Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: The out-of-control manchild on the council

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  • Angus Robertson,

    What an utter crock.

    I'll concede right-wingers regularly claim victimhood of "the innocent children" for political gain. They'll set up a whole self-serving agenda around protecting "the innocent".

    But these examples of supposed claiming victim for status themselves are crap.

    What about Key bleeting like a little injured lamb everytime anyone attacks his integrity.

    National attacks his accusers, his party smears back. He doesn't claim victimhood of unfairness and set up a piece of shoddy legislation to regulate debate (like for instance the EFA).

    And just take a look whats happening at the scary republican convention in the states. In defending Palin against the rabid media those mad shitbirds are taking victimhood into the stratosphere!

    The candidate ain't breaking down in tears. They aren't claiming victimhood and trying to remedy it by some sort of "fairness doctrine". They are attacking the message as the product elitist, establishment snobs.

    Auckland • Since May 2007 • 984 posts Report Reply

  • Mark Harris,

    Did anybody actually out Redbaiter? Don't really care but he was the main one who ruined the .nz groups on Usenet for me.

    Waikanae • Since Jul 2008 • 1343 posts Report Reply

  • Peter Ashby,

    Redbaiter spat the dummy in nz.gen and declared he was off to Oz. Presumably he meant he was transferring his bile to the web.

    I gave up Usenet myself a few months ago. I needed my life back. Be nice to have threaded discussions on the web but.

    Dundee, Scotland • Since May 2007 • 425 posts Report Reply

  • DPF,

    I did not know, so please do not make statements along the lines of "I can't believe he didn't know".

    Yes I could have taken the time to go to her Wikipedia page and check the edit history. But I didn't think to do that, and that really wasn't the issue. I have had malicious editing on my wikipedia page, but that doesn't mean I call for the Government to pass a law about it.

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 78 posts Report Reply

  • Don Christie,

    What an utter crock.What about Key bleeting like a little injured lamb everytime anyone attacks his integrity.

    It did cross my mind that National and ACTs current double play on Peters met Key's criteria of "personal attacks".

    That's why it was such a lame proposition at the time.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1645 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    Russell,

    I haven't seen the show yet (it's been that sort of week, I've been struggling to read email until tonight) but good on you for putting it on and then front up and facing feedback of the positive and negative sort. Important issues that need to be discussed, and then analysed and done again in a better way.

    Be nice if more producers of stuff that goes on TV (see the current discussion about the future of the NPC on 'Field Theory') were willing to hear feedback and think about how they'd do things differently from the ordinary punters.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Robert Fox,

    They aren't claiming victimhood and trying to remedy it by some sort of "fairness doctrine"

    But conservatives who oppose the EFA will remedy its unfairness by scrapping it and replacing it with their own fairness doctrine when they gain power wont they? They are all victims of big government after all aren’t they? The disingenuous chippy loons on the right who constantly decry the nanny state and political correctness for victimising individuals are just fearful that there own privileged financial and social status is threatened by progressive politics. The naked self interest of corporate power is disguised in a populist libertarian vernacular that claims to represent the interest of all individuals but only serves to protect the interest established corporate power. Thank you Mr Gramsci?

    Since Nov 2006 • 114 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    I'm glad Jay Bennie called you on the Simon Pound piece. It made my skin crawl as well.

    Well, I thought about button-holing Bennie and asking him whether every second story in MtM being about "the scene" wasn't setting up one or two tiresome (and quite damaging) stereotypes of their own. Not all us queens have social lives revolving around bars, the Hero Parade, dance parties blah blah fucking blah. So, darling, make sure you're going home in the same panties you went out with before calling anyone else a cheap slut.

    But I've had this argument with various people in the gay media over the years, and the best definition of madness is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.

    But here's a true story. A while back, when I was in the Young Nats I put forward a gay-related remit that (narrowly) failed to pass in committee. A reporter who is now a very senior political reporter at a metropolitian daily asked for my reaction. I said, well of course I was disappointed but the debate was civil, and the support and positive feedback was encouraging. She just stopped me, and said, "I can't do anything with that." I told her that was all she was going to get and (big surprise) nothing ran. I'm damn sure something would have if I'd gone off.

    And I don't think the MSM is immune from similar charges. With all due respect, putting "Maori issues reporter" on a by-line, schlepping off to Waitangi and Ratana once a year, and having Ranginui Walker on your speed dial does not in-depth Maori reporting make.

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

  • Russell Brown,

    I did not know, so please do not make statements along the lines of "I can't believe he didn't know".

    Fair enough. I had some idea this sort of thing was going on but I hadn't realised it was so extensive. It was referred to in the thread on Kiwiblog.

    Yes I could have taken the time to go to her Wikipedia page and check the edit history. But I didn't think to do that, and that really wasn't the issue. I have had malicious editing on my wikipedia page, but that doesn't mean I call for the Government to pass a law about it.

    Some moron vandalising your page isn't quite the same as having your opponent do it while you're standing for office, though. And actually creating the articles to do it in the first place. I don't know Caughey, and I don't think regulation would be appropriate, but I think she was fairly upset by the nature of the campaign against her.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    In other news, I woke up this morning to the melliflous sound of John Banks' voice saying "Clearly I know how the mentally ill operate." Would anybody like to fill me in on what he said before that most disturbing sentence?

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Would anybody like to fill me in on what he said before that most disturbing sentence?

    I think I'd rather just let it hang there, mysterious and beautiful ...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    I did not know, so please do not make statements along the lines of "I can't believe he didn't know".

    Completely off topic, but I caught David on the panel yesterday, and a couple of times he talked the same way as John Key. That slight drawl, the way he started off talking.

    It put me in mind of some sort of National Party Speaking Classes. :)

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart,

    I'm glad Jay Bennie called you on the Simon Pound piece. It made my skin crawl as well.

    Yeah but no but yeah...

    It was the Pound piece that introduced the idea of Outreach, which really pinged with me. I've been reading a bit lately in the US and UK media about assimilation of gay culture (and busloads of straight tourists going to See the Gays), and something wasn't pinging quite right with me.

    So if someone's talking about being a teenager and living in Masterton or Ashburton or fcuking Timaru and needing some kind of lifeline, I don't give a shit how much fruit there is on their hat. I never saw an out gay person - in RL or on the telly or anywhere - until I joined the Labour Youth Council at sixteen.

    Everything made so much more sense after I was handed my copy of the Gay Agenda.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    I've been reading a bit lately in the US and UK media about assimilation of gay culture

    Aaaargh $&%(#!!!!

    WE ARE THE GAY BORG. WE WILL ADD WHAT LITTLE BIOLOGICAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL FABULOUSNESS YOU POSSESS TO OUR OWN. YOUR CUTE BOYS WILL ADAPT TO SERVICE OURS. HOLD MY GOLD, GIRLFRIEND, BECAUSE RESISTANCE IS SOOO LAST SEASON!

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

  • Russell Brown,

    So if someone's talking about being a teenager and living in Masterton or Ashburton or fcuking Timaru and needing some kind of lifeline, I don't give a shit how much fruit there is on their hat.

    Yes, that's why the response, sincere as it was, took me a bit by surprise. The outreach thing was what I took away from it. But Simon inadvertently, as our friend Brian put it, "fell into the drag queen trap", which we didn't know was there.

    Over on GayNZ I also got told off for (once) saying "gay women".

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg,

    Squeeze (which he was in!)

    And I'm gonna put my hand up and say "so was I" (although not in any meaningful way..unlike David..I was an extra in 2 scenes, although parts of it were shot in my dinning room)

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    But Simon inadvertently, as our friend Brian put it, "fell into the drag queen trap"

    Yeah, but you know what pisses me off about that scolcing the more I think about it -- well, just take a bloody look at a pile of MtM/Express or Out. I know there wasn't the time to even start addressing that minefield, but I've got to wonder if gay self-representation and media don't perpetuate as many stereotypes as they bust.

    I'm not saying "outreach" doesn't exist, and it isn't damn important. But it's just a wee bit more complex -- not every young gay and lesbian sees themselves in the urban 'scene'. And, to be fair, I'm not bagging anyone for coming up against the simple reality that "gay media" has always run on the smell of an oily feather boa. It takes serious time, effort and resources to develop networks and relationships (and a lot of trust) outside urban communities. Especially when you're talking about provincial and rural communities you have people who are there, are queer but they don't have a rainbow flag hanging on the front gate for easy identification.

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

  • Craig Ranapia,

    And perhaps you were right to avoid another very sensitive subject when it comes to gay/lebian media across the world -- what a friend of mine call the 'unbearable whiteness of being'.

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

  • Mark Harris,

    @simon

    although parts of it were shot in my dinning room

    which is the room you use to make a lot of noise? Sounds appropriate :-)

    Waikanae • Since Jul 2008 • 1343 posts Report Reply

  • Rex Widerstrom,

    Wow, till I read "Transmorgification" I didn't know who'd discovered the concept of Get Out The Vote (GOTV). Here was me thinking they'd been doing it in the US since the days of Huey Long.

    Not since "The Demon Profession" have I read such an inspiring tale of one man's pivotal role in history, his unique insights, his incredible tactical prowess, his [enough, I'm going to be sick. Ed.]

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

  • Sacha,

    Quite, Rex. It's stunning how the smug little silver spooner can ignore all the advantages at his disposal and dress up his profoundly average abilities as a series of inspired "light bulb" moments. Enough rope.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    But, as of next week week, Media7 will have only one break.

    Nice to hear.

    He welcomed the female members of the panel by commenting on their appearance - said they looked smart or stunning (can't recall the exact word). Nothing that wrong with saying people look smart as a welcoming thing, but there noticeably weren't any similar comments about the males on the panel -

    Fashion is of particular interest to Wallace(shoes particularly), so I suspect his not commenting, was probably because he didn't like the clothes the guys were wearing, and I think that is really just polite.

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

  • Peter Haynes,

    Late to the thread, Russell, but to balance out the criticism... I thought that the strengths of the media7 episode far outweighed Simon's focus on drag queens -- and your comment at the very end about getting more lesbians next time, which did make me cringe.

    The programme, like many of the others in the series, was intelligent and informative, rare qualities in television programming these days. Okay, it may seem superficial to anyone who has been closely involved in the gay scene for a time, but who was the target audience?

    On Simon's interview with the literary theorist, I not only did I not see the condescension, but the woman who I was with -- who has taught literary theory at the university -- thought the segment went really well. If you take risks like Simon, sometimes you're not going to get it completely right. He does a great job.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 27 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    And Bernard Orsman picks up the story:

    Councillor uses Wikipedia to discredit rivals
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10531375

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Caleb D'Anvers,

    If I was Richard Worth, I'd be looking hard at my page...

    Speaking of Richard Worth's wikipedia page, there's an interesting pattern of editing there in the wake of the latest semi-scandal.

    Poor old Richard Worth, eh? Missing in action in Cabinet, but he does , it seems, have time to remove unflattering information from his own Wikipedia page.

    London SE16 • Since Mar 2008 • 482 posts Report Reply

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