Open mike 13/08/2022

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, August 13th, 2022 - 109 comments
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109 comments on “Open mike 13/08/2022 ”

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  1. PsyclingLeft.Always 1
    13 August 2022 at 7:54 am

    They claimed Sharma would get disappointed when staff members put fridge magnets in the wrong box.

    "It was like walking on eggshells," they said.

    "I had to go to counselling.

    "I've never been depressed or wanted to harm myself. I'm a happy person who has always been positive. I had never known about mental health," the staffer said.

    "I was thinking of ways that I could kill myself. I didn't want to go back to work. I would have rather killed myself than go back to work," they said.

    https://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/mps-ex-staffer-speaks-out-after-being-left-tears

    Anyone…who has ever had the unfortunate circumstance of dealing with a narcissist bully…or worse, the Dark Triad, will maybe be seeing some similarities here.

    • Sabine 1.1
      13 August 2022 at 8:03 am

      And here i thought they were the elected Labour MP for Hamilton West who is also a Doctor.

      • PsyclingLeft.Always 1.1.1
        13 August 2022 at 8:17 am

        Well…Sabine. I'm sure you might..just might maybe, accept that a Doctor, could also be a narcissist. Or worse. And quite adept at covering themselves.

        • Matiri 1.1.1.1
          13 August 2022 at 9:21 am

          It's also a bit strange for a doctor, especially a GP, to share health information in so much detail and so publicly. Fits the narcissist definition.

          https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/labours-hamilton-west-mp-gaurav-sharma-reveals-health-scare-worsening-symptoms/FMMBQVE47ZASXORYC2F4HSMEHY/

          Kiri Allan did too, but that was to raise awareness of cervical cancer and getting a smear. And it worked.

          • Rosemary McDonald 1.1.1.1.1
            13 August 2022 at 9:32 am

            Dr Gaurav Sharma is the second sitting politician to suffer a major health setback this year after East Coast MP Kiri Allan was diagnosed with cervical cancer in April.

            I'm not sure what how this makes him a narcissist….unles you are happy for the same label to apply to Kiri Allan. Allan could quite rightly claim she was drawing attention to cervical cancer and the importance for women, especially wahine Maori, to get checked.

            Likewise, Sharma is also drawing attention to the importance of addressing potential health issues and quite rightly highlights how beneficial it is for doctors to experience the health system from the patients' perspective.

            No, not seeing how this Fits the narcissist definition.

        • Anne 1.1.1.2
          13 August 2022 at 9:39 am

          And quite adept at covering themselves.

          They are extremely adept at covering themselves. They are also adept at playing the victim game and before the actual victims know it, they are deemed to be the perpetrators.

          In some situations it can go on for years and the 'powers that be' just bat it away like a bothersome fly. They don't want to know. If the bully or bullies take it beyond the work-place or where-ever – as happened in my case – it can get dangerous and frightening.

          • PsyclingLeft.Always 1.1.1.2.1
            13 August 2022 at 3:07 pm

            As ever, Anne. And I hope you escaped most of the toll these type take.

            • Anne 1.1.1.2.1.1
              13 August 2022 at 5:00 pm

              No I didn't PL.A.

              There was an added dimension to my experience which put me in a dangerous position. I was the innocent piggy in the middle involving among other things, a significant incident which took place on NZ soil.

              I'm off to hide. 😮

              • PsyclingLeft.Always …
                13 August 2022 at 5:42 pm

                Far out. You sure have led the "Interesting" life ! But awesome how youve retained your sense of Humour : )

                Thats got me thru some "interesting" times too. Good for you Anne.

        • Anne 1.1.1.3
          13 August 2022 at 9:53 am

          It is starting to look like the victim game-playing model. Narcissistic bullies come in all shapes and sizes and usually also have a personality disorder or two. They are not stable and, as I have said, can become quite dangerous.

        • Sabine 1.1.1.4
          13 August 2022 at 9:54 am

          Then you too must accept that maybe maybe this 'dark triad' dude was put where he is by Labour and the electorate. What does that say about Labour selection process and vetting?

          In saying that, the dude at least has good job prospects once he leaves the Labour Party for good.

          • Anne 1.1.1.4.1
            13 August 2022 at 10:48 am

            I know your replying to PLA @ 1.1.1 Sabine but I will add my cent-worth too.

            In one sense you are right. It does not look good for Labour's selection process. But if what I suspect (and PLA) turns out to be correct, then I fully understand why they missed it. These types are brilliant at covering themselves. Anyone who has been on the receiving end of narcissistic bullies will tell you as much. They can get away with it for years and no-one – bar the victims – is any the wiser.

            To be fair, it applies to National and Uffindell too. National can't crystal ball gaze any more than Labour can. It is inevitable that from time to time these mistakes are made. The only difference is: there have been sufficient recent 'mistakes' by National to suggest their selection processes are in need of a major over-haul. Labour? Well time will tell.

            • DB Brown 1.1.1.4.1.1
              13 August 2022 at 12:12 pm

              "These types are brilliant at covering themselves. Anyone who has been on the receiving end of narcissistic bullies will tell you as much. They can get away with it for years and no-one – bar the victims – is any the wiser."

              Absolutely. While they systematically pull your support from under you. Evil shits.

              • Anne …
                13 August 2022 at 1:35 pm

                "While they systematically pull your support from under you."

                Do they ever. And its incredible the lengths they will go to in order to succeed.

                • Descendant Of Smith …
                  13 August 2022 at 1:55 pm

                  Aye highly passive-aggressive in my experience. Butter wouldn't melt in their mouths most of the time. Also took slight at the mildest of disagreeing with them. Disagreement was always portrayed as disloyalty.

                  Couldn't be trusted to play by normal rules e.g. confidentiality in meetings.

                  Very curated front facing view – until they decided you were in the out crowd.

              • Jilly Bee …
                13 August 2022 at 1:43 pm

                I came home at 10am this very frosty morning after helping with a sausage sizzle duty for the organisation I volunteer at, at our local Farmers Market, to sit down and generally thaw out! I turned the TV on to see if the T20 cricket match between the West Indies and Black Caps was still in progress. It had finished with a good win to the Black Caps. Following that there was a very interesting in depth interview by Laura McGoldrick with recently retired cricketer Ross Luteru Taylor, which delved into passages in his recently published memoir 'Black and White' by/with Paul Thomas. I was so impressed with the way he coped with his treatment (bullying?) by Cricket N Z, regarding the captaincy issues and coming back after a self imposed break to resume his cricketing career was in my humble opinion the very opposite to the manner Dr Sharma has presented and endeavoured to deal with his very real problems. Ross had some great mentors he could rely on to help him, including the late, great Martin Crowe and also Ian Smith who helped him to come through those dark times to be able to finish his illustrious cricket career with honours and retire on a high. I believe Gaurav Sharma could take time out to watch that interview – I saw distinct parallels with the way both scenarios unfolded and in Gaurav's case continues to unravel. I just hope he seeks the help he so needs.

            • Sabine 1.1.1.4.1.2
              13 August 2022 at 12:56 pm

              and still i don't care one bit what N does as i don't vote nor have i any intention in voting for N. I have however in the past voted L, gave money to L, gave fence space for hoardings etc to L.

              So in an essence i am interested in what L does. And L in this instance either managed to hire someone totally unsuitable for the job, promoted him for the job, took his electoral victory as their own because they thought he fit their profile – another diversity/minority pick – whom they thought would not win, or could not win, but was a body that they put up for appearance sake, or they got played like fools.

              What is it?

              • Anne …
                13 August 2022 at 1:31 pm

                A bit of all of that Sabine.

              • Patricia Bremner …
                13 August 2022 at 3:33 pm

                Sometimes people have flaws which show up under pressure, but othering does not help.

                When a person is successful as an academic, they are often surprised by their own failure to manage people and situations.

                In teaching, highly educated people could write excellent units of work, but would fail in the management of implementation.

                This man appears to be unwell, highly stressed, and feeling badly misunderstood. His main cry is "no one is listening" and almost "they are out to get me".

                What he needs is beyond the expertise of whips and casual help. He appears to need to discover his physical medical problem, plus get treatment for stress.

                It is extremely upsetting for a clever person who has been a leader to find himself not coping, and feeling isolated enough that he did not confide in friends. This is a sad situation. Otherwise, it could suggest rationalisation after the fact of lashing out.

                His posts are confused cries for help imo. Sadly help has to be accepted before it begins to work. He is angry upset and lashing out. What he is saying is true to his perspective but skewed by unhappiness and anger.

                Being an MP is complex and is people centered. A person skilled in noting details to diagnose, is not perhaps the person to carry out management and implementation of treatment. imo.

                He appears to find no fault in his own behaviour a big red flag, in my opinion.
                I hope he goes for professional assistance. He won’t find that on F.B.

          • PsyclingLeft.Always 1.1.1.4.2
            13 August 2022 at 3:05 pm

            In saying that, the dude at least has good job prospects once he leaves the Labour Party for good.

            As what? And Oh Yeah, we ALL get you hate Labour. Thing is… I also have previously posted about JLR….and John Banks….and….

            Anyway. Have a Nice Day. I'm sure the Sun must be shining for you sometime. even UNDER Labour

    • higherstandard 1.2
      13 August 2022 at 9:03 am

      Chris Trotter’s article is worth a read.

      'Judging from his op-ed piece, Sharma may even have been labouring under the misapprehension that he was in Parliament to represent the electors of Hamilton West. He may even have thought that they were the people to whom he was ultimately answerable. Wrong! Wrong! Wrong! That is merely his constitutional role.

      His actual role is to shut up and do as the Whips command. Make a speech on a subject he knows nothing about. Sit on a Select Committee and vote exactly as the Labour Chair indicates – no matter how wrong or stupid. Most importantly, say nothing, write nothing, and do nothing that attracts unwanted attention.

      The poor man would soon have discovered that this “sit still and shut up” rule applied with equal force in caucus. If he was ever incautious enough to stand up in front of his colleagues and express views contrary to those of the Front Bench, then he would very soon have appreciated why those tasked with the responsibility for keeping the Back Bench under control are called “Whips”..'

      http://bowalleyroad.blogspot.com/2022/08/parting-shots.html

      • alwyn 1.2.1
        13 August 2022 at 10:12 am

        It seems that Parliament, and the parties, hasn't changed a bit in the last 25 years.

        Pam Corkery did one term as an MP in the Alliance Party. After that she wrote a book about it and gave a searing portrait of Jim Anderton. The book was Pam's Political Confessions, and was published in, IIRC, 1999. The Wellington City Library still has a copy available, and others may also.

        In it she wrote "Politicians are, by and large, far more self-deluding, devious, bloated, insecure, egocentric wankers than I had feared."

        It sounds as if nothing has changed.

        • pat 1.2.1.1
          13 August 2022 at 10:32 am

          Lol…and that is a very Pam Corkery quote.

          Theres a certain type of person that succeeds in politics…unfortunately.

          I wonder how she would fare (politically) in todays environment?

          • Belladonna 1.2.1.1.1
            13 August 2022 at 12:34 pm

            Very poorly, I suspect. She excelled in calling a spade a bloody spade, and completely failed to suffer fools at all (let alone gladly).

            • pat 1.2.1.1.1.1
              13 August 2022 at 12:53 pm

              Im not sure she necessarily would do poorly….she would certainly upset many but I suspect she would have considerable appeal to a sizeable cohort.

              It is an idle wonder in any case as she has been there , done that and worked out she had better things to do….someone similar however may appear…..whether any mainstream party would stand such a candidate is another question however…I suspect not.

            • Blazer 1.2.1.1.1.2
              13 August 2022 at 3:32 pm

              Pam Squarkery wouldn't cross the road unless you…paid her.sad

    • swordfish 1.3
      13 August 2022 at 5:50 pm

      .

      Anyone…who has ever had the unfortunate circumstance of dealing with a narcissist bully…or worse, the Dark Triad, will maybe be (sic) seeing some similarities here.

      Look in the mirror. More than a few narcissists among the Woke Dogmatist element here. Indeed, certain former authors, now long-departed, were notorious for making everyone tiptoe on eggshells around them at all times … resulting in some degree of backlash from a segment of regular commenters.

      Same outrageous narcissism, authoritarianism & (highly-disturbed) controlling behaviour from the (mock-)"heroic" Woke warriors on Twitter.

      Hardly surprising, then, that more than one recent study in Psychology has suggested both the Alt Right & the Authoritarian Woke attract more than their fair share of activists possessing Dark Triad Personality traits (1. Machiavellianism, 2. Narcissism [esp high Entitlement], 3. Psychopathy).

      • SPC 1.3.1
        13 August 2022 at 6:02 pm

        Classic deception, the traits exist amongst all classes and spheres of politics – not just those you resent.

      • PsyclingLeft.Always 1.3.2
        13 August 2022 at 6:04 pm

        Look in the mirror. More than a few narcissists among the Woke Dogmatist element here

        Huh? I usually ignore you…but are you aiming that at me?

    • alwyn 1.4
      13 August 2022 at 9:21 pm

      I find it quite amazing how many contributors here are pontificating on a topic that must surely require a great deal of training and presonal knowledge of the person being discussed.

      Are you, for example, a trained and licensed Psychologist or Psychiatrist?

      Have you ever treated Dr Sharma, or even met him?

      In other words are your comments based on professional knowledge, and detailed knowledge of the gentleman concerned or are they just the views of a staunch Labour Party follower who is unhappy that these things are being brought to public attention?

      The same questions also seem appropriate for some of the other commenters here.

      • PsyclingLeft.Always 1.4.1
        13 August 2022 at 10:50 pm

        Whatever..its sure never stopped you. Maybe you have more "presonal" knowledge when pontificating…..

        • alwyn 1.4.1.1
          14 August 2022 at 11:14 am

          I can only think of one occasion when I commented on a person's psychological status. That was back in 2016 when someone assumed that I would, if it were possible, vote for Trump instead of Bernie Sanders.

          I said I would vote for anyone except Trump because, although Bernie would be useless I thought Trump was totally nuts. That was the only time that I can remember making any such comment.

          Now, to get back to the case in point, are you professionally qualified and do you know the person concerned, so that you can comment on his mental state?

  2. Adrian Thornton 2
    13 August 2022 at 8:14 am

    Just to remind ourselves that there are two types of Labour parties that have little in common ideologically …

    1. The Socialist Democratic type as represented by Jeremy Corbyn, at one time Bernie Sanders and it could be said recently in NZ by David Shearer.
    2. The Centrist Free Market, Neo-Liberal type as represented by Keir Starmer, Biden (sort of) and Jacinda Ardern in NZ and sadly it seems James Shaw of The Green Party.

    All institutions of main stream press and big business fear and hate the former and will generally support the later in any open battle for power between the two, for obvious reasons…a fact that, as I mentioned earlier, is well worth remembering…..

  3. Sabine 3
    13 August 2022 at 8:18 am

    and this rapist is a man, not a she/her.

    This is not a womans crime.

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/woman-who-sexually-assaulted-dunedin-man-after-all-blacks-game-denied-parole-again/IYDVUP3SKJJZQSJKUH4TG4F76A/

    Alex Aleti Seu, who identifies as a woman, was jailed in March 2017 for six years and nine months after admitting a number of charges involving unlawful sexual connection with a male over 16, indecent assault and assault with intent to commit sexual violation in relation to three men.

    She dragged him into an alleyway and threw him into a brick wall, stunning him in the process, before pulling down his pants and sexually violating him.

    The man was able to escape but Seu chased him and forced him down in the grounds of a church where she raped him a second time

    so when ever this dude is getting released there will be a warning going out for a 'woman' rapist, that drags man of the street, throws them into a wall before in the end raping them.

    Imagine the surprise when you get instead dragged of the street, thrown into a wall before getting raped by a man instead.

    Never mind the dude that has to pretend that he was not raped by a bloke. Good fucking grief, but i totally get that the dignity and safety of the rapists is more important then the dignity and safety of the raped man and any other prospective victims this man will created once he is allowed out of prison. Calling this Rapist a male – he / him – would be total bigotry, cruel and transphobic. Making a mockery out of rape is totally acceptable in order to not be a bigot, cruel and transphobic.

  4. Rosemary McDonald 4
    13 August 2022 at 8:49 am

    It says a lot about the quality of journalism in this country that in an obvious case of penis driven rape the writer refers to the perpetrator as "woman" and "she". What should have been written is "Man masquerading as a woman rapes man …", used the pronouns "he", and waited for a complaint of misgendering and hate speech. Do what journalists are supposed to do and speak truth to power…

    Tear the scab of this festering sore.

    • higherstandard 4.1
      13 August 2022 at 9:24 am

      We have journalism in NZ ?

      Best laugh I've had in a long time Rosemary.

    • Sabine 4.2
      13 August 2022 at 9:56 am

      Nah, our current lot of stenographers can not conceive of a more horrible thing then to loose access to the woksters and be cancelled. That would rival death!!

    • weka 4.3
      13 August 2022 at 10:07 am

      I'm just grateful that they pointed out that it is a man who identifies as a woman. There was a period of time when even that didn't happen, seems to have changed now.

      Small mercies.

      What I want to know, and what should be reported given the nature of the crime, is when the man started identifying as a woman. If they are trans (have a history of full time being a TW), then report that. If they started IDing after the arrest, report that. If they are part time/cross dresser report that. It matters.

      • weka 4.3.1
        13 August 2022 at 10:09 am

        Reading the article, possibly they are fa'afafine. I'm ok with them or TW being referred to as they in cases like this.

        • Sabine 4.3.1.1
          13 August 2022 at 4:45 pm

          I am not ever going to be OK with a man who rapes a person (rape by penis) being referred to as a women, being she/her'd, and having these crimes counted as a 'woman rapes man' crime, nor with that person potentially being incarcerated with women.

          If they are a Fa'afafine, then they should be referred to as such. To me there is a big difference between a Fa'afafine and a Transwomen. Whilst both present feminine the culture behind both idendities are quite different.

        • Belladonna 4.3.1.2
          13 August 2022 at 8:19 pm

          I suspect that the journo and/or editor are concerned over being sued for 'mis-using preferred pronouns' .

          However, it it not only the content which spread mis-information, it's the headline (which is the only part many people will see).

          I suppose it might be click-bait (What! A woman raping someone)

          It might so easily have been better worded, e.g.: Rapist who sexually assaulted a Dunedin man after AB game in Dunedin is denied parole again.

          And then make it clear in the first para that (named) offender identifies as a woman, but is biologically male.

      • Visubversa 4.3.2
        13 August 2022 at 11:33 am

        The Herald referred to Toko Shane "Ashley" Winter as a woman and showered him with female pronouns all through his trial, conviction and sentencing for the crime of the sadistic torture and murder of a young woman. By the time of his (failed) appeal they were reporting his correct sex, but they mysteriously left the name of his victim out of a later feature on femicide.

    • Robert Guyton 4.4
      13 August 2022 at 11:48 am

      Rosemary – have you looked at this article?

      "OPINION: You’ll recall the narrative driven (and accepted by many) during the Wellington protest that it was peaceful and had one objective: to end the mandates.

      Scratching not too far beneath the surface, though, it was apparent there was an entirely different – and dangerous – agenda.

      At Stuff Circuit our role is to investigate matters that are in the public interest, and two things happened around the time of the occupation that got our attention.

      First, we saw talk in social media about making the country “ungovernable”. It sounded like a direct threat to democracy. What did it mean? Who were the people saying it and what was their intent?"

      https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/stuff-circuit/300657828/opinion-why-we-decided-we-should-report-this-dangerous-speech

      • Rosemary McDonald 4.4.1
        13 August 2022 at 12:41 pm

        Of course Robert….I read the rags at 5 am before my caring duties begin about 5.45 ish.

        I took the bait…as so should you…and clicked on the embedded links that support their view.

        And bugger me, the links lead to other Stuffed pieces, which I know from previous clicking sessions, also contain links that predominantly take one to other Stuffed articles. It is rabbit hole Stuff. Very incestuous.

        Somebody needs to explain to these so called journalists that their work would have more heft if they used actual factual references to support their argument.

        I confess to have tried….but as soon as I suggested that a few more articles interviewing vaccine injured, and perhaps a few more interviewing we fucking filth unvaxxed who have had Covid and who didn't die or need medical intervention, to balance out the near daily "I'm triple vaxxed and Omicron nearly killed me!" pieces that they were running for a while there had me cast into the conspiracy theory basket. Another day in the trenches.

        Again…(and as yet not a single Labour flag waver here on TS has responded to this) … https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2022/02/20/guest-blog-suzie-dawson-remembering-the-left/

        …does the hand- wavey 'we saw placards threatening violence towards politicians and journalists at the protests!!!' journalist have anything to say about these protestors from the Left back in 2012? Shall we compare the guillotine and fake blood and the beheading of lifesize photos of the PM and half the Cabinet with gallows and nooses from Wellington?

        Nah. Didn't think so.

        I'd love to stay and chat Robert…but I have another cubic metre of compost to mix and spread on my garden beds before it gets too hot to work. Frost here this morning in the Far Far North and it has been hot. Clouding over a little, so I need to get back to my mahi before the sun reappears.

        • Robert Guyton 4.4.1.1
          13 August 2022 at 2:05 pm

          No frost here today, Rosemary, but some of my sub-tropical plants have been "nipped" by the frost that fell on the past 2 mornings.

          I asked maui, "… the article suggests that those "very angry people" represent a growing threat to the country's hauora.

          What do you think about that suggestion/concern?" and thought to seek your thoughts also, if you can find the time and energy 🙂

      • mauī 4.4.2
        13 August 2022 at 1:55 pm

        In one of the biggest moments in NZ civil rights history, journos found some very angry people. Stunning journalism that…

  5. pat 5
    13 August 2022 at 9:12 am

    "The bad news is that, to investigate 200,000-300,000 terrible rentals, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) has employed a frontline inspectorate numbering … 37. Each inspector will have to check somewhere between 5000 and 8000 rentals.

    This reminds one of the fanciful calculations showing Santa Claus would have to be a high-speed blur if he really visited each of the world’s 2 billion children on Christmas Eve. Less humorously, it recalls the sole inspector employed to check mine safety around the time of the Pike River disaster, which killed 29 men."

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/opinion/129555393/max-rashbrooke-terrible-landlords-arent-bad-apples–theyre-endemic

    The same issue applies to employment law especially pertaining to migrants…the lack of enforcement of already minimal protections.

    Claytons regulation.

    • Sabine 5.1
      13 August 2022 at 9:58 am

      I reported a house as 'condemned' to the AKL Council a long time ago. I still have the emails, tenancy tribunal ruling and so on and so forth.

      I asked why this house could not be condemned to protect any other tenants that may have the misfortune to rent the shitbox. I was told that if they were to do this they would have to condemn most of Aucklands housing and btw, we don't even have enough people to inspect the houses that have the facades fall off, and where the roofs are about to cave in.

      Its by design.

      • pat 5.1.1
        13 August 2022 at 10:07 am

        Yes , it is indeed by design….and the result of decades of 'free market' economics. Regulation is an anathema to them but politically difficult to sell so we have nominal regulation but ensure we are unable to enforce it.

        • arkie 5.1.1.1
          13 August 2022 at 10:21 am

          Did you happen to see this particular developer/landlord incentive announced this week:

          Housing Minister Megan Woods today announced that certain types of new and existing build-to-rent developments would be exempt from interest limitation rules in perpetuity.

          Legislation for the proposal is expected to be introduced to Parliament at the end of August.

          “To qualify, developments need to offer tenants leases of at least 10 years. Tenants can ask for shorter agreements if they wish and the development will still qualify for the exemption,” she said.

          https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/472745/tax-break-for-investors-providing-long-term-rentals

          They seem to prefer tax incentives to actual regulation.

          • pat 5.1.1.1.1
            13 August 2022 at 10:29 am

            Yes, have seen that announcement…and agree that they continue to adhere to the free market ideology in deed even if not in word.

          • Chess Player 5.1.1.1.2
            13 August 2022 at 7:18 pm

            "They seem to prefer tax incentives to actual regulation."

            I think they seem to prefer tax incentives to actual building of homes.

            One's easy, the other is difficult.

            • Incognito 5.1.1.1.2.1
              13 August 2022 at 9:44 pm

              False dichotomy that is not surprising coming from someone who only knows and thinks in B & W.

              In any case, this Government has been building new houses, which you would have known unless you’ve been living under a rook.

    • Belladonna 5.2
      13 August 2022 at 12:37 pm

      Santa, however has magic; MBIE…. less so

  6. ianmac 6
    13 August 2022 at 11:20 am

    Interesting idea. What if the Effindell legacy is that the Criminal Law system regarding children is properly reformed?

    If children committing serious offences can be managed without a life sentence in Germany and Spain, why can't New Zealand do it too? Instead of ruining more lives with life sentences and ineffective criminal convictions, why not reduce the scope and severity of penalties for children who offend?

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/sam-uffindell-was-lucky-to-avoid-nzs-criminal-justice-system-as-a-schoolboy-but-it-was-the-right-outcome/4JJFJQXVOALL5C76BSBTNU4N5Y/

    • Belladonna 6.1
      13 August 2022 at 12:53 pm

      At the time the criminal assault at Kings happened, it would have been like hens-teeth for a schoolboy bullying case (no matter how violent) to have ended up in court.

      Schools then (and now) do everything in their power to hush up violence – especially under the new privacy laws – which protect the criminal, rather than the victim.

      Had Uffindell committed the crime today – and it had gone to court (not at all guaranteed) – it would have been tried in the Youth Court, which means: it would not have been reported; the court record would have been sealed (and it would have been a criminal offence for the victim to reveal it – even 30 years later); and the focus would have been on rehabilitating the perpetrator, rather than the welfare of the victim.

      Almost certainly, the victim would be facing the criminal in school, on a daily basis. And the school would do little or nothing to protect them. It's almost always the victims who leave, these days, rather than the perpetrators – certainly in public schools (private schools have different methods of informally giving someone the boot)

      ATM, it is only the most serious of crimes (usually resulting in a death) for which children are charged in adult courts (rather than the youth court – which is already doing all of the things you suggest).

      In those cases, 'ruining … lives with life sentences and ineffective criminal convictions' might well come a poor second to the fact that someone else's life has been ended forever.

      In NZ courts, unlike Germany and Spain 'life' most certainly does not mean 'life' – most will serve 10 years or less.

  7. joe90 7
    13 August 2022 at 11:57 am

    The Iranian bounty on Rushdie's life remains active.

    From the beginning men used God to justify the unjustifiable.

    ― Salman Rushdie, The Satanic Verses

    https://twitter.com/Anthony/status/1558235634866786309

  8. pat 8
    13 August 2022 at 11:59 am

    " In a deglobalizing world we risk dealing with enormous price shocks and dominant economic theory is not preparing us to deal with this. Deglobalisation can be an inflationary force especially if it happens in a chaotic manner. We have an extremely interconnected global economy in which many countries are dependent on monocultural exports. If trade is disrupted this can lead to supply issues, rising prices due to rising costs or simply reflecting temporary scarcities and pricing power. On top of that we need to consider the long-term impact of climate change. Because of high temperatures we can have negative effects on basic infrastructure, such as roads melting, and there are all sorts of industrial processes that need to happen within a certain temperature band. Climate change and extreme weather events can cause or exacerbate supply chain issues. Before the current multifaceted crisis, globalisation was dominated by just-in-time production networks. If demand went up, supply could easily follow and prices were remarkably stable. But now you have the opposite situation. If supply networks are not operating just in time anymore, when supplies stop flowing prices rise. In face of sector wide supply disruptions, the dynamic of competition switches from competition for market shares, to a dynamic of competition which prioritises charging higher prices for available inventories and this can be a further inflationary factor. "

    https://agendapublica.elpais.com/noticia/18172/world-of-overlapping-emergencies-we-need-new-forms-of-price-stabilization

    New tools needed…but more importantly an acceptance by the powers that be that the old paradigm is unfit for purpose (if it ever was).

  10. Incognito 10
    13 August 2022 at 1:50 pm

    However, [Massey University associate professor Grant] Duncan predicted Molloy would not endorse Collins, and he expected he would look to negotiate policy before endorsing a centre-right candidate.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/472792/efeso-collins-could-scoop-molloy-votes-analyst

    Sounds more like ‘the kiss of death’ to me, but to the (some) candidates it’ll be ‘mana from heaven’ – votes are votes, after all.

  11. joe90 11
    13 August 2022 at 1:54 pm

    Pile-ons have consequences.

    /

    The first death threat arrived last November, on the very day Lisa-Maria Kellermayr was set to take over her own medical practice.

    […]

    Kellermayr’s fears and concerns went, time after time, unaddressed by authorities at all levels of Austrian government and law enforcement. And as a result, her case raises fundamental questions about what responsibility the state has to its citizens in times of unprecedented online hatred and abuse. “You get the feeling you need to protect yourself, because nobody’s going to help you,” she told me last month.

    “Everybody up to the chancellor knew about this case before I went public. Everybody said it’s horrifying and I should get help. But nobody helped me.”

    https://www.codastory.com/waronscience/lisa-maria-kellermayr-anti-science/

    • Incognito 11.1
      13 August 2022 at 2:16 pm

      While the rivers of water are drying out and cease to exist the rivers of filth are flowing stronger than ever sweeping a path of hatred & destruction.

      https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/europe/300660877/european-drought-dries-up-rivers-kills-fish-shrivels-crops

      Michel Wood correctly named it and called it out for what it is on 16 Feb 2022:

      But underneath all of that, there is a river of filth. There is a river of violence and menace. There is a river of anti-Semitism. There is a river of islamophobia. There is a river of threats to people who work in this place and our staff.

      https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/hansard-debates/rhr/combined/HansDeb_20220216_20220216_16

    • Belladonna 11.2
      13 August 2022 at 2:33 pm

      For me, this reinforces the need for police to be able to track down the 'real' identities of the anonymous online trolls.

      Once a threat has been made, it should simply require signoff from a judge (checking that a threat really does exist), and the online service delivering the threat be required to disclose the identity (IP address at the very least); as well as actively assist police in tracking down the individual.

      Most of the time, these trolls aren't exactly IT experts – they're using their home internet connection, and just hiding behind an anonymous name.

      Yes, there are lots of good reasons for anonymity in public chat rooms, etc. (TS for example) – but that right vanishes the moment the individual crosses the line into illegal behaviour.

      Of course, international platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) etc are inclined to hide behind the facade of 'we're not in your jurisdiction' but law changes imposing hefty penalties or banning from operation across the EU would swiftly change their minds.

      It does nothing for the 8chan style of dark net – but, really, they're not significant in the day to day harassment. It mostly is the keyboard warriors using the most basic of IT tools.

      Our laws, law enforcement and judicial system is lagging way behind the modern IT world.

      • SPC 11.2.1
        13 August 2022 at 4:30 pm

        The term troll has a wider meaning than someone making a direct threat.

        Making a threat to kill is itself a crime, regardless of whether it is assessed as a serious one or not.

        • Blazer 11.2.1.1
          13 August 2022 at 4:44 pm

          Yes but it is alot harder to prove a verbal threat than one that can be tracked in the cyber world.

    • SPC 11.3
      13 August 2022 at 4:24 pm

      It was not so much a social media pile on, but a series of death threats to her and the staff of her practice – and the total lack of action against the perps (a hacker identified someone and even now it seems police have taken no action).

      Her family should sue the police.

  12. Robert Guyton 12
    13 August 2022 at 4:54 pm

    Double-you-aitch-eh-eh tee tee ???????????

    "Inside the Caesars hotel and casino, rain fell through the ceiling onto the heads of diners in a restaurant."

    What?

    Where?

    No! Surely not!!

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/us-canada/300661091/las-vegas-casinos-flooding-for-second-time-in-two-weeks

  13. SPC 13
    13 August 2022 at 5:05 pm

    The person who attacked Salman Rushdie is named Hadi Matar.

    The name Hadi is derived from the Arabic word for guidance (Hadi'r makes it sound of thunder) and the surname (most common in West Asia/Levant) has a meaning in Latin (to kill) and Arabic (rain).

    https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-62528689

    • joe90 13.1
      13 August 2022 at 7:28 pm

      Imad Mughniyeh was a former Hezbollah Chief of Staff reputedly assassinated by Mossad.

      https://twitter.com/karol/status/1558217204373618697

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imad_Mughniyeh

    • Scud 13.2
      13 August 2022 at 9:13 pm

      Currently in Hospital, so I'm not watching much news atm. But the-

      Poor bastard, never read his books unfortunately.

      But I understand the fatwa is still valid when old mate from Iran made a decreed for insulting the Prophet Muhammad many moons ago.

      But stabbing him, is plain BS!

      I wonder if this is to with some internal issue/s in Iran atm or worst a possible false flag by Israel's Mossad?

      They would be the type of assholes to pull a stunt like this!

      Was in UAE when Mossad did their hit on the No3 (the bag man) Man for Hamas or the other mob & it wasn't pretty either considering Mossad used UK Canadian, NZ & Oz Passports as we had a major Military Presence in UAE at the time.

      • SPC 13.2.1
        13 August 2022 at 10:03 pm

        Tensions are getting high in Iraq. No government has been formed since elections in October 2021.

        The largest party led by al-Sadr has tried and failed to form a nationalist regime with Sunni and Kurds and now other (pro Iranian) Shia parties want the chance to form a government, but al-Sadr wants to hold new elections.

        The other parties fear, if al-Sadr forms a government, he will disband the Popular Mobilisation Forces, an umbrella of mostly Iran-backed Shia militias. If these forces become permanent, rather than temporary (allied to the army in the defeat of Islamic State) they would become entrenched like Hezbollah in Lebanon.

        What happens next will be decided in the next week or two – a civil war is not implausible.

  14. observer 14
    13 August 2022 at 6:33 pm

    TV3 news leads with Luxon confirming that disabled people on a benefit will face possible sanctions under his policy.

    We know what happens next, because it keeps happening: Nicola Willis or another spokesperson will "clarify" his comments, and Luxon will say "let me be clear" while distancing himself from himself.

    If he keeps this up, he'll talk himself out of a job.

    • Chess Player 14.1
      13 August 2022 at 7:03 pm

      Luxon is an idiot, but the wider question is why people who have genuine permanent disabilities that mean they can't work, are on the jobseeker benefit at all.

      • Belladonna 14.1.1
        13 August 2022 at 7:45 pm

        Not supporting this….

        But, my understanding is that 'unemployed' people with significant and permanent disabilities, but who nevertheless would be able to work, either with suitable accommodations or with reduced hours, are on the jobseeker benefit.

      • aj 14.1.2
        13 August 2022 at 7:55 pm

        He is constantly showing his true colours for which we should be thankful.

      • ianmac 14.1.3
        13 August 2022 at 7:55 pm

        The National Government bundled most of the benefits together and called them Jobseekers about 2014 I think. The sickness beneficiaries were included. The word "Dole" was dropped too. A bit odd that Luxon didn't know that.

        • Belladonna 14.1.3.1
          13 August 2022 at 8:04 pm

          Yeah, looks like 2013.

          https://www.msd.govt.nz/about-msd-and-our-work/publications-resources/statistics/benefit/benefit-factsheet-changes-2013.html

          But, Labour haven't changed it since they came into office in 2017, so presumably they agree with it.

          I think it was covered in the WEAG report – though perhaps not in that language – it was about people with disabilities being given financial support to live in dignity.

          There’s also the Supported Living benefit – for those who can’t work at all – but don’t think it’s much better (apart from a reduction in the endless pressure to ‘get a job, any job’)

          There are many people on TS who will be a lot more familiar with this than I am.

          • Barfly 14.1.3.1.2
            13 August 2022 at 9:39 pm

            Supported Living Allowance is quite a bit more generous than the Jobseeker Benefit – National's last "improvement" on it was to reduce the maximum length of Medical Certificate allowable from 5 years to 2 years. Are you still missing limbs? Are you still blind? et cetera

          • Rosemary McDonald 14.1.3.1.3
            14 August 2022 at 9:02 am

            There are many people on TS who will be a lot more familiar with this than I am.

            Groundhog Day it is.

            Luxon…nobody can accuse him of not recycling.

            https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/driver-of-the-big-cuts/62IRSCMLOD264ROVUKYXHHQCNQ/

            As examples he cites work being done at Housing New Zealand and specifically at the Ministry of Social Development by the welfare working advisory group looking at the big driver of future costs: long-term invalids and sickness beneficiaries, a group he describes as "this big hard lump of long-term waste of human potential".

            English says the MSD is not set up to deal with them.

            Rather, it is set up to deal with "the easy stuff" – the unemployment and the domestic purposes benefits.

            "They do the easy stuff and they do it very well, but they don't worry about these guys. If they were ACC customers, we would be spending a lot of money on trying to move them. They cost a bit less on sickness and invalids [benefits], not a hell of a lot less, but we do nothing and we are actually doing nothing to reduce this very large long-term liability."

            #nothingnewunderthesun

      • Patricia Bremner 14.1.4
        13 August 2022 at 11:12 pm

        yes Agree Chess Player. The rolling of all benefits under "job seeker" did not help.

  15. Roy cartland 15
    13 August 2022 at 6:37 pm

    What would bomber make of this?

    A U.S. House candidate in Wyoming who disclosed that he impregnated a 14-year-old girl when he was 18 scoffed at the idea of dropping out of the race and challenged any legislators who might make an issue of his past. “That’d be great,” state Sen. Anthony Bouchard…

    …then refused to answer questions about the girl he married after she bore his son and who killed herself at age 20 in 1990, the year after they divorced.

    https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-wyoming-house-elections-teen-pregnancy-health-7ac5a0a6221a0472c7a75263575eaae2

  16. SPC 16
    13 August 2022 at 8:10 pm

    The man who founded the birther movement, the election loss cry baby, and those who participate in the cult of allegiance to the liar in chief – for servitude to the lie is the power of the Orwellian regime.

    https://twitter.com/Nigel_Farage/status/1558218986898210821

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