Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Dirty Politics

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  • Andre Alessi, in reply to SteveH,

    Oh, I don’t doubt that he does enjoy it, but not in a particularly pathological way. He wouldn’t complain about criticism as much as he does if he was genuinely ill (which is an allegation I see tossed around regularly.) Getting attention is definitely a significant part of what he believes he’s doing.

    My point was rather A) there’s nothing inherent in his politics that necessitates his behaviour (or vice versa), and B) there’s no reason to assume genuine mental illness as an explanation for his behaviour when his actions are viewed as a means to an end, even if he happens to enjoy distasteful elements of what he does. (That doesn’t mean I approve of his actions or think they’re justified in any way, just that I don’t think writing his behaviour off in those ways is particularly helpful.)

    Devonport, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 864 posts Report

  • william blake, in reply to Andre Alessi,

    There was a bio of Slater in the Listener some whole ago where he talked about his mental health and his diagnosis. It may go someway to explain some of his excesses and certainly raises questions of exploitation by his powerful friends.

    Since Mar 2010 • 380 posts Report

  • SteveH, in reply to nzlemming,

    Fuck. That’s a traincrash of an interview. What the hell prompted Slater to be part of it? Seems that Gower’s worm has turned somewhat.

    What is it about the Right that triggers amnesia? I see Slater has also caught it.

    Since Sep 2009 • 444 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Paul Campbell,

    Coming from the National right being personally responsible for your own actions is a big part of the ethos, Slater had better get with the program and stop tryin to blame others for hos own mistakes

    What? I'm sorry, Paul, but can we just stipulate that death threats just aren't acceptable and leave it there? Of course it's as absurd as it is distasteful to try holding anyone but the perpetrators responsible, but Slater deserves that baseline courtesy as much as Hager.

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

  • Alfie, in reply to SteveH,

    Here's a profile of him from a few years back: http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-star-times/features/2583835/Internet-warrior.</q>

    There's a good quote from Russell in that story.

    "Says left-leaning journalist and blogger Russell Brown: "He strikes me as an arrested adolescent. I think he's got a real problem with women. Given the apparent degree of his role within the National Party, I wonder if at some point they should be called on that. I don't respect him at all, frankly."

    Bingo! I think they've been well and truly called.

    Dunedin • Since May 2014 • 1440 posts Report

  • nzlemming, in reply to nzlemming,

    Seems that Gower’s worm has turned somewhat.

    Just watched the first couple of minutes again. Gower's body language is fascinating. As was Slater's, later on. I think he was expecting a softball "poor you" interview.

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report

  • nzlemming,

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report

  • Paul Campbell, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    What? I’m sorry, Paul, but can we just stipulate that death threats just aren’t acceptable and leave it there? Of course it’s as absurd as it is distasteful to try holding anyone but the perpetrators responsible, but Slater deserves that baseline courtesy as much as Hager

    Oh I completely agree - death threats are wrong, always - but I'm talking here about blaming people for inciting them, not the threats themselves.

    If Slater's going to blame Hager for 3rd party death threats because he thinks that somehow Hager has incited them he really needs to realise that people are angry at him (Slater) because of his behaviour, not because Hager has pointed out his behaviour - he needs to own the consequences of what he has done, not try and blame others

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report

  • stephen clover,

    John Armstrong:

    Key, meanwhile, is placing himself at considerable risk. It only requires someone connected with one of the incidents in the book to dispute and disprove the Prime Minister's assertion that it all has "nothing to do with National" for Key to be in serious trouble credibility wise.

    David Cunliffe: like this? The Labour Party has released documents it says proves its website was hacked by people working for the National Party. (earlier this afternoon)

    wgtn • Since Sep 2007 • 355 posts Report

  • James George,

    Quite frankly I don't understand the time and energy being wasted on Slater. There are no complex issues motivating him that require de-constructing, interpreting or analysing.
    I reckon he is a selfish man who was once a selfish boy. Greed is his only motivation - as evidenced by his charges in the thousands of dollars for merely attaching his nym to piece someone else has written.
    e.g. Money comes from a coalition of drug pushers interested in getting more kiwis hooked on nicotine - at least until they die of emphysema coughing out their lungs - hence the need to keep recruiting young Kiwis at the front into the addiction to cover losses due to attrition in older addicts, gotta keep the brand viable eh?.
    "No worries", says the slug that'll be about six n a half grand a month".

    Or some other multinational with the ethics of a diseased tapeworm (see murder of coca-cola workers by Latin American hits squads back in the 90's. Those scum had the gall to ask for sufficient wage to put food on the family table - natch they had to die) forms a consortium of like minded greed heads to oppose restrictions on the sale of obesity inducing no-nutritional sugar water to children. Cam is there ready to help - with his hand outstretched of course. Some may say the slug wanted to help the coca-cola gang because he needs everyone else to look like a slob too & that way he won't have so much competition to 'pull the gash' but I don't believe that - I reckon he did it because there was an earner in it and scruples don't fill up the bank account.
    Simple stuff by a simple mind unable to comprehend the complexities of leading a fulfilling existence.

    Since Sep 2007 • 96 posts Report

  • nzlemming,

    Not that it means much, but I've just unfriended Farrar on Facebook and Twitter. Being able to keep an eye on what he's up to is no longer worth inflating his "friends" numbers. Not that he'll care, but it makes me feel marginally better.

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report

  • nzlemming,

    Bwahahahahaha!

    Teh lulz, they keep a-comin'...

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report

  • Simon Sjorn,

    Both TV One and Three seemed very muted on this tonight. Key critisising Cunliffe for not being positive being the gist of TV One and Cam Slater complaining of Death Threats the headline on Three. All about the reaction rather than the actual substance of the allegations themselves. A good result for National I would have thought. Is there any hope Sunday papers might.take a different perspective tomorrow?

    New Zealand • Since Sep 2013 • 39 posts Report

  • Mark Easterbrook, in reply to nzlemming,

    Bwahahahahaha!

    Aaron Gilmore on the revenge trail? Now THAT would be some kind of weird poetic justice.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 265 posts Report

  • tim,

    Someone posted this on FB - its from 2010 but I wonder if it provides some context for Slaters behaviour

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10648347

    comments from his wife:

    In response, Atkins wrote: "I do not have the power to stop him. It is because he is clinically depressed that he says and does out-there things. He was nothing like this before he became ill.

    "He shoots from the hip with no thought of the consequences for himself for others or indeed his family. The very fact that he says hurtful things that show a total lack of empathy is the evidence that he is seriously ill.

    "He watches me cry my eyes out again and again and it moves him not one iota. You want me to be upset that he has hurt others? I am too busy dealing with his lack of empathy towards me."

    :/

    Wellington • Since Sep 2009 • 21 posts Report

  • stephen clover,

    It is because he is clinically depressed

    I really question that diagnosis.

    wgtn • Since Sep 2007 • 355 posts Report

  • Geoff Lealand,

    In the interest of fairness and valance, just as the media refer to the alleged claims of Nicky Hager, so then we should refer to the alleged death threats against Cameron Slater.

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report

  • Alfie, in reply to stephen clover,

    It is because he is clinically depressed
    I really question that diagnosis.

    Perhaps "odious slug" would be more accurate?

    Dunedin • Since May 2014 • 1440 posts Report

  • stephen clover, in reply to Alfie,

    I can't locate that in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

    wgtn • Since Sep 2007 • 355 posts Report

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to stephen clover,

    I can't locate that in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

    Narcissism isn't so much a mental illness as it is an acute character flaw. Like say, greed or arrogance.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report

  • izogi, in reply to stephen clover,

    I really question that diagnosis.

    It shouldn’t really be relevant in any case. Cameron Slater might have issues, or he might just be a jerk. Those people exist in all colours and plenty of them post crap on the internet.

    The critical stuff that’s come out of this book is that the alleged behaviour of government ministers, parliamentary staff and others in power, in their choices to secretly collude with and support this guy, giving him access to the top levels of government, is both unprofessional and disgusting. Especially considering what’s been known for a long time about who he is, what he’s likely to do, and what sorts of consequences might result.

    If “everyone does it”, as the apologists are saying, then it sounds like a perfectly good motivation to fix the system so they can’t, instead of just using the excuse to justify the behaviour as if it should be acceptable from anyone. With that in mind, I’d like to hear some positive things about what policies all parties have towards doing this.

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 1142 posts Report

  • Kracklite,

    Can we leave the psychiatry to professionals please? As someone who does have an at times debilitating mental illness, I find the jokes rather less than funny.

    The Library of Babel • Since Nov 2007 • 982 posts Report

  • Mike Graham, in reply to izogi,

    +1 - Well said izogi

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 206 posts Report

  • Alfie,

    Sorry if I offended you Kracklite. My "odious slug" comment was not intended to be a psychiatric term - just my opinion of Slater.

    Dunedin • Since May 2014 • 1440 posts Report

  • Kracklite, in reply to Alfie,

    Fine.

    The Library of Babel • Since Nov 2007 • 982 posts Report

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