Posts by BenWilson
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Well, and also the "NZ exposure to the world" tourism angle.
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My son is one of 2 white children at his kindergarten. So far he has not learned to classify the other children by any racial traits, nor their sex. But he has learned their names, and has classified some of them by what they do. "x plays Playdoh, y screams, z digs in the sand". It's inevitable that he will learn the differences, though - my own upbringing was much the same, a white boy in a mostly non-white school, and the other children taught me I was a Palagi, or a Pakeha, or whatever. Usually with threats, sneering and exclusion, so I don't have happy associations with the words.
Interesting points in Wiki on race:
Tragically,[16] those characteristics most closely associated with classifying races: skin color, hair color and texture, and facial characteristics—while evolutionarily important—are among the most superficial of human genetic traits.[16]
and
Dr. Craig Venter and scientist Francis Collins of the National Institute of Health jointly made the announcement of the mapping of the human genome in 2000. Upon examining the data from the genome mapping, he realized that although we are indeed further apart genetically from each other, (1-3% instead of the assumed 1%), the types of variations don't warrant calling each other different races. Venter says quote.."Race is a social concept. It's not a scientific one. There are no bright lines (that would stand out), if we could compare all the sequenced genomes of everyone on the planet." "When we try to apply science to try to sort out these social differences, it all falls apart."[74]
All of that said, I guess the census is asking for our opinion on our view of that social construct, so calling myself European isn't hard - most people will see my light skin, brown hair with touches of red, greenish eyes, hear my NZ English, and make the same judgment. They won't be analyzing my blood type, comparing my skull to some fossil record, or asking about my beliefs, which are considerably more influenced by where I grew up, have been, and the people I have met and read, than where my great-great-greats came from. To be honest, the UK is one of the parts of the world I feel the least affinity to.
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The point I'm making about Sacha Baron Cohen is that the means by which he drags people to his level is generally by acting like a tool. It's powerful because if you ignore it, then he just acts like more of a tool, until he finally gets you to crack. The longer you take, ie the more reasonable you are, the more you lose to a tactic like that. But, quite frankly, if you're even being interviewed by Baron Cohen, you've already lost, and I tend to think the same with Paul Henry.
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Oh, you mean like that? Gah! I was just going to do "....." like a real dummy!
Don't worry, most of us got to practice back when the preview button wasn't also the post button.
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I suspect that Helen would 'own' the interview to a degree that Henry would never make that kind of comment.
True, although he never lost a chance to make a buffoon out of himself even with Helen Clark. He's a lot like Sacha Baron Cohen in that respect, the more of a dick he makes of himself, the more he's actually mocking whoever he is in the presence of.
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Ben Gracewood, my hat off to you. I think your gesture made a difference.
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But he should be expected to think on his feet in this circle of competence. As PM that circle is quite broad
He's never really been tested hard, but.
I've never quite got the Breakfast TV thing myself, and I used to be on it.
I think it's something that's aptly named. I have it on when my hands are too full of breakfast or children-wrangling for papers or internet. I guess the radio is possible, I have just never got into it, I can't stand the ads.
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Fuck I hate being a kiwi sometimes. Mustn't make a fuss.
Until we must, then you fuss hard.
I read once that during WW1, reading Kiwi troops was an art form. It was easy to tell when the Australians were pissed off because they got louder and louder. But the officers learned that the Kiwis became silent, sullen, then a noise rather like buzzing bees began, followed shortly by explosions of rage, by which point the opportunity to calm them had actually passed.
TVNZ, I hear buzzing.
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You just don't expect that sort of crap and you're on national TV and you're not used to making a scene. Ten minutes later as I was leaving I'd be pissed as hell and going over in my head what I should have said.
Yes, I think this is how he gets away with it, TBH. It's not because people agree with him, it's because they either can't think of a witty rejoinder, or they think that even doing that would encourage it. I see real discomfort in the faces of Wetzel, Mau and Williams, but it's rather like a slobbery old uncle making borderline lewd comments about your girlfriend, making a scene seems OTT, and giving him beans back is just encouragement.
I can't understand for the life of me who watches Breakfast...the last thing I want to do that early in the morning is watch that trainwreck of soft 'news' bollocks. I'd rather, I dunno...get on with my day?
Hey, it used to have some cool gadget reviews, until the twatcock presenter pissed the reviewer off too much. I don't mind it while I'm eating my cereal, although every time Henry starts talking, I do something else.
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Ballroom is all about the leveling, dude. I only got to Bronze Medallion myself, and could see that the next 10 levels were a grind.
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