Dear community, fans and members,
This is the kind of post I normally try to avoid.
You will notice that this morning I have removed a post that I made while I was away working and travelling yesterday.
At quite short notice, I was kindly invited to get together with a varied group of people to do some filming.
I don't normally turn down such opportunities, unless I have some concrete reason. Even if I have factual and non-damaging disagreements with another person involved. I try to beat views that I disagree with, with facts and argument.
One of the people involved yesterday, it turns out, is highly *personally* offensive to a lot of people I care about. Both here and offline. I did not know the depths and complexities of the issues with that person before yesterday.
I don't care if somebody has historical views that I disagree with - I will argue with them. But I do deeply care if a person has views that I deem to be venturing into the realm of bigotry, such as sexism, racism or homophobia. That is absolutely, and obviously, a line in the sand for me.
I have interacted with this person over the years, including posting video rebuttals, arguments, responses etc. on historical matters. I had not experienced anything negative with that person, other than disagreeing with a fairly large number of points that person made (as evidenced by my videos responses over the years, eg. what is HEMA?).
However, yesterday after filming, it was brought to my attention that on their second channel (one I have only visited a handful of times, a long time ago) this person is now promoting political and social views which are absolutely against my own views, and indeed against the principles of the groups and events I run. I was not aware of the nature and extremity of this person's views before yesterday. People can of course voice their views in a free society, but I am equally free to disapprove of, disagree with and disassociate with those views. Which I hereby do in black and white terms.
I do not at all align myself, or in any way agree with that person's views on these topics. Which should be patently obvious to anyone who knows me or has followed my channel closely.
I filmed one video with the said person yesterday, and I had already decided last night not to publish that. I have also now taken down yesterday's post, because I want to move on from this and disassociate from them.
I understand that many people will be angry that I have collaborated with that person at all (even before I knew their views), and I hope that it will partially appease you to know that I will not associate with them again, now that I know the full facts, and that there will be no output from yesterday's filming coming from me.
For people who are upset to read this and did not know about this person's views, I suggest that you go and decide for yourself. But I know where my line in the sand is.
Now this page will return to its usual content, apologies for the diversion