Public Address | Cafe | Access: Being Inconvenient

Harry Musgrave

Fri, 23 Jun 2017 07:19:15 +1200

Thw thought occurred to me that politicians in particular don't want to be seen as apologising too sincerely otherwise they run the risk of offending/annoying/outraging other people (most likely their supporters) as they would appear weak or toadying to political correctness or something.
I suspect that even if the politician…

Nick Russell

Tue, 20 Jun 2017 13:53:36 +1200

I don't know, I think the "sorry if you were offended" type apology, or non-apology, can actually be quite useful sometimes. First, it allows the person who originally made the comment, or their supporter, to say that they have apologised and want to move on. Then, when they are called…

Sacha

Tue, 20 Jun 2017 13:12:15 +1200

Another good post on this at Te Wireless.

Wagner’s comments illustrated a critical way in which she is out of touch with our community. While disability may well be a dull portfolio she would like to leave on her desk for the afternoon, people living with disabilities cannot simply opt…

Sacha

Tue, 20 Jun 2017 13:08:04 +1200

You'd be amazed how thoroughly disability stereotypes are embedded throughout public agencies, private sector and especially media/PR people who should as you say know better.

Thinking an apology shows weakness is another layer, sure.

izogi

Tue, 20 Jun 2017 12:11:47 +1200

Yes. But surely nearly everyone I listed has access to a highly skilled PR team, and these non-apologies must have been authored by more than just themselves, often after days or more to reflect and consider. It's hard to believe people and companies in these positions, sometimes the PR departments…

Sacha

Tue, 20 Jun 2017 00:15:35 +1200

you have to be able to grasp what was wrong about what you said.

izogi

Mon, 19 Jun 2017 21:15:25 +1200

Thanks for a good summary.

Then came Nicky Wagner’s half arsed “apology”

This frustrates me to no end. With a speedy search, Countdown's done it. The NZ Herald's done it. Farmers has done it. Nuk Korako's done it. The Board Chair of Fenwick School has done it. The list goes on and…

Hilary Stace

Mon, 19 Jun 2017 15:31:38 +1200

Thank you Fiona. Well said. I was bemused by Bill English's comment that no one had really taken offence and that she had a lot of friends in the sector. I'm not sure where he got that impression from. If you work for an NGO which gets any government funding…

oga

Mon, 19 Jun 2017 15:25:45 +1200

If they say that about vexatious parents, I wonder what they say about us vexatious disabled people? Vexatious cripples?

Ian Dalziel

Mon, 19 Jun 2017 14:55:55 +1200

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/opinion/93808387/editorial--disability-issues-minister-nicky-wagners-tweet-reveals-her-as-tonedeaf

Emma Hart

Mon, 19 Jun 2017 14:46:56 +1200

Finding out that “vexatious parents” is in fact a term they use to condemn us all into a single pile of complainers.

Fellow Vexatious Parent high-five.

I think one of the things all the people telling us to chill didn't really get is the necessarily antagonistic relationship you have with…

Rosemary McDonald

Mon, 19 Jun 2017 13:33:01 +1200

But...but...

A member of the disabled community and former chief executive of the New Zealand spinal trust, Ben Lucas, described the tweet as unfortunate.

Ms Wagner had slipped up but her apology was heartfelt, Mr Lucas said.

"She is absolutely passionate about disability and making lives better for people with…

Katharine Moody

Mon, 19 Jun 2017 13:18:05 +1200

Like the Alfred Ngaro incident, Bill English's only response is to tell us not to take his Ministers at their word.

Carol Stewart

Mon, 19 Jun 2017 13:12:04 +1200

Super well said, Fiona.

Dinah Dunavan

Mon, 19 Jun 2017 12:37:17 +1200

Here's a thought Nicky Wagner, put your cell phone away and pay attention to the people you are meeting with. They deserve your full attention not some half-arsed, I'd rather see who is following me on twitter.

Public Address

Mon, 19 Jun 2017 12:37:17 +1200

Discussion from blog post.