of dealing with him and people like, as an example, Stephen Yaxley-Lennon.

NorthernSpirit · 25 May 2019

mpthomson said:
A lot of people died to allow free speech in the last World War. Shutting down people whose opinions we don’t agree with (and I think Morrissey is a bit of a male organ to be honest) is not the right way to deal with it.

Allowing him to have his say and then arguing why it’s wrong/ ridiculing him is a far more effective way of dealing with him and people like, as an example, Stephen Yaxley-Lennon.

I'm suprised that someone hasn't yet decided to milkshake the posters since that's how some on the left react to those on the centre and right of the spectrum. To further the above, should Stephen Yaxley-Lennon win his MEP seat could Merseyrail grudgingly decide to get him oboard to promote community cohesion.

Without going off topic but worth a mention, I have seen various videos of Stephen Yaxley-Lennon when he's been out and around the North West of England on his MEP campaign - not once have I seen him do or say anything which could be deemed as discrminatory as one Muslim called out the others over their dangerous behaviour which was in Oldham where some were throwing bricks and scissors at women and children. If requested, I'll post the said video.

What Merseyrail should do in the short term would be for them to find someone else who is local to do some promoting instead, e.g. Anton Powers, who is a local DJ.

fowler9 · 25 May 2019

mpthomson said:
A lot of people died to allow free speech in the last World War. Shutting down people whose opinions we don’t agree with (and I think Morrissey is a bit of a male organ to be honest) is not the right way to deal with it.

Allowing him to have his say and then arguing why it’s wrong/ ridiculing him is a far more effective way of dealing with him and people like, as an example, Stephen Yaxley-Lennon.

What???? A lot of people died to allow free speech? No, a lot of people died to stop a bunch of racists who were given free speech and then acted on it. Merseyrail are free not to advertise the music of a racist.

Many bands I like claim to be satanists. I am not myself but I don't think Merseyrail should have to advertise them because oddly enough, in a kind of satanic way, do what thou will. Why should they have to advertise a racist?

mpthomson · 25 May 2019

fowler9 said:
What???? A lot of people died to allow free speech? No, a lot of people died to stop a bunch of racists who were given free speech and then acted on it.

Can I suggest you go and reread your history? Most soldiers (myself included) are clear that one of the outputs of WW2 was a right to free speech, however objectionable we find it. There are limits to this clearly, but Morrissey hasn’t advocated harming anyone so his right to his beliefs is the same as yours and mine. You can’t deal with Morrisey’s right wing rhetoric, stupid though it is, by banning it and ‘no-platforming’ him. It needs debating and discussing.

It’s interesting that it’s always the left wing (And i’m not necessarily meaning you) that suggest that shutting down someone whose opinions offend some people (though not all) is appropriate. It isn’t.

mpthomson · 25 May 2019

NorthernSpirit said:
I'm suprised that someone hasn't yet decided to milkshake the posters since that's how some on the left react to those on the centre and right of the spectrum. To further the above, should Stephen Yaxley-Lennon win his MEP seat could Merseyrail grudgingly decide to get him oboard to promote community cohesion.

Without going off topic but worth a mention, I have seen various videos of Stephen Yaxley-Lennon when he's been out and around the North West of England on his MEP campaign - not once have I seen him do or say anything which could be deemed as discrminatory as one Muslim called out the others over their dangerous behaviour which was in Oldham where some were throwing bricks and scissors at women and children. If requested, I'll post the said video.

What Merseyrail should do in the short term would be for them to find someone else who is local to do some promoting instead, e.g. Anton Powers, who is a local DJ.

Yaxley-Lennon is a narcissistic and racist convicted violent fraudster. who founded the EDL, which incidentally counted a number of white (now convicted) paedophiles amongst its senior members, something which he has strangely failed to ever mention. He won’t even nearly trouble the European Parliament.

Last comment on this bit if it from me as it’s clearly OT (sorry mods!).

fowler9 · 25 May 2019

mpthomson said:
Can I suggest you go and reread your history? Most soldiers (myself included) are clear that one of the outputs of WW2 was a right to free speech, however objectionable we find it. There are limits to this clearly, but Morrissey hasn’t advocated harming anyone so his right to his beliefs is the same as yours and mine. You can’t deal with Morrisey’s right wing rhetoric, stupid though it is, by banning it and ‘no-platforming’ him. It needs debating and discussing.

It’s interesting that it’s always the left wing (And i’m not necessarily meaning you) that suggest that shutting down someone whose opinions offend some people (though not all) is appropriate. It isn’t.

You can't force someone to advertise something they decide they don't want to. Merseyrail don't advertise the band Behemoth. I would be gobsmacked if they did. I still know how to get to one of there gigs.

jon0844 · 25 May 2019

Morrissey hasn't lost his right to free speech. Has he been arrested and locked up?

Darandio · 25 May 2019

jon0844 said:
Morrissey hasn't lost his right to free speech. Has he been arrested and locked up?

I was wondering the same thing. Unless I have read the completely wrong article, some posters have been taken down and nothing more.

PR1Berske · 25 May 2019

Stephen Yaxley-Lennon and Morrissey are rather similar, I suppose. White men with money behind them (have you seen SYL's house?) hoping to get away with saying whatever they like using the wafer thin excuse of "freedom of speech".

It's not free speech being ended here, it's the assumption that racism is acceptable that is being confronted. Free speech does not protect you from being disagreed with or challenged.

fowler9 · 25 May 2019

mpthomson said:
Can I suggest you go and reread your history? Most soldiers (myself included) are clear that one of the outputs of WW2 was a right to free speech, however objectionable we find it. There are limits to this clearly, but Morrissey hasn’t advocated harming anyone so his right to his beliefs is the same as yours and mine. You can’t deal with Morrisey’s right wing rhetoric, stupid though it is, by banning it and ‘no-platforming’ him. It needs debating and discussing.

It’s interesting that it’s always the left wing (And i’m not necessarily meaning you) that suggest that shutting down someone whose opinions offend some people (though not all) is appropriate. It isn’t.

And by the way I can deal with his rhetoric. I don't want him shut down. I am happy for him to continue to embarrass himself. This left winger doesn't want the Black Metal albums I like forced on people. I don't know why you, who I presume is a right winger, wants the albums of an old racist forced on people.

NorthernSpirit · 25 May 2019

jon0844 said:
Morrissey hasn't lost his right to free speech. Has he been arrested and locked up?

Give it time though and it could happen, even one rag could end up using a photo of the Merseyrail poster in question which could then lead to even Merseyrail being questioned as to why they used his image.

mpthomson said:
Yaxley-Lennon is a narcissistic and racist convicted violent fraudster. who founded the EDL, which incidentally counted a number of white (now convicted) paedophiles amongst its senior members, something which he has strangely failed to ever mention. He won’t even nearly trouble the European Parliament.

Last comment on this bit if it from me as it’s clearly OT (sorry mods!).

Using the race card is extremely boring, I can see why most on the left have resorted to milkshaking. I suggest that you watch all of the following video, where masked thugs attack women and children at a Tommy Robinson campaign in Oldham. One Muslim male calls out the dreadful actions of his community which is from 14.27 in the video.

fowler9 · 25 May 2019

NorthernSpirit said:
Give it time though and it could happen, even one rag could end up using a photo of the Merseyrail poster in question which could then lead to even Merseyrail being questioned as to why they used his image.

Using the race card is extremely boring, I can see why most on the left have resorted to milkshaking. I suggest that you watch all of the following video, where masked thugs attack women and children at a Tommy Robinson campaign in Oldham. One Muslim male calls out the dreadful actions of his community which is from 14.27 in the video.

Absolute bobbins. There was a Scouse woman talking just after the "muslim male". Where did she get brought in from? I lived in Bradford for four years without problem in a majority Muslim neighbourhood. I can't imagine why it all kicks off when a notorious racist rable rouser turns up.

You may as well have posted a video by Anjem Choudary in Croxteth, Liverpool saying "Look what happens when we have a peaceful protest".

ashkeba · 25 May 2019

mpthomson said:
It’s interesting that it’s always the left wing (And i’m not necessarily meaning you) that suggest that shutting down someone whose opinions offend some people (though not all) is appropriate. It isn’t.

For the avoidance of doubt, I am not left wing. The right wing are also happy to ban evil things - just look at hate preachers being refused entry or deported under Cameron and May, or Thatcher and Major ages ago.

tigerroar · 25 May 2019

I bet he's delighted with the amount of exposure that the guy who was offended has given to his new album.

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