Toby Young had a hot take on a publisher’s inclusion policy and the replies were very satisfying

Oonagh Keating. Updated June 11th, 2018

Publisher Penguin Random House has announced measures to make sure its books reflect our diverse society more accurately and some people weren’t happy. Author Lionel Shriver criticised the policy, which had the (un)fortunate consequence of prompting Toby Young to add his hot take.

The problem with Penguin’s new, virtue-signalling inclusion policy is that any BME, gay, trans or female authors it publishes from now on will worry that they haven’t been chosen on merit, but because they tick a diversity box https://t.co/EuHaFNZYB1

— Toby Young (@toadmeister) June 10, 2018

This turned out to be quite the self-own with people keen to remind Young of how he got into Oxford.

https://twitter.com/lucyfishwife/status/1005813795518926849

Because if anyone knows the burden of meritless advancement, it’s Toby ‘My Daddy Got Me Into Oxford’ Young. https://t.co/vGxdnjxn6R

— Dr Fern Riddell (@FernRiddell) June 10, 2018

The problem with having your dad ring up Oxford to get you a place is that from now on you’ll worry that you haven’t been chosen on merit, but because you didn’t tick a diversity box https://t.co/ccaIpaVE6j

— Will Tucker (@willgtucker) June 10, 2018

Mediocre white men whose dad's got them into Oxbridge worry about women's "merit" part 13566 https://t.co/ccHNLrKNPF

— sianushka (@sianushka) June 10, 2018

https://twitter.com/touchmybobby/status/1005783359350550529

The problem.with your dad getting you an undeserved place at Oxford is you'll always know you didn't get in on merit. https://t.co/QnuTSEawRA

— Red 'til I'm Dead (@suziegeewizz) June 10, 2018

much better to be chosen because your dad made a phone call pic.twitter.com/nbIvna12If

— sarah m (@sazza_jay) June 10, 2018

I preferred it in the old days when nepotism was the way forward.

— John Rain (@MrKenShabby) June 10, 2018

If you are aware of anybody who has been given a job for any reason other than merit, for example someone who has been appointed to sit on the board of the Office for Students, please alert @toadmeister to this injustice immediately. https://t.co/dEX21p0zFk

— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) June 10, 2018

10.

The problem with the traditional Old Boy Network way of founding careers in publishing and the media is that any posh, privileged authors it published must worry that they weren’t chosen on merit, but because their dad knew someone who knew someone. pic.twitter.com/k8AFZH0lH1

— David Llewellyn (@TheDaiLlew) June 10, 2018

In fairness, not everybody mentioned his past experience with nepotism. Some found other metaphorical sticks with which to beat him.

11.

lol Toby it’s not us that doubt our talent, it’s folk like you. But nice try. https://t.co/lTd62rLTzX

— Amna (@AGlasgowGirl) June 10, 2018

12.

I wonder if mediocre privately educated types have ever had that worry? No. Didn’t think so. Move on. https://t.co/8CJtSwegAd

— Rebecca Rideal (@RebeccaRideal) June 10, 2018

13.

Virtue is a good thing, and humans signal all the time. The problem with people who say ‘virtue signalling’ is that it is a substitute for actually thinking for themselves. https://t.co/TJ8BKMGxrn

— Dr Adam Rutherford (@AdamRutherford) June 10, 2018

14.

Never mind, Toby. If you're ever rejected by PRH you can always claim it was because of discrimination, rather than mediocrity. https://t.co/pjzTXDEXdS

— Joanne Harris (@Joannechocolat) June 10, 2018

15.

lol Toby it’s not us that doubt our talent, it’s folk like you. But nice try. https://t.co/lTd62rLTzX

— Amna (@AGlasgowGirl) June 10, 2018