Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Unusual Democracy

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  • Hadyn Green,

    Or for being prepared to sleep on that cold, cold pavement?

    Do people still do that? ( Remembers that kid who got hit by a car )

    So now I'm paying you to do a job I didn't want you to do?
    ( our author trys to think of analogy at this late stage of a Friday )
    ...

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2090 posts Report

  • Anne M,

    How about promoters just withhold a few hundred tickets until two weeks before a clear sellout, and auction them off themselves? Donate the extra profits to charity,

    BRILLIANT!

    Since Nov 2006 • 104 posts Report

  • Paul Rowe,

    But tellingly Conyers didn't push for overturning the election either. I think they spotted irregularities that when they added up the votes weren't going to make a difference.

    I think Andre already answered that point:

    You have the questionable outcomes and inherently partisan nature of the electoral machinery that results in outcomes that can't be trusted as being legitimate (even if they are, which is the sad thing.)

    The result needs to be seen to be above board, as well as actually being above board.


    The problem with the scalping is not the guy who buys a ticket then flogs it for more than face value (shit, at the RWC in 1999 thats exactly what the NZRU did when selling tickets to ex-pats in the UK) but the organised scalpers who will buy dozens or hundreds of tickets with the express intention of scalping them. RWC is exactly the sorrt of event they go for.

    Lake Roxburgh, Central Ot… • Since Nov 2006 • 574 posts Report

  • Hadyn Green,

    Also there is a difference between the NZRU (they dropped the F, though I preffered it) and SKY TV.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2090 posts Report

  • Hadyn Green,

    Anne? How can you complain about Super 14 tickets being too expensive and then laud an idea that reccomends selling the best seats for inflated prices?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2090 posts Report

  • Anne M,

    So now I'm paying you to do a job I didn't want you to do?

    Yes. I'm not saying it's fair mind you. I'm just saying that some people pick up first edition, mint condition copies of "The Fountainhead" or 20 front-row tickets to the-spectacle-of-your-choice by luck and/or guile and then leverage that luck/guile.

    Since Nov 2006 • 104 posts Report

  • Rich of Observationz,

    The world cup final *will* be "inaccessible to the wider nation whatever happens.

    I'm guessing that a million NZers will want to go, there'll be around 60,000 tickets on sale and half of those will go to international visitors. So only 3% of those wanting tickets will get one.

    If the RFU wanted to help the game, it could auction half those tickets to the highest bidder and give the remainder to those who help with grassroots rugby. There are a bunch of other ways they could make money and help the game without criminalising ticket resale.

    Incidentally, I used to watch polo a lot when I lived in the part of England where it's a popular game. My membership of Cowdray Park Polo Club, which got me into every game played there, cost around NZD200 a year - about the same as one Premiership soccer game. Cheap as chips really.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • Anne M,

    Oh I don't care if they are expensive - I'm just saying the NZRFU is in the business for money, not love. So I don't see why anyone else shouldn't be the same.

    Disclaimer: I have never onsold a ticket in my life. Though I have extracted many $$$$ from clueless (American) book-buyers.

    Since Nov 2006 • 104 posts Report

  • 3410,

    But you still have to explain Kerry's actions. Why did he not fight like they did over Florida?

    Because he's a pussy. That hardly disproves irregularities.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report

  • Anne M,

    But you still have to explain Kerry's actions. Why did he not fight like they did over Florida?

    Or he's a 'gennelman' who didn't want to be seen as a sore loser.

    Since Nov 2006 • 104 posts Report

  • Paul Rowe,

    Perhaps my only objection to scalping comes from buying a ticket from a scalper for a certain game that NZ played against aFrance at Twickenham in 1999 :(

    Lake Roxburgh, Central Ot… • Since Nov 2006 • 574 posts Report

  • Marcus Neiman,

    Rich: One game will not break the NZRFU - twenty years of auctioning to the highest bidder though might - and yes the NZRFU does happen to give the right to buy All Black tickets to grassroots people - referees etc.

    Interesting anecdote about polo - a bad example on my behalf perhaps. And coincidentally I've read stories about concern about the potential alienation of Yoof from the Premiership vis-a-vis the Bundesliga where tickets generally remain affordable.

    I guess I am just saying that there a good reasons to not commodify some tickets to live events that play a communion-like function.

    Sydney • Since Feb 2007 • 107 posts Report

  • andrew llewellyn,

    As Marcus says if you can afford (and think its a good idea) to drive a gas choking 4wd to your holiday home or from your lifestyle block to Auckland's CBD you are very unlikely to be a Labour inclined voter.

    Ya reckon?

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report

  • Marcus Neiman,

    Andrew: The Auckland lifestyle block observation certainly holds true about the area where I grew up.

    And in any case, as I pointed out earlier, these people to the extent they exist probably for the most part have already jumped ship for a vairety of reasons. I suspect the dyed in the wool Labour-voting investment house owners will not change their votes, and that the marginals have already gone. Why pander to people who aren't going to vote for you anyway, especially when you could perhaps mobilise your traditional constituencies?

    Sydney • Since Feb 2007 • 107 posts Report

  • Tom Ackroyd,

    Mix it up. I alt-clicked on both SJD and Piano cat within 5 seconds and got Nora playing beautifully over Sean. Took me a while to figure out what was going on ...

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 159 posts Report

  • Hadyn Green,

    RoO: you're assuming the ABs make the finals.

    There is just somethig nasty about the whole scapling thing...

    I support a band, buy all of their albums, wear the tshirt, save up to get a ticket but can't get one because someone who couldn't even name one song snaps up all the tickets. now I can't afford it because they're charging more than I saved.

    It does scream of "tough luck chump", but really, who wants to be that person?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2090 posts Report

  • Nobody Important,

    sheesh, another thread that's split in two ...


    1] Kerry/Dems/Ohio.
    Nice guys finish last. The Republicans get it but the Democrtats don't. Rove is a master of 'win at all costs' and 'to the victor go the spoils'. That Kerry allowed himself to be swiftboated perhaps proves why he would have been a wimpy president. In 2008 expect Hillary to kick her opponents square in the nuts to win.

    2] Ticket scalping.
    A scalper takes a punt that demand for the tickets he buys will outnumber the tickets he has bought. If not he is left at the gate flogging them for whatever he can get.

    WHAT ABOUT TICKETEK AND THE LIKE?
    They charge the promoter $2 to print the ticket as well as % of the sale. Then they also charge the punter who buys the ticket a $6 fee + other fees for credit card/phone purchase/courier etc. Ticketek in particular have signed up various venues meaning promoters can't use other ticket agencies. So both the promoter and the punter are obliged to line the pockets of the ticket seller.

    RUGBY WORLD CUP
    Nevermind ticket scalping - what about the blardy venue?!! The govt is taking action on ticket scalping because it's populist (no-one like paying more than they have to) yet the stadium issue continues to flutter in the breeze. But it's not a butterfly, it's (going to be) an albatross around the neck of Auckland ratepayers. I'll streak naked if they can fill the stadium again after the RWC is over. I guarrantee I'll be very old and very ugly by the time that ever happens.

    And RB was spot on about the BS of those corporate seating packages.

    expat • Since Mar 2007 • 319 posts Report

  • Hadyn Green,

    I was going to mention Ticketek and friends.

    Like with SKY TV, the NZRU has no facility to sell tickets itself (though with this whole whiz-bang interweb-amajig, I'm not sure why) so it has to contract a agency like Ticketek to do it.

    If the NZRU is as weak-willed with Ticketek as it is with SKY then the punter will always be shafted. So why put up with being shafted again by a scalper.

    Actually why don't people ever mug scalpers?

    Speaking of streaking: perhaps the sponsors we are protecting with our laws could pay for some at half time. Male and female and sans-bikinis. "Jangly bits" included

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2090 posts Report

  • hamishm,

    Re Kerry in Ohio. I just, 10 minutes ago found out this via Crooks and Liars and TPM James Carville may have tipped off Bushco.

    Apparently, Kerry had decided not to concede. There were 250,000 outstanding ballots in Ohio.

    So Kerry decides to fight. In fact, he considers going to Ohio to camp out with his voters until there is a recount. This is the last thing the White House needs, especially after Florida 2000.

    So what happened?

    James Carville gets on the phone with his wife, Mary Matalin, who is at the White House with Bush

    More at TPM.


    Then the result:

    Alleging widespread "irregularities" on Election Day, a group of Democrats in Congress objected earlier Thursday to the counting of Ohio's 20 electoral votes.

    The challenge was defeated 267-31 by the House and 74-1 by the Senate, clearing the way for the joint session to count the votes from the remaining states.

    The move was not designed to overturn Bush's re-election, said Ohio Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones and California Sen. Barbara Boxer, who filed the objection.

    The objecting Democrats, all of whom are House members except Boxer, said they wanted to draw attention to the need for aggressive election reform in the wake of what they said were widespread voter problems.

    CNN
    I think they saw the damage that was done to Gore and couldn't face it again. The Bushies would be pushing that line as well.

    Since Nov 2006 • 357 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    It goes against my sense of loony-lefty community spirit, but I have to agree with Anne M. And I reckon there are plenty of creative solutions that the ticket sellers themselves could come up with, without needing legislation to protect their fragile constitutions.

    Glastonbury tickets were (to my knowledge) the first to be stamped with name and address; purchases are restricted to two per customer, & photo id is checked at the gate.

    Yes, but that rather proves the deleterious effect on ordinary punters of scalping. The majority of Glasto expeditions are probably group efforts (all mine were), but because of scalpers, but now no one can just get tickets for all six happy campers, and everyone has to bring photo ID (what would you use for that in the UK? Would you have to take your passport?).

    I'm in two mind about whether it should be made illegal, but for high-demand, quick-sellout events, bulk-buying by scalpers is quite destructive.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    Mix it up. I alt-clicked on both SJD and Piano cat within 5 seconds and got Nora playing beautifully over Sean. Took me a while to figure out what was going on ..

    That's so cool.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Nobody Important,

    Actually why don't people ever mug scalpers?

    Like drug dealers, they're very rarely actually 'holding' when you talk to them, and if they are its only a small amount. If you want, say, six tickets they'll signal to a mate who will bring them over.

    If you try to snatch and run you'll likely get a good thumping.

    expat • Since Mar 2007 • 319 posts Report

  • Rich of Observationz,

    what would you use for that in the UK? Would you have to take your passport?

    They have picture driving licenses nowadays.

    I guess the problem with glasto is that it's just got too popular. There's nowhere big enough for a million people.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • 3410,

    Yes, but that rather proves the deleterious effect on ordinary punters of scalping.

    or just the deleterious effect on ordinary punters of capitalism.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report

  • Tom Ackroyd,

    Mix it up. I alt-clicked on both SJD and Piano cat within 5 seconds and got Nora playing beautifully over Sean. Took me a while to figure out what was going on ..

    That's so cool.

    Was like Dark Side of the Moon over Wizard of Oz

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 159 posts Report

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