Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: About Arie

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  • Sacha, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    it’s not what I really want running through the mind of a man

    True

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • 3410,

    So... thoughtcrime, basically?

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to 3410,

    Character

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • nzlemming, in reply to Sacha,

    If we’re all going to be held to account for our thoughts, rather than deeds, we’re pretty much screwed as a species.

    [ETA I'm less impressed by Goff trying to weasel out of it than by his original comment, but he shouldn't have said it either.]

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report

  • Hilary Stace,

    'PC wets like Mediawatch's (sic) Russell Brown' are advised not to read Michael Laws' latest cruel rant.

    Just to get back to the story of Arie from someone who knows him and the area: 'There is an old shop building (brick) which had largely collapsed in the first earthquake last year very near his flat. The facade had collapsed completely and access was easy although dangerous. He only took a couple of old, incandescent-type light bulbs which would clearly have become part of the rubbish to be carted away.'

    A recent US study found people with ASD were seven times more likely to be picked up by police than those without.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to nzlemming,

    held to account for our thoughts, rather than deeds

    No one forced Goff to speak about it. He's a politician so what he says that he thinks does have some influence on people asssessing what the guy may do with their support. Isn't that what we do with pollies all the time?

    And I'd argue that increasingly words *are* deeds, especially in politics with its systems to multiply, transmit and transform them into action.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to Hilary Stace,

    Michael Laws' latest cruel rant

    Ah, the irony of mascara boy chest-beating about black eyes. What a talkback natural.

    Smith has Asperger's. Big deal. It was not severe enough for him to require care, nor for him not to be unaware that stealing was wrong. So he had a compulsion. Many people do. But they don't take advantage of others' misery or exploit a natural disaster to satisfy that compulsion.

    In the end, justice has been done, blackened eye and all. Now let's similarly identify the other Christchurch looters and mete out similar justice.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    In the end, justice has been done, blackened eye and all. Now let’s similarly identify the other Christchurch looters and mete out similar justice.

    I'm actually a little surprised something like that gets published on the op-ed page of a national newspaper. David Kemeys, you are actually responsible for the content of your paper.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Christopher Nimmo,

    Is publishing that even legal?

    Wellington • Since May 2009 • 97 posts Report

  • andin,

    When these rodents are eventually apprehended and exposed to the light , we are always amazed by how nondescript and petty they seem. As was the case with Arie Smith – blah blah blah
    In fact, the published photos accentuated such feral features – an unusual angularity offset by a blackened eye and the demeanour of one who spends much of his life in the darkness .

    Sez lhaws. F*#ck you micheal, you bottom feeder.

    raglan • Since Mar 2007 • 1891 posts Report

  • Steve Barnes,

    One of the things that seems not to have been mentioned is the fact that those of the same bent as Michele Lawhs seem to think property is more important than people.
    It seems to matter not one jot that the light fittings were more likely than not to have been carted away by the demolition company and sold for scrap along with the copper plumbing and the wire scrap. Sure, the company with the contract has the rights over the spoils but anyone with an ounce of sense would not see Arie's collecting of "interesting things" as looting, in the sense that any intelligent person understands the description, they would see it as what it was, a curious innocent going about his day as any other would. It is the ignorant spitefulness of the self entitled, to point the finger at a marginal case to make their nasty little point. Micheal Lawhs has revealed himself to be no better than trash, which, according to his ilk, makes him more valuable than a person.
    Go figure.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report

  • philipmatthews,

    IN ALL disasters, the rubble attracts rats. Whether it is physical and fatal, like the Christchurch earthquake, or metaphysical and mystical, like the Paul Henry affair, there are always ferals prepared to feed on the misery of others.

    The Paul Henry affair was "metaphysical and mystical". Do I want to know what he means?

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2007 • 656 posts Report

  • B Jones, in reply to philipmatthews,

    The Paul Henry affair was "metaphysical and mystical". Do I want to know what he means?

    My guess is "there but for the grace of God go I, and I'm totally mystified as to how I've dodged that bullet." That is, without having read the article in question. I've had my fill of offensive Republicans this week, and don't need the aggravation of the local version.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 976 posts Report

  • Stephen Judd, in reply to Christopher Nimmo,

    Is publishing that even legal?

    If I were to suggest that pelting Laws with rotten eggs wherever he goes is the duty of every decent citizen, that would not in itself be a crime. But if you were to take my advice, and you were proved guilty of assault on Laws, then I might be charged with being a party to a crime, having counseled or incited you to do it.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report

  • Tony Kennedy, in reply to philipmatthews,

    there are always ferals prepared to feed on the misery of others.

    For a brief instant Mr Lhaws becomes self aware. My next thought is that getting angry is a waste of energy, take action against the SST.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 225 posts Report

  • Carol Stewart, in reply to Tony Kennedy,

    I have been on the verge of cancelling my SST sub for a while now - time for action.

    Wellington • Since Jul 2008 • 830 posts Report

  • Tony Kennedy,

    I offered the SST an option:

    I am a subscriber to the SST and I have a simple request: (Account No. xxxxxxxxxxxx)

    I would like to have the Michael Laws column removed from my copy of your paper prior to delivery...........

    If removing his column is not possible, I would like to cancel my subscription.

    Please get back to us and let us know your decision.

    I am more than happy to continue to receive the paper once it does not contain a ML column. They seem to be able to tailor the content of other areas of the paper based on geograhic locations, so it is technically doable.

    If they replaced the column with a message "intentionally left blank at the request of the subscriber", that would be more than acceptable to me.

    Whats gets to me is the idea that I am paying for his drivel.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 225 posts Report

  • Rex Widerstrom,

    Summary Proceedings Act 1957 No 87

    6 Summary jurisdiction in respect of indictable offences

    ...

    (2) A Court presided over by a District Court Judge shall have summary jurisdiction in respect of the following indictable offences, and proceedings in respect of any such offence may accordingly be taken in a summary way in accordance with this Act, namely—

    ...

    (bb) attempting to commit any summary offence, or inciting, counselling, or attempting to procure the commission of a summary offence ...

    If I were in NZ I would be sitting at my local police station waiting to lay a complaint right now. Any takers?

    If so, do please let me know via here or email.

    The Press Council springs to mind also. Not that it'll deter him, but it may wake the editor up from his slumber.

    Perth, Western Australia • Since Nov 2006 • 157 posts Report

  • Rich of Observationz,

    [sorry, that was probably illegal and conflicts with the fluffy soft-left ethos of this place].

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • Rex Widerstrom,

    Alright this is definitely in the category of "idle Sunday afternoon thoughts", but it might provide for an interesting airing of issues of editorial responsibility. And, much like the Paul Henry situation, it's often a matter of simply making it more uncomfortable for the publisher to continue condoning hatred than it is profitable to continue publishing it...

    Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act 1993 No 94

    Meaning of objectionable
    (1) For the purposes of this Act, a publication is objectionable if it describes, depicts, expresses, or otherwise deals with matters such as sex, horror, crime, cruelty, or violence in such a manner that the availability of the publication is likely to be injurious to the public good

    (2) A publication shall be deemed to be objectionable for the purposes of this Act if the publication promotes or supports, or tends to promote or support,—

    ...

    (f) acts of torture or the infliction of extreme violence or extreme cruelty

    (Refer Section 15 for the process under which any person can submit a publication for classification).

    I now have a queasy feeling in my gut because infringing press freedom is something I normally fight against, and I feel like a Quisling. But sometimes, enough is really enough.

    Perth, Western Australia • Since Nov 2006 • 157 posts Report

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Rich of Observationz,

    [sorry, that was probably illegal and conflicts with the fluffy soft-left ethos of this place].

    Dude, I removed your other sentence too. Let's keep to the moral high ground.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to Rich of Observationz,

    fluffy soft-left ethos of this place

    Next stand-up argument is at yours :)

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Rex Widerstrom, in reply to Rich of Observationz,

    if I heard Lhaws had been murdered

    No need for that, Rich. Lhaws quite clearly says:

    Now let's similarly identify the other Christchurch looters and mete out similar justice

    Definitely an inclusive statement that one. So clearly he's willing to do his bit, brave fellow that he is.

    So all we need do is to convince an enterprising magistrate (and I've come across a few in my time) prepared to offer other looters a choice: Go 10 rounds with Lhaws, televised as free entertainment for a deserving populace. If you win, you go free. Could even make it a "cage match"... no throwing in the towel, you have to clamber out of the cage.

    We could all watch, not really caring who won. True win / win - for the rest of us.

    In the meantime, I'm sure there'd be no shortage of generous souls willing to act as training partners

    Perth, Western Australia • Since Nov 2006 • 157 posts Report

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to ,

    Don't pay any attention to what Michael Laws has to say.

    We won't. But society's gullible probably will, and that gives me the shits.

    And it's a waste of time to get mad. Let's get even instead - design posters, set up websites, have a laugh or two at the expense of the Lhawses and Hotchins of this world instead. Harness the publicity of the likes of Bomber Bradbury and the Jono Project et al. We'll know we've won if they try to gag us - John Drinnan seems to have ruffled a few feathers so far.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to Kumara Republic,

    Paul Henry showed the way. Just use the system that already exists to hold broadcasters accountable for peddling anti-social crap in contravention of their license. That's the offical complaints system, and direct appeals to their advertisers. Filthy bullies like Lhaws do not go away if you ignore them.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

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