Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: McVicar and the media

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  • giovanni tiso,

    I didn't ask the questions PA readers (probably) wanted to me to ask

    I accept that "why are you hurting New Zealand?" may be something of an interview stopper. Look forward to the show.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    In other words, it didn't work. I mean, really, if you want to explain how the anarchists will avoid getting robbed by nasty men with guns, Barcelona is not a good example.

    *Within* the anarchist community, it worked well. Until you have a stable such community, there are always going to be groups attacking it, and they have to be physically eliminated. Durutti did his best, but the anarchists had ancient rifles against the German and Soviet weaponry of the communists and fascists.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    So you're saying you would need an army externally, but not police or legal systems internally?
    Fiji, much?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • LegBreak,

    Just seen the interview on the telly now.

    Normally I've not seen the need to praise RB's work on there because I suspect he doesn't want to turn this forum into a Facebook Fanpage.

    But tonight was well done.

    To use a sporting analogy, gulp, I'll take boxing.

    GMV came out all smooth (and he is very smooth), RB took a few jabs to the chinn, and then, with about 15 secs before the bell, suckered him into dropping the "Ends justifying the means" line.

    Superb. KO

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1162 posts Report Reply

  • Jeremy Andrew,

    Somebody give that man a longer timeslot! Just when the conversation starts getting interesting - "that's all we have time for..."

    Hamiltron - City of the F… • Since Nov 2006 • 900 posts Report Reply

  • Martin Lindberg,

    Somebody give that man a longer timeslot! Just when the conversation starts getting interesting - "that's all we have time for..."

    Yep, I feel like I've watched a trailer for the show.

    Stockholm • Since Jul 2009 • 802 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Thanks folks. I'll write about it all for tomorrow.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    What surprises me is how many people who shouldn't be are scared of the SST.

    I was able to conduct a perfectly reasonable interview while asking Garth McVicar questions I don't think anyone else has.

    Then again, why shouldn't McVicar (my my other pet hate Greg O'Connor) be "perfectly reasonable" when you've got the usual suspects willing to engage in the character assassination and extra-foamy bile lattes in your wake?

    In the end, I think it comes down to Journalism 101 - get burned by a source once, shame on them. Get burned twice, shame on you. The third time (and the rest) - go buy a bloody jester cap, because you're a bad joke.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    But tonight was well done.

    I said "oh fuck Garth McVicar"
    My man said "Yes but RB is doing the interview."
    I said " This could be good or bad"
    He said " You underestimate RB"
    I said "No "
    He said " Good"
    I think "Yes".

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • andin,

    Gee ...McVicar laid a complaint about the Crime & Punishment doco a few weeks back.
    IMO It was rather good. He thought it biased?
    Or did he just hear the word rehabilitate, and had a fit on the floor.
    So when Garth identifies on of those rogue animals down on the farm.
    Does he put it in detention till it sorts itself out? Or is it dinner.

    "perfectly reasonable in person"
    Its what's going on in his mind that's ugly. And it showed.

    raglan • Since Mar 2007 • 1891 posts Report Reply

  • David Cauchi,

    Summarising briefly, it seems the argument presented for why we need the police and prisons is that without them we'll turn into Somalia, because the lack of an effective justice system is the only relevant factor causing that situation – and because someone dimly remembers some archaeological evidence that suggests prehistoric people were more violent than we are.

    And this argument is so powerful that we should dismiss out of hand any alternative.

    Once upon a time, we were a highly religious society. It was generally assumed that without the moral guidance religion provides people would wantonly rape and murder. This was of course complete bollocks.

    Wellington • Since Jul 2007 • 121 posts Report Reply

  • mildgreens,

    If it wasn't for cannabis (100% clearance rate) the Police wouldn't look good.

    We successfully (um, where's the victim, stoopid!) created an additional 3500 criminals over last year (20.9% increase in cannabis offences) and yet NOWHERE has this policy ever been tested for its efficacy....

    IF ALL 400,000 regular users (note, 99% are not abusers or misuser's) were somehow 'detected' for the millions of crimes they commit every year... would that be heralded as a success? So why are the Police applauded for fudging their 'overall' success when it is utterly contrived by INCREASED surveillance, advanced detection methods and increased 'street' policing. The increase in cannabis convictions is proof of failure and no testimony to police's notion they are stopping crime.

    The URBAN HEALTH RESEARCH INITIATIVE report release two weeks ago is incontrovertible (read:scientific) proof the New Zealand Police are fools. (National Drug Intelligence in particular)

    A comprehensive study of the worlds best science that shows that it is increased drug policy enforcement CREATES the very crime they set out to solve should not surprise most thinking folk. It is by the very attribute (signatory status to the Single Conventions on Narcotics) that the Police are compelled to LIE to the public about the harms of cannabis.

    And that by doing so we as a nation are endorsing the punitive approach taken globally to the corruption, mayhem and dysfunction associated with the policy. Nearly two thirds of the 2000 deaths along the Mexico border this year alone (its only April!) are attributed to 'cannabis policy' and by dint of OUR signatory status, we endorse this stupidity and gross Human Rights anomaly. To uphold this stupidity, we make criminals out of ourselves. It is the logical equivalent of declaring war and bombing our own cities.

    The Urban Health Research Initiative report can be found at http://uhri.cfenet.ubc.ca/content/view/83

    There is the real crime story flying under the radar of political pundits, reports and commentators. (and yes, I did an all points release - it even made it too SCOOP)

    I have spoken personally to editors and news rooms up and down this land and NOT ONE OF THEM HAS INCLUDED IT IN THE CRIME DEBATE.

    The worlds best HEALTH science to inform the Law Commission Review on Drugs and....... silence!

    Yet, such insite would even make McVicar choke....

    I repeat... if it wasnt for Cannabis the Police would look terrible.... the 'linking' to methamphetamine doesnt fool anyone but the feeble minded (who it is targeted at) as the best science there tells us, the more you come down on cannabis the more you generate a methamphetamine problem.

    [see Professor James Roumasett, Hawaii University (Economics) "Black Hole Politics".]

    I have seen the enemy, they are patched and like blue, fast cars and have more weapons than Jan Mollenar. They are easily identified; they tell better stories.

    christchurch • Since Nov 2007 • 14 posts Report Reply

  • philipmatthews,

    Interesting McVicar interview. But I would like the 25 minutes I spent watching The Ad Show back.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2007 • 656 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    I understand the constraints, but the time factor really weighed heavily on the show this week (while it didn't for instance in the ASD episode I thought). Could have stood losing the fluff about the iPad entirely, but even so that McVicar interview was screaming for more time. His shtick of sounding so level and reasonable whilst saying the most callous things couldn't have worked for much longer I felt.

    If one of the issues is the cost of editing the interviews, have you considered posting complete unedited versions on the Web like the Daily Show does occasionally?

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • tim kong,

    Anyone got any advice - I can never get the TVNZ website to load the ondemand bits when i'm using firefox. Can only use Safari.

    Running OS X10.6, Firefox, with adblocker and noscript- but all the scripts on tvnz website are allowed. Youtube runs fine. The adobe player initialises - then just sits there loading. Forever.

    No great drama - as I can fire up Safari to watch. But it is a tad frustrating.

    I've yet to watch the episode in full - but can't get Colbert out of my head, as I watch the intro.... :-)

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 153 posts Report Reply

  • 3410,

    I quite agree, Gio (except for the last bit; not possible without major rejigging due to studio time contraints).

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    without major rejigging due to studio time contraints

    Get there half an hour earlier?

    I know, I know, it can't be as simple as that.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • 3410,

    Get there half an hour earlier?

    I know, I know, it can't be as simple as that.

    Besides all that, you're right; expansive thinking requires the time to tease it out, and if M7 was an hour long you'd really be getting somewhere.

    Russ got some good hits in, but it wasn't the bollocking we'd hoped for because the time alotted allowed McVicar to coast on platitudes, rather than be forced to actually address specifics.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • 3410,

    Roger whatshisname was good value though.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    the argument presented for why we need the police and prisons

    David, how about actually laying out for us how their absence would work - like I've asked a couple of times - rather than bagging contrary evidence you don't like.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • philipmatthews,

    Besides all that, you're right; expansive thinking requires the time to tease it out, and if M7 was an hour long you'd really be getting somewhere.

    Agreed. If I was boss of TVNZ7, I'd make Media 7 run the full 50 minutes and let the Ad Show people do perhaps ten minutes of ad coverage a week within it. Not the painful panel discussions either but something with more critical nous.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2007 • 656 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    Roger whatshisname was good value though.

    Wasn't he just? I thought the incoming editor of the HoS said interesting things too. Well, revealing at least, if nothing else.

    (I screeched inwardly when he made the point that if they didn't sell enough papers than there would be *less* journalists. The HoS' ongoing War on Grammar is going to be in good hands.)

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    I'd put money on "more" and "less" being the only pair standing in a matter of years. Especially when "fewer" takes up more space in print headlines.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • 3410,

    Yeah, I picture myself in my old age being called "Shakespeare" by ignorant youths, just for speaking normal proper English.

    Jesus, don't get me started. Like, when the fuck did everyone start forgetting how to say "controversy"?

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    When did people forget how to say the plural of "woman"?

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

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