Tim Worstall

David t is a Gent

We all make mistakes….to err is human and all. The important question is what you do after such an error is pointed out to you. David t at Harry’s Place:

It is absolutely clear to me that I made a stupid error and that
they are different people. I really ought to apologise to the Christian
CND’s Neil Berry for this article, and I do.

It is a horrid thing to be incorrectly identified as the author of racist material and I’m mortified that I did so.

I should and shall be more careful in the future.

Just as Mother always told you. When you screw up, take responsibility, apologise and promise not to do it again. Useful guidance for blogging not just life in general.

That David t, bit of a gent really, eh?

In

6 responses

  1. Matthew Avatar
    Matthew

    Well it was a bit necessary, as David Aarronovitch had repeated the slur(unattributed) in the Jewish Chronicle.
    It’s a shame there’s no comments on his apology as it would be interesting to know how he made this mistake. Lots of people share the same name, and one doesn’t immediately assume they are the same person, particularly if you’re about to lable them racists. A cursory check with CCND would have cleared things up, so clearly this wasn’t made either.

    Reply
  2. Tim Newman Avatar
    Tim Newman

    It’s a shame there’s no comments on his apology as it would be interesting to know how he made this mistake.
    You don’t need comments to find that out. An email would in all likelihood suffice.

    Reply
  3. sonic Avatar
    sonic

    What a guy eh, who cares if he libels someone, he does say he is very sorry afterwards.
    Whats interesting is what the whole incident tells us about the Deceny worldview. If anyone else was told the chairman of Christian CND was a rabid anti-semite they would say “what?” and check. However as you lot seem to think that anyone who is against the war must be an intellectual decendent of Goebbels you leap in like ill-trained puppies.
    Thats why there are no comments allowed on the HP post.

    Reply
  4. Matthew Avatar
    Matthew

    The most shocking thing was Aaronovitch repeating it, again clearly without making a one minute phone call to check. He’s a journalist, paid for his stuff. You would think he, and the Jewish Chronicle, would know better.
    I agree it’s not the sign of a true gent to start thowing accusations of anti-semitism at completely innocent people.

    Reply
  5. Ben Avatar
    Ben

    I think you’re being overly harsh. He’s apologised profusely, and is clearly mortified that he made this mistake. An error, sure. But who amongst us has never made a mistake? It certainly wasn’t intentional.

    Reply
  6. Matthew Avatar
    Matthew

    Oh it’s obviously a mistake, and David Aaronovitch is a great journalist, but I think you underestimate how hard it would be to make such a mistake. Surely if you read an anti-semitic article by someone, and then find out later that the Treasurer of an organisation has the same name, then unless it’s a very uncommon name (such as that Guardian journalist who Scott Burgess unmasked) you would assume they were different people, not the reverse?
    Tim adds: I take much of your point Matthew. I was really trying to highlight the correct response after one realises one has made a mistake.

    Reply

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