Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
City Facebook group founder regrets MP’S boycott decision
Editor suggests politician risks losing touch with constituents’ concerns
The man behind Canterbury’s most popular Facebook group admits he is disappointed MP Rosie Duffield no longer visits the page.
Ms Duffield told this newspaper that the Canterbury Residents Group contained “much negativity”, and said in her maiden speech at the House of Commons that she had suffered “vile, vitriolic insults” from political opponents online.
But Edd Withers, who created the group in 2014, insists that, far from being plagued by abuse, the group reflects the concerns and conversations of the city.
“This group is a goldmine of views held by the community that she serves, and while Rosie Duffield MP will, of course, hear residents’ views when meeting them in real life, there are many in the group with whom Ms Duffield will not meet,” the 30-yearold said.
“Those that do not attend MP’S surgeries, those that do not approach political campaigners on the high street for a chat, those that are housebound, those that don’t go to school fetes, and those that don’t know who Rosie Duffield even is.
“I think it’s a shame our MP no longer wishes to read the group.”
Earlier this month, the online forum welcomed its 18,000th member.
Mr Withers points out that while debates became heated in the build-up to the general election of June 8, members discussed issues of importance such as terror attacks, racism and Brexit.
“I am not saying there is no negativity on the group,” he said. “There is no doubt that in the last two years or so, the number of topics that aren’t about the sweet and cheery things in life has risen.
“But I feel that this is representative of real life, something that I always try to make the group be.
“Whether we enjoy it or not, we need to travel the bumpy road of discourse about these difficult subjects.”
In her speech to the Commons, Ms Duffield spoke out against the practice of trolling, defined as making inflammatory or disruptive comments in online debates.
But Mr Withers says: “An internet troll is not someone who disagrees with you. A troll is not someone who swears or someone that cannot be convinced by your argument.
“Too often, I see accusations of trolling levelled at people who have a view that is different, perhaps even objectionable. But arguing a passionately held belief is not trolling.
“This is an important distinction to make, as when I make decisions about who to let speak in this group, I have the power to silence opinions and views – a power which I do not take lightly.
“However, when someone makes constant digs at users, when they refuse to debate with people in a civil manner, and when they use language or tone that is intended to distress, then it becomes trolling.”
‘Arguing a passionately held belief is not trolling’