Outside the Box: Take 3

Guest writer Sean Mallory on Bastardgate This is his third Outside the Box column for TPQ.


  • Oh! what a tangled web we weave, When first we practise to deceive! – Walter Scott, Marmion, 1808

“Not only are they bastards, but bastards hurling yogurts!”


Just one of the many remarks I’ve overheard recently, spawned from the current furore over Campbell’s and Adams’ remarks. Both, it would seem, have lost their political senses and with their remarks rushed headlong, devoid of all political regard for their future, in to a political maelstrom of their own making.

Campbell’s attempt at humour amounted to a repetition of the same sectarian and racial slur of comedy that he dished out in the Assembly a few days before, hoping to extend the round of laughter and re-ignite its initial impact with the inclusion of a reference to Sinn Fein’s political wish list and a roll of toilet tissue. As in the Assembly, and as then, his efforts were richly rewarded with loud applause and polite guffaws from his DUP colleagues. His antics, best described as disgraceful were exasperatingly excused by his leader as a bit of light-hearted in-offensive comedy and for everyone to get over it. But then, this is coming from a man who sends Muslims down to the shops. Nor is he or they on the receiving end of this sectarian, racial humour and thus fail to feel the barbs of his remarks.

Adams, it would seem, temporarily has simply forgotten the rules of politically correct behaviour and allowed his train of thought to express his deepest feelings. Gildernew, believing that her Führur had given the nod of approval to publicly release her true feelings followed up with informing Campbell that he was sitting in the wrong camp and should move over to where the ‘bollocks’ sit.

Both terms, ‘bastard’ and ‘bollocks’, seem rather fitting and which actually, is what most Nationalist feel about Unionism and in turn what all Unionists think of Adams and Nationalism but they, unlike him and Gildernew, have more political sense than to utter it publicly. Irrespective who it is aimed at, there are much more eloquent ways which in turn is more palatable to the public, of describing someone or ‘some-ones’ as bastards or bollocks. For a publicly elected representative to use the language of the gutter in public is generally unacceptable to us all, even though we use it every-day and respectfully apply it with just as much conviction and vehemence to those as Adams and Gildernew did.

The Establishment’s response is one of horror. That a publicly elected representative should utter such expletives in public is tantamount to treason. His disrespectful abandonment of the Establishments protocols is the barb that is pricking their sides – not his actual words! Mo Molam and her use of her vast vocabulary of vulgar expletives never annoyed them as she didn’t utter these in public.

But what to make of such utterances and why now? Was Adams’ slip of the tongue a faux pas of a Freudian nature or was it a more calculated move – could he really have shot himself in the foot again? If it wasn’t a slip of the tongue then that would imply deliberation and design on his behalf and without Gildernew’s acknowledgement of course. There is no discrimination of gender in defining a pawn. But to what end?

Campbell has acted similarly with protocol abandonment but has restrained his sectarian racist ranting to language that is acceptable – no expletives from him which is more likely to do with his religious beliefs than a sound understanding of following the Establishment’s protocols. And this all from a man who believes the world is 6,000 years old and who once held the office of Minister of Culture! So, what was Campbell’s goal? Surely not the desired hope to be invited on to the TV satirical current affairs show - Mock the Week.

Both have achieved the same degree of polarisation of each from the other. Villiers, despite Mr Hart’s interpretation of how the talks are going, has stated that presently a resolution is as far away now as it ever was and any resolution is highly unlikely. But Villiers and the DUP have been in meetings long before Campbell’s sectarian racist outbursts and Adams’ public retort. The Tory’s know full well that their future in power cannot be dependent on the support of the LibDems. Their desire for power and blatant disregard for their election manifesto promises have numbered their days. What will remain of them will not on their own be enough to secure another term in office for the Tories so they, the Tories, will have to turn to other parties, no matter how small, to bolster their support. Hence the secret negotiations with the DUP to solicit their support. All done under the pretence of discussing local issues. If they were about local issues why were no other local parties present? A deal has been done between them and the DUP of which the contents can only be surmised upon but the transfer of control of Corporation Tax is already one sup in the public domain. But deals are about giving and taking and DUP support is not on its own a full payment.

Adams, feeling the pressure of Maria Cahill and all the baggage that comes with her, and tiring of running from pillar to post, has sought to distract and refocus the public’s attention on the ‘bastards’ and bollocks’ of Unionism. Given the history of this Island that wasn’t too difficult. His position regarding Maria Cahill has been debated extensively in the Dáil so no doubt that the Southern British will attack him on his remarks, but not with the same ferocity as before as they also recognise a bastard and a bollock when they see one too. Distraction is how magicians perform their best tricks.

And likewise, tangled in to the Tory deal with the DUP, is a deal that has been agreed between them (SF) and the yogurt eating bastards (DUP) who’s contents will not be made public before the elections as such that could spell disaster for both parties. The lumpen proletariat and the plebs are all about to get shafted but not before the DUP attempts to welcome the return of their prodigal East Belfast Westminster son. Old accusations, long repeated and hurled are once again defining the old lines of sectarian demarcation. The lines have been drawn but only for the duration of the election as it draws near.

And afterwards, elections over, the storm in the tea cup will have abated and we will have the bastard Arlene and the bollock Nigel to lead Stormont and Westminster respectfully, while Martin and the ‘curry yogurters’ will continue to speak in forked tongues but without the need for unequivocal words. The pantomime that is Stormont will continue and try and usurp the title as the longest running show in town ....Watch out Mouse trap!

But besides all of this, we all know that Unionists are bastards anyway!

17 comments:

  1. Nothing much outside the box in that take Sean.

    Yes, deception does indeed become easier when the emotions are aroused. The seat of strong emotion lies in the more primitive brain. Once an audience are directed there they have less access to the more discerning, less reactionary upper regions of the neo-cortex and cortex.

    Throughout your piece you weave a nice little web too. Fair enough though given your intended audience and your own agenda.
    Your not beyond a bit of showmanship yourself, attempted misdirection, nomilisations and generalisations.

    Some Unionists are bastards, as indeed are some members of all the Republican factions. And there are many more decent people with legitimately and honourably held beliefs too.

    A general rule of successful living is not to burn bridges until you've new ones built. Yes, Stormont is the longest running farce in town, and its the only show in town, with no other viable production company around.

    Although anarchistic advocacy is both passé and reckless it may contribute to a quicker emergence of the chaordic path.
    Be advised though that, when the dust settles and the chaordic path is found you and your comrades will in all likelihood still find yourselves exactly where, and as, you started; frustrated, disappointed and out at the margins.

    Want to know what the future's like?
    Why, its pretty much like the past ... Unless, of course, people like you Sean are prepared to change.

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  2. go stick ur more discerning neo cortex up ur anal vortex.

    keep her lit sean whoever u are.

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  3. Henry,

    Yes, deception does indeed become easier when the emotions are aroused. The seat of strong emotion lies in the more primitive brain. Once an audience are directed there they have less access to the more discerning, less reactionary upper regions of the neo-cortex and cortex.

    The neo-cortex and the cortex are the same, the lofty pigeon tossing in a wee bit of, neurological feelings that has its origins in the “primitive brain” well, the Limbic system and its complicated relationship with the cortex.

    A wild guess on my part but the amygdala(s) neuron masses at either side of the thalamus at the lower end of the hippocampus in studies demonstrate when the amygdala is stimulated animals respond with aggression. If it is removed they become tame or indifferent to that which would have enraged them before… a downside they have no response to fear not a good thing when you are on the menu and don’t show an incline to propagate.

    The newest layer of the cortex does not mean it is separate it still communicates with the old mammalian brain.
    Both higher and lower functions are connected with the limbic system the “emotional center” or the “conscious system” communicates with the cortex.

    Not arguing with you but you attempt to separate yourself as a chimp with a computer looking down at the rest of us chimps with pencils.

    I could say that your view of the neo-cortex and cortex could be self-deception as the new layer is part of the cortex.

    It sounds like your frontal lobe is highly emotional going by your need to sound clever.

    Throughout your piece you weave a nice little web too. Fair enough though given your intended audience and your own agenda.
    Your not beyond a bit of showmanship yourself, attempted misdirection, nomilisations and generalisations.


    You are highly critical of others but to date you offer no alternative and continue playing pigeons and statues.

    You will have to forgive me for not attaining a higher state of consciousness but a wee bit a brain damage earlier on guarantees for me that won’t be possible. My prefrontal cortex doesn’t get along so well with my limbic system.

    Here is the future if humankind keep evolving we will probably have a neo-neo-cortex that wrinkly fold is fairly ingenious by design though unless we all live in a safe cocoon humankind will always depend on certain responses, and here your responses are predictable, at best you are talking out loud who knows maybe you are the return of the messiah.

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  4. Táin

    I guess I must be stimulating your amygdala(s) then. Perhaps that would explain your aggression, and perhaps not.

    You're right of course the amygdala is the watchman of the brain, constantly evaluating stimuli for threat and the opportunity for re-procreation too it seems.
    Its responsible for adrenalin surges which precipitate freeze, fight or flight responses also. When functioning normally the experience is formed into a sensory memory and passed to the adjacent hippocampus. There our most recent experiences are put in context, encoded and sent to the neocortex. Unless of course this process malfunctions due to excessive stress and overload and the memory remains trapped in the lower brain, hence remaining emotionally charged.
    The most recent neuro-imaging studies of trauma survivors who develop PTS show reduced hippocampal volume and increased activation of the amygdala (hyper-sensitivity and hyper-vigilance).

    On the other hand those who successfully overcome PTSD as well as having been de-traumatised show increased cerebral functioning.

    I regret you feel I'm looking down at people ... not the case.
    Just because I have a different opinion doesn't mean or prove that I'm looking down at people. I do understand that those who are experiencing significant stress tend to view things in black or white terms and therefore tend to perceive differences of opinions as put downs.

    Thankfully I am privileged to live a comparatively stress free life in my small thatched cottage in the west, as you say, a relatively safe cocoon.

    Though I often times express opinions that differ substantially with commentators here I am not hostile to them personally ... why would I be?



    Finally I don't offer an alternative solution because I don't have one.
    None bar, don't waste time, effort or resources on what's not within our effective circle of influence. I advocate using our resources effectively, working on goals and projects that are realistic and achievable and are a source of joy and contentment in our impermanent lives.

    I ain't no messiah, just another bollocks with feet of clay writing on here to clarify my thoughts as best I can. If that's too much to ask then just ignore me or if you're up to it let the debate continue?

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  5. @ Henry first I hope for your sake if Grouch gets around to shoving a cortex up you bum he uses lube and not good old fashioned spit..

    My question to you is do you have a problem with Provisionalism or Irish Republicanism? I know there is cross pollination between the two but they are very different beasts.. One was tried for 30yrs and sold out by it's own leadership while the other, the leaders where executed before they had a real chance of implementing their ideas..

    Don't go Freud or try to talk down to me as you have before..

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  6. Henry,

    First I would need to identify what you perceive as my aggression, perhaps I was merely under stimulated that you ignored our reptilian brain and skipped to the hind or mammalian brain and separated the neo-cortex from the cortex in your opening comment.

    The jury is out on indentifying neurobiological aggression(s) a few hormones and neurotransmitters, testosterone and serotonin being high on the list of usual suspects, however the evidence is contradictory.

    Monoamine oxidase-a, (MAOA) an enzyme that breaks down certain transmitters in the brain, people could be missing that gene, that produces MAOA, that could lead to a buildup or overload of serotonin that could lead to aggressive or violent response.

    The effects of normal levels of serotonin have a calming effect on neuronal firing though lower levels produce aggressive and impulsive behaviours which contradict the high levels. To date the blokes in white coats have identified 38 different regions of the brain as having some form or association with aggression

    Throughout your piece you weave a nice little web too. Fair enough though given your intended audience and your own agenda.
    Your not beyond a bit of showmanship yourself, attempted misdirection, nomilisations and generalisations.


    Your "the fair enough" given your intended audience reeks of backhandedness suggesting the audience are somehow primitive and in typical fashion perching yourself high above taking the predictable shite on the statue below.

    You excuse yourself for your passive aggressive approach perhaps a wee bit over indulgent in agitation.

    The problem with using clever sounding words in order to make one feel smarter only works when the communication is understood if the person(s) who reads a communication doesn’t understand then no communication occurs.

    You read something about stress or some of the pitfalls of stress. Stress is normal you ignore that, for example I used to go rock climbing at a certain height the thought that it’s a long ways down sets of the stress meter and a burst of adrenaline mixed with cortisol gives that much needed surge of energy as at that point there is no option for flight.

    What is now termed adrenaline junkies look for ways to get that rush so stress at low levels might actually be healthy? Stress and coping mechanisms naturally vary from person to person.


    On the other hand those who successfully overcome PTSD as well as having been de-traumatised show increased cerebral functioning.


    I am unsure what de-traumatised means as it hints at cure which is different from recovery. The trauma just doesn’t disappear it is still stored and some might develop or adapt better coping skills than others

    The white-coats are working on methods to control fear memories, are those you say are fear memory free dependent on inhibitors?

    With the rise in imaging technology and its advancements maybe one day they will be able to pinpoint exactly where fear begins.

    ...contd

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  7. ...contd

    No need for regret and just because you have a different opinion doesn’t prove you are looking down although this might again contradict you:

    I do understand that those who are experiencing significant stress tend to view things in black or white terms and therefore tend to perceive differences of opinions as put downs.

    Unless you are an expert in neurological psychology/physiology as you claim to understand something that you demonstrate an extremely limited knowledge about as any shrink worth their salt would not make such an artificial claim. You can suppose you understand the characteristics and temperaments of an individual or group but like me you don’t.

    What you do display is Subtle Manipulative Behaviour with too much emphasis on trying to sound clever and claiming to now walk on a more enlightened path. I would say the only person your words influence is yourself.

    Is that a little too black and white or predictably plain, Henry, you have no idea of knowing what would trigger my stress response but here is the catch I do as I study it and have done for donkeys years.

    You are not hostile, personally, in order for that to work you would have to know the person(s) this may be an indicator of concealed hostility:

    If that's too much to ask then just ignore me or if you're up to it let the debate continue? The passive “ignore me” is then contradicted by the challenge of have at it with me.

    Don’t fool yourself homes are not that safe what I meant by cocoon is simple if we all were wrapped up and lived without interaction then we would never encounter disagreement or any other normal human emotion.

    Exactly, alternatives take time whether they flourish or flounder can only be determined in time.

    A question, why would you challenge me to a debate would that not be a waste of your time and resource? It is the mistake of the novice chess player putting self in check before the game begins, the outcome is predictable.

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  8. @ Frankie

    Yes I did over-react to you some time ago. For that I apologise.
    I see you as someone who's resourceful and competent in using the technology and when you turned my contribution immediately back at me without at least attempting to dissect it I perceived that as lazy and over-reacted. My frustration got the better of me and I did my 'jack-an-oree' thing. Sorry about that.

    You ask do I have a problem with just the Provisionals or with Irish Republicanism ... the answer, is with both.

    I have addressed this through my comments on 'You’ll Be Shot Dead By Christmas’: Volunteer Liam Ryan And British State Collusion In Tyrone – Murder At The Battery 25 Years On'

    If you're interested glance through my posts and you'll get a flavour of where I've come from and where I now stand.

    I guess I've moved to a similar position as to where Larry appears to stand; all a load of bollocks!

    Some minor surgery in a few hours so I'll have to leave it at that for now Frankie.

    @ Tain

    The only person I need my words to influence on these matters is myself.
    Sometimes the cut and thrust helps consolidate a point and other times a good rebuttal suggests further consideration is required.

    More study required on some of this.
    And other more pressing things ahead today.

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  9. Peter,
    I understand what you are saying in part...in that from the late '80's onwards operations carried out by the Provisionals weren't as frequent as previous. But that was solely because Adams & Co had by then entered secret talks with the British and he (Adams) wanted to wind down the war and they couldn't afford for the Provisionals to up the ante with a Tet offensive.

    @Grouch...

    You are right about Waterloo, Rothchilds etc... I mentioned to someone a few weeks back the real five famiies of the Mafia aren't Lucchese, Genovese, Gambino, Bonanno & Colombo..

    The real five families are.. Rothschild, Rockefeller, Morgan-Stanley, Goldsmith & Goldman-Sachs...............

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  10. from Sean Mallory

    Henry Joy,

    The clue is in the series title "Outside the Box". You are still looking within for a long-term solution that can't be found. I could change and become a supporter of the British State of Northern Ireland but then again the clue is in the title!

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  11. Sean

    you might become aware of a range of new possibilities when you start to stop poking around in the emotional vomit of the past.

    There's no need for you to be outside the box to begin to realise a brighter and better future.

    The essential question Sean ... will you undo the historical blindfold now ... or do you want to leave it on for another little while?

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  12. sean, i hope u take henrys advice seriously. he only wants you to be more enlightened and in touch with ur neo cortex. he has had his blindfold off for a while now and is only trying to lead us vomit pool dwellers into the bright lights of agendaless post-republicanism, chaordic paths, nomilisations (whatever they are) etc. if you dont you will end up 'frustrated, disappointed and out at the margins'. sounds like henry. also, you dont use enough long words, you wont go far without those big bluffy academic polysyllabics.
    frankie, i think bono is one of those families now!

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  13. Henry,
    I've read your post's here and I didn't learn anything new to be honest. My take is you gave 30 something years of your life only to watch everything you once held close to your heart being sold for 30 pieces of silver. And today you sit back and ask yourself "What the fcuk was it all about and why did my close friends and comrades actually go to prison and or die for"....

    If I'm right it means you were sold short by a corrupt leadership who were shorted sighted in their goals.

    you might become aware of a range of new possibilities when you start to stop poking around in the emotional vomit of the past.

    What is your solution (the new possibilities) Henry? My take is the 1916 proculamation is more revelvant today than at anytime since partition. If you look at the brain drain and poverty levels in the lead up to the 1916 rising and look at the brain drain from Ireland today and the poverty levels, not much has changed in real terms.What James Connolly said about "if you hoist a green flag... unless you go about dismantling the institutions etc nothing will change" (I've papraphrased)... All that happened after the rising/war of independence was a green flag was hoisted over Dublin. Everything else stayed the same.



    I see you as someone who's resourceful and competent in using the technology

    I'm not afraid of technology. I find computers easier to understand than women. A computer will only do what I ask it to do and no more or less. And I laughed when Theresa May proposed a 'Snoopers Charter MK2'... the police the power to track people's web activity by tracing IP adresses...

    The new law will also allow the police to force internet firms to hand over data showing who is using a computer or smartphone at any particular time.

    I can very easily, with a few keystrokes, crack any network with in range.. basically it means I'd bounce of someones else's IP, spoof my MAC address and the police or spooks will be looking for a smaller needle in a bigger haystack...

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  14. Grouch fcuk Bono... Ronnie O'Sullivan is more Irish, so is that famous black comedian Eddie Murphy and the Irish astronaut Michael Collins not forgetting the famous jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald.....

    What I think people miss about James Connolly is this, while he was in America and talking to the trade unions etc he seen the rise of the 1%-ers, the formation of the US Federal Reserve. Then goes back home to Ireland and see's the same faces and names in the shadows doing the same. What Connolly talked about here is relevant today...

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  15. Great post Frankie. Thanks.

    However, the essential question (as posed to Sean) and the consequences of, ... "will we undo the historical blindfold now ... or do we want to leave it on for another little while?" remains un-addressed.

    Eventually we must all, individually and collectively, open our eyes, face reality and operative from a perspective of what's possible or preferably from one of what's probable.
    Otherwise our efforts are and will be a waste.

    As best as I can understand Liam O'Ruairc's last article I think he's posing similar questions.

    (Under a bit of time pressure so that's about as much as I can give right now Frankie).

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  16. Indeed Henry,

    The only person I need my words to influence on these matters is myself.

    As I suggested, at best you are talking out loud the above would raise the question of why you chose to share if you only wish to influence yourself.

    No need to study the form on this one as if the white coats struggle with it I can’t add to their research.

    Though walt away I am sure you will find something to contradict anything I said the only problem there, is the checkmate is in sight.

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  17. Henry,

    I'll go out on a limb and assume you agree with me that the Provisionals were sold out by a corrupt leadership. If I'm right then it wasn't Provisionalism/ Irish Republicanism that was the problem per say.. .. And part of the blame has to lie with yourself. Maybe thats why you feel a bit embittered at times..

    You asked earlier today about how are Irish Republicans going to fund a 'new Ireland'... I've a few ideas, and if you want to hear them ask... But you'll have to think out of the box..and you'll have to be prepared to go so far left of centre you'll end up in a different place to where you are now.. It is radical.. but doable..

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