Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Perverse Entertainment

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  • MikeE,

    I still think that Redbaiter is a troll account set up by a lefty :-P

    Washington DC • Since Nov 2006 • 138 posts Report

  • Joshua Drummond,

    “Without a clear indication of the author’s intent, it is difficult or impossible to tell the difference between sincere extremism and the parody of extremism”

    From the Wikipedia entry on Poe’s Law

    I’m surprised Redbaiter (and Conservapedia) aren’t among the citations.

    Since Nov 2006 • 119 posts Report

  • James Butler, in reply to MikeE,

    I still think that Redbaiter is a troll account set up by a lefty :-P

    I called Poe's Law on Redbaiter once, in a Kiwiblog thread where he claimed that the problems with road safety in New Zealand are all caused by drivers being a bunch of timid socialist poofters, and that if everyone drove as fast as possible all the time (like he does, apparently) the road toll would go down. I kid you not. Even "big bruv" broke with him over that one.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2009 • 856 posts Report

  • James Butler, in reply to Joshua Drummond,

    Snap.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2009 • 856 posts Report

  • Emma Hart,

    Ridicule is the only weapon which can be used against unintelligible propositions. Ideas must be distinct before reason can act upon them

    Thomas Jefferson says taking the piss is awesome.

    Could you do NZConservative while you're there?

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report

  • MikeE,

    Then again, i'm also waiting for the time Redbaiter comes out of the closet.. theres so much pent up sexual frustration in his posts... and he's a little bit too obsessed with people's sexuality..

    Washington DC • Since Nov 2006 • 138 posts Report

  • Aidan,

    Is there some subtle variation of Poe's law that applies to fundy christian nutbags and horrorcore clown rappers?

    Maybe I need to have a lie down ...

    Canberra, Australia • Since Feb 2007 • 154 posts Report

  • Paul Rowe,

    Frankly I've not forgiven derp de derp for mentioning it at the Dim Post this morning, and now it's here too!

    Lake Roxburgh, Central Ot… • Since Nov 2006 • 574 posts Report

  • Russell Brown, in reply to MikeE,

    I still think that Redbaiter is a troll account set up by a lefty :-P

    It is quite hard to work out his actual politics. Sometimes he presents as a libertarian, but I spent ages once trying to point out to him that his loathing of the nanny state was incompatible with his passionate love affair with the state of Singapore – where the government owns nearly everyone’s home, and can pull you off the street, take a blood sample and imprison you for years based on the results. He didn’t get it.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Joshua Drummond,

    I think, like a lot of loony would-be pundits he defines himself entirely by what he opposes. He hates on a thing and is at pains to point out "Hey, that thing? The thing that I hate? I'm not like that at all. Not even a little. Nup. I'm the opposite." Leaves infinite wriggle room as to what he actually believes.
    /amateur psychology

    Since Nov 2006 • 119 posts Report

  • Lucy Stewart,

    On one level it’s sad that a nation that has achieved so much has a political culture so deeply infected with The Stupid. But it really is some fun.

    Only the other day I came across the undeservedly-forgotton Bathroomgate, in which, six years ago, Michelle Bachmann ran screaming from a bathroom because two women tried to ask her a question. You really can't make any of this up.

    What you can't make up, sadly, is the extent to which it is possible, in this country, to insulate yourself from actual news. I like being informed, and I have to work pretty hard at it - if you relied on the half-hour TV nightly news, it'd be impossible. The impending government shutdown over the budget takes up half of it, yet the simple fact at the core of it - which is that the cuts being argued most fiercely over constitute a minute portion of the actual budget - is ignored. There isn't even the *attempt* to insert facts; it's he-said, she-said, Oh Noes What Have We Come To, goodnight and here's some puppies. It's...really depressing, actually.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2105 posts Report

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Russell Brown,

    If anything, Hong Kong is more libertarian in practice than Singapore.

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

  • Robyn Gallagher,

    I don't care about Redbaiter's blog. I care that NZPA is closing.

    Since Nov 2006 • 1946 posts Report

  • Rich of Observationz,

    his loathing of the nanny state was incompatible with his passionate love affair with the state of Singapore

    That's easy. In imaginary-propertarian world, the rich (as happens in reality) get away with everything by virtue of their wealth. The proles get thrown in jail, as they deserve.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • HORansome,

    I wonder how long it will be until he turns up here. I mentioned him once and within days he was trying to teach me the error of his ways.

    Tāmaki Makaurau • Since Sep 2008 • 441 posts Report

  • Jacqui Dunn, in reply to HORansome,

    within days he was trying to teach me the error of his ways.

    Ha ha!

    Deepest, darkest Avondale… • Since Jul 2010 • 585 posts Report

  • Geoff Lealand,

    I always equate Redbaiter somehow with bedwetter

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

  • Leopold,

    He's real?
    I always assumed that he was a lefty running reductio ad absurdum commentary on Mr Farrar's posts

    Since Jan 2007 • 153 posts Report

  • Sam F,

    Perfect post for my almost-Friday - thanks, Russell.

    So it's possible these days to access Redbaiter's insanity in one central web location, rather than having to ferret it out manually from blog comments? I feel old.

    Also, having trouble registering the extent of my disappointment with the NZPA shutdown. I confess before yesterday I had no idea how it was funded, or how vulnerable it was to a sudden plug-pulling - I just got used to solid news stories with that unassuming little acronym trailing behind. And now, it's on the way out - plus a friend and great writer who I don't see enough of is now (I think) suddenly out of a job.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1611 posts Report

  • Tom Semmens,

    It is quite hard to work out his actual politics.

    I would have thought they were quite easy to work out? He is a BOMP – Bitter Old Man Party – supporter. I imagine there is a failed business or marriage in the mix as well – Redbaiter’s politics are infused with projected excuses for personal failure

    Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report

  • Matthew Poole, in reply to Sam F,

    So it's possible these days to access Redbaiter's insanity in one central web location, rather than having to ferret it out manually from blog comments? I feel old.

    Once upon a time, those of us who're really old in intertube time (I'm probably roughly Jurassic, or maybe Triassic, but some of the other dinosaurs of NZ's internet scene are more like Devonian) encountered Redbaiter through usenet. Back when he was the scourge of lefty wets throughout the nz.* space.

    You kids and your blogs. It's so cute and new-fangled :P

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report

  • Matthew Poole, in reply to Leopold,

    I always assumed that he was a lefty running reductio ad absurdum commentary on Mr Farrar’s posts

    He's been doing it since long before blogs were the done thing. If "he" (assuming a singular male, rather than some kind of cabal) is a lefty, he's remarkably durable. Most people run out of steam after a few years of pretending to such vitriolic biliousness.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report

  • Islander, in reply to Sam F,

    The demise of NZPA will have much wider effects, & not just to people working for it.* Little local papers like the Oamaru Mail and the Greymouth Star will be starved to death - which I rather think is the Fairfax organisation's intent.

    *One of my friends is a photojournalist of wide experience & high standing. He lost his job at a Fairfax newspaper a couple of years ago, basically because he'd been with that paper for over 30 years. He was quickly picked up by NZPA... I do hope
    he, or any of his friends, wins enough on Lotto this weekend so he can continue doing what he loves doing. His home in CHCH is heavily damaged too-

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report

  • Josh Addison, in reply to HORansome,

    I wonder how long it will be until he turns up here.

    If I recall correctly, he showed up and got himself banned in quick order very early on in PAS's history. Him and dad4justice.

    Onehunga, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 298 posts Report

  • nzlemming, in reply to Lucy Stewart,

    Only the other day I came across the undeservedly-forgotton Bathroomgate, in which, six years ago, Michelle Bachmann ran screaming from a bathroom because two women tried to ask her a question. You really can't make any of this up

    Ed Brayton's piece linked from that is gorgeous. Should Americans be asking for Bachmann's birth certificate?

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report

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