Death threats show priorities are all wrong
By the time you read this, a middle-aged bank worker in Coventry may still be the most hated woman in the country. But is it right she should have received threats to her life?
I am, of course, referring to 'Catwoman', aka Mary Bale, the woman caught on CCTV placing a cat in a wheelie bin.
The footage has been seen by millions around the world and has caused outrage. Fortunately, the cat was found alive and well, albeit nearly 16 hours later.
Ms Bale's action was appalling. Cruelty to animals in any form is unacceptable, but it seems many people have lost a sense of perspective in reacting to this story.
Catwoman ended up being placed under police protection as a result of the death threats made against her by a group of people I can only presume have a very muddled set of priorities, because some reactions are off the scale and show our society in the worst possible light.
I have not heard or read one decent explanation yet as to why people think it's acceptable to wish violence or death on this woman. The act was completely out of character and was committed by a woman whose father is currently critically ill.
I don't say her dad's condition excuses her action, but it is proven that people struggling with severe stress and anxiety do very strange things sometimes.
I can understand such public rage in response to a brutal murderer or serial killer, but not to Mary Bale.
People argue the cat could have died, but it did not. They also argue she may have done this before. Possibly, but we do not know this and should deal only in facts. It is easy to speculate to try to justify a ludicrous or extreme viewpoint.
Society has now reached a point where it actively seeks targets at which to aim its vitriol. Mary Bale is currently in the line of fire.
She is the perfect bullseye for those who are not happy in their own lives or cannot deal with their own inadequacies. It's an old trick: in putting you down, I elevate my own esteem.
And, of course, it is so very easy to spout abuse or death threats when you use a pseudonym, and are safely tucked away behind a computer. Mob mentality is sadly alive and well, and if you dare to question it you become a target yourself.
People who wish violence and death on Mary Bale are pathetic and spineless, with a confused moral compass. How can it be that Ms Bale has become a legitimate hate target for some, while Raoul Moat became a hero to others? The UK today has become a scary place to be.
What do you think? Send a letter to news@chiobserver.co.uk or leave a comment below.
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Saturday 04 February 2012
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