What do you reckon?

Written By: - Date published: 11:25 am, April 30th, 2015 - 33 comments
Categories: internet, interweb, Media, newspapers, radio, tv, uncategorized, youtube - Tags:

Television, radio and newspapers invite comments. So do blogs. Being heard is important to many people, whether it is an opinion about something broad (like politics) or more personal, like an issue at work, or in a relationship.

Some who comment here do so because they want to air their views, their world view, others want to change things, others think their comment, or other people’s comments are part of a larger party affiliated agenda, there are many reasons for people to express their views

I post because there are issues I care about. I have cared about most of them for over 2 decades, so my “caring” is not new. If 1 person reads one thing I write on 1 of the things I care about and thinks slightly differently about it than they did before, I consider I have achieved something of what I come here for. Mostly I learn from others who post.

But let’s all remember (I include myself in particular) that all of us who make comments on this and other blogs can sometimes get carried away with our own sense of importance, cos we have a chance to say “what we reckon” about stuff.

In the end we are just offering up our versions of  what do you reckon? Enjoy

 

33 comments on “What do you reckon? ”

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  1. Hateatea 1
    30 April 2015 at 12:04 pm

    I try to limit myself to commenting on things that I am reasonably knowledgeable about, hence math / science / technology / financial posts are fairly safe from me.

    The internet can sometimes seem to have made people more opinionated but I think it is more likely that every opinionated person in the world is now able to reach dozens more people with their knowledge, prejudices, and sometimes ill-considered rants.

    Anyway, that’s what I reckon!

    PS Why do so many of them have bad grammar and appalling spelling?

    • tracey 1.1
      30 April 2015 at 12:19 pm

      I don’t know but I am grading second year students from a Tertiary at the moment… so I don’t see it changing too soon.

      Did you enjoy the video?

      • Hateatea 1.1.1
        30 April 2015 at 12:40 pm

        Yes, I did, thank you. New to me as I don’t watch a lot of comedy / satire these days.

      • Once was Tim 1.1.2
        30 April 2015 at 3:23 pm

        Interesting @ Tracey. I very recently used to do likewise. Are you Wellington based? I sure as hell hope you have a better moderation process than one of my experiences.
        I never usually indulge in ‘social media’ generally, but certain things these days just really fucking piss me off (such as the demise of the NuZull democracy; the current load of fuckwits at the helm; the demise of the 4th Estate, PSB, the ‘Public Sphere and their commodification); Phyllis Stein and her missus (I woudn’t mind so much if it had the intelligence of a Diller*); and even the Mitchell and Web thing – which I saw when first broadcast).

        * two of her quotes btw seem quite apt these days when I think of our national embarrassment:

        “The only thing domestic about me is I was born in this country.”
        and
        “It’s a good thing beauty is only skin deep, or I’d be rotten to the core.”

        Pardon the venom but I really hate the inherently dishonest, the corrupt and the self-entitled. They always come undone tho’ – I just wish it always happened when they were still alive.

        • tracey 1.1.2.1
          30 April 2015 at 3:39 pm

          No problem. I am Auckland based.

          We have a decent enough moderation system but at least so far no one has written in text speak… (my pet peeve).

          “I never usually indulge in ‘social media’ generally, but certain things these days just really fucking piss me off (such as the demise of the NuZull democracy; the current load of fuckwits at the helm; the demise of the 4th Estate, PSB, the ‘Public Sphere and their commodification);”

          I hear you!!!!!

  2. b waghorn 2
    30 April 2015 at 12:38 pm

    I reckon that videos pretty funny.
    Posting has stopped me swearing at the TV (which drives the wife crazy)
    I think that blogs have a power to change the world in ways that we haven’t fully understood yet.

    • tracey 2.1
      30 April 2015 at 12:43 pm

      I confess I am a bit of a David Mitchell fan

      • Rosie 2.1.1
        30 April 2015 at 1:42 pm

        Me too. I can’t seem to find anything new online at the moment. Have you?
        Also enjoy Charlie Brooker for his scathing political satire but BBC canned his Weekly Wipe show.
        10 o clock live used to be good with Charlie Brooker, David Mitchell, Lauren Laverne and a fourth person whom I can’t recall. No new ones of that either.

      • higherstandard 2.1.2
        30 April 2015 at 1:59 pm

        He is also outstanding on “Would I lie to you” and ” “Peep show”

        Cambridge has produced so many outstanding comics.

        • tracey 2.1.2.1
          30 April 2015 at 2:03 pm

          Agree @ both

          He also played apart in Jam and Jerusalem.

          Not for the faint hearted… is

          You have been Watching – relgion

  3. Rosie 3
    30 April 2015 at 1:39 pm

    Lols!!!

    I remember that Mitchell and Webb Look skit. In general “I reckon” they are on to it with their social and political observations. I enjoy their cynicism. I wonder if their UK audience is more or less inclined than us have an Opinion on Everything.
    I know my English in laws who are big talk back listeners/letter writers with an Opinion on Everything are far more waggy finger/I reckon, than most NZer’s I meet. It actually makes them more interesting to talk to, as you can get a conversation going fairly quickly and they are ok with a little bit of disagreement as that seems par for the course with them. They don’t take it on board and make judgements. Less so with NZer’s, as we can get a bit precious about stuff.

    The bit about banging away on the keyboard in the skit reminds me of the kind of people that comment on stuff.co.nz.

  4. arkie 4
    30 April 2015 at 2:07 pm

    This is my favourite Mitchell and Webb sketch

  5. Rosemary McDonald 5
    30 April 2015 at 2:08 pm

    tracey…you’re right on the mark.

    When our interweb has sorted out its download issues I will watch the videos.

    I am a seldom commenter….but an avid reader of others’ comments and links.

    The next new interweb feature I would like to see is the capacity to tell if the person commenting has actually read, in full, the article or comment about which they are commenting.

    (Feel free to correct grammar!)

    • tracey 5.1
      30 April 2015 at 2:14 pm

      Hi Rosemary

      You can usually tell from what a person writes whether they have or haven’t read the opening post (including links) and other stuff. They out themselves soon enough.

      I understand back when karol used to write here (still a great loss karol if you are reading) that some of the threads with the lowest number of comments could have a very large reader number. At this stage this feature sits behind the scenes.

  6. adam 6
    30 April 2015 at 3:10 pm

    Thanks Tracey – That gave me many a good giggle.

  7. ianmac 7
    30 April 2015 at 4:25 pm

    Enjoy Mr Mitchell even when he has become a chubby chops.
    Those of us who are out of the mainstream workforce enjoy keeping in touch via the excellent blogs such as The Standard. A bit funny reading the exchanges between baiters and the baitees but the important issues are there to read and comment on even when we do not really know the full story. But other writers fill us in.

  8. Pat 8
    30 April 2015 at 7:49 pm

    I reckon david Mitchell should run for PM….I also reckon hes far too intelligent to contemplate the idea….I reckon

  9. vto 9
    30 April 2015 at 8:03 pm

    I reckon the reasons blobs are used are many and varied. And also mixed up.

  11. Weepus beard 11
    30 April 2015 at 9:01 pm

    I comment here because I’m terrified that conservative ideological injustices by stealth are being perpetrated daily by the current New Zealand government, and I take comfort that other socially responsible people are aware of it and are voicing their opinion.

  12. Sans Cle 12
    30 April 2015 at 11:08 pm

    I read here because I realise that something is rotten in the state of Denmark New Zealand, and getting the collective insight from others helps me identify what is so rotten (not that I always agree with everyone’s opinions here!).
    I comment here because a problem shared is a problem halved! Having a voice is fundamental to a democracy (ironic that the voice is veiled behind a blog identity).
    At times I get frustrated that my views are in the minority in NZ society – I have lived elsewhere, and in various countries my views were not consideredin any way radical, classified simplistically as “left wing” (which is used as a dirty word in the MSM) nor considered marginalised or anarchistic. I am consoled to find like minded people, and also realise I feel alienated (from 49% of NZ society) because of that “something rotten”.
    Politics ebbs and flows, swings from progressive ideas and ceative policies to improve society (usually with a heavy monetary cost) back to more conservative reigning in of government activities due to austerity and a need to keep finances in check. To me, I am not usually bothered by the government of the day – swings and roundabouts. Governments do not last forever.
    Political regimes hiwever can do lasting damage to society, and this is a phase we are in at the moment with Key’s regime – particularly creating artificial barriers between people, and alienating people.

    The ‘rotten’ thing is attempted political control of a particular message throughout NZ society. It is an attempt to fudge truth, facts and dampen discourse, for political control (think Mike Hoskins, Bob Jones, whale oil, Dirty Politics and National Party propaganda).
    Overall I think that this matters because it creates a “dull” conservative society, lacking intellectual rigour which is the touchstone of human creativity and expression.
    Life without freedom of expression, freedom to exchange ideas, freedom to build on ideas is regression.

    As your post shows Tracey, we desperately need the voice of satire. We are a deeply creative people in NZ, yet there is an attempt to politically control those expressions, when it doesn’t suit the political narrative.

    • Tracey 12.1
      1 May 2015 at 7:54 am

      I was contemplating this morning as I watched Johnathon Paxman on Graham Norton.

      He talked about something Cameron had said about the impending 100th anniversary for the Brits of the battle of the Somme (this was shot a year ago). he admonished Cameron as an idiot fo rusing the word “celebrate” to describe the deaths of 750,000 men in WWI for Britain… so many injured.

      It made me think that the Brits and the Aussies have cottoned on to, and are turning off the Crosby Textor crafted politicians and political methods. But we are not.

      My artner wondered aloud if it is cos Kiwis have turned so far off politics and politicians that they only hear the occassional comment and that is all they can base their vote on. She said if it wasn’t for me (withering on, although she didnt use those words 😉 ) she would tune in very little to politics and politicians in particular because she thinks it is a waste of energy getting that negative. Interesting.

      Whereas I thought we were maybe more conservative than our cousins or more gullible (usually gullible has to do with trusting, yet Key’s trust rating has fallen far faster than his popularity).

      I am coming to accept that 49% of the population want a society with men like Key in it. That 49% see his behaviours (over 7 years) as ok and deseirable in a leader. And I do accept that. I don’t agree and I will speak against it.

      I was also at 4am watching an IPL match. The batsmen touched gloves (Morrison called it “glove love”). It made me think about the days when batsmen didn’t do that. Then two did, then more International players did and now when you go to Premier Club games or Under 8’s they all do it. Prominent people get copied.

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