Levels of abuse

The Sir Brian Souter story (your report, 9 May) illustrates the hierarchy of prejudice that still exists in Scotland in 2014. If his jokes had been racist or sexist, he would have been roundly and consistently lambasted. However, his jokes only displayed prejudice against the mentally ill and, therefore, not only were they tolerated, but they were even defended. I am sure this would also have been the case if jokes had been ageist – while homophobic jokes lie somewhere in between.

Personally, I have never been tempted to defend abusers whether they be racists, sexists, homophobes, ageists, looters or paedophiles. I do not understand either the abusers or the abusers’ apologists.

Neil Sinclair

Clarence Street

Edinburgh