On the difference between Blogging and Plogging

There was some commotion in political blog circles over the Darbyshires’ blog and a local spat they had with one of their rivals. Apologies if I have some details wrong, but it appeared an acquaintance became disgruntled with them over various things, and started spoofing their blog. While there was much that was funny and eminately spoofable about the content of their blog, the spoof was a somewhat mean spirited and nasty act. But while I agreed with the Darbyshires’ about the motivations of their nemesis, they were quite naive in threatening legal action without first seeking advice. Parody is not libel, particularly when the spoof didn’t even name its targets.

However while all this was going on the Darbyshires’ blog was attached to the LibDemBlogs aggregator, and read by many who weren’t enamoured by what they were seeing. I was saddened by some of the reactions, both out on the blogs, and on email lists with one person haughtily complaining about the number of blogs that have personal content on them. I believe this point of view to be both unhelpful and misguided. People involved in politics need to have lives and both their colleagues and supporters need to know they have lives.

While I regularly read the blogs that talk solely about political matters, I derive more pleasure from reading those that stay off the political topic, because in reading them I feel like I’m connecting with friends, albeit some of them friends I have never met.

Because, dare I say it, it’s important to know the people campaigning to make the world a better place are real people, much like those that can be found on any street in any town. Human beings, not alien species called "politician" and "activist". Real people have real lives. The best campaigners know this- why for example did the flyer enticing me to go and help Willie Rennie, a by-election candidate in Scotland[1], metion his success in the Scottish coal carrying championships, and Tim Farron’s election literature feature him raising money on a fun run? Blogging or campaigning on thigs outside the political sphere, does not however, preclude having a private life, and does not excuse any intrusion onto the same.

And dare I say it, while there’s a place for political and economic theory in politics, and no place for knee-jerk pandering to fear and ignorance, all politics at all levels needs the benefits of the multiple perspectives of people from different backgrounds and lives. Because if it doesn’t it will lose touch and no amount of reading the paper via the web or listening to focus groups can rectify it. In short both politicians and activists need real lives outside of politics and any day job in order to do their political jobs properly.

While I respect those who’ve chosen to subjugate the blogging medium to their own ends and blog solely about politics, we can’t all be walking textbooks on political theory and philosophy. And it’s just as well we’re not.

[1] Unfortunately I can't with my broken leg

Moblog

I'M ON THE TRAIN!

(OK so I cheated slightly)

Myth or memory?

I remember watching the Challenger disaster live on the BBC. However I read an article that claims millions didn't see it live. So my question is- did the BBC broadcast the final launch of the USS Challenger, or am I remembering seeing a replay?

(Link c/o Andy Hardy)

Still to come

• How to enjoy a healthy vocabulary, while avoiding stock phrases, buzz words, and using language to impress or exculude.
• People involved in politics who use the blogging medium simply to blog.  (eg me, Will, Nick Barlow, The Darbyshires)
• The Reflecting Britain project and how my experiences of my own industry made me sign up.
• And more about working with a broken leg.

All this when I get round to writing it.

Personal update

Just a quick few words. I returned home on Sunday, and have been back and work since Tuesday morning, slowly easing my way back in. It's just there is no real justification for me not working if I'm only living round the corner.

But I'm pleased to be standing on my own two feet, even if that's not literally true..

Other candidates are available -updated

In the interests of balance:

Chris Huhne: http://www.chris2win.org/
Simon Hughes: http://www.simonhughesforleader.com/
Menzies Campbell: http://www.campbellcampaign.org/

Although those readers who are interested probably already know this!

That "admission"

(but if you read what he says it would actually seem he has come out as bisexual). - >Colin Ross

Or alternatively:

This isn't actually a lie. Simon is a lawyer, and knows this. It isn't even particularly Clintonian - gay has a definite meaning, and Simon is not gay. But nevertheless I cringed when I heard that he denied being gay. What people want from their politicians is honesty, not legalistic truth.- Libertycat

In blogging you don't have to be original. But it helps if you can quote someone else you agree with who is.

More scurrilous gossip

I have heard from a wholely unreliable source that Menzies Campbell is a Scotsman who doesn't like haggis, and Chris Huhne does not fantasise about the Single Transferable Voting system when "in bed" with his wife Vicky.

The last revelation must not get out as it is somthing that could genuinely damage his reputation among members of the party, unlike tales of rent boys, bisexual tendancies and alcoholism. So please, I urge you, keep this under your hat and don't tell any employees of News International...

Further disasterous revelations can be read here. I can't cope.

What a coincidence.

My, just as the nomination deadline for the Liberal Democrat leadership contest looms, Adrian Graves, a former Lib Dem parliamentary candidate announces, that he has signed up to Cameron's New Liberal Conservatives (OK I meant this link) as part of his LibDems 4 Cameron squeeze message.

You'd almost think, given he'd made his decision before Christmas, it was planned that way as a spoiler or something. With the announcement of his departure, Graves mentioned rumours of similar feelings at Westminster. You can't disprove the existance of a rumour, the mere fact you've mentioned it means the rumour exists. However I'm sure we can treat these rumours with a pinch of salt.

Oh Dave, Dave Dave, how I wish I could believe the new you. I would dearly love to believe you and your brethren had had an epithany and decided to join the human race, and that the New Conservative party would run the country in a fair and compassionate way. If it were in any way true I too would be looking at joining the fight against a common enemy. But given the support you're giving New Labour on certain issues I'm afraid the front is all too transparent.

Meanwhile back on the main news of the day I'm still not declaring on my first choice for Lib Dem Leader (it is a fair election by single transferable vote after all). Although this is mainly due to waiting to see the candidates in person, than anything else.

In other news recently there was this tiny story about a worrying possible invasion of privacy and how we're having to rely on corporate America to stand up to it. Andy H has more to say about it. On the other hand Google have announced co-operation with the Chinese government on censosrhip.

Oh and finally, I've been having a lot of hits from Google users looking for Mark Oaten Gossip, however I'm sorry to have to tell them I have none.

Personal Responsibility- We hate it.

While composing another post I was reminded of a recent advert. I'm doing this from memory because there seems to be zero reaction elsewhere on the net.

The advert was for a form of processed bread that claimed to be as good nutritionally as wholegrain bread, but with the look and taste of white bread.

It focuses on the usual happy smiling bustling family at breakfast, and as it opens we pan across several bins in the corner of the kitchen labeled according to what should be thrown away there, followed by a shot of several jars of pulses. "Great," I thought "An advert that shows a responsible lifestyle as happy and healthy." As the advert wore on it became clear that my pleasure was unfounded. Because the responsible lifestyle of the family in the advert was not being held up idylic, but as laughable and extreme. That's just what me need, when people are saying it's not worth the effort to behave responsibly, an advert saying those that do are idiots anyway.

I despair.

Update

Well many of you will be wanting to know how I'm getting on.

I went to the fracture clinic on Thursday and everything seems to be fine. I was in for 2 hours. I did feel the removal of the old plaster cast a bit rough, but my stitches were removed and I now have a lighter resin cast that I can fit an ordinary pair of trousers over, it's snugger and easier to manage.

I even risked a bath yesterday, given resin won't disolve. OK I had to sit with my head at the tap end, with my leg resting away from the water on a stool. A bit wakward but I managed to get more thorughly clean than I can usually manage.

It's a bit frustrating, you don't know how much you rely on getting about even to do stuff you do sitting down. It's taken me an age to get through paperwork that would normally take me an hour becaue of having to hop around to bring it all together.

Declaring an Interest

Many online Liberal Democrats are nailing their colours to the mast regarding the leadership contest. While I am inclined to put higher numbers against some candidates, and lower against others, how precisely I will vote will probably not be fixed until I see the ballot paper in front of me.

I will be waiting to see what the contenders have to say for themselves, which is difficult as given only Chris Huhne has put up a campaign website, everything I hear is filtered through the media. OK this is not a new situation, but I am sort of used to living in the 21st Century and associating with people that are more intelligent and forward thinking than the other lot.

One comment on the election though, regarding the pronunciation of Menzies. My mother seems to be in the minority of people who doesn't think of Ming The Merciless when the name of the deputy leader of the Lib Dems is mentioned. In fact she thinks of "mingers".

Though some can take the Flash Gordon thing too far.

Edit: Great minds think alike, when I was writing this, other bloggers were putting up their "Not declaring yet" messages.

And now for somthing completely different.

Not usually enamoured of Jokes that single out one section of society or another, (not that I'm "right on" it's just how my sense of humour works) but I belive Will has found the best blond joke ever.

Nearly everyone agrees with me

Given I have little else to do, I would write more about recent political events, but as James G says most of the Lib dem blogs have said it already.

the consensus in the blogosphere is that
a) we'd reached a point where he had to go
and
b) it was all terribly sad.

Which is basically how I felt. End of blog entry.

Actuallycomee to think of it much of what James has had to say recently I have agreed with, or at the very least found interesting, even if at times in the past I have found his tone unpalatable.

Mailing lists and blogs have sprung to life, and the general consensus is that to have 0.08% of the party’s membership (albeit a very important 0.08%) sew up a deal amongst themselves. Given what they have put the rest of us through in recent weeks I think we all need a say in where we go from here to show how we believe in fairness and democracy, but mainly to give a faintly demoralized membership a sense of involvement in our party's future.

And here's Peter Black with another post I agree with. Hang on aren't we all looking for a debate?

Update

I'm getting a bit frustrated at not being able to get on with things. My stitches are coming out on Thursday so I assume I will be x-rayed again to see how well I'm healing.

New Year Break

Well I have a bit of a set-back. On 30th I slipped on a piece of ice on a fairly flat path and damaged my ankle. I'm now at my parents house in Manchester rather than at work.

I must say my friends were very impressive rallying around, setting up an emergency shelter and getting in the mountain rescue. Who were also very impressive it seemed like a swarm of them. I was confident all the way to the ambulance I was in safe hands. I have been judged a fool for nottaking my entinox but it really didn't seem to be doing very much.

My leg will be out of action for 10 weeks- I have a pin holding my ankle in place so the tendons can recover.

So thanks again to Keswick Mountain rescue, and to Raff (who stayed with me for several hours) Rob B, Mark, Frosty, Andy, Curly, Rosie, Elanor and Dave for all their help and support, and everyone for their good wishes. I will be fine I'm sure.