bias in the press

[BerwickMad]

 
Must be hard mate watching your insignificant band of slugs getting progressively sidelined just as Labour become electable again. 

Not really. When Labour are electable, I’m delighted. It’s not going to come from playing the poor us card though. Despite what many in Momentum say, there’s very little actual debate at the moment. Have a quick look at some of the biggest Labour Party Facebook pages where the slightest disagreement with the leader and/or Momentum sees people blocked from the group. There’s far too much hero worship and paranoia about the ‘MSM’. It’s a political party where ideas should be discussed, not some kind of ‘get in line’ nonsense.

[NotThePars]

Not really. When Labour are electable, I’m delighted. It’s not going to come from playing the poor us card though. Despite what many in Momentum say, there’s very little actual debate at the moment. Have a quick look at some of the biggest Labour Party Facebook pages where the slightest disagreement with the leader and/or Momentum sees people blocked from the group. There’s far too much hero worship and paranoia about the ‘MSM’. It’s a political party where ideas should be discussed, not some kind of ‘get in line’ nonsense.

This is the exact same nonsense that got thrown at the SNP and is ignorant of the reality that Labour (and the SNP) are constantly in discussion over ideology, the manifesto and electoral strategy. Just because the Progress bores have nothing relevant to offer other than carping on about how unfair it is that Momentum are demanding democracy within the party doesn't mean there isn't dozens of debates happening in leftist spaces. You could have even listed to a discussion over the existence of progressive patriotism tonight on Novara if that's your thing. It isn't mine personally.

[chomp my root]

7 hours ago, BerwickMad said:

Not really. When Labour are electable, I’m delighted. It’s not going to come from playing the poor us card though. Despite what many in Momentum say, there’s very little actual debate at the moment. Have a quick look at some of the biggest Labour Party Facebook pages where the slightest disagreement with the leader and/or Momentum sees people blocked from the group. There’s far too much hero worship and paranoia about the ‘MSM’. It’s a political party where ideas should be discussed, not some kind of ‘get in line’ nonsense.

Labour in particular seem to care what party members are interested, not the country as a whole. This lack of engagement can only harm the party.

[NotThePars]

12 million votes at the last election and 4 million gained in 8 weeks lol.

[BerwickMad]

12 million votes at the last election and 4 million gained in 8 weeks lol.

And the Tories, despite running their worst campaign in living memory got 13.6m votes. They’re still about level pegging in the polls and May is still more trusted than Corbyn, despite being an absolute shambles of a government. Now, it’s generally two hardened camps and I don’t really thing the ‘you’re evil, poor us’ approach is going to get some of those who used to be swing voters across.

But back to the main point about ‘boo hoo the MSM’, I hated it from the SNP supporters in 2014 before Corbyn had even come onto my radar or Momentum even existed. Even when there is a bias in the media, I’m not one for the Wings over Scotland type tactics and the constant meme attacks from strange people on social media. Skwarkbox do it now, a poisonous site promoted by the thoroughly unlikable Chris Williamson. It might motivate similar minded people to feed their anger, but I don’t think it convinces anyone else.

I’ll actually give that podcast a listen. If they’re discussing things seriously and developing arguments, then I’ll probably enjoy it even if I disagree. There was an interesting podcast and article through Progress by Peter Kellner last week on low paid work and the potential for a tax on data. Didn’t agree with it all, but it’s debate and putting forward ideas and it’s interesting.

[NotThePars]

It was the largest oppositional swing since 1945 in a short and swift campaign and shows no sign of really slowing. I don't like Novara and would personally recommend the New Socialist if you're wanting to read the intellectual debates going on under Corbynism but Novara are fairly established and apparently respected despite some of the people being a bit irritating. Don't disagree with Skwarkbox but I don't think the new media is poisoning the discourse more than the New Statesman for example with its war on trans people.

[renton]

1 minute ago, NotThePars said:

It was the largest oppositional swing since 1945 in a short and swift campaign and shows no sign of really slowing. I don't like Novara and would personally recommend the New Socialist if you're wanting to read the intellectual debates going on under Corbynism but Novara are fairly established and apparently respected despite some of the people being a bit irritating. Don't disagree with Skwarkbox but I don't think the new media is poisoning the discourse more than the New Statesman for example with its war on trans people.

Ok, give us an idea - what's your highlight from this?

[NotThePars]

I think there's a number of decent things on there.

Eve Livingston on responding to centrists deploying the "old white men" tactic as a silencer for the left. https://newsocialist.org.uk/old-white-men-labours-representation-question/

A fairly honest critique of where Labour councils are still falling short is here as well - https://newsocialist.org.uk/better-a-dented-shield-the-left-and-labour-councils/

The podcast on Corbynism from Below is worth a listen https://newsocialist.org.uk/corbynism-from-below-at-the-world-transformed-2/

OT but their article on Poland's Hate March was probably the best written thing on it https://newsocialist.org.uk/poland-2/

[marty_j]

And the Tories, despite running their worst campaign in living memory got 13.6m votes. They’re still about level pegging in the polls and May is still more trusted than Corbyn, despite being an absolute shambles of a government. Now, it’s generally two hardened camps and I don’t really thing the ‘you’re evil, poor us’ approach is going to get some of those who used to be swing voters across.

Recent article from Jones on that subject https://amp.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/nov/29/question-labour-must-answer-further-ahead-polls?__twitter_impression=true

[coprolite]

 
Quite. It was great to hear someone quoting Allende and Sankara while arguing against military interventionism.

this is exactly the sort of thing he needs to do more of to show he has the common touch in my opinion.

[sparky88]

Supporters of every political party think the media is biased against them.

[Savage Henry]

6 minutes ago, sparky88 said:

Supporters of every political party think the media is biased against them.

It's also a case of "all the other media outlets except the one I watch/read."  People don't read newspapers for the news.  They want to read things that support what they already believe.  So any time anything is editorialised - or opinionated - in a way contrary to what they already believe, they cry bias.

Relative to the US, the broadcast news here is pretty fair.  On the other hand, the newspapers are scandalously subjective.   

There's also a profound inability to understand the difference between an editor and a journalist.

[MEADOWXI]

Supporters of political parties seeing bias in all is about as accurate as OF fans seeing bias against them in the media.

[MarkoRaj]

Gary linaker retweeted a video of Palestinian children being rounded up in and locked in a cage by the Israeli army, and called it " sickening"
This lead to a twitter storm of the usual Israel/Palestinian stuff, and from alot of famous people on both sides, politicians, musicians etc.
But Talksport decided to report it as

Nowhere does it mention the massive support he got for it or show any of the tweets from famous and well known people who agreed with him, but instead only highlighted 6 or 7 tweets condemning him, and one which says the guy who videod it 'Ben White' was a well known antisemitic?... A very biased coverage.
http://talkradio.co.uk/news/gary-lineker-receives-torrent-abuse-israelis-after-sharing-pro-palestinian-caged-children-video
 

Those replies are actually moronic.

I can't tell if they are taking the piss

[MarkoRaj]

"They were throwing stones, what would you do?"

Articles like the above are exactly what allows this to happen.

[welshbairn]

https://www.thejc.com/comment/comment/critics-of-gary-lineker-are-missing-the-point-1.450326

[Savage Henry]

2 hours ago, welshbairn said:

https://www.thejc.com/comment/comment/critics-of-gary-lineker-are-missing-the-point-1.450326

If you ever look at the people Lineker and Lilly Allen manage to push to the verge of tears, you have to come to the conclusion that they are both very decent human beings indeed.  

Critics of Gary Linker = Fans of Alan Brazil.

[NotThePars]

Good move. Must be noted that for all the talk of this "inciting the Palestinians", its them currently being gunned down by IDF soldiers.

[Zen Archer (Raconteur)]

2 minutes ago, Bishoptonbankie said:

Alan Brazil is an utter scumbag of a man, if you ever need an example of a man who has completely forgotten where he came from (except to stick the boot in it) its Brazil, hes a disgusting man who appeals to the lowest common denominator.

Sounds like he has Alzheimer's.

[Joey Jo Jo Junior Shabadoo]

13 minutes ago, Bishoptonbankie said:

Alan Brazil is an utter scumbag of a man, if you ever need an example of a man who has completely forgotten where he came from (except to stick the boot in it) its Brazil, hes a disgusting man who appeals to the lowest common denominator.

I hate the way he talks about Glasgow and the surrounding area as if he's some authority on it, yet clearly thinks it's still 1973 up here. For example "Glasgow Green? It's covered in ash parks!" and "You stayed in Bothwell, Ray? That's up near Larkhall. I'm a Celtic man, I doubt they'd let me in there."

He's a cheerleader for the "we're all sectarian nutters" prejudice. Utter fanny.