Granny Danger Posted February 21, 2018 Author Share Posted February 21, 2018 1 hour ago, Michael W said: The correct response to the press printing lies is 1) counter the lie and 2) sue them when the lie is something that would cause serious damage to your reputation. The press are awful but it's better than having them at the mercy of the government of the day as per Corbyn's threat. I don't think he understands what a free press is at all - it's not about who owns them, it's the freedom to criticise the politicians/government of the day without reprisal for the State. At any rate, no one is forced to read the Telegraph, Mail, Express or the Sun - plenty other papers and media out there. The point about social media is an interesting one because I the habits of many of those sites are exactly identical to the mainstream press in terms of fanatic devotion to their cause and the lengths they'll go to. I agree with that first part, and I would not want to see state control. However that doesn't mean the press should not be accountable and their actions checked. Often by the time the truth comes out the damage can be done; particularly in the run up to an election. Also ownership is an important issue if too much power is in too few hands and this is being used to pursue a one-sided political agenda. No one is forced to read any newspaper but they do read them and are inclined to believe what they read even if it is untrue. Your point about social media is correct in term of its bias. It is even more unchecked than the print media but, at least more 'democratic'. With regards to Corbyn's comments; it is a bit ironic that newspapers that are notorious for having a go at 'benefits cheats' are owned by tax dodgers. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NotThePars Posted February 21, 2018 Share Posted February 21, 2018 The vast proportion of our established media are little more than mouthpieces for the uber wealthy. It’s extremely good if they are taken on and their influence broken up. Rupert Murdoch’s been a stain on this country and we deserve a better standard of press. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
renton Posted February 21, 2018 Share Posted February 21, 2018 9 minutes ago, NotThePars said: The vast proportion of our established media are little more than mouthpieces for the uber wealthy. It’s extremely good if they are taken on and their influence broken up. Rupert Murdoch’s been a stain on this country and we deserve a better standard of press. Like with politicians, we get the press we deserve.... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bully Wee Villa Posted February 21, 2018 Share Posted February 21, 2018 Not really, we don't vote for the press. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bairnardo Posted February 21, 2018 Share Posted February 21, 2018 Like with politicians, we get the press we deserve.... Not really, we don't vote for the press. No, much worse, as a society we pay money for the privelege of owning their daily shitrags.Football fans and workmen continue to buy the Sun for example, so in that regard we do get the press we deserve. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
renton Posted February 21, 2018 Share Posted February 21, 2018 7 minutes ago, Bully Wee Villa said: Not really, we don't vote for the press. We buy what they sell. That's capitalism for you. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
renton Posted February 21, 2018 Share Posted February 21, 2018 (edited) Indeed, our politics is nothing if not a transaction as well. Politicians are professional opinion owners. We pay them for their point of view by voting for them. It's like Marx, Groucho though, not Karl: "These are my principles, don't like them? Well, I've got others" Edited February 21, 2018 by renton 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Granny Danger Posted February 21, 2018 Author Share Posted February 21, 2018 3 minutes ago, renton said: We buy what they sell. That's capitalism for you. There is unfettered capitalism and there is capitalism where we can offer a degree of checks and balances. You may be happy in a society where there is absolutely no control over the actions of right-wing billionaires, many of whom are tax exiles. Fortunately among the denziens of P&B you are in the minority. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jmothecat2 Posted February 21, 2018 Share Posted February 21, 2018 This all seems like a bit of a poor way of dealing with this. All Corbyn needed to do was deny the story, or get a spokesperson to deny it, and forget about it. This reaction keeps the story in the spotlight. It's just a bit of a bizarre response, one that will be lapped up by his supporters but I don't think will go down well amongst the rest. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bully Wee Villa Posted February 21, 2018 Share Posted February 21, 2018 He keeps getting asked about it. If he doesn't say anything, it looks like he has something to hide. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
renton Posted February 21, 2018 Share Posted February 21, 2018 3 minutes ago, Granny Danger said: There is unfettered capitalism and there is capitalism where we can offer a degree of checks and balances. You may be happy in a society where there is absolutely no control over the actions of right-wing billionaires, many of whom are tax exiles. Fortunately among the denziens of P&B you are in the minority. Away and f**k off My comment was a rejoinder to the notion that we somehow deserve a better press. We don't, we get exactly what we deserve. It's not the lack of checks and balances that puts all kind of sensationalist bullshit on front pages, it's the fact that people buy it (literally and figuratively) that does. People don't read newspapers for facts. They read them so that they can get a reaffirmation of their own perception of reality. Appropriate checks and balances might force a better press on us, or it might just push people to find their news from other less well regulated sources where they can continue to live in their own heads. It sure as hell won't be because we deserve it. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NotThePars Posted February 21, 2018 Share Posted February 21, 2018 What a weird tangent to throw yourself down. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peppino Impastato Posted February 21, 2018 Share Posted February 21, 2018 12 hours ago, NotThePars said: I agree. The jmo wing shitting themselves over this are happy to be in the tent pissing out when it suits them. Erm try the entire party talking about lies and smears when they lie about and smear the SNP every day, 'socialists' included. You reap what you sow. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NotThePars Posted February 21, 2018 Share Posted February 21, 2018 I agree. The jmo wing shitting themselves over this are happy to be in the tent pissing out when it suits them. This all seems like a bit of a poor way of dealing with this. All Corbyn needed to do was deny the story, or get a spokesperson to deny it, and forget about it. This reaction keeps the story in the spotlight. It's just a bit of a bizarre response, one that will be lapped up by his supporters but I don't think will go down well amongst the rest. This never gets less funny. Just as Sturgeon was right to slaughter the press for inventing a nonsense story about her preferences for a Tory govt, Corbyn’s right to go on the offensive when they continue to throw shit on the front pages. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
renton Posted February 21, 2018 Share Posted February 21, 2018 9 minutes ago, NotThePars said: What a weird tangent to throw yourself down. It's not really, I don't think you'd honestly give a f**k who owned what media, and to what ends, if they were pro your guy. That's not meant as a specific dig, it's a fairly universal phenomena. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peppino Impastato Posted February 21, 2018 Share Posted February 21, 2018 8 minutes ago, NotThePars said: This never gets less funny. Just as Sturgeon was right to slaughter the press for inventing a nonsense story about her preferences for a Tory govt, Corbyn’s right to go on the offensive when they continue to throw shit on the front pages. Was corbyn right to come up to Scotland last week (his first visit in six months despite pledging to come every month) and talk about 'SNP austerity' despite the SNP spending hundreds of millions mitigating austerity and having just raised tax on high earners? Was that a lie and a smear? Was Leonard right two weeks ago to talk about zero hours contracts and how he would end them (implying the SNP haven't) despite this being a reserved matter? Was that a lie and a smear? Third isn't low enough for this shower of cretins. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peppino Impastato Posted February 21, 2018 Share Posted February 21, 2018 3 minutes ago, renton said: It's not really, I don't think you'd honestly give a f**k who owned what media, and to what ends, if they were pro your guy. That's not meant as a specific dig, it's a fairly universal phenomena. He's just like all labour supporters, lies are fine as long as they're his lies. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
renton Posted February 21, 2018 Share Posted February 21, 2018 Just now, Peppino Impastato said: He's just like all labour supporters, lies are fine as long as they're his lies. As I said, a universal phenomena, I don't think anyone on any side is any more immune. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NotThePars Posted February 21, 2018 Share Posted February 21, 2018 10 minutes ago, renton said: It's not really, I don't think you'd honestly give a f**k who owned what media, and to what ends, if they were pro your guy. That's not meant as a specific dig, it's a fairly universal phenomena. I'd agree with you here if I didn't think the people on my side of the debate - Owen Jones, Abi Wilkinson etc should also get to f**k for being consistently wrong about almost everything the past three years. Media punditry is more about who you are than your credentials in understanding how politics is shifting and it needs to change across the entire political spectrum and the old guard that runs the media has to change. I'm not limiting where I think that should happen to just the people who aren't on my side. 6 minutes ago, Peppino Impastato said: He's just like all labour supporters, lies are fine as long as they're his lies. Not everyone is as slavishly devoted to a party over ideology as you are. My votes are temporary and conditional. I've voted SNP more and been a member of the party longer than I have Labour. That can change again. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshbairn Posted February 21, 2018 Share Posted February 21, 2018 35 minutes ago, NotThePars said: This never gets less funny. Just as Sturgeon was right to slaughter the press for inventing a nonsense story about her preferences for a Tory govt, Corbyn’s right to go on the offensive when they continue to throw shit on the front pages. He should do what Michael Foot did when the Times and News of the World accused him of being a spy on the word an ex KGB fantasist. Sued them for £125,000 and spent the money on a big party at the Gay Hussar and a donation to Tribune magazine. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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