Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: The First Draft

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  • Russell Brown, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    And may I say, Russell, you’ve been doing sterling work at staying calm and reasoned in the face of either Olympic-standard obtuseness or downright stupidity.

    As have you. I tend to pride myself on knowing that it's just-another-discussion-thread, but I've actually been struggling a bit with that one, in part because it's just so depressing.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to Hilary Stace,

    what about those plastic hologram bracelets

    I'm sure there is an economic equation for calculating how much money you can get from stupid people by clever marketing.

    BTW most of the people in public places wearing them didn't buy them and are being very coy about whether they are receiving "compensation" for wearing them where the stupid people can see them.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to B Jones,

    Judging by the Twitter response to the Ring interview, and the apparent pressure placed on TV3 to cover the issue in the first place, I don’t blame the journalists. I think that they’re being led by a credulous wider public. I’m not quite sure where that credulity comes from

    My guess is that it has been influenced by the emotional climate around the earthquake. I can't think of any other explanation.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to B Jones,

    pressure placed on TV3 to cover the issue in the first place

    or just for giggles they could have interviewed someone like a real geoscientist who could have presented a summary of the literature and had JC ask questions to clarify the bits that might be hard to understand, but ya know that would probably not have rated as highly, of course that’s just a bit cynical.

    Sorry should note that JC did in fact interview some people who know the fuck what they are talking about as well and deserves credit for that.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Russell Brown,

    in part because it’s just so depressing.

    Quite - when we're seen people like David and Emma and so many others in the PA whanau who've faced hell with such angelic resolution and heart-breaking humanity watching people who should know better defending a parasite like Ring... No words fit for decent company.

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

  • nzlemming, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Do not read the comments on Brian’s blog. You will blow the fuck up.

    I have resolved this dilemma - by not reading Herr Dr Edwards at all ( I sneaked a look last night but that doesn't count, does it?)

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming, in reply to recordari,

    Haven't you got a gnome to go to?

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • B Jones, in reply to Russell Brown,

    My guess is that it has been influenced by the emotional climate around the earthquake. I can't think of any other explanation.

    No, my observation is much broader than that. Perhaps people are biting harder because of the earthquake, but many people I talk to are far happier with credulity and pseudoscience than I am. Vaccine rejectionism, homeopathy, etc. Amber teething necklaces got some good Campbell Live treatment a few months ago (although not quite so confrontational) - the results on the Little Treasures board were similar.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 976 posts Report Reply

  • recordari, in reply to nzlemming,

    Do not read the comments on Brian’s blog.

    I did. Now I understand why in light of the comments there, I got off lightly. What the hell are they all drinking over there?

    Haven’t you got a gnome to go to?

    My gnome is definitely where my heart is.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Hilary Stace,

    OK then, for another distraction, what about those plastic hologram bracelets that are very popular at the moment, particularly with sportspeople? I also notice some politicians wearing them.

    Snake Oil v2.0 (TM).

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

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Bart Janssen,

    or just for giggles they could have interviewed someone like a real geoscientist…

    Watching the Ring Cult and the rest of the conspiracy-nut pseudo-scientific community at work, would you be surprised if Campbell Live’s producers got told to piss off by every “real” climatologist, seismologist and geoscientist in New Zealand. I don’t know how bad it gets here, but there’s plenty of evidence of sustained harassment, intimidation and character assassination of “warmist” scientists overseas. Looking at the comments on that Edwards post, I sure wouldn't want some of those numpties knowing my name and where I worked.

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

  • Hilary Stace,

    John Campbell just did a very nice apology for rudeness but not for challenging someone he thinks is terrifying people with false science.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Hilary Stace,

    John Campbell just did a very nice apology for rudeness

    The one thing he shouldn't have apologised for. I'd like an apology for that Barnum & Bailey parasite being booked on Campbell Live at all. And did I really hear Cambell extend Ring an invitation for a second round -- can't he sod off and pay for infomercial like everyone else? It's not as if Three doesn't need the money.

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

  • Scott A,

    Do not read the comments on Brian’s blog.

    Oh dear. I haven't been back there since I managed to get the first comment on there last night. It's bad, I take it? Should I dare to venture?

    ...I'm gonna take a bath instead, I think.

    The wilds of Kingston, We… • Since May 2009 • 133 posts Report Reply

  • B Jones,

    I dunno. I'd particularly like to see Mr Ring tell Campbell Live viewers at the end of March why there wasn't a huge quake on the 20th, plus or minus three days...

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 976 posts Report Reply

  • James W, in reply to Russell Brown,

    My guess is that it has been influenced by the emotional climate around the earthquake. I can’t think of any other explanation.

    That doesn't explain the free food store vitriol from before the earthquake. I remember being shocked because I thought Campbell Live viewers would be more liberal than those of Close Up's usual mob.

    I'm sure there's a mathematical formula about how 'low level of intelligence = more likely to complain about television show' but I still find it hard not to take responses like this as indicative of the country as a whole.

    Since Jul 2008 • 136 posts Report Reply

  • James W, in reply to Bart Janssen,

    People think there is no cost to idiots being given the time of day, well sorry there is a cost, it’s another lost cat story that couldn’t get to air because we had to waste time on a moron who couldn’t read the literature and wouldn’t take the word of someone who could.

    +1

    Since Jul 2008 • 136 posts Report Reply

  • Samthecat,

    Just popped over to the TV 3 site to register my approval for the John Campbell interview with Ring. Frightening people with untruths when you stand to gain monetarily from it is simply evil and such people should be pilloried when appropriate.

    Wellington • Since Feb 2010 • 8 posts Report Reply

  • Neil Morrison, in reply to Russell Brown,

    My guess is that it has been influenced by the emotional climate around the earthquake.

    Maybe it's more that Campbell is just a jerk.

    He chose to do the interview and fane outrage when he - discovered - he was talking to a fraud.

    Cheap sensationalist tv which is what he does.

    Since Nov 2006 • 932 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    And, no, I don’t have any idea what he’s going on about with “tons” and “kilotons”.

    I believe that's the amount of the cheese that makes up the moon that is influencing the earth's crust.

    I can't get up in arms about JC having the guy on the show. It was already all over social media, discussions at morning teas etc. I've argued with several people over the past few days that the guy is a quack and making money off people's fears.

    If what JC was trying to do was to turn the tide by pointing out the bullshit that the guy has been spilling at such a vulnerable time, then, despite the fact that it probably didn't turn out the way they wanted, I'll give them points for trying.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Neil Morrison,

    And to rub it in a little, after Campbell's interview with Helen Cark, what exactly is Campbell's claim to some sort of interest or credibility in matters of science?

    Since Nov 2006 • 932 posts Report Reply

  • Geoff Lealand,

    @Scott A. I would recommend a long hot shower. I have had several run-ins with Ring acolytes today on FB and they are a particularly zealous lot. Apparently if you don't subscribe to Ring's half-baked ideas, you have a 'closed mind'. Of course, there is a difference between having an open mind and one like a leaky sponge.

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

  • Hilary Stace,

    Just had a short sharp shake in Wellington.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso, in reply to Hilary Stace,

    Just had a short sharp shake in Wellington.

    4.3, centred 20km north-west of the city.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Ross Mason,

    Just recall a small statistical half truth. Half the worlds population is below average intelligence.

    You want to know what the scientific method is? Try this from Feynman.

    Want to know what Pseudoscience is. Try this from Feynman.

    The last one is pure Ken Ring and his ilk.

    Upper Hutt • Since Jun 2007 • 1590 posts Report Reply

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