If you had a mind to go through everything I ever tweeted, you’d find where I had a spat with James from Depher a long time ago… because he was routinely reporting every family he dealt with for poverty to social services.
That’s violence.
Looks like that’s not come to light?
That’s violence.
Looks like that’s not come to light?
That would have been on main, for all to see, I then said nothing further publicly, assuming as most did, that the charity (or CIC) was doing some good.
I hated the sad old people posts. But I didn’t yet see much other criticism of it and I didn’t want to get mired in a fight.
I hated the sad old people posts. But I didn’t yet see much other criticism of it and I didn’t want to get mired in a fight.
And also because everyone (absolutely everyone) on the internet who writes about poverty, has ever fundraised, has ever had complaints about how they can’t afford something, every single one, including me, gets called a “grifter”. Frankly, the word has no fucking meaning anymore.
The same groups of people who style themselves as “investigators” do batshit unhinged things to hundreds of targets- (like making a map of every sailing club in the region where they were sure I lived, to try to identify the one I said I had been to). It’s harassment, mostly…
95% of what the rumour mill throws up (and I can tell you this from having been close to some of the people who have been put through it) is a compelling but desperately flawed narrative which is super plausible, and not actually correct.
Sometimes, like now, it strikes oil.
Sometimes, like now, it strikes oil.
James isn’t a good man. He didn’t run a good business/charity/CIC. The forms to apply for help were the most intrusive I have ever seen and I have probably seen the forms for every major charity that does grants. I favour Turn2Us for home emergencies by the way. If you need one…
Nor could he be trusted with any of that information. That’s another thing I was mad about.
If you work with the vulnerable (I did, before I had ME) then safeguarding must be coded in from day zero. Even if his posts had been at-least true, they were gross violations of trust.
If you work with the vulnerable (I did, before I had ME) then safeguarding must be coded in from day zero. Even if his posts had been at-least true, they were gross violations of trust.
But I caution against leaning too into this “internet sleuth” thing, because these people are more often desperately dangerous and extraordinarily twisted, than they are worthy and reasonable. When journalism as a profession is more moral than you by some way…? Yeah that bad.
James deserves jail time if he’s proven in court to have done what the BBC are pretty confident he has- ripped off at least hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of pounds destined for critical poverty support.
But very much beware of the trolls. These are no heroes either.
But very much beware of the trolls. These are no heroes either.
And before you wonder have I heard about me?
Yes mate.
And I have the home security to show for it.
Not even my cat remains unthreatened.
It’s a cesspool out there.
Yes mate.
And I have the home security to show for it.
Not even my cat remains unthreatened.
It’s a cesspool out there.
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
