An easily provable lie

Written by

Ophelia Benson

in

It looks as if Jolyon Maugham actually wants to be sued for libel. Strange thing to want.

You see what I mean? What he says there is obviously not true – so obviously that he must have done it on purpose. He pays creepily close attention to Rowling, so he’s well aware that she does exactly the things he says she doesn’t do.

So he wants to get sued for libel? And lose?

Why?

Comments

6 responses to “An easily provable lie”

  1. Steven Avatar
    Steven

    In The Book of Vice, Peter Sagal details the right-wing playbook for telling The Big Lie. He begins with an example (approximate quotations)

    Suppose you decide that it is in your interest to convince people that the state of Massachusetts does not exist […]

    You begin by raising questions. “Are you sure you’ve been there? Perhaps it was just a trick of the light … confusing highway interchanges that make it seem like there is something between Connecticut and New Hampshire […]

    He continues in like manner through a series of steps. And the last one is

    Never, ever give up.

    That may be what we are seeing from Maugham.

  2. Francis Boyle Avatar
    Francis Boyle

    He likes losing – it’s his kink. (Seriously, it’s like the early Christians lining up to be martyred. It’s a way to take yourself seriously when hardly anyone else does.)

  3. Ophelia Benson Avatar
    Ophelia Benson

    Well here’s hoping he loses enough that he’ll stop liking it.

  4. Francis Boyle Avatar
    Francis Boyle

    What will stop it is the donations drying up. (Which I suspect is happening, hence the increasing desperation.)

  5. Rob Avatar
    Rob

    Why?

    1. He seeks social relevance.

    2. Fundraising.

    He needs a (figurative) arse kicking.

  6. Your Name's not Bruce? Avatar
    Your Name’s not Bruce?

    He likes losing – it’s his kink.

    Maybe it’s lingering guilt over the fox.

    Well here’s hoping he loses enough that he’ll stop liking it.

    So Rowling could end up with a castle and a windmill. Cool.

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