Too Long; Didn't Read
The most disturbing thing about the attempted destruction of Toby Young by time-rich offence-takers is that not one of them has taken a step back and said: “Whoa. What are we doing here, guys?” Not one of them, so far as I know, has had a stab of conscience, a moment of reflection, or any kind of serious word with themselves about their behaviour. Not one has stopped to reflect on their seven days of fury over what Young said eight years ago and wondered if perhaps it is a little excessive; if perhaps there’s a whiff of the Stasi to this relentless poring over every tweet and article Young ever wrote so that some rude or crude line might be presented as evidence for why he is “unfit for public life”. “Unfit for public life” – such an ugly phrase, such a telling brand, words only the most self-righteous, censorious and entitled of people could ever utter.