Resistance is futile

I share this exchange from a site I post on a fair bit, but don't usually duplicate here.

It regards the BBC, (and I would commend 'Aunty and me' to get a background to where I am with regards to this entity) but also goes to my beliefs of freedom of speech, and their erosion through many, often innocuous means.

It also includes a bon mot I am proud of, and hope I invented... 'Blogstapo'.

This is going way off the topic of BBC bias
The mods may agree, but I fear I may not. From government through its mouthpiece to those who roam blogs to try and sideline 'off-message' threads, 'being a team player', 'not rocking the boat', and how such views get represented goes to the very core of how such as the BBC plays it part. I would reference any pol who is daft enough to query 'accepted dogma' and ends up not debating the issue but defending against accusations of 'talking down..', 'stirring hatred...', etc.

but have you considered that it may be your dogmatic individualism that is beyond reason?
Not in those terms, no. But then I have decided I am not... yet... the Borg. And would prefer not to be assimilated.

I simply claim my right (while I can) to have an opinion, reject others' attempts to tell me what I am thinking, and fail to accept that just because you might end up chatting in a group at a party you can thereafter be deemed to somehow to have absorbed some collective view... concocted by observers from across the room because they don't happen to like the background of one of the participants.

There would be a certain irony if... when Ms. Blears' Blogstapo kicks in that certain IP addresses gleaned from certain 'non-sycophant' sites were from those who were in fact defending the cause, but were lumped together when the squads move in. That's the problem with catch-alls. And hence why I am more of a fan of rugged individualism in deed... and description.

Human beings are adapted to work as a group,
Granted, but only to an extent. It's not, or at least shouldn't be 'you are either totally with us or you are totally against us', unless you are George W. (in daft word, mostly), various religious entities (often in dastardly deed, mostly).. or certain media outlets that now see all needs to be 'interpreted' to ensure it is 'understood' in the 'correct' way.

or do you believe a loose collection of individuals can out-compete a tight nit group held together by a strong culture?
Compete in what way? If you mean such as the loose collection of voices that come, stay and often leave the park corner soapbox that is this site raising concerns about what I think is now the near propaganda broadcast arm of the current power base, then I blooming well hope so. If nothing else, there is a commitment to giving voice to the individual, to debate, and if that focus starts to attract the interest of others then great. Just... let's hope with such growing power the inevitable does not soon follow. Then I'll be off.

It is my personal view, and one I seek to impose no more than by sharing it here, that there is an unhealthy groupthink from an out of touch minority 'elite' in Westminster, being brought to the majority in a less than balanced manner by another, this time unelected minority who think 'they' 'know' 'better'.

I beg to differ. And would seek to say so. Preferably through fact and proof above hype, spin, and 'interpretation' a la Jon Humphrys.

Or I could get absorbed by the hive and end up 'only obeying orders'.

No ta.

Funny old thing, democracy

Abuse all sorts of things in all sorts of ways on the BBC; slap wrist; do collect your £200/m.

Preside over an 8 year long child care system that has yet to learn a lesson; no problem.

Belong to a political party that, last time I looked, was/is allowed to operate in this country...

Employers warn staff on BNP list face dismissal

So long as 'values' are shared, or even just claimed to be, who cares what else actually happens?

I actually belong to (might have to review a curious nature in this brave new world) a few organisations (not the BNP*, it is almost mandatory to add. Me, I'd like to be made aware of what their representatives have to say, or know what they have done/are doing, and vote accordingly on the merits or otherwise of these words or actions) I happen to disagree with, as I get information from them that helps me maintain a balanced level of awareness not always possible from bathing in the warm glow of fellow group-thinkers.

You know what might be funny? Include in a future list such as this a few who might be mortified that they were on there... and then have it nicked and broadcast for the waiting mob to really worry about accuracy before 'responding'.

And imagine the powers that be trying to unravel whether being on a list means you actually wanted to be on the list, much less sharing the views of fellow listees to the same extent... if at all.

But I am sure if 'proper procedure is followed' then while a few innocents might suffer the overall stats will be good. Now, where have I heard that before recently?

Gotta love the Guardian, CiF and that Animal Farmian mindset that can often be selectively applied by some. Who says we can't still do great irony in this country?

Gaurdian - The BNP has rights too

Telegraph - Does the BNP shop at M&S? - As the topic is 'guilt by association'

Telegraph - The BNP is a problem for Labour, not the Tories

To paraphrase Groucho Marx, 'I wouldn't want to be a member of any club that could have me down as a member.. and then lose it'. This of course includes other data careless organisations I have even less choice over currently.

Newsnight -

Newsnight -

'Are you, or have you ever been...?'

I hate the "Popular Tory Front" more than the "Front of Popular Toryism".

As I have found myself in agreement with most of the rest (might have stumbled over 'execute' even if in jest) of what you have written (and, need it be said, your right to say it), but I even though just making a point I would wish you had not used this particular word here in such context.

While it has been devalued in many ways, and now includes Broccoli, I have tried to persuade my kids that 'hate' is something to be reserved for, and applied to only truly exceptional circumstances, if at all.

A difficult job when the visceral manifestations of this extreme sentiment is on display daily, and at/from the the highest levels, and easily picked up on and amplified by various tribal groups in need of targets to unite them.

I was once, I think, member of some Local entity with the word 'Conservative' in it (Hence enough enough for me to be described 'You Tory voter' in some minds, no matter how misguided). Why did I join? Well, they held monthly business breakfasts and hence seemed a nifty way to network (not so much as it turns out, so I have long forgone the £15 full-English and 6am wake-up).

Will I have cause to rue this 'lapse' with the new world order we are heading towards? Hard to imagine a while ago, but not as I listen to Breakfast News intone its near daily raft of 'new measures announced by the government', most barely or simply ill-thought out, and almost every-one pure 'catch-all' but 'do-nothing to the quality of justice but make it easy to fine all others' in nature.

Indy - Union: 'Ban teachers who are BNP supporters' - First they came for...