Does anyone else find that, no matter what one might think of Gibbon's Gubbins in general, baiting someone for past mental health issues is simply crude bullying? I am going to write to his hosting company. I invite others to do the same.
Other termites then dutifully chimed to support him. That does not surprise, of course, but I was rather sad to see him also get support from two people for whom I have great respect and consider as friends, namely Peter Sowray and David Sedgwick.
What none of these people ask themselves is how come I even know about Horton's past troubles? The answer, of course, is that I found out from the website he himself set up. In particular, this article, in which he details his experiences at length. In the process, he also makes the most serious and potentially actionable allegations against a member of the nursing staff, naming him and accusing him of physical abuse of both patients and other staff members. I have yet to see any termitic criticism of Horton's contributions on this topic - apparently, it is OK for him to write what he likes about the subject, and to exploit the experience to pursue whatever obscure agenda he has, slagging off whomever he wishes in the process, but nobody else is permitted to say anything on the subject.
David Sedgwick referred on the Forum to Horton's previous response on the matter, describing it as "dignified". I would be interested to know how dignified David thinks it is to accuse a psychiatric nurse of violence towards patients and staff? How dignified is it repeatedly to brand somebody's business, one which is harming nobody and entertaining many, a "swindle", and its promoter a "spiv"? If only we could all aspire to such heights of dignity.
If McKeown wishes to complain to my hosting company about this blog, let him do so. He can also refer them to Horton's blog and the Bedlam Brigade's effort. They won't have any trouble finding them - all three are hosted by the same company! Besides, if McClown writes his complaint letters at the same speed he writes his books, then by next Christmas, he might just about have got as far as finishing the words "Dear Sir"...
PS.
David Sedgwick has replied. After deliberately selectively quoting me, in order to misquote me, he then writes:
Steve, if you're genuinely interested in my views, please enable comments on your blog. In deference to Carl's wishes, I'm not going to respond further here.
Actions speak louder than words. Readers can judge whether I am interested (genuinely or otherwise) in David's views, by monitoring whether or not comments are enabled on my blog.
