So Bill Ralston and Guyon Espiner think it’s terrible this pseudonymous blogging. And Lynn gave a good defence – but I felt I wanted to add to it…
The thing is being only pseudonymous (like much on the net), all the important details to my argument are out there. People know where I’m coming from far more than whomever is doing today’s Herald editorial.
They know I’m a Labour party member – as I’ve mentioned that – and from my topics, that I’m based in Auckland. That’s further confirmed by the fact that I’ve blogged about Labour conferences in Auckland – which might cause an accurate assumption that I’m actively involved in my local Labour Electorate Committee.
So people can take that background into my opinion. But my words (like the Herald‘s editorial) should stand or fall by the argument on the page. And the good thing about blogging to a wide community like The Standard, is that I have it wrong (or even any of the minor details…), it’ll be exposed within a few comments…
Why not say who I am? Well, my employer’s not left-leaning and probably isn’t happy about me blogging left-wing propaganda in my lunch half-hour. And while it might get me targeted by WhaleOil (how many people’s houses and addresses has he published over the years – usually encouraging people to turn up there. It’s not just Nicky Hager & John Minto he targets…), it really wouldn’t add to my argument. So why bother?
Also Guyon, there’s quite a large difference between a blogger who is on endless personal vendettas (and not just against MPs) being fed personal attack and private information – as well as confidential Government information – versus us on The Standard (without the nasty personal vendettas) getting the odd embargo-ed media release from sympathetic parties, or links to newspaper stories pointed out to us (and I’ve not had either of those since 2011, they’ve obviously forgotten me…).
On a separate note I fear that Tim Watkin is all too correct that the result of Dirty Politics will be a depression in turnout.
From looking over my wife’s shoulder at her far less biased or political facebook feed last night there was a lot of “plague on all their houses”. In the wider electorate this is seen as nasty, but politics as usual, however unusual it actually is.
It’s important the Left keeps positive to have a contrast, and lets the media get on with their job.
And when people express their cynicism about politics, we need to point out the way to stop this is to get involved (and vote them out!) not leave running the country to the politicians.
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