Spark sponsoring WhaleOil party

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Spark sponsoring WhaleOil party

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k1wi

484 posts

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#1322709 11-Jun-2015 10:51

surfisup1000:
freitasm:
One thing folks: if you support or not WhaleOil, it's no reason to personally attack

Isn't this censorship?

If I think Cameron Slater does bad things then why can I not say that?

It's moderation, as outlined in the forum usage guidelines.

sidefx

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#1322710 11-Jun-2015 10:57

While I tend to agree with those who say this is a storm in a teacup, I think similar to other issues of this nature, it's made worse in many ways by those who attempt to defend it. To me, attempts to explain it such as: "It's not really sponsorship", "Giving gifts doesn't show any sort of affiliation or support", "They probably give prizes like this to people with opposing political views so why should this upset anyone" and "It was only 2 phones not 10" all feel like either nonsense or fairly lame attempts to excuse it.

I think at the end of the day, given how political and galvanising Slater and his blog are, it's not really surprising that it's generated a lot of discussion. Any publicity is good publicity I guess, but why Spark is now back peddling is a little confusing. They obviously did this to try and get publicity so why now come out with all these excuses when it generates said publicity?

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surfisup1000

5288 posts

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#1322721 11-Jun-2015 11:25

freitasm:
surfisup1000:
freitasm:
One thing folks: if you support or not WhaleOil, it's no reason to personally attack

Isn't this censorship?

If I think Cameron Slater does bad things then why can I not say that?

Ah, the censorship card.

Keep up with the program. You can say you think Cameron Slater is good or bad. You can't say someone is an idiot because they believe Cameron Slater is good or bad.

OK fair enough.

But, isn't calling someone 'bad' name calling?

Good to clear up the parameters around this.

mattwnz

20157 posts

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#1322854 11-Jun-2015 15:39

sidefx: While I tend to agree with those who say this is a storm in a teacup, I think similar to other issues of this nature, it's made worse in many ways by those who attempt to defend it. To me, attempts to explain it such as: "It's not really sponsorship", "Giving gifts doesn't show any sort of affiliation or support", "They probably give prizes like this to people with opposing political views so why should this upset anyone" and "It was only 2 phones not 10" all feel like either nonsense or fairly lame attempts to excuse it.

With TV advertising that sponsors of TV programs, generally the opposite thing occurs when a sponsor doesn't agree with something that the program does or broadcasts, and they will pull their sponsorship so that they aren't seen as being affiliated or supporters of something.

MileHighKiwi

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#1323249 12-Jun-2015 10:42

I don't see an issue with this. Private companies can do what they want.

Whaleoil is refreshing, one of the only blogs that will call a spade a spade in this OTT PC world.

And it's not just a mouthpiece for right wing views. There are two pieces currently on the site criticising Nick Smith.

quickymart

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#1323288 12-Jun-2015 11:47

Two pieces? Out of how many on the entire site?

steve98

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#1323730 12-Jun-2015 22:12

Just read through this thread. Hadn't heard about the incident but I will say that associating yourself with a person or organisation that has particularly strong political focus in either direction is a very foolish thing for any company to do. Poor judgement pure and simple.

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rmt38

320 posts

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#1323847 13-Jun-2015 10:00

steve98: Just read through this thread. Hadn't heard about the incident but I will say that associating yourself with a person or organisation that has particularly strong political focus in either direction is a very foolish thing for any company to do. Poor judgement pure and simple.

Note that Bomber got a gift (I think it was a Mac Pro) from Kim Dotcom at the heart of the time when Dotcom was underpaying, or not paying his creditors, and then or later mistreating or underworking his employees. And doing so after Dotcom did his racist shenanigans, like the ones reported when he was recording his album. Bomber is an illustration of the point that many today are either childish in their hypocracy or feigning outrage when they don't like something being given to someone else to get attention and try and undermine it.

My problem with every person who gets outraged, is that we simply have too many people getting outraged these days, or trying to get attention by looking to find outrage. Like Bomber.

Should a company have to worry about who might get outraged by any action, they'd never be able to do anything. Giving a few cell phones as publicity to Slater? Who cares. Big whoop. Give him 100 more. I hope his party goes well, and people get the $400 or whatever of enjoyment out of it they pay for.

quickymart

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#1323995 13-Jun-2015 12:42

MileHighKiwi: Whaleoil is refreshing, one of the only blogs that will call a spade a spade in this OTT PC world.

Did you also find him refreshing when he labelled that youth from the Coast who died as "feral" without knowing all the facts? Because I sure didn't.

rmt38

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#1324003 13-Jun-2015 12:54

quickymart:
MileHighKiwi: Whaleoil is refreshing, one of the only blogs that will call a spade a spade in this OTT PC world.

Did you also find him refreshing when he labelled that youth from the Coast who died as "feral" without knowing all the facts? Because I sure didn't.

Can he have articles which are still worth reading, amongst the non-refreshing things he posted? Or does posting some non-refreshing things invalidate the few hits amongst his many misses?

cr250bromo

222 posts

Master Geek

#1324035 13-Jun-2015 13:43

I'm certainly no fan of Whaleoil (though I do read his blog from time to time - think it's actually good to read views you don't agree with, rather than reading stuff that just affirms your existing views as being 'correct')...

However the angry internet mob who forms and blows things like this out of proportion are much worse. People seem to be under the impression that if you are part of an angry internet mob suffering righteous indignation at something, then nothing is off the table on how you retaliate - even if that retaliation is far out of proportion of the original perceived transgression.

MileHighKiwi

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#1325621 16-Jun-2015 10:50

quickymart:
MileHighKiwi: Whaleoil is refreshing, one of the only blogs that will call a spade a spade in this OTT PC world.

Did you also find him refreshing when he labelled that youth from the Coast who died as "feral" without knowing all the facts? Because I sure didn't.

The facts like driving 140 KPH in a 50 zone?

Sideface

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#1325672 16-Jun-2015 11:37

MileHighKiwi:
quickymart:
MileHighKiwi: Whaleoil is refreshing, one of the only blogs that will call a spade a spade in this OTT PC world.

Did you also find him refreshing when he labelled that youth from the Coast who died as "feral" without knowing all the facts? Because I sure didn't.

The facts like driving 140 KPH in a 50 zone?

The "feral ratbag" comment was about the driver, not the dead passenger:

Five years for ratbag feral killer driver

Sideface

Lias

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#1325687 16-Jun-2015 12:00

Sideface:
MileHighKiwi:
quickymart:
MileHighKiwi: Whaleoil is refreshing, one of the only blogs that will call a spade a spade in this OTT PC world.

Did you also find him refreshing when he labelled that youth from the Coast who died as "feral" without knowing all the facts? Because I sure didn't.

The facts like driving 140 KPH in a 50 zone?

The "feral ratbag" comment was about the driver, not the dead passenger:

Five years for ratbag feral killer driver

"No all the fuss was because I called a bunch of ferals driving around the streets and fleeing police in Runanga feral ratbags"

Even in what you just linked he pretty cleary is calling ALL the car occupants ferals, not just the driver.

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