Comments on: It’s not the internet – its Balls! http://www.soundcommunication.org.uk/2009/07/02/its-not-the-internet-its-balls/ Ethical PR, marketing and communications services from a social enterprise Mon, 31 Aug 2009 21:47:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 By: John http://www.soundcommunication.org.uk/2009/07/02/its-not-the-internet-its-balls/comment-page-1/#comment-4259 John Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:05:29 +0000 http://www.soundcommunication.org.uk/?p=176#comment-4259 It's not about lying, at all. If Nelson is wrong, then no doubt Balls will sue the Spectator. If he doesn't, then we can all draw our own conclusions. He either can't be bothered, dismisses it as a Tory smear, or fears he would lose. Or a combination of all three. I think you are right in saying politicians need to deal with the internet a bit more effectively. Personally I think the internet is an empowering tool in the right hands. Sometimes it gets into the hands of self-obsessed know it alls who just like the sound of their own typing. Other times, it can be used to improve the sum of human knowledge. You pays your money.... It’s not about lying, at all. If Nelson is wrong, then no doubt Balls will sue the Spectator.
If he doesn’t, then we can all draw our own conclusions.
He either can’t be bothered, dismisses it as a Tory smear, or fears he would lose.
Or a combination of all three.
I think you are right in saying politicians need to deal with the internet a bit more effectively.
Personally I think the internet is an empowering tool in the right hands.
Sometimes it gets into the hands of self-obsessed know it alls who just like the sound of their own typing.
Other times, it can be used to improve the sum of human knowledge.
You pays your money….

]]> By: Wanda http://www.soundcommunication.org.uk/2009/07/02/its-not-the-internet-its-balls/comment-page-1/#comment-4237 Wanda Thu, 09 Jul 2009 11:08:16 +0000 http://www.soundcommunication.org.uk/?p=176#comment-4237 As a print journalist, I would like to inform Mr Newton that I aspire to incredibly high standards. And I deliver them. Has Mr Newton ever worked as a proper journalist or is he one of these guys who stands on the sidelines, being all superior? As a print journalist, I would like to inform Mr Newton that I aspire to incredibly high standards.
And I deliver them.
Has Mr Newton ever worked as a proper journalist or is he one of these guys who stands on the sidelines, being all superior?

]]> By: Tony http://www.soundcommunication.org.uk/2009/07/02/its-not-the-internet-its-balls/comment-page-1/#comment-4234 Tony Thu, 09 Jul 2009 10:49:17 +0000 http://www.soundcommunication.org.uk/?p=176#comment-4234 That's a rather lofty interpretation of the post Stephen - I don't think that's the point at all. The simple point being made is that the internet opens up politicians to greater public scrutiny than ever before. They need to live with that and be able to deal with it sensibly. A Cabinet Minister ringing up some blogger to rant at him and demand that he withdraw a post, as if we lived in some kind of elective dictatorship, is pretty silly behaviour. Given what we know about Ed Balls personal behaviour and tactics as Brown's sidekick makes me think he has gotten away lightly with being called a liar. Nelson's original post also called him a bully. I don't think Balls could sue on that either. That’s a rather lofty interpretation of the post Stephen – I don’t think that’s the point at all.
The simple point being made is that the internet opens up politicians to greater public scrutiny than ever before.
They need to live with that and be able to deal with it sensibly.
A Cabinet Minister ringing up some blogger to rant at him and demand that he withdraw a post, as if we lived in some kind of elective dictatorship, is pretty silly behaviour.
Given what we know about Ed Balls personal behaviour and tactics as Brown’s sidekick makes me think he has gotten away lightly with being called a liar.
Nelson’s original post also called him a bully. I don’t think Balls could sue on that either.

]]> By: Stephen Newton http://www.soundcommunication.org.uk/2009/07/02/its-not-the-internet-its-balls/comment-page-1/#comment-4232 Stephen Newton Thu, 09 Jul 2009 09:50:05 +0000 http://www.soundcommunication.org.uk/?p=176#comment-4232 You seem to be saying that even if Balls wasn't lying, it's okay for Nelson to call him a liar, because he's writing for the internet. I don't follow that at all. Writing for the internet doesn't mean you should aspire to even lower standards than print journalists. Far from being 'beside the point' as you claim, whether Balls was lying or not is key. They may be an argument that it's unseemly for a minister to make such a big deal of it, but that's beside the point. You seem to be saying that even if Balls wasn’t lying, it’s okay for Nelson to call him a liar, because he’s writing for the internet.

I don’t follow that at all. Writing for the internet doesn’t mean you should aspire to even lower standards than print journalists. Far from being ‘beside the point’ as you claim, whether Balls was lying or not is key.

They may be an argument that it’s unseemly for a minister to make such a big deal of it, but that’s beside the point.

]]>