My heart sunk when the news first broke because I immediately knew what was coming. The glee and relish people take attacking women, especially women of colour is so gross and not only that makes me feel incredibly unsafe as a woman in New Zealand. It doesn’t take much to scratch the surface and find how normalized being horrendous to women, especially women who have the nerve to have an opinion, can be.
I feel for her. It makes me angry that those who sent her all those horrid messages and are now having the time of their lives celebrating her public flogging aren’t held accountable or facing consequences for their harrassment which I personally think is a worst crime.
The vitriol is really gross, and I hope she's not online seeing it. I worry about suicide after cases like this. She has paid the price for her actions (and will continue to do so), but some people want blood. Sometimes literally, judging by comments I've seen elsewhere. I really hope she'll be ok.
Omg I totally agree. I know some people have this attitude that it’s just words but it’s a form of violence and like a lot of women who inhabit online space I’ve been on the receiving end of some heated, threading pm messages, not to the extent she’s had to deal with it by a long shot but enough to know it is is not “just” a pm. That you can “just log off or just blog” it’s scary! You know there is a real person behind that message that HATES you so much that they took the time to
wish horrible things are going to happen to you. that someone, hidding behind a username means you harm. my harrasser made like 10 sock puppet accounts as
well, circumvent blocking and to inflate theit harrassment. it was a small taste of
it compared to public figures but i wont ever forget the real fear and psychological harm i felt. its def made me pause even now putting my opinion out there. i feel safe to in spaces like david's news letter.
i agree with you completely, the vitriol is a serious violence against her. i worry about jer too and hope she is supported shes facing a lot of consequences for her actions but at some
point it feels like for these people the "real
crime" is that she existed in a public office as a woman of colour.
I can’t help but feel the online threats to women, especially women of colour will never be taken seriously. Every. Single. Woman. I follow receives a constant stream of abuse, rape and murder threats. Or like Jacinda, also threats to their child(ren).
I’m sorry, but men (generally speaking!) just don’t understand the sheer terror of this, combined with the every present murders, stalking, sexual assault used on women in almost, if not all countries.
It’s sickening, and to be honest, I want laws to start punishing people for these kind of threats. Not just fines, but lengthy prison sentences. Women need to stop being threatened. They need to stop being raped. They need to stop being murdered.
In just the same way, women who are verbally and mentally abused by their partners, rather than being phsically abused, are more or less told to stop being so feeble - it's "only" words.
That Sean Plunkett tweet is absolutely despicable. How can people read things like that and not see that they are the absolute depths of human depravity?
Good luck with the Zoom. I'm not optimistic but I hope, for your (and everyone's) sake, it goes well. I love that this is happening in Hobbiton. May Bilbo, Frodo and the rest back you up.
Haha over the holidays my cousin from Christchurch asked me if Hobbiton is worth going to, I said- Well I hate LOTR, but I enjoyed the tour so yeah it probably is (but boy is it overpriced). The shock that I hated LOTR was very amusing. It will make a great flightless bird. Enjoy!
Have a US LOTR fan friend who is appalled that I have inadvertently travelled to/thru many locations oblivious that they feature in Tolkien films I've never seen.
I am actually - by coincidence - midway through Golriz’s book. Highly recommend: it demonstrates her intelligence, fearlessness and empathy. A shame to lose her voice in parliament.
I cannot countenance the types of abuse female pollies receive (as you note), and it has all the echoes of the vitriol directed to Ardern prior to her stepping down. It cannot be the case that accountability of politicians extends to abuse that (in Golriz’s case) appears to lead to actual harm in the form of poor mental health. Surely also staffers are exposed to the same hazards?
Thank you for speaking to this David. It has been disheartening to see the response of some to the sad situation of Golriz's departure. I wrote a free newsletter about that, and the way that we treat mental health issues. Here's the link if people would like to have a read:
First thing - how WILD is the house for visa pickups?! I went there myself in December... and you know what, zero questions from me because I was just grateful to see my passport/visa combo - "thank you & goodbye" was my 2-minute interaction with this premise. Safe travels to the US, it warmly welcomes you no doubt. It is currently snowing here in Jersey.. very moody.
& regarding the second half of your newsletter... disappointed of course, but surprised? no, sadly. It is truly remarkable that we still have ambitious women and people with any realm of diversity pursuing politics in NZ (or anywhere), when they would be so much more appreciated in other fields. Did she mess up - absolutely, but it is extremely clear that the threshold for forgiveness & tolerance is starkly lower than that of the white, male politicians with plenty of 'grace' given in their mistakes.
Look it's not as if a white guy could, I dunno, beat up a kid in a gang attack with a bed leg and then go on to have a successful career in banking and politics and have his party cover up the results of the investigation or anything like that
I see what you did there ! I DO give him some grace for the fact that young men seem to have a well documented propensity for doing inexplicable things due to brain development issues etc. (not EXCUSING it, and not that that would help the person attacked with a bed leg ...) but the fact that his PARTY has total double standards on these issues is not acceptable. They (party members and elected officials alike) go after women all the time & most especially if they are women of colour ...
Yes, I'd be perfectly well prepared to let him have the benefit of the doubt for that exact reason - who here can honestly say they didn't do a bunch of dumb shit as a teenager? - but covering it all up while pouncing on any whiff of weakness in their opponents is just super hypocritical.
I applauded Todd Muller for openly declaring that being LOTO was going to kill him and stepping down. And he was treated respectfully for it, as he should have been. Other people need to be given that same grace.
I do wonder if the US consulate knows about who picked up that contract to act as a pickup location? Like - all of us are so GRATEFUL to have our passports back, we just scamper off with them. I wonder if anyone has told them? IT'S SO WEIRD I THOUGHT I HAD BEEN SCAMMED!!!
The consulate can post out your passport/visa combo renewal via secure courier too. My last 3 renewals have gone surprisingly smoothly doing it that way.
I can’t remember if you have to pick up the initial issue in person though?
Yep - I had mine mailed out last time, too. But I don't have a set address on this tip, so the secure pickup address we did. Which is how I arrived at this house!
The media coverage of the accusations agaist Golriz has been full on. TV1 shocked me with their take on the "justice" system's possible consequences for Golriz .. All of the consequences mentioned by the young female reporter were incarceration of certain lengths of time depending on the monetary value of what was stolen. The young female reporter who was reporting this information to Daniel Fataua was pleased with her research. I am sure many haters were yelling at their tv saying yes, Golriz should be incarcerated. Except our Justice system does not work in a one imensional way, thankfully. Many things will be taken into account, including hopefully the terrible abuse Golriz has suffered just for having the temerity to speak out, have a voice, become a Member of Parliament. I was very impressed with her speech re Gaza at the end of last year, as I have been whenever she has spoken. She is an intelligent, articulate woman. I am so sorry that she is now unwell., and wish her well for her recovery.
I just read Josh’s latest newsletter on Sub Stack and what is hiding in full sight. I’m on holiday in Rotorua with teenage grandchildren who are watching a movie ( it’s raining) and me saying, can’t watch that, will get nightmares.
After reading Josh’s review I feel that a nightmare would be preferable than the crap he found in a hour.
Like others who state they will go where you go I’m with you, no matter what your decision, though I feel for you having to make it.
Born before WW ll finished I’m not even a boomer but honestly you’re the best reporter I’ve come across and the Worms are the greatest.
This one has taken three cuppas and a big sit down.
Must shower to get the smell of Josh’s news letter off me and get these kids on the luge. Rain has stopped.
After reading Josh Drummonds take this morning, I’ll be a massive vote for leaving Substack afterall. I don’t think we’re exerting positive influence or winning over any from the dark side anytime soon.
As for these absolutely abhorrent treatment of these politicians; what does that reflect about our society? If there’s this much vitriol in public, how much worse is it behind closed doors?
And can you even begin to imagine what it must do to your self worth and integrity, as a young progressive female Prime Minister, courageous Māori wahine, or culturally diverse woman, trying to contribute positive change in such a colonial and masculine construct as our political system?!
No wonder their mental health is challenged! I think knowing what we know about shoplifting as a health issue, it’s entirely excusable under the circumstances! It was a cry for help!
We’ve lost so many positive, powerful, progressive influential leaders in such a short time. It’s gross. How can we help support them better to continue their good mahi?! I want to live in the world they’re trying to construct!!!!!
There is a concerted and deliberate plan, strategy to get rid of the people you talk about. It is part of the right wing playbook. This playbook is shared via the Atlas network. They keep up these personal attacks because they know that it works. See the book dirty politics
They're going after all of them, it is grotesque. And I am really sickened whenever the media roll out Janet Wilson, as if she is some kind of neutral commentator. I mean I know NZ is small, but she has active participation with National.
Yep= she is still a National Party member, formerly Judith Collins PR person. Then again many of our media have been mainly National Party PR people. Ben Thomas for example. Tracy Watkins was John Key's PR person. Bridgitte Morton, the lawyer who constantly gets asked on panels to give her opinion, and is a regular on Nine to Noon, is a National Party MEMBER, AND FORMER ADVISOR. Liam Hehir is another lawyer, National Party committee person.
The minute the news broke (or, attempted to break - because there was nothing factual or substantial or proven for a hilariously long time, despite the filmsy "news articles" Stuff was pumping out) - one of my literally oldest and formerly closest friends (I'm talking 35 years) posted a disgusting rant on Insta which tore Golriz and all left-leaning folk to shreds, using the vilest language. It was the final nail in our friendship which has been through the wringer since March 2020. She had a go at those who vote Green (me, my husband, my family) "getting what we deserve" but I couldn't care less about the conflict in our politics; it's the hate-filled vitriolic language, the pure fury, and the utter misanthropy that I can no longer turn a blind eye to.
THAT'S what makes me despair - the way some she'll-be-right New Zealanders can turn suddenly into nasty, cunt-calling, she-bloody-well-isn't-right monsters about Jacinda, Siouxsie, Golriz, Tory, Kiri, et al. I don't understand why people can't tell when they're being beastly, and it breaks my heart.
That’s a really good point - that people feel so right and bold in talking about the ‘other’ in those awful dehumanising ways. And there’s very little consequence for those attitudes, too.
Bl***dy hell! Bad enough from a stranger eh? Shows that it is what some people have posited ... an actual form of mental illness that affects the ability to judge right from wrong in specific matters (obviously they think it is WRONG to shop lift, so ??)
It’s quite worrying when you see people using this language on public and professional networks like LinkedIn. Saying their quiet bit out loud for everyone to see and standing by it, thinking it's okay and even feel emboldened to share that language and bigoted views for everyone to see. How do we bring back decency and respect into the discourses? All we can do is lead by example for those around us and call-out this kind of behaviour whenever possible.
My heart breaks for Golriz. As you say, the glee with which she has been pursued is just disturbing. And then to hear that she too has been harassed due to her gender and race, just as other NZ politicians have just adds to the horror. Yes, if she did shoplift, there should and will be (has been) consequences. I'm proud to be a Kiwi, but jeez we can be ugly. Lets do better.
I've always liked Golriz (and Chloe Swarbrick, and to be fair most of the Greens) who on one view of things give a fuck so I dont have to (limited bandwidth, right?) - the other view being they are passionate, young, informed, and want to make stuff happen. And you know that something's wrong when someone nukes their entire life by doing this - it isn't coming from a rational place and its pretty clear it was a stress response. I heard James Shaw today saying "Well people have been truly awful to her, and to others since she went to Parliament." I'd never thought about that. I am not happy about it but I feel helpless - like, what can I do to stop it.? Its like when I was watching the protests at Parliament (the insurrection/occupation) - it made me so angry I wanted to roll tanks. Then I remembered that the NZDF doesnt probably have tanks, or if they do there's one, and there's only one dude who can drive it, and he's on leave till next Thursday. When did we lose the civil part of civil discourse? When did the social part of the "social contract" wither and die? Honestly, it makes me angsty. And angry.
"Then I remembered that the NZDF doesnt probably have tanks, or if they do there's one, and there's only one dude who can drive it, and he's on leave till next Thursday."
I hear you! Every word resonates with me. In answer to your question, "what can we do to stop it"? Apart from the usual VOTE for GOOD people everytime, I was having this exact conversation with an older relative yesterday and shared with him a trend I have noticed on THIS newsletter & other forums I have engaged in, with people undertaking to PERSONALLY do "the random acts of kindness" thing in their interactions with strangers & friends/family alike. A smile for someone coming the other way on the street or while out walking, helping a mother with children at the checkout, waiting without impatience for someone with physical challenges of whatever kind, etc. etc. Takes away the feeling of being "helpless" & replaces it with being "helpful" in my experience.
Yeah I noticed this unfolding on Stuff yesterday as well. They were absolutely frothing. Disgusting. Especially considering the only article I could find at all on their home page about Gaza was a gaslighting opinion piece from Damien Grant about the apparent misuse of the word gėnōcīde. They should be ashamed of themselves really.
I am on the verge of cancelling my subscription to STUFF as they seem to be problematic on several fronts recently .... it ties into the Substack discussion doesn't it? "to stay or to go" but I am loathe to pull away one of my very few subs from going to support Aotearoa based "journalism".
For overseas readers, STUFF is an amazing story, having been bought by an Australian media giant who eventually decided they couldn't be bothered with it anymore, a NZ woman paid $1 to buy it, brought it back to being an Aotearoa New Zealand enterprise, and seemed to be doing a good job until the last few months, when this type of despicable "reporting" (won't dignify it by calling it journalism!) has become more noticeable. Quite frankly, I can read this type of stuff for free elsewhere if I was actually so inclined, and like to spend my precious $$$ for GOOD journalism like Webworm - just sayin' - in the end voting with our own individual metaphoric feet is the little people's power in these things?
May I recommend instead becoming a paying member of The Spinoff? I find it a much more valuable use of my “monthly contribution to NZ journalism” fund!
SNAP! I already do that, but I was hopeful in the beginning that STUFF had the potential to be a good investment, and paying local journalist wages is the only way to keep them.
I started paying for STUFF early on in the Sinead era. But they continued to disappoint so it meant removing my funds for the likes of The Spinoff, Webworm and The Kākā
Thanks for saying something sensible about Golriz, I was hoping you might. Amid the sea of click bait-y headlines and cruel memes I was feeling like I was the only one that actually just feels sad about the whole thing. I really like her as a politician and I think she has been an integral part of why the Greens have become such a robust political party in recent years.
Thank you for writing this!!! I wish you weren't just preaching to the choir, though. I'm so heartbroken by the whole thing (actually still heartbroken over Kiri). Three young, brown, female, EFFECTIVE politicians... Each of them worth 10 of our other representatives. Super 'convenient' timing for Golriz to be outed, she's just won an important electorate AND with the decisions being made regarding Yemen, I bet the decision makers are thrilled to see her go 🥺.
At a personal level I totally feel for her because no matter what outcome happens in respect of the allegations, her life and career in NZ as she knows it is over. It must be so surreal for her right now, like just feeling able to go to the supermarket and buy food without harassment is probably not an option! Imagine that. Sadly, We do have an underbelly in NZ which in my view is driven by fear of difference, complete lack of empathy and fuelled by the click bait msm lust desperate to maintain its relevance. If there’s sufficient evidence to charge, and the courts find her guilty, then yes she will be accountable. I hope she has good support and sufficient mental resilience to ride the storm.
Re the Substack drama, I found Bernard Hickey's take interesting.
He distilled it down to: "We’re not going to let a controversy over five substackers with barely a hundred active readers and no paying subscribers force us off a platform we have used to make a good honest living with a vibrant and constructive community."
If that truly is the full extent of the problem, then perhaps staying (and continuing to advocate for better moderation policies on Substack) is the right call. Do you agree that that is the full extent of the problem though, or had Bernard perhaps missed something?
Regardless, I'll continue to read Webworm wherever it lives. You're doing such amazing and necessary work, and I'll support it for as long as I'm able.
Agree IF an iron clad undertaking for acceptable moderation policies can be gained - because isn't an essential point of human and societal evolution that we must allow people to genuinely change, and accept the "new" them while still maintaining that what went before is unacceptable & a return to that will be even more egregious?
Can you make the point in your Zoom call that ONE fucking Nazi asshole is too many, and he is perfectly within his rights to say "Oi Nazi fuck off". Like isn't it his sandpit? If its his sandpit he sets the rules. The first rule is (or should be) NO FUCKING NAZIS. Christ, it's not hard.
Josh gained a subscriber today. [quote] In fact, it makes me think Substack might be primarily a disinformation ecosystem — with a bunch of credible writers bolted on, to be the acceptable public face of a company that exists mainly to monetize the internet’s limitless supply of garbage[/quote]
My heart sunk when the news first broke because I immediately knew what was coming. The glee and relish people take attacking women, especially women of colour is so gross and not only that makes me feel incredibly unsafe as a woman in New Zealand. It doesn’t take much to scratch the surface and find how normalized being horrendous to women, especially women who have the nerve to have an opinion, can be.
I feel for her. It makes me angry that those who sent her all those horrid messages and are now having the time of their lives celebrating her public flogging aren’t held accountable or facing consequences for their harrassment which I personally think is a worst crime.
The vitriol is really gross, and I hope she's not online seeing it. I worry about suicide after cases like this. She has paid the price for her actions (and will continue to do so), but some people want blood. Sometimes literally, judging by comments I've seen elsewhere. I really hope she'll be ok.
Omg I totally agree. I know some people have this attitude that it’s just words but it’s a form of violence and like a lot of women who inhabit online space I’ve been on the receiving end of some heated, threading pm messages, not to the extent she’s had to deal with it by a long shot but enough to know it is is not “just” a pm. That you can “just log off or just blog” it’s scary! You know there is a real person behind that message that HATES you so much that they took the time to
wish horrible things are going to happen to you. that someone, hidding behind a username means you harm. my harrasser made like 10 sock puppet accounts as
well, circumvent blocking and to inflate theit harrassment. it was a small taste of
it compared to public figures but i wont ever forget the real fear and psychological harm i felt. its def made me pause even now putting my opinion out there. i feel safe to in spaces like david's news letter.
i agree with you completely, the vitriol is a serious violence against her. i worry about jer too and hope she is supported shes facing a lot of consequences for her actions but at some
point it feels like for these people the "real
crime" is that she existed in a public office as a woman of colour.
I can’t help but feel the online threats to women, especially women of colour will never be taken seriously. Every. Single. Woman. I follow receives a constant stream of abuse, rape and murder threats. Or like Jacinda, also threats to their child(ren).
I’m sorry, but men (generally speaking!) just don’t understand the sheer terror of this, combined with the every present murders, stalking, sexual assault used on women in almost, if not all countries.
It’s sickening, and to be honest, I want laws to start punishing people for these kind of threats. Not just fines, but lengthy prison sentences. Women need to stop being threatened. They need to stop being raped. They need to stop being murdered.
In just the same way, women who are verbally and mentally abused by their partners, rather than being phsically abused, are more or less told to stop being so feeble - it's "only" words.
That Sean Plunkett tweet is absolutely despicable. How can people read things like that and not see that they are the absolute depths of human depravity?
Good luck with the Zoom. I'm not optimistic but I hope, for your (and everyone's) sake, it goes well. I love that this is happening in Hobbiton. May Bilbo, Frodo and the rest back you up.
I hope the spirit of Gandalf guides me (I am not a Lord of the Rings guy so don't know how to do good LOTR references sorry!)
"I'm not trying to rob you Hamish, I'm trying to help you"
Haha over the holidays my cousin from Christchurch asked me if Hobbiton is worth going to, I said- Well I hate LOTR, but I enjoyed the tour so yeah it probably is (but boy is it overpriced). The shock that I hated LOTR was very amusing. It will make a great flightless bird. Enjoy!
Have a US LOTR fan friend who is appalled that I have inadvertently travelled to/thru many locations oblivious that they feature in Tolkien films I've never seen.
lol that works 💕
Fuck Sean Plunkett
Ideally nobody should ever fuck Sean Plunkett.
🤣🤣🤣
may Karma pay him a serious and well over due visit.
Rather you than me!
I can't comment on Golriz specifically (as a very very very minor elected officer in the Party) but the Plunkett tweet makes me sick to my stomach.
How about “There’s some good in this world, Mr. Frodo… and it’s worth fighting for.”
How is Sean Plunkett man even a public figure. Gross.
He's been a journo for many years. He used to be on Morning Report.He has become a twisted, angry , misogynistic , hateful old man.
He's awful.
I am actually - by coincidence - midway through Golriz’s book. Highly recommend: it demonstrates her intelligence, fearlessness and empathy. A shame to lose her voice in parliament.
I cannot countenance the types of abuse female pollies receive (as you note), and it has all the echoes of the vitriol directed to Ardern prior to her stepping down. It cannot be the case that accountability of politicians extends to abuse that (in Golriz’s case) appears to lead to actual harm in the form of poor mental health. Surely also staffers are exposed to the same hazards?
Thank you for speaking to this David. It has been disheartening to see the response of some to the sad situation of Golriz's departure. I wrote a free newsletter about that, and the way that we treat mental health issues. Here's the link if people would like to have a read:
https://nickrockel.substack.com/p/golriz-resigns
Thanks for that link, Nick.
Thanks, Nick! Succinct as ever!
First thing - how WILD is the house for visa pickups?! I went there myself in December... and you know what, zero questions from me because I was just grateful to see my passport/visa combo - "thank you & goodbye" was my 2-minute interaction with this premise. Safe travels to the US, it warmly welcomes you no doubt. It is currently snowing here in Jersey.. very moody.
& regarding the second half of your newsletter... disappointed of course, but surprised? no, sadly. It is truly remarkable that we still have ambitious women and people with any realm of diversity pursuing politics in NZ (or anywhere), when they would be so much more appreciated in other fields. Did she mess up - absolutely, but it is extremely clear that the threshold for forgiveness & tolerance is starkly lower than that of the white, male politicians with plenty of 'grace' given in their mistakes.
Look it's not as if a white guy could, I dunno, beat up a kid in a gang attack with a bed leg and then go on to have a successful career in banking and politics and have his party cover up the results of the investigation or anything like that
I see what you did there ! I DO give him some grace for the fact that young men seem to have a well documented propensity for doing inexplicable things due to brain development issues etc. (not EXCUSING it, and not that that would help the person attacked with a bed leg ...) but the fact that his PARTY has total double standards on these issues is not acceptable. They (party members and elected officials alike) go after women all the time & most especially if they are women of colour ...
Yes, I'd be perfectly well prepared to let him have the benefit of the doubt for that exact reason - who here can honestly say they didn't do a bunch of dumb shit as a teenager? - but covering it all up while pouncing on any whiff of weakness in their opponents is just super hypocritical.
I applauded Todd Muller for openly declaring that being LOTO was going to kill him and stepping down. And he was treated respectfully for it, as he should have been. Other people need to be given that same grace.
I also think that was a hit job from within.
Oh I don't know who this is but 😳
I do wonder if the US consulate knows about who picked up that contract to act as a pickup location? Like - all of us are so GRATEFUL to have our passports back, we just scamper off with them. I wonder if anyone has told them? IT'S SO WEIRD I THOUGHT I HAD BEEN SCAMMED!!!
At least it is easier to get into than the consulate!
The consulate can post out your passport/visa combo renewal via secure courier too. My last 3 renewals have gone surprisingly smoothly doing it that way.
I can’t remember if you have to pick up the initial issue in person though?
Yep - I had mine mailed out last time, too. But I don't have a set address on this tip, so the secure pickup address we did. Which is how I arrived at this house!
I fucking love that house setup. It’s like Jason’s Tinny House but for legitimate passport business
The media coverage of the accusations agaist Golriz has been full on. TV1 shocked me with their take on the "justice" system's possible consequences for Golriz .. All of the consequences mentioned by the young female reporter were incarceration of certain lengths of time depending on the monetary value of what was stolen. The young female reporter who was reporting this information to Daniel Fataua was pleased with her research. I am sure many haters were yelling at their tv saying yes, Golriz should be incarcerated. Except our Justice system does not work in a one imensional way, thankfully. Many things will be taken into account, including hopefully the terrible abuse Golriz has suffered just for having the temerity to speak out, have a voice, become a Member of Parliament. I was very impressed with her speech re Gaza at the end of last year, as I have been whenever she has spoken. She is an intelligent, articulate woman. I am so sorry that she is now unwell., and wish her well for her recovery.
I just read Josh’s latest newsletter on Sub Stack and what is hiding in full sight. I’m on holiday in Rotorua with teenage grandchildren who are watching a movie ( it’s raining) and me saying, can’t watch that, will get nightmares.
After reading Josh’s review I feel that a nightmare would be preferable than the crap he found in a hour.
Like others who state they will go where you go I’m with you, no matter what your decision, though I feel for you having to make it.
Born before WW ll finished I’m not even a boomer but honestly you’re the best reporter I’ve come across and the Worms are the greatest.
This one has taken three cuppas and a big sit down.
Must shower to get the smell of Josh’s news letter off me and get these kids on the luge. Rain has stopped.
After reading Josh Drummonds take this morning, I’ll be a massive vote for leaving Substack afterall. I don’t think we’re exerting positive influence or winning over any from the dark side anytime soon.
As for these absolutely abhorrent treatment of these politicians; what does that reflect about our society? If there’s this much vitriol in public, how much worse is it behind closed doors?
And can you even begin to imagine what it must do to your self worth and integrity, as a young progressive female Prime Minister, courageous Māori wahine, or culturally diverse woman, trying to contribute positive change in such a colonial and masculine construct as our political system?!
No wonder their mental health is challenged! I think knowing what we know about shoplifting as a health issue, it’s entirely excusable under the circumstances! It was a cry for help!
We’ve lost so many positive, powerful, progressive influential leaders in such a short time. It’s gross. How can we help support them better to continue their good mahi?! I want to live in the world they’re trying to construct!!!!!
There is a concerted and deliberate plan, strategy to get rid of the people you talk about. It is part of the right wing playbook. This playbook is shared via the Atlas network. They keep up these personal attacks because they know that it works. See the book dirty politics
That book should be required reading for all eligble voters in NZ.
All that was written about Golriz feels like a hit job, a coordinated hit job.
Oh, I can almost guarantee its being driven by a certain political base. Correct. Another horrible angle to all this.
They're going after all of them, it is grotesque. And I am really sickened whenever the media roll out Janet Wilson, as if she is some kind of neutral commentator. I mean I know NZ is small, but she has active participation with National.
Yep= she is still a National Party member, formerly Judith Collins PR person. Then again many of our media have been mainly National Party PR people. Ben Thomas for example. Tracy Watkins was John Key's PR person. Bridgitte Morton, the lawyer who constantly gets asked on panels to give her opinion, and is a regular on Nine to Noon, is a National Party MEMBER, AND FORMER ADVISOR. Liam Hehir is another lawyer, National Party committee person.
An attractive , Intelligent women of colour and in their twisted world fair game.
The minute the news broke (or, attempted to break - because there was nothing factual or substantial or proven for a hilariously long time, despite the filmsy "news articles" Stuff was pumping out) - one of my literally oldest and formerly closest friends (I'm talking 35 years) posted a disgusting rant on Insta which tore Golriz and all left-leaning folk to shreds, using the vilest language. It was the final nail in our friendship which has been through the wringer since March 2020. She had a go at those who vote Green (me, my husband, my family) "getting what we deserve" but I couldn't care less about the conflict in our politics; it's the hate-filled vitriolic language, the pure fury, and the utter misanthropy that I can no longer turn a blind eye to.
THAT'S what makes me despair - the way some she'll-be-right New Zealanders can turn suddenly into nasty, cunt-calling, she-bloody-well-isn't-right monsters about Jacinda, Siouxsie, Golriz, Tory, Kiri, et al. I don't understand why people can't tell when they're being beastly, and it breaks my heart.
That’s a really good point - that people feel so right and bold in talking about the ‘other’ in those awful dehumanising ways. And there’s very little consequence for those attitudes, too.
Bl***dy hell! Bad enough from a stranger eh? Shows that it is what some people have posited ... an actual form of mental illness that affects the ability to judge right from wrong in specific matters (obviously they think it is WRONG to shop lift, so ??)
It’s quite worrying when you see people using this language on public and professional networks like LinkedIn. Saying their quiet bit out loud for everyone to see and standing by it, thinking it's okay and even feel emboldened to share that language and bigoted views for everyone to see. How do we bring back decency and respect into the discourses? All we can do is lead by example for those around us and call-out this kind of behaviour whenever possible.
My heart breaks for Golriz. As you say, the glee with which she has been pursued is just disturbing. And then to hear that she too has been harassed due to her gender and race, just as other NZ politicians have just adds to the horror. Yes, if she did shoplift, there should and will be (has been) consequences. I'm proud to be a Kiwi, but jeez we can be ugly. Lets do better.
ps. I've said it before, Sean Plunkett is scum
I've always liked Golriz (and Chloe Swarbrick, and to be fair most of the Greens) who on one view of things give a fuck so I dont have to (limited bandwidth, right?) - the other view being they are passionate, young, informed, and want to make stuff happen. And you know that something's wrong when someone nukes their entire life by doing this - it isn't coming from a rational place and its pretty clear it was a stress response. I heard James Shaw today saying "Well people have been truly awful to her, and to others since she went to Parliament." I'd never thought about that. I am not happy about it but I feel helpless - like, what can I do to stop it.? Its like when I was watching the protests at Parliament (the insurrection/occupation) - it made me so angry I wanted to roll tanks. Then I remembered that the NZDF doesnt probably have tanks, or if they do there's one, and there's only one dude who can drive it, and he's on leave till next Thursday. When did we lose the civil part of civil discourse? When did the social part of the "social contract" wither and die? Honestly, it makes me angsty. And angry.
"Then I remembered that the NZDF doesnt probably have tanks, or if they do there's one, and there's only one dude who can drive it, and he's on leave till next Thursday."
Ah, Derek. Ironically, he's at the protests.
I hear you! Every word resonates with me. In answer to your question, "what can we do to stop it"? Apart from the usual VOTE for GOOD people everytime, I was having this exact conversation with an older relative yesterday and shared with him a trend I have noticed on THIS newsletter & other forums I have engaged in, with people undertaking to PERSONALLY do "the random acts of kindness" thing in their interactions with strangers & friends/family alike. A smile for someone coming the other way on the street or while out walking, helping a mother with children at the checkout, waiting without impatience for someone with physical challenges of whatever kind, etc. etc. Takes away the feeling of being "helpless" & replaces it with being "helpful" in my experience.
Yeah I noticed this unfolding on Stuff yesterday as well. They were absolutely frothing. Disgusting. Especially considering the only article I could find at all on their home page about Gaza was a gaslighting opinion piece from Damien Grant about the apparent misuse of the word gėnōcīde. They should be ashamed of themselves really.
I am on the verge of cancelling my subscription to STUFF as they seem to be problematic on several fronts recently .... it ties into the Substack discussion doesn't it? "to stay or to go" but I am loathe to pull away one of my very few subs from going to support Aotearoa based "journalism".
For overseas readers, STUFF is an amazing story, having been bought by an Australian media giant who eventually decided they couldn't be bothered with it anymore, a NZ woman paid $1 to buy it, brought it back to being an Aotearoa New Zealand enterprise, and seemed to be doing a good job until the last few months, when this type of despicable "reporting" (won't dignify it by calling it journalism!) has become more noticeable. Quite frankly, I can read this type of stuff for free elsewhere if I was actually so inclined, and like to spend my precious $$$ for GOOD journalism like Webworm - just sayin' - in the end voting with our own individual metaphoric feet is the little people's power in these things?
May I recommend instead becoming a paying member of The Spinoff? I find it a much more valuable use of my “monthly contribution to NZ journalism” fund!
SNAP! I already do that, but I was hopeful in the beginning that STUFF had the potential to be a good investment, and paying local journalist wages is the only way to keep them.
I started paying for STUFF early on in the Sinead era. But they continued to disappoint so it meant removing my funds for the likes of The Spinoff, Webworm and The Kākā
Thanks for saying something sensible about Golriz, I was hoping you might. Amid the sea of click bait-y headlines and cruel memes I was feeling like I was the only one that actually just feels sad about the whole thing. I really like her as a politician and I think she has been an integral part of why the Greens have become such a robust political party in recent years.
Thank you for writing this!!! I wish you weren't just preaching to the choir, though. I'm so heartbroken by the whole thing (actually still heartbroken over Kiri). Three young, brown, female, EFFECTIVE politicians... Each of them worth 10 of our other representatives. Super 'convenient' timing for Golriz to be outed, she's just won an important electorate AND with the decisions being made regarding Yemen, I bet the decision makers are thrilled to see her go 🥺.
At a personal level I totally feel for her because no matter what outcome happens in respect of the allegations, her life and career in NZ as she knows it is over. It must be so surreal for her right now, like just feeling able to go to the supermarket and buy food without harassment is probably not an option! Imagine that. Sadly, We do have an underbelly in NZ which in my view is driven by fear of difference, complete lack of empathy and fuelled by the click bait msm lust desperate to maintain its relevance. If there’s sufficient evidence to charge, and the courts find her guilty, then yes she will be accountable. I hope she has good support and sufficient mental resilience to ride the storm.
Re the Substack drama, I found Bernard Hickey's take interesting.
He distilled it down to: "We’re not going to let a controversy over five substackers with barely a hundred active readers and no paying subscribers force us off a platform we have used to make a good honest living with a vibrant and constructive community."
If that truly is the full extent of the problem, then perhaps staying (and continuing to advocate for better moderation policies on Substack) is the right call. Do you agree that that is the full extent of the problem though, or had Bernard perhaps missed something?
Regardless, I'll continue to read Webworm wherever it lives. You're doing such amazing and necessary work, and I'll support it for as long as I'm able.
Josh - who writes for me sometimes - just published a new piece that indicates the problem is much more septic: https://badnewsletter.substack.com/p/all-the-garbage-i-found-on-substack
Yeah, nah. Abandon ship I reckon - unless that zoom call engenders a lot of hope for firmer moderation policies.
Agree IF an iron clad undertaking for acceptable moderation policies can be gained - because isn't an essential point of human and societal evolution that we must allow people to genuinely change, and accept the "new" them while still maintaining that what went before is unacceptable & a return to that will be even more egregious?
Can you make the point in your Zoom call that ONE fucking Nazi asshole is too many, and he is perfectly within his rights to say "Oi Nazi fuck off". Like isn't it his sandpit? If its his sandpit he sets the rules. The first rule is (or should be) NO FUCKING NAZIS. Christ, it's not hard.
Josh gained a subscriber today. [quote] In fact, it makes me think Substack might be primarily a disinformation ecosystem — with a bunch of credible writers bolted on, to be the acceptable public face of a company that exists mainly to monetize the internet’s limitless supply of garbage[/quote]
Well that was truly alarming. I haven't had a chance to Google it but I'm left wondering; is Substack owned by ...... Nazis???
Definitely not - but their approach to this kind of content so far is not, in my mind, satisfactory. Hoping for progress on Friday.