Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Not doing justice

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  • Steve Barnes, in reply to Kumara Republic,

    Not to mention the middle finger salute, which in Roman times was known as ‘digitus impudicus’.

    Ah, the simple beauty of digital communication.
    I did notice, in the background of Debora's billboard picture, a plain plywood hoarding. Forget all the dick and tit graffiti, that one said "I have Wood" subtle.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • william blake,

    my electorate vote is going to Mike Pero.

    Since Mar 2010 • 380 posts Report Reply

  • linger, in reply to Pete George,

    A singular and a plural don’t go together.

    Your premise (that they is inevitably plural) is false: “singular they ” has long been a part of normal English speech, and is more commonly used today – even in edited writing – than any alternative way of referring to an individual of unknown gender.

    References:
    Bodine, Ann (1975). Androcentrism in prescriptive grammar: singular ‘they’, sex-indefinite ‘he’ and ‘he or she’. Language in Society 4: 129-146.
    Gerner, Jürgen (2000). Singular and plural anaphors of indefinite personal pronouns in spoken British English. In Kirk, J. (ed.) Corpora Galore: Analyses and Techniques in Describing English. Amsterdam: Rodopi. 93-114.
    Holmes, Janet (1998). Generic pronouns in the Wellington Corpus of Spoken New Zealand English. Kotare 1: 31-39.
    Laitinen, Mikko (2002). He and they in indefinite anaphora in written present-day English. International Journal of Corpus Linguistics 7 (2): 137–164.

    Tokyo • Since Apr 2007 • 1944 posts Report Reply

  • linger, in reply to Pete George,

    a dick on a John Key billboard

    is just a tautology, surely?

    Tokyo • Since Apr 2007 • 1944 posts Report Reply

  • Alan Perrott, in reply to Paul Campbell,

    actually I was rather aggrieved by the suggestion that a burner may have been associated with that effigy video - kiwiburn et al are about radical inclusion, if Key turned up at the gate with a ticket he should be welcomed on and invited to play his part in the going's on going on. There was an incident a few years back when one group burned an effigy of Brittany Spears during the burn - it riled a few people, including me. The sentiment was understood, but in terms of the true vibe of thing they got it very wrong.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 438 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Tim Hannah,

    Judging from my limited knowledge of classical Roman graffiti, this secret society of dick and tit favouring vandals is older than the Catholic Church.

    roflnui

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • izogi, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    I was also severely underwhelmed by Gibson on Morning Report doing the usual “I’m sorry people were offended” passive-aggressive voice b.s. rather than just saying “I’m sorry I was offensive. Full stop.

    Is that what he said? I'd thought I heard a more direct and responsible apology somewhere along the line, but if he actually spent most of his time blaming others then I'll withdraw my earlier-stated credit to him for at least apologising.

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 1142 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Campbell,

    Alan: for me it's much more of a meh, I don't personally see being silly and burning a public figure in effigy, using your own wood, on your own land, as a big deal. How is it different than a political caricature done in fire? it's not like we have a recent history of people being burned alive, the last person I can think of that comes close was Neil Roberts and that was self inflicted, or that anyone is actually threatening to set Key on fire - but as I pointed out it is part of our culture, we actually do annually burn a political figure in effigy up and down the country. I just think it's political performance art and not a big deal.

    Putting a few shots through someone's electoral office - now that's a big deal

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report Reply

  • HORansome, in reply to Sacha,

    November. After the election, more's the pity.

    Tāmaki Makaurau • Since Sep 2008 • 441 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming, in reply to Matt Crawford,

    You’re paranoid, delusional and I’m more than a little embarrassed for Peter Dunne that his party’s biggest supporter is such a weird crackpot.

    Is Pete George UF now? I thought he was ACT. Huh #needscorecard

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel,

    National doesn't have Billboards ...
    it has 'Key Boards'
    hence all the digital enhancements....

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to nzlemming,

    You’re paranoid, delusional and I’m more than a little embarrassed for Peter Dunne that his party’s biggest supporter is such a weird crackpot.

    Is Pete George UF now? I thought he was ACT. Huh #needscorecard

    Does it matter any more? Is there a name for the cognitive impairment that prevents its sufferers from realising they'd be better off waving their metaphorical wooden legs instead of attempting to run with them?

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • andin, in reply to Pete George,

    Kim Dotcom promotes himself as founder and visionary of the Internet Party and holds a special position of ‘Visionary’ in their party organisation as per their published party rules.

    Been at work, I have a job. But man oh man! you must have scoured their literature to find that, ' cause I can't. Thats it I'm out, up at 5am tomorrow.

    raglan • Since Mar 2007 • 1891 posts Report Reply

  • Tinakori, in reply to Paul Campbell,

    The few shots relate, I understand, to the Harawiras' admirable campaign against P in the region.

    Wellington • Since Jul 2013 • 118 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz, in reply to Tinakori,

    Possibly. Although if this guy's typical of local rightwingers, it might be a more general political opposition.

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

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Joe Wylie,

    Does it matter any more?

    Nope. Soundbites will beat you everytime.Anyone can be everyone.Perception beats all.

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

  • "chris", in reply to linger,

    Your premise (that they is inevitably plural) is false: “singular they ” has long been a part of normal English speech

    My reading was that Pete’s focus was rather on the plurality of the reflexive pronoun in Ian’s:

    a rogue member took it upon themselves

    Obviously I could be mistaken, but I took it as a reference to this descriptive trend:

    In recent years, people have started to use themself to correspond to this singular use of they and them: it’s seen as the logical singular form of themselves. For example:

    This is the first step in helping someone to help themself.

    Ian was not wrong. Pete was not right…yet, but give it a while and the world might just catch up.

    http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/words/themselves-or-themself

    location, location, locat… • Since Dec 2010 • 250 posts Report Reply

  • Ben Austin,

    Isn't sabotage / taking of electoral signs a regular occurrence? I certainly recall people at high school taking great delight in such and sharing their exploits. This was before cell phone cameras, luckily for them I guess.

    All I can remember from this was that Winston Peters used wooden signs at the time.

    London • Since Nov 2006 • 1027 posts Report Reply

  • Lucy Telfar Barnard, in reply to Ben Austin,

    Of course, that's the other way of looking at it - it's not that it's happening more because of social media; it's just that social media means we're aware of more instances of it than just the ones we pass.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 585 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Pete George,

    A singular and a plural don’t go together.

    Phew!
    Sun still rose this morning….
    ;- )

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

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