I've been thinking about last week's feel good story about "the Salah Effect" causing hate crime to be reduced by 20% on Merseyside.
This is obviously a good thing, regardless of how its presented or why it happened.
It's. A. Good. Thing.
Only an animal of a human being would argue otherwise.
So, I'm not arguing with the figures. If I'm honest, I want to believe them. Like any sane human being, I welcome the improvement. In any event, even if I were of a poisonous mind, I have no research of my own to contradict them. So, it would be futile.
That said, the figures - as superficially encouraging as they appear - are actually quite disturbing upon reflection...
If we accept both the connection and these figures to be true, they clearly imply that one in five hate crimes on Merseyside were committed by a (dangerously easy-to-influence) section of LFC fans.
And these hate crimes that have now eased off... they would have coincided with a time when what we might reasonably call the "Suarez Effect" was in full swing. (I am, of course, referring to LFC's staunch defence of Suarez during the Evra racism case and the fallout, thereafter).
Firstly, it's frightening to think that people are that fucking dumb, in the first place, that they'd take their lead on such a serious issue from the actions (or portrayal of the actions) of a footballer (or his club).
Secondly, it's quite disingenuous to offer credit to LFC fans for the improvement in race relations without encouraging them to take ownership of contributing to the problem in the first place.
Thirdly, if I am right in making the connection above, what next? Are Merseyside race relations really to be decided upon the beliefs/ bigotry or simple whims of LFC's next top goalscorer?
My point is that, if the connection between Salah and the drop in hate attacks is true, then this blind praising of LFC fans (or any grouping in society) that has been afoot for decades now, can have dangerous, knock-on effects for innocent people.
Obviously, the other thing is that the connection is bollocks. In which case, it was just blowing smoke up Liverpool's arse again. And you'd have to ask yourself, why? To what end? Cannot a good news story just be presented for what it is, without being viewed through certain prisms?