I don't think the Brexit vote created this undercurrent of violence, because like I said, be in a city centre in England ten years ago. Be different walking home. Step out fat, or different in another way. Ride a train with bevvied up football fans.
But what this DOES show is that 1) the chattering classes - including me - turned a blind eye when it happened in Salford, but not in St James' Park. 2) it can now happen anywhere, to anyone.
Random acts of violence.
I mean, seriously, if you are one of my many nerd friends you knew this already, because the chances are random acts of violence happened to you. Almost always perpetrated by guys that look like these guys.
Chris Whitty's guys.
Guys who think random acts of violence are funny, so long as its them on the punching end. And now they film it for added lols.
I've been assaulted outside. Spat on, put in a headlock, punched, egged, called a fat nerd, people shouted abuse at me from cars.
Like, I get it. Rough when it happens to public figures. But ten years ago this was Friday night.
We bring it on ourselves because we are other, in the same way Chris Whitty is other. In the same way Sophie Lancaster was other.
We are the Otherhood.
We know that when the tiki torches are lit its just a matter of time. When people look for difference, for people to assault for lols, it doesn't matter how other you are. You just simply are. So you will be a target.
And that's why we stand together. It's why we fight to build safe spaces where you can come and be any flavour of other you damn well want.
And thats the thing that pissed me off about TSR. And the news.
Did you know that Peter Tatchell has been arrested repeatedly, assaulted more than 300 times? How many times were the people who assaulted Peter Tatchell arrested is the question we should ask.