Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Reproduced Without Comment

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  • Graeme Edgeler,

    This is the same behaviour as people who hawk unsavoury products on the Internet and may well be illegal under the anti spam law passed a few years ago.

    Nope.

    Our anti-spam law only covers commercial electronic messages. Political speech (and all other non-commercial speech) is exempt.

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report Reply

  • Lyndon Hood,

    I can't resist point out his mildly terrifying ad. Apparently it's for real.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1115 posts Report Reply

  • Ray Gilbert,

    Is Graeme Hunt cockney rhyming slang?

    Since Nov 2006 • 104 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic,

    I got spammed by, of all people, the US Republican Party a few years back.

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

  • Emma Hart,

    Mr Shirtcliffe should really be more careful about what he does with his email address. Somebody might do something unscrupulous with it for kicks.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Clarke,

    I think Mr Shirtcliffe was probably a real estate agent in a previous life.

    -36.76, 174.61 or thereab… • Since Nov 2006 • 164 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Semmens,

    Mssrs. Hunt and Shirtcliffe must be finding the current British FPP election an absolute nightmare.

    All MMP supporters have to do is point at the outcome of that democratic farce - no matter who actually wins - and the argument is over.

    Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Clarke,

    Mr Shirtcliffe should really be more careful about what he does with his email address. Somebody might do something unscrupulous with it for kicks.

    And those phone numbers. People can be really evil.

    -36.76, 174.61 or thereab… • Since Nov 2006 • 164 posts Report Reply

  • John Fouhy,

    turnout under MMP elections is consistently lower than under first-past-the-post polls.

    Is that true?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 87 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    Is that true?

    no

    Though apart from the first MMP election, the four following have all been a lower turnout than the last five FPP elections. But generally more than the 1978 one (adjusted up to 79% in note 9).

    Stating that this is because of MMP rather than, y'know a billion other reasons that people might be less likely to vote is pretty misleading.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Zippy Gonzales,

    1975 wasn't so great for turnout either.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 186 posts Report Reply

  • Zippy Gonzales,

    By the way, feel free to show your support for MMP with this Facebook group. It's a bit sad that Rick Giles' powerful argument has a bigger group than the retaining of our electoral system.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 186 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    And while obviously more is generally better, NZ turnout is pretty good compared to some countries.

    And any argument which says "a move from a system where a large proportion of the population knew that it didn't matter which box they ticked, their vote wouldn't lead to anyone getting elected TO a system where the vast majority of electors help put a person in parliament has led to a decrease in turnout" would need some pretty strong statistical evidence to be taken seriously.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Ross Mason,

    Is Graeme Hunt cockney rhyming slang?

    It was his brother Mike.

    I think we can give Peter the ShortShrift can't we?

    Upper Hutt • Since Jun 2007 • 1590 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    As an antispam professional, I must advise against responding with the "not interested" email he is trying to solicit. This is used as a tactic to confirm that your email address is active and being used by a human being. If you want to do something, submit it to your usual spam junking service, which might result in his mail being blocked for a lot of other people.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    If you want to do something, submit it to your usual spam junking service,

    We actually have such a thing? Tell us more.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Dylan Mordaunt,

    I'm not interested in the group's campaign, however I don't see what the big deal is about- the message is not illegal in NZ:

    http://www.dia.govt.nz/diawebsite.nsf/wpg_URL/Services-Anti-Spam-Index
    http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2007/0007/latest/DLM405134.html

    Spamming/junk-mail was used by every major political party prior to the last election, albeit they filled our physical mail boxes with difficult-to-recycle plastic wraps and waxy or glossy paper/card. I would much rather them send me an email which I could instantly bin (along with the property press, and all those other weekly delights which line my recycling bin).

    Auckland • Since Nov 2007 • 22 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    I think your association of the phrase "taken seriously" with these tired fossils is optimistic at best

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    And while obviously more is generally better, NZ turnout is pretty good compared to some countries.

    Until you start looking at local body turnouts (because returning a postal ballot is so damn onerous), which is the point where Kiwis should really STFU before getting their sneer on at those stupid Yanks.

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

  • recordari,

    Was going to post this on the UK thread, but we seem to have got to Voter Turnout over here first.

    Is the UK Electorate Disengaged?. Predictions of between 53% to 61% (as per last election). That seems to leave quite a bit of room for mobilising voters, but that horse has undoubtedly bolted. Interesting, but.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    We actually have such a thing? Tell us more.

    Can't speak for anyone without hearing about their setup, but just about anyone who has any kind of antispam solution has a way of reporting it. Even my hotmail account has it. These things work better if more people use them - one person junking something is just noise, 100 people doing it is a trend, and triggers a lot of things - heuristic filters become more aggressive on the message. The IP address, or range of addresses may be blacklisted, or sender address or domain etc. This is completely independent of any laws about spam.

    I'm not interested in the group's campaign, however I don't see what the big deal is about- the message is not illegal in NZ:

    It's not a big deal. It's a minor annoyance, that is easily dealt with. It does say a lot about the nature of the sender, though. I thought the email response was spot on by saying the campaign is now tarred with the same brush as penis enlargement technology.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Lyndon Hood,

    Speaking (elsewhere) about Jim Anderton, here is his blog post about Peter Shirtcliffe.

    In other news, Jim Anderton has a blog.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1115 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Dig that funky navigation

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Bevan Shortridge,

    recordari spake:

    Was going to post this on the UK thread, but we seem to have got to Voter Turnout over here first.

    I must have missed that thread somewhere. Could someone point me to it? I've searched but could not see it...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 122 posts Report Reply

  • recordari,

    Pass the crisps: UK Election watch.

    It should perhaps come with a slight warning though. They have been discussing Charlie Brooker, and things have got a little divergent from the UK election.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

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