Radio Blockhead Guy

A number of readers have been in touch about my recent 'Whiff of Unionism' post asking about the identity this RadioGlasgowGuy on Twitter.

Now I don't know for sure who this chap is, but his Twitter handle advertises a Sunday radio programme on 107.9 FM which turns out to be the home of CamGlen Radio, whose target audience appears to be in and around Cambuslang and Rutherglen which have been part of South Lanarkshire for years, of course.

The CamGlen programme schedule lists a Sunday Rock Show with "our very own Radio Guy" aka John Toms, so it would seem that John Toms and Radio Guy Glasgow are one and the same person, despite the fact that CamGlen's Radio Guy is based in Lanarkshire not Glasgow.

In any event I tuned in to the aforesaid Sunday rock show for a short time and was taken aback to hear a rather mild-mannered voice, the kind of voice that wouldn't say boo to a goose's face, as Mr John Toms spoke warmly about the musical catalogue of Duran Duran, no less.

Oh, how I laughed, as I said to myself, "Can this really be the same chap who is such a conspicuous oaf on Twitter?" 

Well I don't know, but for sure it's not unusual for someone's alter ego to come to the fore on social media, where otherwise normal, polite, reasonable people turn into belligerent, rude, and often hateful champions of their own pet hobbyhorses. 

Anyway, back to the nonsense which prompted my Whiff of Unionism post - I have no problem with people picking and choosing whom they speak to online, but i do object to juvenile name-calling and misrepresentation.

So for a while at least John Toms, CamGlen Radio and Radio Guy Glasgow have all sparked my interest, albeit for all the wrong reasons and if readers have any useful information to pass on, drop me a note at: markirvine@compuserve.com or via Twitter at: @Mark1957

  

Whiff of 'Unionism' (07/12/15)

My involvement with Twitter has been active for only a couple of months and, by and large, I find it an interesting source of information, occasionally a place for debate or an exchange of views with other users.

But as with other forms of social media the 'Twittersphere' has more than its fair share of strange people, full of their own self-importance and more than willing to live up to the old adage that empty vessels make most noise.

I had a 'conversation' with one of these individuals the other day, a chap who hides behind the Twitter handle @RadioGuyGlasgow and normally tweets about anything and everything to do with Scottish independence, as if he has something important to say on the subject.

Now during the course of our chat @RGG made the rather extraordinary statement that:

RadioGuyGlasgow ‏@RadioGuyGlasgow 

2 hours agoEast Kilbride, Scotland

Britain hasn't abolished slavery. It's moved the location. #Bangladesh #India Brit companies control manufacturing @Mark1957 @RealSensitive

TO WHICH I REPLIED:

Mark Irvine ‏@Mark1957 

2 hours ago

Mark Irvine Retweeted 

Now that's what I call a weak argument - these are independent countries and have been for well over 50 years https://twitter.com/RadioGuyGlasgow/status/673494545762488322

WHICH RESULTED IN THE FOLLOWING TWEET:

RadioGuyGlasgow ‏@RadioGuyGlasgow

Sorry @Mark1957but your account has a whiff of "unionism" about it. Blocking. I can't communicate with less educated folk.

Now blocking is the Twitter equivalent of sticking your fingers in your ears and it's normally reserved for people who are behaving abusively and/or threateningly online, all the more so if they post anonymously.

As a Yes voter I feel mildly insulted at these juvenile antics, but the much more important point is that there is a very nasty, intolerant streak within Scotland's online 'community' of independence supporters which doesn't bode too well for the future, if you ask me. 

A whiff of "unionism" indeed - can you imagine what Scotland would be like if pathetic individuals like @RGG ever got anywhere near the levers of power?