I’VE become interested in contagion as a phenomenon, unlikely though that may seem.

Usually, we associate it with passing on/catching a disease but it can also describe an
influence which spreads quickly, sometimes a corrupting, unhealthy influence. It has been
established, for example, that published details of suicides can encourage others to
emulate such actions.

Fortunately, just about all media channels nowadays moderate such reporting, aware of
the need to avoid such a pernicious effect. This stuff is dangerous.

So ….. contagion can refer to the spreading of malign ideas and attitudes. It’s what my
mother would have called ‘a polyution’. You see where I’m going with this?

Mary Whitehouse was convinced that some television programmes had a detrimental
effect on viewers. She campaigned relentlessly against what she saw as the excessive
portrayal of sex and violence (and a few other things) on the BBC. She fought paedophilia
and child pornography. While she doubtless believed she was protecting children and the
vulnerable from evil influence others saw her as bigoted and intolerant. Undaunted, Mary
kept on going.

What would Mary Whitehouse think of the protests outside migrant hotels, protests that
look in some cases uncannily like riots? She would be horrified, wouldn’t she? But would
she see contagion at work? After all, sometimes rioters at other events have claimed that
they were caught up in the fervour, infected by the behaviour of others, thereby acting in
ways counter to that of their normal, rational selves.

‘Beyond Contagion: Understanding the Spread of Riots’ is a series of podcasts which
highlights the need to avoid over-simplication, citing research which concludes that factors
such as identity crisis, race identity, inequality, disempowerment propel individuals with
common cause to act together.

Whether it qualifies for the label ‘contagion’ is probably irrelevant, though. Seeing other
people doing something vile doesn’t make it right. It certainly doesn’t mean we have
permission to imitate them. We have to take responsibility for our behaviour. We really
should behave like decent human beings.

And, yes, I’m aware of the toxic neo-Nazi element! Have we learned nothing?