Up Front by Emma Hart

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Up Front: Fairy-Tale Autopsies

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  • Danyl Mclauchlan,

    the second is an online argument I had with a guy eleven years ago over the general crapness of the films of Joel Schumacher

    God, I would love to argue that point, since all of my comments would consist of paraphrased quotes from Batman and Robin: 'Ice to read your reply', 'My supporting link; read it well for it is the chilling sound of your doom', etc.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 927 posts Report Reply

  • Jacqui Dunn, in reply to recordari,

    When I can make you cry, I’ll know I’m getting somewhere.

    But only if we admit it. Otherwise you won't know :)

    Talking about making one cry - I watched "Darklands" last night, and within a couple of minutes was weeping over a two-year-old, given away by his mother and totally lost as a result. (Later, he became a killer.)
    Oh, probably a threadjack. Apologies.

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

  • Sacha, in reply to recordari,

    one of the nice people mentioned

    Aw, thanks. Glad you re-considered.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to BenWilson,

    But picking up what their position is on some abstract idea can be much harder work. And it could end up being just as important. This is a new thing, in evolutionary timescales. We're all learning how to be netizens, and what kind of netizens we want to be.

    True, and I guess that's where all the social network apps and approaches are taking us - more ways to build trust (and tribes). We do seem to want to belong to groups, and groups often define themselves by who is outside as well as inside.

    I'm taken by how much of that in real-world settings is carried in clothing, accent, vocabulary, body language and other social markers. What are the online equivalents? Or do develoments like Color move us back to that older reliance on visual appearance and gesture?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel,

    how about a nose of gays...
    ...aka the sweet scented wild bunch ....
    (too posey?) ;- )

    I always thought a “glad” of gays
    would be cool.

    I think Dame Barry Humphries or even that self-styled "Prophet of the Fourth Gender"
    Steven Patrick Morrissey may have preempted the glad-rag...

    "the Line, the Which and the Wordrobe"...
    ...presents the dendrobium ...

    But I probably should [have] two accounts so I can separate Emma from Plant Physiology.

    some sort of auto-phyla system, perhaps?
    or you'll just end up here all the time!*

    *not to be confused with the delightfully gluteal sounding dendrobium-bigibbum
    ...talk about an awkward orchid...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming, in reply to Bart Janssen,

    That why I hate rules based on the assumption everyone will be selfish arseholes, because in my experience that isn't true.

    It's usually the selfish arseholes that make that assumption, because they can't imagine anyone not wanting to be them. You often find them in politics...

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming, in reply to Jacqui Dunn,

    Talking about making one cry – I watched “Darklands” last night,

    Sigh, I've tried and I just can't "do" Latta. Something about his voice sends me spiralling into yelling at the screen very quickly.

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • Jacqui Dunn, in reply to nzlemming,

    Well, he doesn't narrate, actually. He just puts a few comments in on the way. It's Harry Lyon (that well-known muso "voice" - well, I'm guessing there aren't two in NZ) who does the voice-over.

    But apart from that, what a bloody miserable story. No winners there, at all.

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

  • Jacqui Dunn, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    Tussie-mussie! We could have a new one: a fussie-wussie!

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

  • Geoff Lealand,

    Sigh, I’ve tried and I just can’t “do” Latta.

    I wonder too when he suddenly become the TV expert on everything: teenagers, murderers, life....

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

  • Rob Stowell,

    Sigh, I’ve tried and I just can’t “do” Latta. Something about his voice sends me spiralling into yelling at the screen very quickly

    Indeed. Smug, glib, prurient trawling through the garbage-can of someone's life... The inane populism implied by the name 'politically incorrect' also makes me want to throw things. Like a teenage temper-tantrum.
    No thanks, and no, g'bye, won't see you latta.

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report Reply

  • Rich Lock,

    I'm wondering if a third category needs to be added to 'Trolls' and 'Tinks' - someone who has a valid point, which they genuinely believe in (tinking), but who cannot resist spinning their comment in a way that they know will push the buttons of the regulars (trolling).

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

  • Geoff Lealand,

    'Tinkling', as in the Trickle Down theory?

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

  • Josh Addison, in reply to Danyl Mclauchlan,

    God, I would love to argue that point, since all of my comments would consist of paraphrased quotes from Batman and Robin.

    That was pretty much the thrust of my argument, yeah. He basically ignored me everytime I did so and referred only to the fact that "Falling Down" was pretty OK. And "The Lost Boys" was good, in an 80s, ambient gay kind of way.

    Onehunga, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 298 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Rich Lock,

    toss a prebble in a pond...
    somewhere in a galaxy not far away...
    Michael Laws new book
    I've been Tinking...
    is out now!

    available as an e-book* formatted for digital use

    *Ecology book on a perforated porous-paper roll

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Danyl Mclauchlan,

    He basically ignored me everytime I did so and referred only to the fact that "Falling Down" was pretty OK

    It'd be kind of interesting to watch 'Falling Down' again to see how it's dated. I suspect - from my hazy ~20 year old memories of it - that it's incredibly racist.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 927 posts Report Reply

  • Rich Lock, in reply to Josh Addison,

    '8MM' and 'Tigerland' are pretty good, but they may have been made after your argument.

    But who could forget 'St Elmo's Fire'?

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

  • Rich Lock, in reply to Danyl Mclauchlan,

    It'd be kind of interesting to watch 'Falling Down' again to see how it's dated.

    The worst bit about it is that the ending's a full-on cop-out: It's not the fault of the system that he went crazy - he was mentally ill all along!

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

  • Bart Janssen,

    I used to lurk here too. Then I sent an e-mail or two to Russell commenting on something in his column or passing on an experience to him, which he could use or ignore as he saw fit. He replied sometimes which was cool. I understood he has a LOT to read on any day and replying to everything would be too much to expect. Then he quoted something I'd written to him, which was neat, yes I did get that warm glow you get from having someone acknowledge your experiences.

    Then there was a thread or two where I could contribute my experience and people agreed and disagreed and ignored. And then somewhere along the line I was posting pretty regularly.

    Now I don't expect every lurker to follow that path or even want to choose that path. But there was nothing particularly scary along that path at all.

    Well that isn't true because there was one scary thing - me. Because I have been a colossal ass on the internet before - and I really didn't want to be that ass again. And I can get somewhat er passionate about some things and I know I can be er brusk at times. For me that is the only scary thing about this community. Sometimes what I say will be ignored (TLDR) sometimes people will disagree with me, vigorously even, but none of that matters providing I can avoid being a total ass - well most of the time at least :).

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to Jolisa,

    Thank you Jolisa for your ridiculously kind assessment. As for the kittens sorry but having two kittens on shoulders at the same time results in even more scratches than I have already - kitten claws are VERY sharp!

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Jacqui Dunn, in reply to Bart Janssen,

    I have been a colossal ass on the internet before

    Sorry Bart, but I really don't believe you.

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

  • BenWilson, in reply to Danyl Mclauchlan,

    It'd be kind of interesting to watch 'Falling Down' again to see how it's dated. I suspect - from my hazy ~20 year old memories of it - that it's incredibly racist.

    Not really. There's some Hispanic gangsters and a Korean shopkeeper...that's about it. I don't think it especially glorifies the unnamed character played by Douglas, either. It's pretty clear his wife's intuition that he had an untapped anger that scared her was actually correct. The main accusation you could make is that the comic reversals that happen all through it glorify violence as a solution. I presume that is why the character has to die at the end.

    Edit:

    The worst bit about it is that the ending's a full-on cop-out: It's not the fault of the system that he went crazy - he was mentally ill all along!

    I think it's a lot more ambiguous than that. He had a capacity for anger, and was angry and sad because of what he perceived to be failures of the system. And the events of the day did rather conspire to bring out his crazy side.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Bart Janssen,

    a colossal ass on the internet

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Megan Wegan, in reply to Jacqui Dunn,

    I have been a colossal ass on the internet before

    Sorry Bart, but I really don’t believe you.

    No offense to Bart intended, cos he’s awesome, but I totally can. The thing is, we’ve all been asses on the internet. (BEEN, not seen.)

    Because it’s just like real life, sometimes, you behave badly, unwittingly, or otherwise. And just like in real life, all you can do is apologise, endeavour not to do it again, and move on. Sadly, the internet has a Loooong memory.

    Welly • Since Jul 2008 • 1275 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to Jacqui Dunn,

    I have been a colossal ass on the internet before

    Sorry Bart, but I really don't believe you.

    I'd like to deny it but it is most definitely true. As Megan says you can try and learn from the mistakes and work hard to not repeat them. Fortunately my worst asshood is buried in some well buried newsgroups before the days of google and an e-mail group that no longer exists. And no that isn't a challenge for someone to find it, my memory is quite enough thank you.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

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