The Eloquence of Effluent
I have often heard David Farrar’s Kiwiblog likened to a sewer by left-wing blogs. It seems to me that the recent spate of disturbing posts at the Standard and NRT have demonstrated the truth of Jesus’ suggestion that one first takes the plank out of your own eye before attempting to remove the splinter from your brother’s (Luke 6:41-42). For true sewer-like quality, though, one needs go no further than the wild interpretation of a few words from the Minister of Corrections, Judith Collins.
“I hope they go to jail for a long time – with a cellmate.””
According to the vast majority of left-wing blogs (with the notable exception of Red Alert – well done, Trevor!), the phrase “with a cellmate” apparently means “homosexual anal rape”. When I first read this idea at Dimpost I thought Danyl was, as usual, taking the piss. But it seems from his comments later that he was serious. Certainly the denizens of the Standard and No Right To Talk Turn took it seriously, as did the ever-rabid Bomber (no surprises there). I confess, I find this completely bizarre. I can think of at least three other quite plausible interpretations of Collins’ word off the top of my head, without resorting to a scene from “Shawshank Redemption”.
- Collins may have simply been inviting these looters to an extended stay in one of her new double bunking facilities.
- She may have been suggesting that the looters and all their accomplices will become guests of the state.
- But, most likely, she was simply voicing the fact that these opportunistic creatures are as distasteful to “real” criminals as they are to the man in the street. A cellmate of this type would inevitably make their lives very miserable indeed – without any need for anal penetration.
Perhaps Collins was somewhat out of line suggesting that prison may be rough for these offenders, but, as usual, she was certainly voicing what most were thinking. That she does this unerringly is her greatest strength.
The Left will decry this as pandering the “red meat brigade”. They would do well to realise that the people they are sneering at represent the vast majority of Kiwis – there is no “brigade” except in their imaginations. New Zealanders are truly appalled by the behaviour of these thieves and looters. A gentle slap on the wrist with a wet bus ticket is not going to quell this revulsion. Only suitable severe punishment will satisfy the outraged sense of injustice that these undeniably stupid acts have invoked. They WILL be going to jail for a long time, probably with a very ornery cell mate. They will NOT have a good time. And that is as it should be.
Only without the fevered imaginings of the Left.
No related posts.
Mar 2 11 7:50 am
I’ve always thought that what we need to do to address the deteriorating law and order situation in this country is to get rid of the “wet bus ticket” syndrome from all levels of offending. Unfortunately it’s taken a catastrophe for some of our judges to start to realise that. We tinker with laws and consequences, when what we really need to do is get a working group from Singapore to show us how they did it.
Mar 2 11 3:13 pm
I know someone who works in a prison, and is in a position to know how double bunking is going.
They say it’s fantastic. The prisoners themselves actually love it because it gives them someone to talk to.
I suspect that’s the context in which Collins made her remark – i.e. no. 3.
scrubone´s last [type] ..Maybe they had a bulldozer
Mar 2 11 5:46 pm
Indeed. The very idea that she was somehow endorsing rape is absurd.
Mar 2 11 6:41 pm
It is always interesting reading the obsessions of others.
I usually read all of the posts at The Standard. Because I can’t remember one on the double bunking issue, I went hunting for the one that one of our authors had written on the subject. I figured it must have been while I was in hospital? But there is nothing that I can see in the last three weeks.
Perhaps you should link to it to posts on the topic? Because as far as I can see you’re just making an unsupported statement that indicates more about what you’re obsessed over than we are.
Lynn Prentice´s last [type] ..Christchurch Quake — More action needed in Eastern Suburbs right now
Mar 2 11 7:04 pm
No, you are right Lynn, there was no post. There was a series of comments in one of your “open mike” sessions. 1.3.11 if I recall correctly.
Apologies for misrepresenting you.
Now, exactly what “obsessions” are we talking about?
Mar 3 11 12:53 am
Open Mike is there for commentators to raise their own topics. We moderate for behavior, but not for topic. It states that on the Open Mike post body every day. The only other blog site that does something similar is Kiwiblog with the general debate.
So if I understand your position correctly, you’re comparing an open debate post to a closed topic post which is all Red Alert does. Like Trevor we moderate topic posts for content. If it gets too far off the topic we will warn, ban, or throw the comment thread into Open Mike. But it sounds to me like you want us to censor a open debate post thread merely because you don’t agree with it.
There are more than enough people in OpenMike to argue the contary viewpoints and with a topic like that I am sure that they did.
The obsession I am referring to is that you think that as the main moderator on site that I should be responsible for the topics argued when it is a question of opinion in a open forum. I would moderate it if the behavior deteriorated or they transgressed site policies, but otherwise it is the commentators area.
As far as I can see you’re being a busybody trying to say that the rule of laws in a locale don’t matter, we will just override them when we don’t like them. I guess I can see why you’d like Collins and other similar politicians of the past like McCarthy. Lynch mobs like that idea as well…
Lynn Prentice´s last [type] ..Christchurch Quake — More action needed in Eastern Suburbs right now
Mar 3 11 8:06 am
McCarthy!? You live in your own little world don’t you, Lynn? Had anyone bash in your front door recently, have you?
For the record (such as it is), I don’t give a damn what you post or allow in your comments section. Your moderation policy is your own. What I put on this blog is also my decision. If I want to comment on the appalling nature of your comments section, that is my right.
Now, I have apologised for misrepresenting you and you have accused me of McCarthyism in return. I will leave your comment up as a salutary warning to my other commentators that when the left has nothing to add to a debate, they resort to name calling.
Mar 3 11 10:44 am
That is what blogs and comments are for – to express opinions. You don’t have to agree with them.
It has been nice visiting. These days I generally just comment on other sites to correct facts because there isn’t enough time after I do the moderation sweeps amongst the morass of differing opinions on our site.
Lynn Prentice´s last [type] ..Christchurch Quake — More action needed in Eastern Suburbs right now