pn864. Our very own "Hellspace of Toxicity" -- Sanjann Hattotuwa

Sanjann Hattotuwa, researcher

Daily Covid cases --  Wed, 3,298, 179 in hospital. Thurs. 6137, 205 in hospital, 2 Intensive Care, Friday 12,021, 237 in hospital, 5 deaths, Sat. 13,606, 263 in hospital, 5 in IC. Sun. 14,941, 305 in hospital, 5 in IC,  death. Mon. 14,633, 344 in hospital, 5 IC. Tues.  19,566,  373 in hospital, 5 IC.Wed. 22,152, 405 in hospital, 10 IC.  Unvaccinated 4 times more likely be hospitalised than those vaccinated. 

Once upon a time, not too long ago,  our news and information came from newspapers, radio and TV. We replied with "letters to the editor."  

Today, many —and perhaps most— people get and exchange views and much or even most of their news and information via their cellphones from digital platforms such as  Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram which, unfortunately, are all fertile grounds for misinformation.    

But the most worrying media platform is Telegram. 

Te Pūnaha Matatini researcher Sanjann Hattotuwa calls it a “hell space of toxicity in Aotearoa, and globally”. It is “fundamentally different” because it welcomes many who have been turfed off the more familiar platforms but also because it doesn’t deploy an algorithm – a device by which certain types of content can either be elevated, but also buried, according to its design. It includes the ultra-rightwing, conspiracy-propagating Counterspin that has played a big part in recruitment and support for the protesters at Parliament. 

pn863. Ngā Mihi from Grant Roberson. And a donation would help!

Kia ora Crosbie, As we all get ready for the peak of the Omicron outbreak, I wanted to reach out to say thank you for everything you’re doing to protect yourself and keep New Zealand safe, and to share some news about the economy that’s encouraging even at a tricky time. But first, I need to update you on the events taking place outside Parliament. The right to peaceful protest is very important, including the right to peaceful protest at our Parliament. I protested at Parliament many times before I became an MP, but always in a way that respected the mana of that place. What’s happening at Parliament now is not a peaceful protest. Nobody has the right to block a main road for a fortnight, call for public executions, throw human waste at Police, or try to run people down in their car. I want to thank the large majority of New Zealanders who are standing with us in opposition to this illegal protest. It is past time for them to go home.

pn862. On the Ground in Wellington with Spinoff: Three things you may not know

Stewart Sowman-Lund 

Daily Covid cases Wed, 3,298, 179 in hospital. Thurs. 6137, 205 in hospital, 2 ICU.  

UPDATE. Two Wellington schools close to Parliament, Wellington Girls East and St Mary's, have closed due to fears for student safety when passing or confronted by protesters.

A long quote, with my many thanks,  from 

Spinoff's The Bulletin. 

Protesters woke yesterday to a second morning of police tightening the perimeter around their encampment. The clock is ticking on the ongoing occupation of streets around parliament, with police warning that only days likely remain. Before dawn, a large group of officers moved concrete blocks closer to the centre of the occupation. They were met by protesters who threw acid and one who drove a car towards a phalanx of police carrying riot shields. The NZ Herald’s Adam Pearse described the scene as tensions rose and violence erupted. In a statement, police have said the protest is now “absolutely disgraceful” and warned that peaceful elements have lost control of a movement that is in its third week of being camped outside parliament. There’s been a stark shift in tone from the police commissioner’s call for patience and de-escalation last week. Stuff reports a “grim mood” has now settled over the occupation.

pn861.Dr Guy Hatchard: all part of a Machiavellian conspiracy

Not yet peaked. 2,846 new Covid cases today, Tuesday, and 142 in hospital. 

Dr Guy Hatchard

My friend Peter visited the protester site outside Parliament this weekend with his son and daughter-in-law neither of whom are vaccinated. He was impressed by the visit, even with Kelvyn Alp, one of the more violent leaders who protested he had been misquoted. Peter  sent me three links Link 1.  Link 2.  Link 3. which had led him to question his earlier pro-vax position.

They were all by or about  Guy Hatchard PhD who claims to have a background in statistical analysis and was once an employee of Genetic ID, a food testing laboratory. In one he was interviewed by Liz Gunn who stated Jacinda Ardern pays the scientists who report to her what she wants to hear. She called this pseudo-science and brainwashing. Damien Vento in the NZ Herald called it "The sad spiral of Liz Gunn down the conspiracy rabbit hole "

pn857. Sir Russell Coutts to join anti-vax protesters. Updates on Dame Tariana and Horizon Poll

Sir Russell (Coots). One foot in the pot and the other up the chimney.

Getting it the right way up

Dame Tariana joins in 

What twaddle, Tariana. Now is not the time to make political points. I expected better frm you! I'm pleased to see you have no support from mana whenua Ngāti Toa and Te Atiawa, mixed support from the Māori Party, and none from veteran protester Tame Iti.

A small poll of 520 people by Horizon Poll on Wednesday and Thursday asked two questions, one on  mandates, the other on support for the protesters at Parliament. 

64.5% favoured the mandates, 28% were opposed and 7.6 % did not know. Most opposition to the mandates came from people aged 34-44, and most support from those aged 75 plus.    Some 30.4% supported the protesters, 60.5% opposed them, and 9.2% did not know.

Given that over 90% of eligible people have now received at least a second vaccination, I was surprised so many of those polled opposed the mandates and supported the protesters-- but then I thought of the mass of misinformation in circulation  and the publicity  and live screening of the  protesters, and it was easier to understand why.  

I'd like to see a poll with more details on the mandates. "Mandates" is too big and diffuse a bundle to be lumped together. Which ones are more or less supported and opposed, and why.

--  ACW

 

pn857. Actions by Mallard, National, Act, Edwards all Counterproductive

Mallard duck

Wednesday. 1160 new Covid cases today. 

Thursday, 1573, Friday1929, Saturday 1909, Sunday 2522  new cases today.

 I agree that Speaker Trevor Mallard's actions on sprinklers and loud music were unwise and counterproductive, giving fresh energy to the protesters at Parliament, but I also think National's call for a vote of no confidence in the Speaker and Act's David Seymour talking to the protesters will have exactly the same effect —not to mention the possibility of more votes.

Bryce Edwards (NZ Politics Daily) has also not helped with his walk through the camp, videoing chalked inscriptions of love and apparently believing a speaker who said they would expel protesters calling for violence.  Bryce, where have you been? There have been umpteen placards and speakers advocating violence and not one expulsion.

In my opinion, the most sensible course of action at this stage would be for the police to ask protesters once again to remove their vehicles and if they refuse to do so, start to remove them,  if necessary with army backup. 

Protests which involve camping on Parliament grounds and blocking roads is illegal. National, Act and Edwards should not be seen to support them in any way.

The protesters are concerned about their rights while totally ignoring the rights of others. 

Hear the contrary views of Bryce Edwards and Morgan Godfrey talk with Corin  Dann, Newshub,  about how to handle the protest.

-- ACW

pn855. Who exactly are the protesters, and do they have the same agenda? Trojan horse for ultra-right ideoogies?

 810 new cases today. Protesters no masks.

Trojan horse for the ultra-right

For the protesters at  Parliament the bad weather allows most media news to focus on the soggy conditions, the police, levels of violence,  music and Trevor Mallard's sprinklers while avoiding any analysis of what the protests are all about.  

For the protesters,  bad news is better than no news at all. If only one in a hundred people reject the media's views and agree with them, they'll have tens of thousands of new recruits, each one with links to the social media drawing in even more support.  

Though what they''ll be agreeing to is far from clear. 

pn851. NZ Tidbits for Tuesday - Anti-Vaxx Protesters, Niccola Willis Impresses, the Latest 1NewsReid poll

Protesters at Parliament. Jacinda Traitor. Note: no mask!!!
 

With 202 new Covid cases reported today, 14 people in hospital and one in intensive case,  and a model that shows we could have hundreds of thousands of cases by mid-March, a large number of anti-vaxx  protesters are descending on Parliament as I write. For a mix of reasons, they all want the removal of Covid restrictions. Among them, many believe we have natural immunity, others that Jesus cares. Conspiracy theorists think the pandemic is a hoax,  and others that vaccinations will kill our children. Many protested the supposed removal of our human rights.  Fortunately, the overwhelming majority of New Zealanders disagree with the protesters.  

pn848. Protesting Truckies Converge on Parliament Tomorrow. "It's all about freedom".

 

Following in the same wheel tracks as  Australian and Canadian truckies, our very own anti-Covid-19 protesters, from Bluff to Cape Reinga, will descend on Parliament tomorrow to be met, I would think, by those they vote for, Chris Luxon and David Seymour. 

It's all about "freedom and choice", said  Southland  farmer and veteran protester Logan Evans, "We’re frustrated with this Government continuing to plough ahead making its own rules and not listening to its people” he said  of Convoy 2022 as it moved up the South Island. 

The slogans are clear if the detail is not. They are protesting  Covid-19 mandates, restrictions to the Bill of Rights, and government censorship. 

But what aspect of the mandates? (Freedom of movement?)  What rights?  (Freedom without responsibility?) What censorship? (Covid's all over the news.) 

Perhaps things will be made clearer tomorrow.

-- ACW

Something I wrote in the blog in 2009 on argumentum ad hominem has relevance to recent postings:

"Here's some tongue-in-cheek advice on how to develop an argument. 

"First, start by personally insulting the person with whom you disagree. Get in below the belt. If you're blogging, hit him hard with as many really filthy swear words as you can. 

"Secondly, attack his credentials. Say he's a self-seeking nobody who knows nothing. 

"Thirdly (and this is the most clever manoeuvre), neatly side-step your opponent's argument by launching a tangential one of your own. The main idea is not to attack the argument. Attack the man. This will make you many friends among those who think similarly and an equal number of enemies among those who do not."