There's always bound to be a bit of needle. It may even be a good thing at times. Sharpens the wits and provides some cathartic and light hearted relief. And besides it goes with the territory. Politics, even at a very local level, can get pretty shitty at times. It’s why I like to make light of things whenever possible. It would be just too depressing otherwise.
But, since the JTM expose, (and I still say Rico and I sussed it a month before the SSS's blog right here on this website - a fact overlooked by many on both sides of the fence - sniff
) there really has developed a fault line of almost unrecognisable proportions. A chasm so wide that one has to wonder if there will ever a rapprochement or some little cyber consensus in the quest for a better government, a more balanced society and the need for hard hitting and objective criticism of the traditional news channels and of the dreaded spin.
One only has to read the comments section on Stuart's blog nowadays to see there's a real excitement on the part of some of his commentators when speculating about the identity of people who also choose to express their views here. I am sure some frivolously masturbate one handed whilst typing meaningless innuendo after innuendo. I even got a mention today. Some bright spark, because I'd stated on the friggin 'Bergerac' thread that for a living I am employed as a TV producer, suggested I was a fella called Richard Hall from St. Aubin's FFS
Online darlings of the left who have come to know me, do me a favour, knock that one on the head will ya!
So for the record; I have railed against a bloated administration, backed Stuart Syvret on this forum in respect of the efforts he has made for the victims of institutional child abuse, continually criticised the political structures seemingly operating unchecked in the post clothier landscape and lashed out at a wide range of sanctimonious fools who many would describe as 'establishment' politicians. I have in the past hounded JTM whenever possible, slagged of Ozouf, Cohen, Vibert, MacLean, Walker and Le Sueur and, whenever possible, contributed my deeper understanding and idiosyncratic knowledge of matters cultural. But I have absolutely no problem with stating that I also hold in high regard those individuals who have sought to critique what I would describe as the 'Syvret, Centre, Green, Left Alliance'. Criticism is, after all, a vital function of political discourse. And at times I've been dazzled by the rational logic applied to their arguments and their wholehearted belief in the need for evidence and proof and of the need to abide by the law. They (doffing cap to Gordon Brown, Spartacus, Durendal and Iruka in particular) may not hold views that are wholly acceptable to many who seek justice and truth online, but it is rare that they duck a bullet and their tenacity is to be applauded as much as their intellect. You see I do not believe that you have to agree with somebody all the time to respect them and I honestly don’t think that the snide speculations as to individuals identities take us any nearer to a clearer understanding of what is in our collective best interests as a community. And whilst I like to goof around a bit on PJ I'm really more interested in reading rational debate. If it’s robust, challenging, difficult and at times heated I like it even more.
So (puts soapbox back under the stairs and raising eyebrow spots an old edition of readers wives) I'd like to see an end to the pettiness on both sides. For this dreadful 'us and them mentality' that has cast a long shadow over online politics of late takes the focus off the real issues.
Oh and one more thing - I can categorically 100% hand on heart say that JTM is none of the above posters and that this forum is all the better for it.
