Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Still crazy after all these years

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  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    I have little doubt...

    I know of another ex inmate (of normal inmate age status) who displayed exactly the same behaviour, and on recieving a visit from authorities concerned with his release back into society commented to my friend that they hadn't noticed his behaviour (right in front of them) to be a problem. Exactly the same behaviour. Interestingly this person was diagnosed with a mental disorder.

    As an aside. TV3 news... Millie Elder...

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

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Meanwhile, the Herald might want to re-think any further headlines like Child Killer becomes Sex Pest. I've given up on expecting the Herald to bother with the wet liberal concept of "those accused of a crime are entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty in a court of law," but what happened to self-preservation? Potentially defamatory reading there, methinks.

    Meanwhile, WTF is "blaming the victim" about the idea that perhaps it wouldn't have done any harm for a third party that wasn't a seriously ill woman being present? Especially around someone who does have form for assaulting his girlfriend?

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    I also found it a bit invasive when the two were advised of the mother's condition and didn't want them in her presence thus asked to move to another room. I would not have continued the interview out of respect for, the mother in her own home not being well. also what's wrong with the bloody phone? They bandy the same photos about, so that wasn't the reason they needed to be there.

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

  • chris,

    it wouldn't have done any harm for a third party that wasn't a seriously ill woman being present

    That may hinder the manifestation of an opportunity to dole out autobiographical rhetoric;

    "My first instinct was to get out of there as fast as possible, but I had this overwhelming belief that if I reacted with aggression, alarm or even showed fear something terrible would happen to us.

    "

    Mawkland • Since Jan 2010 • 1302 posts Report

  • Rich of Observationz,

    Millie Elder

    Yes, what about *her* poor victims.

    Oh wait. There aren't any...

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • chris,

    Oh wait. There aren't any...

    sounds like her P pipe takes a bit of a beating.

    Mawkland • Since Jan 2010 • 1302 posts Report

  • Matthew Poole,

    I also found it a bit invasive when the two were advised of the mother's condition and didn't want them in her presence thus asked to move to another room

    You're not a reporter, Sofie. Invasive is what they do.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    It doesn't make it any less shite tho'

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

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    All of it.

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

  • Rich Lock,

    I think the reporter was quite entitled to want to know Bailey's thoughts on his latest conviction and spell of sub-standard Crown accommodation.

    I could've been a little more careful about my wording, but didn't think people would assume I thought the reporters wanted to write a fluffy bunny story. Their interest in him is one-sided, and we all know it, but that doesn't mean they have no right to be interested. It sells papers, and Granny is frequently barely worthy of the label "tabloid".

    Invasive is what they do.

    Where did I say, suggest, or even imply in a veiled manner that they were wanting a good, balanced story? I'm sure the reporter was after some salacious comments that would make good headlines and provide fodder for the rent-a-quotes, but that's what the gutter press do, innit?

    That reads like nothing more than "They sent women there so they could get a story about this sex-crazed young man". The stripper comment just finishes it off nicely.

    I've seen you offer no evidence to the contrary. And given your other comments above, I think you've actually made my argument for me.

    I think they did send two women round the because they expected they'd get a better reaction, possibly even turn a non-story into a story, because, to quote you, 'that's what they do, innit?'

    I certainly wouldn't expect anything less than Granny's ordinary "journalistic standards" on the matter, but that doesn't make it any more justified to blame their sexual assaults on the reporters doing their job. I don't care how tawdry the story would've been, there's a strong stench of victim blaming being directed at the reporters.

    Which I didn't do.

    But if, as you've stated, being 'invasive is what they do', then when you're 'invasive' with violent, unpredictable people, a hazard of the trade is the ocassional smack in the mouth. Ask a 'fair go' or 'target' reporter. Doesn't make it right, but it's a fact of life.

    Also, sending two people, even if they're both women, isn't exactly ignoring employees' safety. He doesn't have a history of sexual violence, for one, or of serious gang connections. Sending one would've been silly, sure, but sending two would meet most people's definition of reasonable care in the circumstances.

    And frankly, although you might think it's an acceptable level of safety to send two women round in those circumstances, I don't: it's fucking stupid.

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

  • Sacha,

    Yes, what about *her* poor victims.
    Oh wait. There aren't any...

    I recall previous charges about receiving stolen goods

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Yes charged. So the gossip should be ? Why cant we have a little more than gossip.? The girl is dealing with the court system, which incidently sucks, she is innocent at this point, so just because her Mum made a mistake once with Mr Holmes, she now is news. Whoopty!
    Can't get with that program sorry.

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

  • Sacha,

    her Mum made a mistake once with Mr Holmes

    marriage or somesuch :)

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    marriage or somesuch :)

    Exactly . Mistake,or they'd still be together eh? :)

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

  • Don Christie,

    Late entry to the quiz - how come Act, with 3.6% of the party vote gets to run Auckland?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1645 posts Report

  • Peter Ashby,

    @Rich

    Irradiation is banned in NZ? since when exactly? IIRC there is/was an irradiation facility in the Hutt Valley that did things like dried herbs. Check a packet of standard dried herbs/spices in the supermarket next time you are in. I guarantee the NZ produced/processed ones will be irradiated.

    Also ionising radiation is widely used as a means of sterilising things like prepacked medical dressings, on account of it being more effective and less destructive than heat (it doesn't melt plastic packaging for one thing).

    I think you will also find ionising radiation sources at places like Universities, Hospitals, AgResearch Institutes etc. Owned and operated by people who know their science instead of getting it from ignorant scaremongering people.

    Back in the institute in London we were in the bay in the lower carpark setting fire to things so that we could learn hands on how to use fire extinguishers of various types (in a fire, I'm your man). They trained everyone on site like that. Anyway we were doing the oil fire in the iron trough and had just put it out when the head of security/safety came pounding down the hill with a heavy firefighter's jacket flapping about. The bay was the entrance to the cobalt source and the wind was in the wrong direction and had blown the smoke in through a vent triggering an alarm (silent). He thought the cobalt source was on fire and was wondering why we were standing around unconcerned. Those of use who knew about things like cobalt sources (there were secretaries there for eg) couldn't help admire a man who would run towards a fire in a cobalt source wearing an afterthought of protective gear.

    A hint for you Rich, things irradiated with ionising radiation are no more radioactive than you are after an x-ray or CAT Scan. Also microwaves are radiation, just a different part of the same spectrum. That we have tamed them into common technology does not change that fact. Sunburn is a radiation burn too. Going to ban the sun?

    The way to handle risk is sober assessment of risk/benefit ratios, not ignorant scaremongering. If you want to get a stomach bug from your condiments that is your perogative, you don't get a veto over mine though.

    Dundee, Scotland • Since May 2007 • 425 posts Report

  • BenWilson,

    Late thanks for the plug, Russell. Insanely busy couple of days.

    Re: ACToids. Theoretically interesting, practically mostly conservative bores with a plethora of crackpot views, the only common one being the divinity of the market. If I wanted conservative bores I'd stick to centrists of both the left and the right, and not need to get into insane arguments about basic established scientific views, and fairly stock standard liberal ones too.

    Latest entry to the quiz: No idea what you're all talking about, and no desire to find out either. Another sad kiwi murder? ewwww....

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • Islander,

    Apropos the weirder views of early ANZ settlement:"Reading the Maps"is an excellent site for dealing with people who are - frankly- both racist & stupid. Scott is a scholar: links are given, and idiots are given (an undeserved) aspace. There is a wonderful intellectually leftwing drive to the site.

    And there is far more covered on that blog than just rebutting/refutation of nutters.

    Muriel Newman is an arrant racist: I've never bothered to go to her site. Pop her and Ian Wishart into the same intellectual bed and you
    wouldnt see the blankets heave - the occupants would just snooze&smooch in happy ignorant bliss.

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

  • chris,

    wouldnt see the blankets heave

    A lovely turn of phrase.

    Mawkland • Since Jan 2010 • 1302 posts Report

  • Caleb D'Anvers,

    If the Tea Party ever get swept to power I expect they'll name a library after him.

    Or perhaps a flamethrower.

    London SE16 • Since Mar 2008 • 482 posts Report

  • Alien Lizard (anag),

    Further thoughts re the valiant and intrepid HoS reporters descent into the home of Bailey Junior Kurariki.
    One would assume that they were aware that his parole/release included a proviso that he didn't speak to the media (as I see reported in The Press today) so wouldn't that be a provocative act on their part - with sad results...

    Just more indications of the overweening self-entitlement that pervades our modern media and society:

    Gareth Morgan more worried about his motorbike in Argentina, and still taking his tourist trip into Santiago and Concepcion (as reported on TV news last night), that'll help...

    Elected representative Jamie Gough in the letters in the Press today solving Chch's inner city problems by pushing for an influx of "quality" residents to the inner city. (no parameters given for "quality")...

    ...sigh

    The Arrrgh Complex • Since Jan 2010 • 158 posts Report

  • MikeE,

    " Muriel will never get into parliament."


    "She was an MP for nine years Mikee."

    @rich - as they say in israel and on 4chan... never again

    ;-)

    Washington DC • Since Nov 2006 • 138 posts Report

  • Rich of Observationz,

    @Peter Ashby

    Ok, but only for a few items under strict control, not to resurrect rotten chicken and the like.

    I don't have any problem with ionising radiation sources being used under proper control for suitable purposes, such as medical and industrial uses. You probably even have one in your smoke alarm.

    I never said that ionising radiation made things radioactive. (It does, but not to any appreciable amount in the doses used for X-rays and food irradiation applications).

    Gamma and X- radiation is very different from non-ionising radiation such as microwaves. The former can kill microorganisms and cause chemical change - the latter does not (to any appreciable degree). You can't sterilise stuff in a microwave (except through heating).

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • Matthew Poole,

    I think you will also find ionising radiation sources at places like Universities

    The University of Auckland definitely has one. There's a cobalt 60 block in a sub-basement that's used for irradiating geological samples. I know this because a) I had an office just down the hall from the entry to the control room, b) I worked with a guy who studied geology at UoA and had worked on irradiated geological samples that'd been passed through said block, and c) I did a risk analysis for the Faculty of Science, and had to consider the impact of loss of water/power on the safety of said block (there was no safety risk, according to the licensee).

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report

  • Julie Fairey,

    Wow, defensive much?

    There is a clear difference in my mind to the actions of the employer (the HoS in this case) in deciding to send reports to Kuariki's house and the actions of individuals when faced with a difficult situation once there.

    For all we know the reporters who were sent may have been told to get a good story or else. They may not have been as free to leave as some suggest.

    And frankly there is no right way to respond to that kind of thing. It's not a decision we get to make, as observers well removed from the situation, that these journos should have done X or Y, and if they hadn't then they are somehow culpable in what happened. Which is the undertone of some of the early comments. It's good to see many commenters more recently stating they dont' think that, and I thank them for that clarification.

    In my experience people tend to have one of three responses in situations of stress, and they are pretty predictably fight, flight or freeze. My own observation of employment situations of stress is that freeze is by far the most common.

    For myself, in a job I used to do years ago I often worked with a 3IC who used to ah rearrange himself frequently whilst talking to me. I never mentioned it to anyone else I worked with, and despite being hideously uncomfortable and embarrased never said anything to him. He seemed to be unaware that he was doing it, although it seemed impossible to me that that would be the case (male readers may care to indicate whether this could be true, although that might be too gross for this space!). We got on quite well, he never hit on me or asked me out or showed any particular interest beyond a friendly level, but he kept doing it. Even when we weren't working together anymore and I bumped into him a while later he did it. Ignoring it seemed the best option, which fits into the freeze category. I did try flight a bit, but that wasn't always possible because he was management, or he would call me back and delay me from going. Nice guy. Just wished he would stop putting his hands in his pockets when we spoke.

    None of this lets the HoS bosses off the hook. I think it is totally right to be asking questions, as many commenters have, about the decision-making process behind seeking this interview (particularly if media contact for Kuariki was verboten under his release conditions). We should also be asking what guidelines and training reporters are given for dealing with difficult situations of this nature, and what debriefing happens afterwards too.

    Puketapapa Mt Roskill, AK… • Since Dec 2007 • 234 posts Report

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