Posts by jeremy botham
Last ←Newer Page 1 2 3 4 5 Older→ First
-
Speaker: Telling Our Own Tales, in reply to Lilith __,
"Auckland media, with few exceptions, have given almost no space to ChCh issues."
That kind of fabrication sums up precisely my frustrations. It reeks of not letting the truth get in the way of a good story.
It's sweeping, emotional clap-trap and cannot hope to pose as factual.
-
Speaker: Telling Our Own Tales, in reply to Barnaby Bennett,
I look forward to your essay Barnaby.....but could somebody please explain the oddity that is CTV in regards to its tiny audiences that watch earthquake related stuff? I'm keen to learn.
-
Speaker: Telling Our Own Tales, in reply to Russell Brown,
I made a request for no abuse on the back of a 100% abusive reply from one of your major contributors, Ian Dalziel. If that wasn't abuse, then I've lost it.
And please Russell, with abundant respect, don't use the sympathy card to deny me or any other contributor the opportunity to disagree with a lot of what I've read on your site.
Inferring that I lack empathy because I do have opposing views is not fair play. I do have empathy. Oodles of it.
My association with the maligned Auckland-based media prompts my relies.....not a lack of sympathy for Christchurch. -
Rather than this tit-for-tat nonsense, let me say that I prefer to listen to and believe in what Gerry Brownlee has to say on the overall subject.
He can't get it right all the time. Nobody in this sad, unprecedented tale in our history could be expected to.
But I do know that he is a decent, fair, hard-working Cantabrian who is giving it his very best shot.
If he had the time to take on board each and every view of each and every local, he would need to extend his life-expectancy by a further 200 years.
He must balance the demands for action with the need to listen.
I suspect the fact he is the member of a National Government does not advance his quest for respect amongst most of the contributors to this site.
If he were a Labour/Green minister, I'm certain he would be extended more tolerance.
And before any of you feel the need to abuse me, count to 10 and dwell on the fact that debate is the lifeblood of democracy. -
I suppose that's Auckland's fault as well Bruce....that you can't come up with a rational response.
-
Speaker: Telling Our Own Tales, in reply to Barnaby Bennett,
I suspect Sweeping Generalisations would be your specialist topic on Mastermind Barnaby.
Answer the question......if Cantabrians are so ignored and publicity-starved in the media, why is the audience of your local channel, CTV, and the earthquake docos it has aired watched by such a pitifully-small audience. -
Oh Ian. I must have struck a bigger chord than I dare imagined given the personal abuse you've resorted to.
It's called debate Ian. It's called an opposing view....which tends to break out in a democracy.
Don't feel so threatened Ian. Take a few deep breaths and put the vitriol aside. -
Speaker: Telling Our Own Tales, in reply to Barnaby Bennett,
Oh no Barnaby. You can't get away with describing Gerard's article as not being "negative about people outside of Christchurch." Comments such as "Aucklanders were just not interested" and "the Auckland-based networks were just not interested" are implicit in the disparaging negativity and xenophobia that themes the article. It's by no means the first time that Gerard's conspiracy-theories on the supposed uncaring attitudes within Auckland media have been aired.
And no fresh evidence will ever change that bias, that mantra.
Aucklanders do not comprise some uniquely, selfish tribe that has it in for Christchurch. Like the rest of the country, we are mostly consumed with our own issues, our own lives, our own debates. That is simply human nature, as flawed as it maybe.
To conclude as you do that I shamefully "consider it too much" for Christchurch to want "some autonomy and to be involved in the planning of their own city" is scurrilous fiction. Where did I suggest that?
On that subject, I'm aware that Cera for example and its CEO whom Gerard is a friend of has sought substantial input from locals.
Gerard also glosses over in his article very quickly the fact that Christchurch has its own local television channel but adds that "it's only watched by a small percentage of local households."
How come? Surely if Christchurch is unfairly starved by national television, I could assume that the locals would be watching CTV and the documentary series on the earthquakes that Gerard made in their droves.
Or are even Christchurch folk suffering their very own brand of earthquake fatigue? -
Speaker: Telling Our Own Tales, in reply to Simon Lyall,
Well said Simon. Brave words. The xenophobia that exists in Canterbury amongst a few thrives on self-serving conspiracy theories and nonsense. I'm sure that the good people of Timaru could put forward a case that their existence and stories are not given fair exposure in the Christchurch Press in proportion to their population percentage.
It's simply little brother/big brother ranting that depends on making out that the bigger city [in this case Auckland] has a dedicated agenda to cut Christchurch out of the news loop. I recall reading a letter to the Times from a Birmingham correspondent on how big bad London dominated the news unfairly.
You're exactly right Simon in mentioning the indignation that accompanied the Hope and Wire Series. It never stood a chance of being approved by these Canterbury xenophobes.
If Christchurch wants more outsider sympathy, how about facing reality and sell-off assets like the airport.....before you expect the taxpayer to fund your rebuild completely.