Posts by Steve Barnes
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Naked woman sparks police call-out
Police have cordoned off part of Papakura after a naked woman was reported in the area.
So. naked women are a public danger now? They might breastfeed or something?. And lower family values or something. Hmmm.
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But they also laughed at Bozo the Clown."
But they are not laughing so much now. Bozo has been credited as the major influence for both Krusty the Clown, of The Simpson's and that other cultural icon, Ronald McDonald. Although, in themselves, not a Goldmine they are inseparable from the money making juggernauts they represent.
Gerry Brownlee, on the other hand... -
Strikes me that it's actually quite a cunning position of Key's
And "Cunning" is not a trait that I appreciate in a Prime Minister, I would rather see consistency, compassion and an understanding of the responsibilities of being in that position.
Cunning may work for a money trader but a cunning, smiling assassin is not a good look for a Prime Minister. -
Which I find rather ironic given how relaxed everyone around here was with Clark proffering an instant opinion on absolutely everything...
Ahaa, But Helen Clark is a politician, John Key is a money trader, a much narrower field of expertise.
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Key doesn't seem to realise that there's a difference between his position (on an issue) as the representative of the government and his personal opinion. He's forever answering the latter when being questioned on the former.
Ahaa, But John Key campaigned on the slogan "I am ambitious for new Zealand" Now he has New Zealand, he will do what he damn well pleases with it, so there.
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You're not twisting far enough. Imagine you and a blind person entering a darkened room. Whose relationship with the light switch is "special"?
Ahaa! But who is more likely to have a torch.
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While I understand and agree Neil, there are myriad combination of words that are banned in certain contexts, due to the suppression order.
And there is the difference "combination of words" as opposed to just words. The Herald and in fact all New Zealand news outlets, have used the two "words" of the guy's name in many separate articles since the suppression order, just not together.
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I remember "special" being used in a pretty derogatory way many a time.
The odd thing with that was it derived from "Special Needs" which, to a point, is a good way of describing someone who needs a bit of help, more so than "Others" (excuse the deliberate logical twist). The derogatory use of the word, special, is a way of doing something like this...
I'd sincerely like to see someone try to get arrested intending offence using only compliments.
Yes, Special Constable did spring to mind.
The ownership of social descriptive words is, I think, all part of growing up and leaning about language (our playing with the concept of "Word Of The Year" is like that). "Kids Today" will always have descriptives of the "Other" , "It's just so Gay?" " It's Spaz", "it's Gross", "You're Sad", "Lame"
It works in reverse too, "That's Bad", "That's the Shit" "Init?" "Annat"
I think, in Paul Henry's case, it's more of a brain fart, it's in his lexicon and he still hasn't left the Fourth Form.
I still contend that it is the "Offendee" that is the one with the problem, be it a numb skull or a genuine disability. They are the Special People with Special Needs. -
I'd sincerely like to see someone try to get arrested intending offence using only compliments.
That would make excellent television.
I expect a fully developed script collaboration between Craig Renapia and Ian Dalzeal on my desk by the end of the week.
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And I think we both have misgivings about the name of the "invalid's benefit".
Would anybody really object if it were called "Cash for Cretins" or "Money for the Moronic"?
Yes, I suppose they would but it's better than nothing.
I suppose that people that complain, just want to be taken notice of and sometimes a derogatory label can start productive discussion.
"Tis an ill wind that blows no good.