Sanctimania

Public opinion seems to be accepting that saying hurtful things, deserved or not by the recipient, may be hateful, if hateful could ever be defined in law. Nevertheless, I sense that the public mood feels that hurtful remarks are not, generally, consistent with the archaic principle of fair play. So just when we feel that our old fashioned habit of slagging off odd balls isn’t really cricket, however humourlessly intended, up pops St Matthew of Parris whose 70 year old skin is so thick that his sanctimonious benevolence now extends to those who ignorantly take his mickey. In an act of universal forgiveness, bravely, he cites the children’s rhyme that sticks and stones may hurt my bones etc. One wonders whether he will also be turning the other cheek?