Softly, Softly

Calton used to think that 'Softly, Softly' was the title of an old police TV series. Now it's the way the BBC treats truculent young men who swear at conductors and get thrown off trains for their pains. Every effort is made to allow said young men to air their side of the story, all in the interests of 'balance'. This morning on the Call Kaye Radio Scotland program we were invited to feel sorry for such a young man, who could clearly be heard on a YouTube video being abusive to a man who was just doing his job. Well, Calton for one has no sympathy for the foul-mouthed lad and every sympathy for the conductor and the last thing we need is for the BBC (which is supposedly a public service broadcaster) to be giving lads like him the oxygen of publicity - it just encourages them to carry on their abuse. It's at times like this that Calton wishes there was still a jail on Calton Hill - and it wouldn't be the Big Man who ended up in it if Calton had his way.