Pretend, for a second, you’re a mouse.

You got caught by a cat, as one in three mice do.

And these cats say to you, you know what, we want to ensure there is due process for the fact that one of our cats harmed you.

Don’t worry.

There’s a process.

There’s laws.

Trust us.

Naturally as a mouse you’re a little iffy on the proposal but the cat that harmed you and most of the cats that harm mice traditionally get away with a lot of shit, so

Yes.

Let’s talk about what happened.

You go through the process & there is a lot of conversation & insinuation from the less-evolved cats (you’re there for the picking, cats are programmed to act like this, mice are already equal with cats, why were you existing as a mouse if you didn’t wanted to get pounced on etc)

And eventually it is concluded that yes, there was harm, but the name for what was done to you was mentioned incorrectly.

All the cats are up in arms, now. Enraged.

Because, to a cat, it’s very important not to accuse a cat of doing more harm than the harm he actually caused.

It is very important to define exactly what happened but most importantly, to *consistently disrupt the conversation entirely* in ardent defence of that cat that harmed.

So, as a mouse you see these cats howling and wailing and not one of them looks at you to see if you’re okay.

Not one of them even casts an eye in your direction or thinks about all the other mice watching this.
As a mouse you sit there. Still harmed. Still waiting for someone to say it wasn’t okay. Still waiting for the moment that a cat draws a clear line in the sand about that harm.

Some of the cats that are speaking have a history of scratching, and it occurs to you to wonder why they’re so invested in this conversation, if their actions have shown, clearly, repeatedly, that there’s a very particular disdain shown to mice.

And slowly it dawns on you that you’re dealing with a bunch of cats that are invested in a particular outcome.
It is a fearful thing, contemplating being held to account for harming mice.
In fact, this group of cats would quite like to avoid a genuine conversation entirely.

Why, there’d be repurrcussions for cats countrywide if that occurred at the highest level. It might affect Justcat! Heathcat! Social developcat!
Who knows what equity might be wrought for mice if they weren’t seen as toys to inflict harm upon, overwhelmingly without consequence.

Who knows what would happen if the most powerful group in the country collectively stood up & said assault is not okay.
That it’s a crime.
That they’d work together to ensure the culture of harm is changed, & resource, budgets would be given.
Who knows how the world would change?

As a mouse, you realise that the oath these cats took to help you means nothing, because all they are doing is helping themselves.

If those cats wanted culture change, the culture would be changed.

It makes sense. Cats are pretty invested in the status quo - not due process.

Next time (there’s always a next time) you’ll think long and hard about accept any invites to speak out.

I thought it might be helpful to spell it out, given the very special quality of some of the toxic gaslighting occurring in our national newspapers/govt.

Also #notallcats/