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Yabanize

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#174914 10-Jun-2015 16:22
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Spark have given whaleoil phones to give away at their 10 year party tonight.

http://www.whaleoil.co.nz/2015/06/sponsored-by-spark-report-from-the-decade-of-dirt-party-and-be-in-to-win-a-samsung-galaxy-a5/ 
http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2015/06/10/why-on-earth-is-spark-celebrating-10-years-of-hate-speech/ 

Is this acceptable given whaleoil's history?

I don't think so.

Spark's responses on facebook
Hi Bomber, thanks for your message.

We give away a lot of mobile phones on a frequent basis to a range of media outlets, commentators and community groups. That’s all part of getting information out there about the technology we offer.

In doing so, we don’t endorse the editorial policies of any media outlet, including Whaleoil.

As we do with many other media and commentators, we occasionally interact with the Whaleoil blog on technology and Spark related matters. He’s also a Spark mobile customer we’ve had some contact with him on his own connectivity issues.

In this particular instance, we provided a couple of mid-range phones to Whaleoil as giveaways for his 10th anniversary event tonight. There was no cash or other support involved.

The way it’s been presented has perhaps made our involvement appear more substantial than it is. To help clarify, we’ve asked the Whaleoil site to remove the Spark logo and make it clear this is not a “sponsorship”

Cheers ^Sam

Hi Bomber, as above - not associating or endorsing anything, but thanks for your feedback smile emoticon ^Sam




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Psilan
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  #1322293 10-Jun-2015 16:24
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What's the problem then? You vote Green?




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6FIEND
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  #1322296 10-Jun-2015 16:27
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Cue outrage.

How abominable that privately held companies interact with private individuals in the manner they deem fit!

Quickly!  We must organise a protest to give voice to our vehement opposition to this atrocity.

DonGould
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  #1322303 10-Jun-2015 16:32
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I could think of dozens of reasons that this is actually ok.

The only thing I see issue with is " this is not a “sponsorship”", that's just a silly statement.  It's clear that Spark are stepping up to provide some support to the continuation of the site and to claim otherwise is just silly.







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MikeB4
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  #1322309 10-Jun-2015 16:42
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Spark is free to give to who ever they wish, if you are a shareholder and are unhappy with this you could raise  it at the next shareholders meeting.

Lias
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  #1322312 10-Jun-2015 16:48
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Wow.

Just WOW.

Actually speechless.

I am very disappointed in Spark, I believe they need to distance themselves from this as fast as possible, and that whomever authorised giving phones to WhaleOil should be facing rapid and permanent disciplinary action. Cameron Slater is a particularly odious person and I can think of few people in the country with a worse reputation for vindictive hate speech. It's a bit like announcing you've just sponsored the Westboro Baptist Church.






I'm a geek, a gamer, a dad, a Quic user, and an IT Professional. I have a full rack home lab, size 15 feet, an epic beard and Asperger's. I'm a bit of a Cypherpunk, who believes information wants to be free and the Net interprets censorship as damage and routes around it. If you use my Quic signup you can also use the code R570394EKGIZ8 for free setup.


NonprayingMantis
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  #1322323 10-Jun-2015 17:06
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they're not even good phones.  meh.

Sideface
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DR
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  #1322326 10-Jun-2015 17:18
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"An editor will review your entries" ...

Click to see full size




Sideface


 
 
 

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richms
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  #1322328 10-Jun-2015 17:20
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If bomber hates it then it cant be bad...




Richard rich.ms

Lias
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  #1322333 10-Jun-2015 17:28
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richms: If bomber hates it then it cant be bad...


LOL Yeah I know how you feel.. when I posted the link on facebook I had to preface it with "Not often I agree with Marty Bradbury but this is definitely one of those times". Bombers a monumental ass, but he's right that it's a terrible look for Spark, and a very very poor decision on someone's part.






I'm a geek, a gamer, a dad, a Quic user, and an IT Professional. I have a full rack home lab, size 15 feet, an epic beard and Asperger's. I'm a bit of a Cypherpunk, who believes information wants to be free and the Net interprets censorship as damage and routes around it. If you use my Quic signup you can also use the code R570394EKGIZ8 for free setup.


Spiker
34 posts

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  #1322336 10-Jun-2015 17:36
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Where's the problem with this? Spark often provide media outfits with promotional items. Whale Oil is media & is New Zealands most popular blog by far. Just because the usual vocal twitter bullies say its bad doesn't mean its so. As a Spark customer I have absolutely no issue with this.

Lias
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  #1322345 10-Jun-2015 17:49
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I'm sorry but until he's accountable to the Press Council, he's not media. If he want's to be media, he has to have accountability and he'll never agree to being held to account for the tripe he posts.




I'm a geek, a gamer, a dad, a Quic user, and an IT Professional. I have a full rack home lab, size 15 feet, an epic beard and Asperger's. I'm a bit of a Cypherpunk, who believes information wants to be free and the Net interprets censorship as damage and routes around it. If you use my Quic signup you can also use the code R570394EKGIZ8 for free setup.


DonGould
3892 posts

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  #1322351 10-Jun-2015 17:54
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Lias: I'm sorry but until he's accountable to the Press Council, he's not media. If he want's to be media, he has to have accountability and he'll never agree to being held to account for the tripe he posts.


What is 'media' these days? 

The reality is that this guy publishes stuff every day that a bunch of people choose to tune in to read.





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MikeB4
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  #1322352 10-Jun-2015 17:56
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Personally I do not like Mr Slaters style or blog but as an independent media writer he can blog what he wants within the law, there is no compulsion on anyone to read it.If Spark wishes to provide him promotional material then that is their decision to make, they are accountable to their Board and Shareholders only.

DonGould
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  #1322353 10-Jun-2015 17:57
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MikeB4: ... they are accountable to their Board and Shareholders only.


And those who choose to be customers.






Promote New Zealand - Get yourself a .kiwi.nz domain name!!!

Check out mine - i.am.a.can.do.kiwi.nz - don@i.am.a.can.do.kiwi.nz


sidefx
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  #1322354 10-Jun-2015 17:58
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Lias: I'm sorry but until he's accountable to the Press Council, he's not media. If he want's to be media, he has to have accountability and he'll never agree to being held to account for the tripe he posts.


Agree with this. Certainly Spark are free to sponsor whomever they please and I don't think this should change.  Having said that I think Cameron Slater really is the lowest of the low and I doubt I would want to be a customer of a company who chooses to affiliate themselves with such an individual. Luckily I'm free to choose my ISP, just as others are free to dislike or defend Slater as they so choose. 




"I was born not knowing and have had only a little time to change that here and there."         | Octopus Energy | Sharesies
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