The Hate Escalates

is the status update of the Mary Bale Hate Group on Facebook today with 64 (mostly hideous) comments in response.

Following my article yesterday about Lola (the cat that Mary Bale put in a bin) Mary, and the escalating witch hunt, I decided to join one of the Mary Bale groups on facebook to see what the fuss was about. Six of the comments in response to the good morning message talk about her death, whether it be a death threat, a want for her to commit suicide or a wish for her imminent death. A facebook user had created a profile named 'Lola the cat' and writes '...we should let her suffer before she takes her own life because she cant stand the torment. Once she's close to hanging herself we will break in, rape her, torture her and then watch her kill herself.. That will teach everyone that you need to be good and kind to all living creatures!' Isn't Mary Bale a living creature? What kind of pathetic small minded ignorant person used such language so brazenly in the public domain? The moderator of the page has allowed these comments to continue yet asked for one member not to use the c-word! Reading the comments I am put in mind of teenagers jumping on a band wagon of hate against one kid, it seems that the more outrageous the post the more kudos one earns. It's pathetic, juvenile and dangerous.

A few weeks ago I had friends over for dinner and the conversation turned to facebook and a debate ensued about it's pros and cons of using a social networking site. One friend had recently closed her account down and is now totally anti social networking and one had not yet joined as he feared for his privacy. I enjoy what facebook has to offer, I am in touch with long lost friends and up to date with my friends lives. I can see photo's of weddings, baby's and parties and I can keep in touch with friends who are either working or have moved abroad. But of course there can be a sinister side to having your life available for all to see online. You set your privacy to high and only share your life with those you choose and you alone must take responsibility for your online activity. Facebook is only the tool and people choose to use it however they wish, and in some cases it is abused.

This is one of those cases. Far worse atrocities against animals happen every day and where is the uproar on social networking sites and the media about that? If these people are so passionate about animal cruelty then why not use all this anger and outrage in a positive way and help prevent the abuse that is happening even as I type? In this case the media has elevated the profile of this situation, it has been front page news for days and it is a unique situation. Had it not been for the owners CCTV footage no one would know of Mary Bale and what happened to Lola. The owners cannot be totally blamed as they wanted to find out who did this to their beloved pet and inform the police. Putting the video on you tube and facebook was only the beginning, and I think even they would agree it has now got out of hand. However, they are now enjoying a moment of celebrity status and were even featured on the BBC's The One Show last night, which must be nice.

I again must reiterate that I think what Mary Bale did was very wrong and she should indeed be prosecuted for animal cruelty. That said this has escalated far beyond reasonable behaviour on the part of the people joining these groups and those camped outside her home. Mary Bale has made a public apology, better than her excuse that it was a "joke" as printed in yesterday's news, and she has been interviewed by the RSPCA. It is likely she will get a small fine in terms of legal punishment, but her actual punishment is far worse. She cannot leave her home, work will be impossible, she will be a social pariah and most probably be forced out of her church choir group.

Punishment enough I say. Now how about we put our energy into preventing animal testing or Bull fighting or Whaling or Bear Bating or Seal clubbing or .... the list is endless.