Hard News: Some reprehensible bullshit
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Matt Fairhurst, in reply to
I would have recommended something more utilitarian, like a door.
But it *is* a door.
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BenWilson, in reply to
So yes, if I were an adviser to the mayoral office, I would have recommended something more utilitarian, like a door.
Nah, you'd have saved it up and then sold it to the Herald. It's what a "second-rate, creepy mayor like Brown" deserves, right?
Basically your point is that we have some kind of minor comms fail, which is somehow unforgivable, whether or not the story is a beat up.
To some extent you're right, we have an epic comms fail called the Herald on Sunday.
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BenWilson, in reply to
But it *is* a door.
It's also slightly less utilitarian.
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Why do people support (by buying) the Herald when that is its standard of journalism? Is it because there's no better alternative?
Being overseas, I don't really know the general sentiment in NZ when it comes to things like this.
(Also, sorry for asking basically the same question as I did in the 'Garbage In, Garbage Out' thread... it's just that I really can't understand why people would put up with it.)
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John Farrell, in reply to
Answering truthfully could lead to very unflattering conclusions.
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Jim Cathcart, in reply to
Well considering you live in Japan, you might be aware of Yasuo Tanaka, the governor of Nagano, who was a champion of reform and transparency. He was the guy who transformed his private office into a glass-walled room as a symbolic representation of transparency. Tanaka was a champion of the people; yet despised by the political establishment and bureaucracy for his drive and commitment to his constituency.
Sure, you may argue that it was just for show, but appearance do mean something to people.
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John Farrell, in reply to
A cynic would say that he had other places available that were more private, and more secret.
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Sacha, in reply to
There MUST (sorry to shout) be some issue of greater importance than this?
Oh, the still-unackowledged involvement of journalists in #dirtypolitics, NZ's embarrasment of a response to climate change, chronic poverty, child abuse, economic under-development.
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Craig Ranapia, in reply to
If I were Len Brown or one of his spin team, I would have made it anticipated this and made it clear that the secret rooms were for Len and the future cleanliness of other mayors.
In which case, Jim, I would be genuinely outraged at such an egregious waste of public money. I don't know if you've been paying attention, but "anticipating" the pathological toy-throwing of various unelected and unaccountable Herald editors, columnists and useless public titty-suckers like Quax and Brewer would be a costly and futile exercise.
I'm sorry you don't like the outcome of a free, fair and legitimate election. The Herald has made it abundantly clear it doesn't. But it's not Brown or Auckland City's responsibility that the only daily newspaper in Auckland is exercising the prerogative of the harlot throughout the ages. It would be really nice if your moral indignation was turned in that direction for a few moments.
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Acceptable alternative pictured:
https://twitter.com/rmi/status/541389469291540480 -
Craig Ranapia, in reply to
What an absurd waste of public money. Brown should be forced to go buy his own crap bucket at The Warehouse, like the ordinary hardworking battlers this sleazy pointy-headed elitist treats with such contempt. Or something.
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He was the guy who transformed his private office into a glass-walled room as a symbolic representation of transparency.
"Brown's Vanity Show ... On the Rates!".
"This is yet more proof of the mayor's inflated ego, wanting to be on display" said Councillor Speeddial ..."
etc, etc.
Nothing stops those whose agenda is set in stone. To claim otherwise is naïve at best.
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Jim Cathcart, in reply to
I’m sorry you don’t like the outcome of a free, fair and legitimate election. The Herald has made it abundantly clear it doesn’t. But it’s not Brown or Auckland City’s responsibility that the only daily newspaper in Auckland is exercising the prerogative of the harlot throughout the ages. It would be really nice if your moral indignation was turned in that direction for a few moments.
Where did I say that I didn't like "free and fair elections"? It should not be my moral indignation that you should be concerned about; it should be the sensitivity of those who live in your fair city. As I alluded to before, if Aucklanders are ambivalent to this, then the council has nothing to be concerned about. But the point that Russell seems to making is that people's perceptions are easily manipulated by the MSM for all the wrong reasons. If that is the position shared by the Council, it makes you wonder about their sophistication in communications and how public perception is factored into the decisions that are made.
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Lilith __, in reply to
All that's shit to print
They’re not secret rooms. They’re behind a door, like most ensuites are.
Auckland should demand the Mayor use the toilet in clear view of the ratepaying public. Think he's pissing away your money? Take a look.
Perhaps the Herald should run a pipe from the secret bathroom directly into their offices, so they can directly examine the wastewater. Win-win.
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The best bookshelf door to a bathroom I have seen is at the Havana Bar in Wellington, which looks a lot more like a regular bookshelf than a door - just by the way.
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Russell Brown, in reply to
said Councillor Speeddial
LOL.
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Craig Ranapia, in reply to
It should not be my moral indignation that you should be concerned about; it should be the sensitivity of those who live in your fair city.
I’m more concerned about the only daily newspaper in Auckland’s insensitivity to basic journalistic norms that were dunned into my head at journalism school not that long ago. I get you’re determined to make Brown and Council staff responsible for not anticipating every potential Herald beat-up, but have you really not been paying attention? It’s not just its personal vendetta against Brown, but the paper’s coverage of the Unitary Plan was so often flat out wrong on fundamental matters of fact I don’t know if it was the work of the merely incompetent or (to coin a phrase) an orchestrated litany of lies. Neither option is acceptable to me.
I’ll just take the win if someone can convince The Herald (and columnists like Brian Rudman & Bernard Orsman) to stop acting as if budgets – and rates – are set by Mayoral fiat. Because anyone who is really that pig-ignorant shouldn’t be allowed in a newsroom without adult supervision, let alone writing about local body politics.
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Recap: Bullshit news story draws bullshit press release from bullshit “union” linked to the bullshit, which becomes a follow-up bullshit news story.
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Russell Brown, in reply to
I've come to the conclusion the only solution is cloning Todd Niall.
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Joe Wylie, in reply to
It should not be my moral indignation that you should be concerned about; it should be the sensitivity of those who live in your fair city.
So what would it take to placate these sensitive souls? A downloadable app linked to a kind of home detention bracelet tailored to fit the errant Mayoral anatomy?
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Craig Ranapia, in reply to
Recap: Bullshit news story draws bullshit press release from bullshit “union” linked to the bullshit, which becomes a follow-up bullshit news story.
A modest revenue-gathering suggestion for NZME: Set up a widget to direct all Cameron Brewer and Jordan Williams' press releases straight to the Herald's advertising department, and charge for their publication at full commercial rates. Stenography disguised as news isn't only bad journalism, it's doing nothing for your bottom line.
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Craig Ranapia, in reply to
I’ve come to the conclusion the only solution is cloning Todd Niall.
After binge watching both seasons of Orphan Black, I endorse this proposal. But only if one of Niall’s clones does something hideously unpleasant to Shayne Currie with a glue gun, a pencil, the power of science and a really thick accent…
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Sacha, in reply to
ah, is that where the loo was in that great bar
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Perhaps someone should ask the councillors concerned about the significantly improved offices they are getting out of the shift? They weren't allotted proper ones the first time around, and mostly ended up in window less (or at least) tiny cupboards. They now have workable spaces with nice views. Also the ASB refit has been a model of de and reconstruction, with Fletchers going the extra mile to reuse what ASB left behind. Which included a rather luscious executive suite on the top floor I believe, which has NOT become the mayor's office. I think it's the first time something like this has been tried in a major Akl building so there will have been some mistakes, and it's great to see Council leading the way on deconstruction. Finally, I would love to see someone at the Herald actually look at attendance figures for some of these councillors, and not just to the big shows like Governing Body meetings but to joint meetings with Chairs like me, workshops on the Long Term plan and so on. There's a scandal there alright, and it's not about what type of door but about people who rarely seem to come through them to get the work done.
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kw,
I look forward to Rodney's diatribe next week being about the refusal of some councillors to let go of their vendetta against Brown and constant seizing on small stupid things.
Meanwhile, just to further cheapen the whole thing but t's pretty hard to take any of it seriously, my favourite detail was the iron. I'm really pleased to know that there's equipment on hand for the mayor to look respectably pressed - but does he do his own emergency ironing or is that a job for a minder? (Insert appropriate emoticon.) Really, the Herald and the TU missed a trick here, there's always tomorrow.
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