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68 Comments
Ok, the guilt finally got to me.... I have become a supporter on the basis that per post, its a bargain, and its the best online community in NZ.
edit
NZ politics live: Golriz Ghahraman fined $1860 for shoplifting, discharge without conviction declined
I am ok with that, she has suffered more justice then most in NZ do, and no point in bankrupting here.
It is ironic if not downright disappointing that some that do not contribute are some of the most active, and actively vociferous too, posters that use the platform not only to broadcast their views but lambast opposing viewpoints. It does not cost that much to be registered as a supporter so that in itself, provides a question as to both the motivation and integrity of the relative post. Having made that comment, now wonder how many of the usual suspects will leap on it.
I paid up a while ago but two points of note . I struggled to get the payment to go through, took many attempts with no inkling as to why it wouldn't. Finally went through after sitting 24hrs as pending .
So I hope it got to you guys as I do appreciate the site and your work.
But I don't have a tick?
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[ Please see my email to you. Ed. ]
Same here, for the last few years. The press patron thing doesn't seem to work so i still see ads with standard log in. My press patron seems to be linked to a username that is not my current one (when it asked me to link the accounts, the other username comes up in a log in box and I cannot change it) . Is there anyway I can fix this?
The site has evolved to what it is by being open to all comers and really, that is a basic and intrinsic part of its success. It is being run though in the manner of an honesty box in terms of subscribers, so again that comes down to the integrity of contributors. On the other hand if all were paid up , how would that then attract advertising revenue?
Should people pay for a publication that allows derogatory comments? A recent example (I intentionally won't repost it) was the racist and ableist comment made by chemistpeter@g and double downed by Zwifter on the Morning Briefing on 31 May. The comments shouldn't be made in the first place but if they are surely they should be removed and possibly the user/s banned?
Agnostium asked (rightly in my opinion) for the comment by cp@g to be addressed but nothing was done. I'd like to acknowledge and thank M0ral Hazard, redheadonist and Foxglove for acting as unofficial moderators and calling out the comments and posters on that day.
Yes let's get more woke and politically correct and while we are at it turn up the tone policing and school hall monitoring where we start noting down the names of the delinquent, that will surely improve the discussion. Alternatively we can act like adults who understand that not everything that is said is going to be polite, prim or proper.
I've previously defended more than once interest commentators internal peer moderation, despite occasionally being on the receiving end of personal abuse from people who disagree with others opinions.
I think that works better for a healthy, robust & respectful debate than the site owners stepping in (except in very blatant unacceptable abuse cases such as racism or sexism which they have done). Otherwise the site management will be accused of deliberately framing the discussion for their agenda (cf $tuff).
I'm very happy that blatant abuse is removed. However it should be possible to make racist and sexist comments - for an example John Cambell's question on TV tonight asking if young, brown women should avoid a political career. I also insist on expressing hate because it is an honest emotion shared by all people. I'm thinking of an American president who made it clear he hated brocolli.
It is a matter of how arguments are expressed. When threats of violence, murder and rape are expressed then the police must be involved immediately; at a lower level of abuse then the editor should delete the comment leaving his comment about the removal. On this site I found some of the disapproval of Jacinda when she was PM descended into rude abuse that actually weakened the authors argument and left me defending her. It is almost impossible to define abuse but this site seems to get it its censorship about right; leaving me to keep learning.
Am I right when I interpret your comment to mean that you think saying "young, brown women" is racist and sexist? To me it is stating facts but I'd like to read your opinion if you come back to the thread. Something to ponder for me the idea of expressing hate because it is an honest emotion.
I agree. And I have said before that the lack of moderation of trolls and offensive commenters is a turn off. As is the apparent lack of regard for readers and readers’ suggestions and feedback. I have emailed in the past on certain things and radio silence.
I have been signed up to other websites where these sorts of little customer-friendly things are done well.
There is a lot of heavy moderation if you link meticulously referenced Thomas Cranmer @CranmerWrites posts detailing Jacinda, Bloomfield and Chippy's dodgy covid calls that ignored MOH, Medsafe etc. advice to the detriment of fellow kiwis.
In the good old days I used to get Biden elder abuse comments deleted, but perhaps that worm is turning.
Maybe take another look 1689 Baptist.
Readers are surely aware that it is hard work checking every comment posted and the occasional unsavoury one may slip through. Personally, I think calling for even upvoters to be banned is worse that the odd comment slipping under the wire. I'd like to think this is a site for grownups.
Anyway, people are not "paying" for a publication, they are supporting a publication.
I'll continue to subscribe. Thanks to all the team at interest.co.nz for providing quality reads and critical thought. The articles and think tank of comments usually leave me feeling like i've learned something more valuable than with most other news sites, long may this continue.
That’s true. At least you can have a debate and some banter here. I heard of the standard (or the stranded as people refer to it) and I did read it a couple of times. They talk absolute nonsense (amongst their subscribers of course they all agree they are right), but if you read, occasionally someone comes along and disagrees with them (on anything), which is meet with a final warning or just an outright ban. It’s a bit pathetic but it is what it is, and that’s why there appears to be no one using that site, apart from the developer (and moderator). So, wouldn’t like to see the same approach here.
I'm two years in to subscription: Interest.co.nz is value for money, and seem to make a decent fist of reporting the facts and cautious analysis that stands apart from a broader media landscape of incompetence, editorial agendas, opinion masquerading as fact, pointless (and apparently endless) vox-pops, and echo-chamber reporting to niche markets.
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