172 Comments
Nov 7, 2021Liked by David Farrier

Kia ora, as someone who’s been in the activist scene for most of my adult life I’ve been confused and horrified at all of the hate directed towards old school activists, like Tame Iti and Tina Ngata, Chloe King etc. all are pro-vaccine and have worked their entire lives for their community.

Also I know well the people who have gone from activist to anti-vax and I’m scared what I’m hearing from them, such extreme fear including plans to run away to the bush and hide out with traps and stuff - to talking about how Jacinda needs to be shot and a revolution but not one I’d like to see... they’re all being quite sneaky and covert about their true intentions because they “can’t trust me” as I’m not on the same page.. as if I’m some sort of government mole?

The activist groups I was part of, were trying to warn people of the rise of racist misogynistic hatred growing in those dark, damp, basements across nz, because we were experiencing verbal attacks and other harassment from them online (sometimes in real life) and witnessing their true opinions. Nothing was done, and then the Christchurch attacks happened. People are “all talk” until they’re not and by then it’s too late.

I believe this movement is genuinely getting to a dangerous point - who are those responsible for the vaccines, not just govt, media and vaccinators, but the scientists, the health boards, the councils, doctors, nurses, the marketers, the artists, the activists, the influencers etc - do they also intend to include people who used Facebook profile stickers saying they were vaccinated? Or people who encouraged others online?

Personally I think Jacinda travelling the country to encourage people to get vaccinated is genuinely brave AF. There’s no way she’s not aware of the threats on her life. On all their lives. I hope they take it seriously and beef up security.

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David, I honestly don't know how you do it. How you keep an eye on these nutjobs and manage to remain sane. I know it's your job, but it's also so much more than that. It affects me. I can't stop staring at social media comments, all the hate and ignorance people spew, like I was watching the aftermath of a car crash. It's horrifying, and yet you can't take your eyes off it. This collective psyche is a deep and dark abyss to plunge into. There's nothing warm and comfortable about it. We're watching a huge bunch of people getting swallowed whole by a cult, and it seems like there's absolutely nothing we can do about it. Sometimes I wish the Internet never existed. I probably would have another job now, who knows. But wouldn't we be happier? Something tells me that, if this pandemic had happened in 1998, it would have been under control now.

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Nov 7, 2021Liked by David Farrier

Oh god. As soon as she wrote this, I knew it would pop up in your newsletter. The person who wrote the awful, embarrassing post about tradies breaking into Parliament is one of my very best friends from high school. She is a beautiful, wonderful, warm, funny person who would give away everything she owns to help someone else, TRULY a very unique gem. And she has fallen deeply down the rabbit hole, as you can see from her post. When I've seen her lately, I've been so shocked by the descent that I can't even articulate replies to her, I just listen, and then tend to change the subject, because I love her so much that I don't want to fall out with her. It's so concerning. They are prepared to give up their family business and their jobs because of the mandate, and it blows my mind, it's so sad. I feel helpless.

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One of the differences is we don’t have a Trump-like figure fostering the belief that the police will be in the protesters side. I know some actually were on Jan 6th. This NZ QAnon group doesn’t have THAT delusional belief, just lots of others.

The police should still take it seriously though. The Freedom & Rights Coalition are pushing this 9/11 narrative too which is also worrying - as Destiny has organised their ‘enough is enough’ stuff before. And I’m sure Brian Tamaki will be peeved that he can’t be at the centre of the circus in Wellington. Well, not unless he wildly breaches his bail conditions. I wonder if the police will arrest him first for organising again.

The reason Destiny (I mean FARC) is so against the recent Health order is that Destiny, City Impact, Gloriavale and other Christian groups all run private schools and the mandate applies to their staff. All that anti-vax preaching is about to bite them with either staff quitting and the schools collapsing for that reason or parents withdrawing students to avoid losing God’s protection from exposure to the non-biblical vaccine being ‘shed’ onto them. When you’re mainlining US televangelism anti-vax propaganda, it’s rather hard to turn the ship around like Gloriavale is attempting.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/gloriavale-christian-community-faces-education-conundrum-over-anti-vaccine-stance/EKI3FRMLUCETTM4HF2REBH53HA/

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Nov 7, 2021Liked by David Farrier

I have no doubt there's going to be violence at some point. Even my (red-pilled) white, privileged North Shore friends who have never engaged in any form of protest before are talking about "doing whatever I have to in order to protect my rights and my children's freedom". It's horrifying and I'm genuinely concerned both for Jacinda Ardern's safety and her psychological wellbeing too - can you imagine what it's like trying to lead a country through a pandemic and being abused like this daily?

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Nov 7, 2021Liked by David Farrier

Why are humans so lame and gullible when it comes to reasons for hate. Its awful.

I had a family member yesterday tell me they wanted to come down to wellington and light a fire outside parliament and give that bitch jacinda the fingers. The reason was a bit confusing but somehow included the brightline tax for property investors, lockdowns and splitting up families to stop them supporting each other to buy houses, inflation and the decreasing value of our dollar all being part of her cruel agenda and power grab. Was a lot. I moved the conversation on, but still feel like I was slapped in the face with the reality of someone I love thinking this shit. I'll make a point to address the various issues in future conversations. But the violence of the comments is taking a while to digest. I want to be calm when I loop back. The timing of this newsletter is uncanny because I can't help but feel intensity in all the wrong places is rising. Thanks David.

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Nov 7, 2021Liked by David Farrier

A while ago I would have thought, “no way would that happen here. We’re too logical and practical to buy into any of that conspiracy stuff “, but in the last year I’ve seen people who I regarded as logical and sensible who have started repeating those anti vax and conspiracy talking points, and now I just don’t know. Maybe it could. I hope not, but I’m not confident anymore that it won’t.

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Nov 7, 2021Liked by David Farrier

I've seen this kind language used the last ten years with the anti vaccine movement. Dr Richard Pan - a California Senator has had a security detail in place for years due to the threats (and attempted assaults) against him. Only two or three years ago, anti vaxers, standing above in the viewing floor poured menstrual blood on senators as they discussed vaccines legislations.

I've seen them make mob threats, I've seen them harass medical professionals so badly that the targets have had to move - several times.

In all that time, I had not seen the same language or the same actions taken here in Aotearoa. Not once.

That has all changed. My sister, her partner and all their friends are all proudly anti COVID vaccine now (even after supporting what I did for vaccination advocacy over the years). They "baaa baaa" at people when they see them use the tracing app; they "staunchly" refuse to wear masks (or more like - they are all bluster about it, until they get to the door and then sheepishly wear them); are pro-horse paste, and of course - won't touch the vaccine. They proudly fly the confederate flag in their bar at home, which I had to sit under and keep my mouth shut during my fathers 70th birthday a few weeks ago.

This is all very American flavoured. As my Brazilian fiance told me the other day - she is worried because this is all sounding and looking like the period before Bolsinaro took power. There is a common thread there...

Bannon.

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Nov 7, 2021Liked by David Farrier

It worries me reading this, because for the most part, I am blithely ignorant of what is happening out there. Sure, I am well aware of the anti-vax movement and the rumblings from people about the government, but I just had no idea that it was getting THIS rabid. Maybe because I dont spend all my time on social media (I only use facebook and instagram but dont seem to have the fringe on my feed) and I don't always watch the news anymore either because often it isn't news anymore, it's just opinions. In a way I'm glad, David, that you keep me aware of what is going on, however, on the flip side, this particular webworm leaves me feeling quite depressed. If you must do these stories (and actually yes you definitely must), please follow up with a picture of a puppy or kitten as there is nothing rotten about them and it will restore my happiness equilibrium for the day.

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Nov 7, 2021Liked by David Farrier

Urgh. Urgh. Urgh. This makes me so sad... I have felt so proud how well A-NZ and Kiwis have managed the pandemic compared with what many colleagues, friends and family overseas had to deal with in their countries. I didn't think it could happen here, not like that. And now it has... I of course knew there was a fringe of super right-wing, racist and misogynist, Christian totalitarian folks here too, but I didn't think so many ordinary, good Kiwis like those people write about in these comments could be tipped into this US-style conspiracy thinking. I honestly thought Kiwis were too... practical? irreverent? kind? to fall for this stuff, especially seeing we do have a much stronger social net here than in the US. On the other hand, that net is very skewed against the poor, and there is a ton of inequity, and the hangover of colonisation that does pervade everything in our culture too. But in general, I always thought (and still do) that we are a much more tolerant and less hateful society than the US, or Austria, where I was raised, and where some really crazy stuff is going down in the moment too. And I still read/hear way more crazy stuff coming from well-off Pākehā who fell into it via the wellness route, or the evangelist Church leaders, all of whom made their riches on the backs of the poor... But there seems to have been a definite break in the general way we communicate (all of us, from the government to media to social media) since Delta got loose in the community, or am I reading this wrong? It just seems to have ramped up the language and threats, and the fearmongering seems to stick more to those who have a chink in their psychic armour, for whatever (often solid) reason. However, I simply can't see thousands of Kiwis "storming" the beehive and erect gallows on Parliament grounds for Jacinda and Hipkins. Let's pray I'm right.

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Dreadfully worried here too - have watched the Bannon/Williams/De Ment(ed) machinations and the result of their nasty little racist workings, and have also been monitoring Chantelle Baker (no relation of mine), Sue Grey, and the other nutso exGP from Tauranga who have clearly been weaponised (willingly!) by these arseholes judging by the online conversations they have with eachother. And I just want to end them. And that makes me as bad as them, and so I also worry for myself :-(

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Nov 7, 2021Liked by David Farrier

I've been growing concerned with the escalating focus on Jacinda, and blaming her for everything. I like to discount a lot of the noise as a vocal minority whipped up by those influencing them from overseas, but it's getting harder seeing more and more 'normal' people sharing those views.

It really shows how narrow minded they are that they need to focus it in on a single point/person. The Prime Minister doesn't have all the power or outright decision making they think she does.

Back when the firearm reforms and buybacks were happening I watched my uncle (on Facebook, as he's in another part of the country) start blaming Jacinda for everything. I felt like the only person trying to discuss it with him or tell him to pull his head in. Eventually it got too much, I wished him all the best, told him to get help, and that I was going to block him.

Have thought of going back to see what shit he's posting now, but then I'd rather get rid of Facebook completely.

Never seem to run into any of these other nuts in public, but preparing for some of the family ones to pop up at Xmas. Have no hang ups (family or not) shutting their shit down.

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Nov 7, 2021Liked by David Farrier

One of the many mysteries of USAnian-style ranting, is the constant inclusion of "commie" and "communism". It seems to have nothing to do with the actual political philosophy, but is more of a generic insult. Weird.

is Mr De Ment using an alias. Surely no-one would use that name? He certainly sounds demented.

And why, to sound like a good ol' boy myself, doesn't he go back to USA if this is how he thinks about his adopted country? We really don't need him or people like him as immigrants, when there are so many people out there, with nowhere to go and lots to offer.

An immigrant, myself, from England, I have always been somewhat shocked at Kiwi's infatuation with USA. I admit that it's never been a culture that appeals to me.

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Nov 8, 2021Liked by David Farrier

Fuck.

This was a depressing read to start my day.

I'm sitting in my garden, basking in the morning sun, listening to birdsong... And reading about ignorant, manipulated people, figuring out how to fix our country by destroying it.

And once again, I am stuck in the modern Internet users dilemma; keep reading and ruin my day, or throw my phone away and bask in ignorance as well as the sun.

Fuck.

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Nov 8, 2021Liked by David Farrier

Thanks as always David Farrier, at last someone is exposing Chafin at work

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Nov 8, 2021Liked by David Farrier

What I am finding really terrifying is a new wave of very progressive friends getting swept away by this. They are largely people who have traditionally not vaccinated their children and have rapidly started sharing some VERY worrying stuff. I'm not sure if they understand where a lot of this content originates. Many of them are planning to attend tomorrow.

I've been beating myself up for weeks wondering if I could have done more. I'm VERY plugged into this sort of thing - internet hate/conspiracy trends. I kind of just took it for granted that the intelligent, kind, thoughtful people in my life were too. I was very wrong.

What can you do against something that is so detached from reality and so manipulative of psychology and algorithms?

I clicked that for many people this is all about a loss of control. For many people this will be the first time they have experienced this, others have a history of trauma where their autonomy has been taken away. It's absolutely awful feeling powerless. When something comes along giving voice to that feeling I think a lot of people seize on that even if it isn't something they traditionally align with.

I put a post on my local community Facebook group sharing Tina Ngata's brilliant covid community response piece and suggesting we get something together locally for mutual aid and grassroots support. Maybe giving people something tangible to do and a feeling of control over the situation on a local human level might help. If you have the energy and drive to do similar please do. This is a really scary time we need to provide a positive alternative to the very vocal toxic calls to action.

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