It's a dreich morning here in Ayrshire. I'm sitting here in astonishment at what I've just read in the @thedarkhorsemag. The essay 'Anatomy of a Hounding' by @msjlindsay is a stark warning on the dangers of cultural authoritarianism and not speaking up for your fellow creatives.

Reading about Jenny's experiences in the Scottish Lit scene, and how social media was used to create an environment in which people were too afraid to speak out was illuminating and terrifying. It's a world in which it's easy to condemn people in a 2-second unthinking tweet.

It's something I see on this platform on a near-daily basis. Outrage followed by a tweet followed by a dopamine hit. Repeat. Forget that real people are involved. Forget that we used to have discussions and engage, not performatively share content to audiences we know will agree.

I've said it before, and I'll repeat it - @msjlindsay is one of our best. An outstanding performance poet, a kind and supportive mentor to many, a thoughtful and challenging artist. She is unafraid to challenge the orthodoxy. That's what artists should be.

Alongside @msjlindsay's essay there is also some excellent poetry, and a wonderful essay on Edwin Morgan in the new @thedarkhorsemag. Buy a copy, or even better get a subscription. You can get it here: https://www.thedarkhorsemagazine.com/Issues/Issue-42