Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: The March for Democracy

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  • Just thinking,

    Andrew you seem to be advocating Govt by Referendum?

    That is different to our Representative Electoral system.

    Putaringamotu • Since Apr 2009 • 1158 posts Report

  • Simon Grigg,

    That is different to our Representative Electoral system.

    You misunderstand..it ain't democratic if Andrew doesn't agree with it, and it most certainly ain't acceptable to debate anything or advance an alternative view unless it's sanctioned by Andrew (or you are able to conclusively prove that you've wired a plug or fixed a pipe without help...building your own PC certainly is not down with the masses to an acceptable level..by doing so you prove you are little more than a leftist roader).

    Really, Andrew, if you don't like it, and are unable to actively engage, go away. If your echo chamber is as large as you say then you should have no problem finding similar souls to bounce your anger off ad infinitum, but do it elsewhere.

    But, that said, I'm coming back to NZ for a week or three early next year and I'm making a list of places to completely avoid, as I try to re-establish my intouchness with acceptable bakers, sparkys, builders and plumbers (that is, if I can get the names approved by that rampant majority). If you could possibly let me know where you are likely to be hanging, I'd be keen to add that to the list of places to keep away from.

    I'm guessing though, that the pink 'burbs of Grey Lynn, Ponsonby & Westmere ain't you?

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Anyone who doesn't agree with PAS status quo on any of the above is ridiculed & condemned with sarcasm.

    Or put another way, when you're brining nothing but pissy attitude to the table you shouldn't really be surprised when you get return fire. Put up something approximately in the vicinity of an argument then you might be very surprised at the result.

    Now, if you'd excuse me, I've got better things to do with my time that become a chef on a troll smörgåsbord. Give me something to engage with and I'll make the effort; but a Kiwibog style rhetorical battering isn't going to work on me there any more than it does there.

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

  • dubmugga,

    Anyone who doesn't agree with PAS status quo on any of the above is ridiculed & condemned with sarcasm.

    possibly the rule of hard news ?

    As an online discussion grows longer and the more someone puts forward an opinion that disagrees with the majority, the probability of being called a troll approaches 1

    ...for me, whoever calls troll first loses

    try these instead

    http://drjon.typepad.com/jon_cogburns_blog/2009/06/philosophical-bestiary.html

    the back of your mind • Since Nov 2006 • 257 posts Report

  • Danielle,

    smörgåsbord

    Huh. I was not aware that 'smörgåsbord' has an umlaut. (Or, indeed, one of those circle-thingies.)

    Andrew is of the 'cute but boring and repetitive' school of Angry Flailing, isn't he? Dude, you're going to have to start saying something different at some point, surely?

    (And just because we seem to be noting these things: I have no practical skills whatsoever in the electrical and plumbing department, but I'm a good cook. Can I beat anyone in the real-New-Zealander-off with that sort of limited skillset?)

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

  • giovanni tiso,

    As an online discussion grows longer and the more someone puts forward an opinion that disagrees with the majority, the probability of being called a troll approaches 1

    Bollocks. There are plenty of people who regularly post here and hold minority views on a number of things. They don't get called trolls unless they're trolling.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

  • giovanni tiso,

    Can I beat anyone in the real-New-Zealander-off with that sort of limited skillset?

    No, sorry, it doesn't qualify you as a real New Zealander. And I should know.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

  • dubmugga,

    to the casual observer, you cant tell the difference between a troll and a troll baiter.. .so whoever calls troll first loses, as it removes the right of reply in a similar manner without proving the accusation of troll

    if they do reply in kind with an equivalent insult, the claim is proven as self evident to the majority, giving the accuser the conviction of consensus to justify the next usual statement of, "well go away then"

    heres a better idea if you're thinking of calling troll. Just shut the fuck up and walk away from the puter for a while cos you just lost your cool and the plot

    now riddle me this... was what i posted just now trolling ? if you think so then you'll probaly feel justified in trolling me and if you do that, then you're a loser

    if you'll excuse me, i'm going to go smoke some pot and put the kettle on. but i'll be black in a sec :)

    the back of your mind • Since Nov 2006 • 257 posts Report

  • Danielle,

    you cant tell the difference between a troll and a troll baiter

    You can here, because one guy is ranting on about what a bunch of arsewipes we all are, and everyone else is reacting with bemusement, laughter or irritation. It's fairly clear.

    No, sorry, it doesn't qualify you as a real New Zealander.

    Wait! I've got something! When I was a kid I used to visit my great-auntie's farm in Invercargill and sometimes I helped drench the sheep and was a rousie! You can't get more Real New Zealander than that, surely?

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

  • dubmugga,

    it maybe clear to the "we" you all are, the PAS elite as it were, but to the casual observer, you're just trolling him for the amusement of yourselves, the aforementioned elite and distracting from the points he is trying to make leaving him no alternative but to go away or revert to juvenile smartarse insults...

    ...i guess that makes you all the winners yeah ?

    the back of your mind • Since Nov 2006 • 257 posts Report

  • giovanni tiso,

    Oh god.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    heres a better idea if you're thinking of calling troll. Just shut the fuck up and walk away from the puter for a while cos you just lost your cool and the plot

    Here's another idea: A good practical definition of insanity is doing the same old shit and expecting a different result. If coming into the room and calling everyone an arsewipe (as Danielle so elegantly puts it) isn't getting the desired response, perhaps you're the one who needs the attitude adjustment. Just sayin'...

    And Gio is right: I end up writing the minority report on all kinds of threads, and I really don't feel like I've been left out of the circle jerk. I don't change anyone's mind very often, or vice versa, but a good lung-busting argument quite often clarifies my thinking (and brings some useful contrary points of view into focus) and I hope the feeling is mutual.

    OTOH, if I do get my bitch on I don't whinge about getting as good as I give (if not better - damnit!)... And if I don't know WTF I'm talking about, I fully deserve to have my arse lightly grilled and handed to me on a silver platter.

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

  • Tim Hannah,

    You can't get more Real New Zealander than that, surely?

    Not without a working knowledge of Dewey, no.

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 228 posts Report

  • Rich Lock,

    Can anyone here wire up a 3 pin plug ? Fix a leaking tap?

    Yes, but why would we want to do that, when we can get some dipstick like yourself, to do it for us, for peanuts?

    Indeed. And if the forelock-tugging pleb scum fail to show a sufficiently servile attitude while expressing grovelling gratitude, I generally have my coachman see them off the property by whipping them the length of the drive.

    By seriously, Andrew, your ideas interest me. Could we perhaps come up with some sort of system for participation in the NZ democratic process, based on whether a person is a 'real' kiwi or not? Obviously, given the No. 8 mentality that all true kiwis must posess, this would be based around DIY proficiency.

    For example, if a person can change a lightbulb, they get minimum-level participation rights. Bronze-level, if you will. The right to express an opinion on talkback radio, write to 'your views', that sort of thing.

    For silver-level rights, they would have to demonstrate a greater skillset. The two skills you've used (plug and leaking tap) would be a good start. Demonstrating proficiency in these skills would allow them the right to vote.

    For gold-level democratic rights, they would have to really pull out all the stops. Demonstrate that they can re-frame an internal wall, or put up a retaining wall, perhaps? Re-wire a house? Possibly even back a trailer/boat combo into a tight space?

    Difficult, but as well as the right to vote, this would allow them the right to actually stand for office. And having demonstrated this level of skill, they'd really show that they had the necessary empathy with all kiwi battlers on struggle street, wouldn't you say?

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report

  • dubmugga,

    spoken like a winner craig...

    the back of your mind • Since Nov 2006 • 257 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    A range of views on the above topics doesn't exist here.What does exist is a conceited "I am right , you are wrong" arrogant condescension. Peculiar for any blog. Anyone holding views in line with majority public opinion with regard to the subjects above is immediately savaged .Scary dictatorship exists .

    Andrew, not for the first time, your opening argument consists of the denigration of everyone else here. Followed by a whine about people being mean to you.

    You haven't been "savaged", you've been replied to in vastly better faith than what you personally have brought to the table.

    I can't stop you rolling around on the floor playing victim if that's what you want to do, but I'm damned if I'm going to feel sorry for you.

    And the only person claiming to represent the public is you. Somewhat dubiously.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    I don't change anyone's mind very often, or vice versa, but a good lung-busting argument quite often clarifies my thinking (and brings some useful contrary points of view into focus) and I hope the feeling is mutual.

    It is.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Indeed. And if the forelock-tugging pleb scum fail to show a sufficiently servile attitude while expressing grovelling gratitude, I generally have my coachman see them off the property by whipping them the length of the drive.

    Rich, you're stealing bread out of the ball-gagged mouths of real working Kiwi dominatrices by whipping out the lash for free. Shame on you, you effete liberal left elitist douche! SHAME!

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

  • Russell Brown,

    And dubmugga, I really can't spare the time I'm having to spend on you lately. You don't seem to be able to self-manage and you don't seem to respect the place. I'm not really sure why you're here.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    By seriously, Andrew, your ideas interest me. Could we perhaps come up with some sort of system for participation in the NZ democratic process, based on whether a person is a 'real' kiwi or not? Obviously, given the No. 8 mentality that all true kiwis must posess, this would be based around DIY proficiency.

    What about cooking? Doesn't cooking count for anything? Or only for ladies?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Danielle,

    the PAS elite

    Oh FFS. 'Rules' for contributing usefully to PAS (and life) in a nutshell: a) don't be disingenuous; and b) don't be a douchebag. It's not that hard. (ETA: obviously, feel free to be a disingenuous douchebag if you like - far be it from me to dictate anyone's actions on the interwebs. But if you do that, you're going to get mocked, because that's how things work.)

    I mean, what 'points' has Andrew made, from which we're 'distracting'? That there aren't enough plumbers round these parts? Really? REALLY? That's something we're supposed to take seriously and actually rebut, as if it makes sense? Yeah, no. Not happening. (Or, on preview, let's just read Rich's post above mine, and giggle.)

    Oh god.

    Indeed. </Omar>

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

  • Kumara Republic,

    For a second opinion...

    ODT: Fine line between mob rule and 'democracy'

    And if it hasn't been mentioned already, one of the more risible examples of the referendum system was the fact that it blocked women from full voting rights in Switzerland until 1971.

    And would homosexual law reform have survived a referendum? Probably not.

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

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Oh god.

    Don't you think S/HE gets unfairly blamed for quite enough human foolishness without piling on more? :)

    For a second opinion...

    Aw, come on DeepRed... We all know that the media is part of the "liberal elite", despite having its corporate tongue permanently tonguing John Key's cock, balls and arsehole. No that doesn't make any sense to me either, but there we go and here we are.

    And if it hasn't been mentioned already, one of the more risible examples of the referendum system was the fact that it blocked women from full voting rights in Switzerland until 1971.

    One might also point out that women's suffrage was passed in New Zealand by a bare majority (20-18) of the unelected Legislative Council. That only happened because Seddon's attempt to monster a Liberal Party councillor into changing his vote backfired so badly two others ended up flipping their votes to teach Seddon a lesson, not out of deep suffragette principles. How undemocratic -- perhaps we need to get rid of the ladies' right to vote while we're at it... :)

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

  • Russell Brown,

    And if it hasn't been mentioned already, one of the more risible examples of the referendum system was the fact that it blocked women from full voting rights in Switzerland until 1971.

    The Swiss people have now just voted to ban the construction of new minarets, backing a proposition sold with posters depicting minarets as missiles.

    There are 400,000 Muslims in Switzerland. Guess they're not feeling so great today.

    (BTW, there are a total of four existing minarets in Switzerland.)

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • dubmugga,

    most posters here arent *real* NZers.

    *real* NZers either have better things to do, like manual labour jobs that limit their ability to engage on line discussions, dont have internet or cant be arsed playing mindfuck with the blognoscenti that frequent PAS.

    we are hyperreal NZers :)

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperreality

    the back of your mind • Since Nov 2006 • 257 posts Report

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