Hard News by Russell Brown

Read Post

Hard News: The March for Democracy

759 Responses

First ←Older Page 1 26 27 28 29 30 31 Newer→ Last

  • Kumara Republic,

    They will also almost always switch to victim mode when that happens and act like their human rights are being flouted because someone disagrees with them or makes fun of them. There's little to be done about this.

    With the possible exception of marooning them in Belarus or Myanmar for a few weeks. Then they might get an idea of what a real dictatorship looks like.

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

  • giovanni tiso,

    I don't want to run a site that generates hate mail. I would like anyone who has sent anything of the kind to apologise and not do it again.

    Sorry, nothing to do with PAS, it happened to me after my post. Although the few Gage supporters in the blog comments kept it quite civil, to their credit.

    Hilary knows about this and I think she was referring to that. These are all US based gentlefolk, nothing to do with this forum.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Sorry, nothing to do with PAS, it happened to me after my post. Although the few Gage supporters in the blog comments kept it quite civil, to their credit.

    Ah, right. The emails Kim Hill read out on Saturday were fairly off-the-hook.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    One of mine bothered to read other blog posts and make it personal. It was frankly quite shocking.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Tim Hannah,

    Take it as a compliment. You've got to be saying something interesting to be worthy of hate mail. Especially researched hate mail.

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 228 posts Report Reply

  • Hilary Stace,

    Sorry, I was referring to the bickering on PAS as a symptom of the divisions caused by Richard Gage's visit to NZ generally. Not implying the hate mail came from within this community.Thanks for the Guidelines, Russell.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • Just thinking,

    Yous guys are already in Austraslia - the Australasian Plate that is.

    Canty, Otago, Southland & Firodland are here in the Pacific.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Plates_tect2_en.svg

    Putaringamotu • Since Apr 2009 • 1158 posts Report Reply

  • 3410,

    Catching up with Austraila? Another NAct con.

    From Brian Easton in the Listener, August 15, 2009:

    Now National and Act have agreed to set a “concrete goal of closing the income gap with Australia by 2025”, 16 years away. The historical record shows the divergence from Australia began in 1966, 43 years ago. So they expect we will catch up two-and-a-half times faster than we got behind. Yeah, right....

    ...[A]ny member of the commission – indeed the entire commission – is being invited to say there is little we can do to attain income parity with Australia by 2025. That is the research evidence, and is almost certainly what any freethinker will conclude.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    All the apartments in Sydney have bars on there windows, for Christ's sake.

    But, it's the kinda place to love if you are fresh outta yoof. Never felt more safe than wandering the streets of Sydney at 3am. Some times, not so lucky, but most of the time yada yada. Thing is every level of income is doable because the population allows it.If you want drugs, you step into that industry or don't. If you want conservative, you pop over the shore. All incomes, all there. National are completely copying Australia. so that means what the Nats do has to be 10 fold to Oz. That has to be expensive surely? I don't think Key grasps that. He's so used to international circles, and imo doesn't quite see that running a country has to be more than a business, because this is where size does matter? I dunno, as you were...

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    Perhaps Key & Co are thinking about MPs salary Parity
    There is not much in it, in fact if they got parity then Hone Key would get a little less.
    Auzzy MPs.
    Our lot.
    Maybe we should be looking at parity between the average wage and MPs salaries.
    Now that would give them an incentive.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic,

    Thats far to harsh, a holiday in Fiji would be shocking enough for the little petals.

    I beg to differ. Nothing's ever too harsh for hardline demagogues.

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

  • Simon Grigg,

    I hope we didn't loose Joe Wylie.

    multiplied by a factor of zillions...

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

  • Russell Brown,

    I hope we didn't loose Joe Wylie. He's been a good buddy on this forum.

    He certainly has.

    In the continuing pearls-of-wisdom-from-the-gaffer series, it's fine to take a break from PAS because you feel offended by an exchange of views, because you're saying things you might regret, or because you're just tired of being out there.

    But don't make permanent decisions in the heat of the moment. This is a special place, and if in the exchange of ideas people sometimes get pissed off with each other, that's still the case.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Big excuse me Russell, what you just said should not have the last post spot removed but...

    But don't make permanent decisions in the heat of the moment. This is a special place, and if in the exchange of ideas people sometimes get pissed off with each other, that's still the case.

    Aye. Cant wait to see everybody 2moro and Friday and I have plugged both evenings tonight at our beer Tasting, which I may add is recommended. Tried 6 beers . 2 Pilsners, 1 dark, 2 pale, and 1 Tripel. I never drink beer but I think I can.:)
    Anyhow my point is I asked 3 different people and I think they will show up. I hope that is ok?
    My other point is Ian and Joe, If we don,t see you again, Merry Xmas, hope to see you in the new year.Come on down. I really feel , it is never about you, it's about us so it will never be personal and that's just fine surely.?
    Must admit though, what I think, fascinating group of people and it is a priviledge for me to know Russell and his family.Is that a bit arse licky? Not intended but hope Ian and Joe come back.xxxx

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • andrew clive,

    Personally i was hoping for a few plumbers or electricians to sign up.

    auckland • Since Feb 2008 • 37 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    Boat Builders not good enough for you? How about Artists, writers or even accountants,how would you get by without them?
    We also have a plumber and an electrician or two. What have you to offer as a skill or talent?. Please tell, we may have a use for you yet.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • andrew clive,

    I disagree R.B, with your stance on Minarets. Are you saying you'd tolerate having one in your neighborhood? They are used for heralding Muslims to prayer , 5 times a day,via an amplified sound system, i might add , very loudly .
    Unlike the NZ government the Swiss Govt actually listened to the voters in the referendum they had on the Minaret issue. 57% voted against them.
    Now lets also put your population figure of 400,000 unhappySwiss Muslims on the Minaret ruling into PERSPECTIVE [Something SEVERELY lacking at PAS] It represents only 4% of the Swiss population.So once again you're on a diatribe of "lets appeal to a minority & stuff the majority, they can put up with unwanted noise" 5 times daily".

    auckland • Since Feb 2008 • 37 posts Report Reply

  • Just thinking,

    I have Minarets in my neighbourhood there is no problem.
    Riccarton has numerous Christian Churches, Buddist Centre, Mosque, and for the devout dollar devotees a Westfield shoppingmall.
    As was the case in Switzerland there is no call to prayer.
    There has been issues with a fundy Anglican band of Bell Ringers in Avonhead last year, but that faded away.

    Putaringamotu • Since Apr 2009 • 1158 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    disagree R.B, with your stance on Minarets. Are you saying you'd tolerate having one in your neighborhood? They are used for heralding Muslims to prayer , 5 times a day,via an amplified sound system, i might add , very loudly .

    I know what they are. And I don't think that resource consent issues were really uppermost in the mind of the people leading the campaign to to ban them, given that the posters for the "Yes" campaign in the referendum depicted them as armed missiles.

    Unlike the NZ government the Swiss Govt actually listened to the voters in the referendum they had on the Minaret issue. 57% voted against them.

    Yes. Because they have frequent binding referenda as a key part of their system. Nearly all other national governments, including our own, do not. Political parties, such as the Direct Democracy party, that have sought to introduce such a system have routinely received bugger-all votes in New Zealand.

    Now lets also put your population figure of 400,000 unhappySwiss Muslims on the Minaret ruling into PERSPECTIVE [Something SEVERELY lacking at PAS] It represents only 4% of the Swiss population.So once again you're on a diatribe of "lets appeal to a minority & stuff the majority, they can put up with unwanted noise" 5 times daily".

    I'm on no sort of diatribe at all. I commented on it relatively briefly, but I'm happy to respond to your raving.

    Again, there's no evidence it was about the noise of prayer call at all (as Just thinking notes, there didn't seem to be prayer calls made). The right-wing SVP party that drove the referendum is extremely marginal -- to the extent of harbouring holocaust deniers -- and it campaigned pretty much on fear and loathing.

    On the other hand, the major Catholic, Protestant and Jewish organisations in Switzerland all opposed the proposed ban as an attack on religious freedom.

    You're clearly very keen on majority rights. I suggest you might develop another perspective were you to end up on the wrong side of them some day.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Tim Hannah,

    hey are used for heralding Muslims to prayer , 5 times a day,via an amplified sound system, i might add , very loudly .

    No, no they aren't. The four currently existing minarets in Switzerland are not used to call anyone for prayer. They're just towers, kind of like steeples really, but without noisy bells.

    If that's an indication of your attention to detail and reality, avoid wiring.

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 228 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie,

    Oh, don't be ridicolous, Joe would never say something that causes offence.
    (Kindly navigate to the top of the next page for his response.)
    I did say I would drop it, didn't I? Nice to see I get called out anyway.

    Good morning Giovanni. That's right, it's the previous time you managed to get right up my nose. In the interests of promoting a degree of understanding, please consider that you know very little about me. Where I happen to live a number of my neighbours are blessed with psychiatric issues. Most of them are very nice people, but there are incidents, sometimes involving late-night ambulance callouts. More often it's pretty low-level stuff, and as it's something that the community is expected to wear it helps to be able to laugh. If you're offended by the way the attitude I've developed has coloured my views then I'm sorry, but I'm not apologising for biting back when you attempt to throw your weight around. If it were your blog, and I was your guest, no problem, but as far as I'm aware that's not the case here.

    Thanks to all who expressed kind thoughts, along with a degree of tolerance that I probably don't deserve. As Russell once said, when it comes to being a nice guy, Ian Dalziel pretty much wrote the book. Would that I could bring such a large and generous mind to the party. Thanks also to Hilary for putting it so well - no, it really isn't worth it. I was a lot harsher than necessary towards you in a post here a while back, and you were remarkably tolerant. Thanks for that.

    For the meantime, all the best to all of you.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Sam F,

    For the meantime, all the best to all of you.

    This sounds rather too much like a 'signing off' comment to me - say it ain't so, or at very least not permanently. I enjoy your comments along with those of Gio and Ian and... well, because there are too many to list I'll say that hardly ever have I regretted reading anyone's posts on this site, with the exception of the few easily identifiable professional squabblers/trolls.

    For the record I don't think Gio's comment was particularly rude, and Ian seemed uncomfortable with the attitudes being expressed (regarding the 9/11 demolition argument) a fair bit earlier on than that anyway. Perhaps he would have taken a spell regardless. I hope in time he returns.

    If that's an indication of your attention to detail and reality, avoid wiring.

    Andrew Clive: against the darker side of my nature, I have to endorse Tim Hannah's safety advisory quoted above.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1611 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Have to give credit for a sense of humour though.

    Personally i was hoping for a few plumbers or electricians to sign up.

    Heh

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sam F,

    Have to give credit for a sense of humour though.

    Oh wow, agreed. For some reason I didn't spot that as Andrew's contribution - thought it was a smart little dig by someone else...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1611 posts Report Reply

  • Kerry Weston,

    I concreted a large post into the ground at the weekend, dug out some blackberry and read a book ... hmmm, kiwi enuff, ya reckon?

    @Joe: all the best to you and Ian too. FWIW, I've felt the tone has been a bit scratchy round here the last couple of months, dunno why, running up to xmas stress perhaps? It's interesting, tho, where the stress points are in an online community, somewhere at the intersection of huge freedom to communicate but without the body language clues :-)

    I look forward to your return.

    Manawatu • Since Jan 2008 • 494 posts Report Reply

First ←Older Page 1 26 27 28 29 30 31 Newer→ Last

Post your response…

This topic is closed.