Up Front by Emma Hart

Read Post

Up Front: Any Port in a Storm

89 Responses

First ←Older Page 1 2 3 4 Newer→ Last

  • Morgan Nichol,

    Would have had more impact if you'd actually said it was your story. As it is, I'm meant to imagine it's my story am I? Well it's not my story. My mother left my father, and brought me up in a safe loving home (and he was never violent).

    Perhaps this pretense is evidence that you're still trying to escape from something.

    Auckland CBD • Since Nov 2006 • 314 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle,

    WTF, dude?

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • stephen walker,

    Well it's not my story.

    the story is written in a way that asks the reader to imagine he or she is the woman in the story. no one said the story is about you. can you imagine? do you have empathy? if yes and yes, then there does not seem to be a problem.

    nagano • Since Nov 2006 • 646 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams,

    Hey Morgan, good that you had a good childhood, really good, but I find some of your comment gratuitous and frankly offensive. I don't think for a moment Emma's suggesting all Dads are violent or that all separations are due to violence.

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • Morgan Nichol,

    Paul, where was I offensive?

    Auckland CBD • Since Nov 2006 • 314 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    WTF, dude?

    Yes, that was weird. Not least for the "you're still trying to escape from something" bit. Spectacular failure of understanding.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart,

    Well it's not my story

    I think my acknowledgement of that was inherent where I said 'it's not your story'.

    Would have had more impact if you'd actually said it was your story.

    It's not my story. I am not 'you'.

    Perhaps this pretense is evidence that you're still trying to escape from something.

    About there? Cause, y'know, what the fuck ever. It didn't work for you, okay. But don't tell me what I'm doing like you know better than I do. It's condescending.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie,

    Brilliant Emma.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams,

    Morgan, I found the speculation about Emma's motivations offensive. It seemed to be an attempt to diminish the significance of the point she was making. Perhaps you didn't mean to, but that's how it came across to me.

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle,

    I find it frankly incredible - in the old-school, 'incroyable' way - that Morgan could read Emma's piece and turn it into some kind of gross 'Let Me Judge Your Family' thing. Things are just not computing for me here.

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • Morgan Nichol,

    It's not my story.

    It seemed, from other comments and your response to them, like this was your story. Until that, I figured it was a work of fiction, and now it seems that initial feeling was correct. (And this is, I think, why the story didn't really affect me.)

    There's really no need to be so hostile.

    Auckland CBD • Since Nov 2006 • 314 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    It seemed, from other comments and your response to them, like this was your story. Until that, I figured it was a work of fiction, and now it seems that initial feeling was correct.

    Dear Lord. Somebody write this man a diagram.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Morgan Nichol,

    Morgan, I found the speculation about Emma's motivations offensive. It seemed to be an attempt to diminish the significance of the point she was making. Perhaps you didn't mean to, but that's how it came across to me.

    Then I apologise.

    My suggestion was only meant to be that if she took ownership of the story (that I mistakenly thought was genuine) then it would have had more impact.

    I didn't mean to piss on anyone.

    Auckland CBD • Since Nov 2006 • 314 posts Report Reply

  • stephen walker,

    where was I offensive?

    "Perhaps this pretense is evidence that you're still trying to escape from something."

    well, that seems pretty offensive, prima facie.

    nagano • Since Nov 2006 • 646 posts Report Reply

  • stephen walker,

    There's really no need to be so hostile.

    did someone call Craig?

    nagano • Since Nov 2006 • 646 posts Report Reply

  • Megan Wegan,

    Perhaps this pretense is evidence that you're still trying to escape from something.

    I'm not sure Emma is, but your comment suggests to me that you are.

    Welly • Since Jul 2008 • 1275 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams,

    Then I apologise.

    My suggestion was only meant to be that if she took ownership of the story (that I mistakenly thought was genuine) then it would have had more impact.

    I didn't mean to piss on anyone.

    I did come off that way, good to clarify and apologise.

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • Carol Stewart,

    I don't think there's anything useful I can say on this topic. But there's something useful I can do, and I'll be donating my $20 right away. Thanks for enabling it, Emma.

    Wellington • Since Jul 2008 • 830 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Morgan, you don't half miss nuance sometimes. But thanks for apologising.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • George Darroch,

    I'd also encourage (after donating) readers to email their local member, and any ministers they think might be influenced. It is tragic that the ability to escape violence is constrained by limited funding, while billions is spent on new motorways and frigates.

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report Reply

  • Deborah,

    Then I apologise.

    My suggestion was only meant to be that if she took ownership of the story (that I mistakenly thought was genuine) then it would have had more impact.

    I didn't mean to piss on anyone.

    Oh go away with the passive aggression. An apology immediately followed with suggestions about how to do things better. Good one.

    New Lynn • Since Nov 2006 • 1447 posts Report Reply

  • Jackie Clark,

    I didn't have much to say about that post, afterward, Emma, because I was speechless with awe. Is that the word I'm searching for? Yes, I think it is. I find your writing just so breathtaking. So engaging. So very right to the heart of it all. Immensely effective way of taking people into a life that many have not lived, and that many still do. That piece, especially, cries out to be read by a much wider audience, I think. It could do a lot of good. And really, my darling, you could do with far more accolades than we are able to offer.

    Mt Eden, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 3136 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    It's a story that's happening somewhere, though, right now. All the time.

    The Women's Refuge Appeal is collecting on the 24th and 25th of July. But you can slip them a twenty via their website right now. It's something you can do, and it's easy.

    Hear Hear! Can I just add (without wanting to take away how poignant that piece is all by itself Emma) that it would be great if people can try to imagine this just for a minute every day,and maybe when the ability occurs, donate again.It is deserved,needed and necessary.

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

  • mark taslov,

    Dear Lord. Somebody write this man a diagram.

    Comedy gold!

    Te Ika-a-Māui • Since Mar 2008 • 2281 posts Report Reply

  • TracyMac,

    Not my story, but close enough. Thank you for representing.

    Thanks also for the heads-up about collection week - unfortunately, Refuges came along a bit late for my mother, but she managed to get herself out anyway.

    I could do without the "nostalgic" family photo album viewings myself, though.

    Canberra, West Island • Since Nov 2006 • 701 posts Report Reply

First ←Older Page 1 2 3 4 Newer→ Last

Post your response…

Please sign in using your Public Address credentials…

Login

You may also create an account or retrieve your password.