National HQ deleting YouTube comments?
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- Date published:
10:25 am, November 28th, 2007 - 42 comments
Categories: national -
Tags: national
Just received this from a “concerned reader”:
Just wanted to know whether or not you have also been blocked by NZNats? This morning they have deleted all comments with a hint of an opposing view, with the exception of the ‘TaneStandard’ comment. It offends me that the National Party would post a video which endeavours to let the public know their leader, while censoring the public input about him.
Can anyone shed any light on this?
UPDATE: Looks like it’s true. National is selectively deleting comments and blocking YouTube users with contradictory views. Poor form.
42 comments on “National HQ deleting YouTube comments? ”
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I had two comments up there, so they’ve deleted at least one of mine too.
The dead giveaway is they’ve left up a comment that responds to Redbus but Redbus’ comments are nowhere to be found.
I see they chose to leave up “You’ll make a great Prime Minister, John” and “GOT MY VOTE”.
Free speech under attack, aye?
Ben – free speech is for those who can pay for it. Lefties shouldn’t be posting to a Nat youtube because that’s just bludging off their (very expensive) efforts. I say no dollar, no say. It’s only fair.
Free speech doesn’t mean that anyone is required to provide you a platform. I wonder how far I’d get shouting abuse at a Labour event? (oh, right, until I get a megaphone to the head)
I don’t understand why they don’t just block all comments though.
“I don’t understand why they don’t just block all comments though.”
Think about it. It’ll come to you.
(capthca: especially unjust)
National motto: Free speech, for the rich
You’ll need at least $120,000 at your disposal for political advertising to post. Because as we all know based on National’s opposition to the Electoral Finance Bill; it’s all about giving their wealthy mates the microphone.
Come to think of it that means DPFDblStdClaws is bludging of the efforts of the Standard’s crew. Jeez DPFDblStdClaws why don’t you get your own site if you’re so concerned about what’s getting posted. Oh, that’s right you have…
And agin – why use my witticism for your handle bro? Are you trying to make people think I’m your mate? (for the record I really really am so not).
http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2007/11/little_may_stand.html#comment-360421
I feel like I’m your dad. Eweugh!
I tried to find any official Labour video content on youtube but nothing much showed up. Is there any? I’d like to leave some comments about Helen Clark rorting the taxpayer.
Sambo – sad to see that your intelligent commenting ideals are slipping.
How about these
Labour Motto: John Key Sucks
Labour Motto: Power at all costs
Labour Motto: Blame the officials
Labour Motto: EB Suck
TDS, there’s not a lot: http://youtube.com/user/nzlp
Labour don’t appear to be too web-savvy, but I’m sure they’ll get their act together closer to the election. At least, I hope they do.
Double standard/santaclaws/bigbruv/david
There are others but you get the point
You have complete freedom to post here
Idon’t think anyone has been banned not like
The bog eh David
captacha: heckling difficlt
“You have complete freedom to post here”
Well, obviously. But I don’t regard it as a “right” that I should be able to post anything I want on anyones own blog or youtube or wherever. That is a decision for the site or content owner. Newspaper’d don’t have to print anything you send them. TVNZ doesn’t publish comments etc etc etc.
If you want to conflate “free speech” with “I have the right to write comments on any public forum and you must publish them” then thats your choice. The two are not the same.
And I seem to recall that KBB takes please in modifying comments to change the meaning. I guess that’s free speech for the blog owner, but a bit tough on the commenter aye?
Does Jordan allow comments on all posts – I know he stopped that for a while. No comments on NRT – where’s your faux outrage in those cases?
Kiwiblog is DPF’s baby. If you don’t like it, starting your own blog is fairly easy.
Teh Duoble Satndard: got some National ones
national for better healthcare: Tax Cuts
national for strong international relations: Tax Cuts
national for better education: tax cuts
national for robust infrastructure: tax cuts
national for The Policy That You Find Important (it doesn’t matter which): tax cuts
I don’t suppose you read the comments at just left or NRT before they were stopped (LF’s got them back up, mostly), TDS? Last I heard, free speech didn’t cover outright abuse, don’t tell me they changed that? So there’s your ‘faux outrage’
The National party are showing their true colours again by deleting comments made by voters about Keys promotional material, the very same people they are asking to invite them to govern in 2008. In a real democracy people should be able to participate in the political process without the need for a hefty bank balance. National on one hand stifles debate on their Key video but on the other hand crows about free speech in relation to the EFB. The Bill simply attempts to introduce a more even playing field for all New Zealanders where elections cant be bought by those with vast resources and wealth.
DPFDblStdClaws – Once more – why use my witticism for your handle bro?
http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2007/11/little_may_stand.html#comment-360421
I’ve been asking you this for three weeks now and you still won’t answer. Surely it’s a simple question. What’s wrong boy?
NRT took the decision to ban ALL comments rather then face the criticism that the Nats are facing
by selectively banning people
Interestingly Davis agrees
I don’t understand why they don’t just block all comments though.
David on the other hand does selectively ban people
And nearly always adds comments to Tane post
Tane has the hypocrite rattled
Interestingly David agrees
whoops
National’s theirtube behaviour is in keeping with this Slane cartoon though
http://kiwiblogblog.wordpress.com/2007/11/28/free-speech-for-the-rich/
It’s starting to look like a well established pattern. Ban lefties on KB (National party blog). Ban comments on youtube (National party account). Shout down and harass a single speaker addressing a rally (National party supporters).
Is this a model of free speech National style? You can have all the free speech you like as long as you don’t try to use it?
There’s one place you can’t ban any counter-argument, and that’s on TV debates. Don’t tell me I’m the only one looking forward to seeing JK nestled in amongst HC, WP, JF, RH and TT next year, looking like a startled possum in the glare of the cameras. Spontaneous and effective argument and John Key just don’t go together in my head.
Seriously, I can’t wait. It’s going to be hilarious.
that’s right Rob, a bit like their views on Maori rights under the Treaty.
“In a real democracy people should be able to participate in the political process without the need for a hefty bank balance.”
You seem to be participating fine Debs, but, once again, free speech doesn’t give you a ‘right’ to a platform. How is deleting comments related to $$$? I guess you are just promoting Teh Party line once again – its OK for Labour to suppress dissent through legislation, but lets the Nats delete a few comments on Youtube and its the end of democracy? Wot a larf.
Gruela
National haven’t got anything to say so they attack / ban people who do or point it out
Helen will make mincemeat of him
I agree
rOb – The guy at the Wellington protest did get heckled by some, but he was given a chance at the microphone.
All – This whole comment deletion thing is just poor ‘handling’ of internet PR. As TDS said, you EITHER allow comments on a forum you’re willing to monitor and argue back OR you ban them in any situations where you aren’t. Selective removal of comments is poor form. You all know it’s just bad etiquette from someone at National who’s not very net savvy. Stop trying to beat it up into some kind of overall stance or style re: free speech.
If you have to jump on this kind of trivial nonsense and try to make it a big deal then you mustn’t be too flush with ideas of what to post on, or you just like being childish.
Spout
Here’s a link to more Slane ‘toons.
http://slaneseditorialcartoons.blogspot.com/
I particularly like the one where Helen has shot poor Mickey
its OK for Labour to suppress dissent through legislation, but lets the Nats delete a few comments on Youtube and its the end of democracy? Wot a larf.
If the Nats are doing that, then they ARE living up to your name!
“rOb – The guy at the Wellington protest did get heckled by some, but he was given a chance at the microphone”
Call me cynical, but there are two interpretations of the organisers calling for a speaker from the counter protest. (1) The really wanted to hear what the counter protesters had to say. That doesn’t really fit well with the fact that they then shouted him down and made no attempt to listen. (2) The hoped to show up and ridicule the counter protest if no one was brave enough to speak, they had their bluff called when a speaker appeared. Which fits rather nicely with the fact that they then shouted him down, so as not to let him actually be heard.
“Selective removal of comments is poor form.”
Well we agree on that. Please head on over to KB and inform DPF.
“If you have to jump on this kind of trivial nonsense”
It’s, you know, the topic of the thread. And if you think free speech is trivial nonsense, well, apparently you have found your home on the Right.
Once again for the morons – free speech does not mean you have a right to use some elses platform to make that speech. Sheesh, what about the “free speech” of the idiot that posted the comment here than Tane deleted a couple of weeks ago?
http://bp2.blogger.com/_RgmZt4svm00/RvmwoxlMV8I/AAAAAAAAAGM/_JxJZ29EE1k/s1600-h/dirt_lo.jpg
When was that TDS? You mean the guy who posted under his partner’s handle and asked to have his comment deleted? That’s a pretty low smear mate, even for you.
“Once again for the morons – free speech does not mean you have a right to use some elses platform to make that speech”
So free speech is decided by the owners of the media is it then TDS? Free speech for the rich it is. You masses with no platform – tough luck.
Well, actually, I was thinking of the one related to possible defamation action. Maybe you just edited that one instead of deleting it? Anyway, the point is not so much that you took action, but that even this place doesn’t provide a wide-open say-anything location – there is no free speech obligation operating.
Those who are posting comments on youtube are perfectly able to stand outside the beehive and say whatever they like. After 1 Jan they will not be completely free to do even that.
Double Standard
“After 1 Jan they will not be completely free to do even that.”
How so? What happens on Jan. 1? Am I missing something?
TDS, you’ve raised an interesting point. Free speech is not absolute. It’s about allowing free debate and expression within acceptable democratic bounds. One of those bounds is defamation. On that count, we’ve done nothing wrong.
Selectively deleting comments that you don’t agree with is not an acceptable democratic limit on free speech – it’s a sign of someone who can’t handle dissent.
Once again for the morons – free speech does not mean you have a right to use some elses platform to make that speech.
But if one know that “someone else’s platform”
Is being economical with the truth and displaying rank hypocrisy and then portrays them self as a
“independant political commentator.
Then I think we have a moral obligation to keep them in check
Thomas
Are you talking about Chris Trotter? Don’t be shy man, tell us what you really think!
r0b –
“It’s, you know, the topic of the thread.”
I was commenting on the topic of the thread.
“And if you think free speech is trivial nonsense, well, apparently you have found your home on the Right.”
No, I think this thread is trivial nonsense. I didn’t say free speech is trivial nonsense. There’s no relation because removing YouTube comments from your own video is not a violation of free speech. It’s just dumb.
Since you think it’s OK to read false meaning into other people’s comments and then ‘defeat’ the words that you put into their mouth, well, apparently you have found your home on the Left.
“Since you think it’s OK to read false meaning into other people’s comments and then ‘defeat’ the words that you put into their mouth, well, apparently you have found your home on the Left.”
Tee hee! Fair cop. I try to be good, but I don’t always succeed.
I still think the topic of this thread is perfectly fair enough though.
Once again for the morons – free speech does not mean you have a right to use some elses platform to make that speech
So Youtube is a National party platform? So the National party has the right to bar public comment in a public domain???? Their website yes, someone eles website, no.
Sounds like double standards.
Thomas
Are you talking about Chris Trotter? Don’t be shy man, tell us what you really think
You know I’m talking about you Farrar
A vote for National is a vote for censorship.
“Selectively deleting comments that you don’t agree with is not an acceptable democratic limit on free speech – it’s a sign of someone who can’t handle dissent.”
So you’ve come over to the anti-EFB camp at last, Tane? Well done!
Othersise it’s a Very Double Standard?
Heard about the rumours about Government instructions to TV3 on what they can and can’t report? Next year it will be all legal and above board, though. God I love transparency.
Gruela
“”After 1 Jan they will not be completely free to do even that.”
How so? What happens on Jan. 1? Am I missing something?”
You really have been asleep, haven’t you.
Kill The Bill.