"None of us have got criminal records!"

Criminal Records, Double Standards and the Question of Consistency.

A recent online discussion raised the subject of criminal records, with YouTube commentator Babs McKay reportedly declaring, "None of us have got criminal records," while criticising Kaley Einav for associating with viewers who do.

During the discussion, reference was reportedly made to several individuals. Justin P was cited in connection with a past conviction for theft, a sentence that has already been served. Myself, Matt Taylor, was described as a "stalker," despite never being convicted of stalking. Jake C was also labelled with a highly serious criminal epithet, despite there being no conviction for offences against children.

This distinction matters. In public debate, there is an important difference between expressing criticism, referring to a criminal conviction, and making allegations that have not been established in court. Describing someone as guilty of a serious offence when there has been no such conviction risks misleading an audience and escalating online hostility.

The discussion also prompted questions about consistency. According to reports and public claims, some of the individuals participating in or closely associated with the conversation have themselves been linked to past criminal convictions. 

Those claims include references to AJ Lashbrook having a conviction for animal cruelty, Harry Munker (Tony Quigley) having served a prison sentence for arson, and allegations that Wavy (Gary O'Brien) previously served a lengthy prison sentence. (17 years.)

Anyone making such claims should ensure they are accurate and supported by reliable evidence, as criminal allegations about identifiable people are serious matters.

The wider issue is whether criminal history is being used selectively as a rhetorical weapon. If a person's past conviction is considered relevant in one context, then the same standard should apply consistently to everyone. Equally, where there is no conviction, it is important not to present accusations as established fact.

Public debate is strongest when it is based on evidence rather than labels. Genuine convictions are matters of public record. Allegations without proof are not. Treating the two as though they are the same risks unfairly damaging reputations and undermining the credibility of those making the accusations.

Ultimately, if online commentators wish to hold others to high standards, those standards should begin with accuracy, consistency and fairness.

Babs McKay’s Immortality Claim: A Cautionary Tale of Temper and Timing.

Sixty-five-year-old Babs McKay recently let fly at forty-something Kaley Einav with a full-throated, banshee-level declaration: “I can guarantee you, I will outlive you.” Blood pressure rocketing, spit flying, steam practically pouring from her ears, and the ground trembling under her stamping feet, the performance was pure theatre. One is left wondering whether Babs is being just a tad optimistic.

Family history may offer some comfort. If her mother and biological parents are still going strong in their eighties, longevity clearly runs in the bloodline. Yet a long life is never guaranteed. The past few weeks have delivered a grim reminder of that fact through a run of high-profile deaths: Ann Widdecombe, brutally murdered in her home; Bonnie Tyler; Sam Neill; Kevin Keegan; Dermot Murnaghan; Bill Oddie. People die every day. Fame, fortune, or a robust family tree offer no permanent shield.

My only real concern for Babs McKay is the toll of her recent digital dramas. If she keeps getting this wound up by online skirmishes, the risk is not merely rhetorical. She could find herself six feet under—or, more likely in her case, scattered to the four winds as ash. 

A bit of calm, a cooler head, and fewer volcanic online exchanges might do more for her longevity prospects than any dramatic guarantee shouted across a metaphorical battlefield.

In the end, the only reliable guarantee any of us holds is the one we all share: time is finite. Better to spend it with a steadier pulse than a soaring one.