What's what?

Fool proof protection from foil boards.

Cancel that Melbourne Gunman Alert.
[Melbourne Busker Evacuation Alert is reset to high]
Turns out OZ is paranoid about tonight's Gun Show (Part 2).(Instruments of Hate!)

Busker's terrifying cover of 'You're the Voice' haunts Melbourne CBD.
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/busker-mistaken-for-gunman-sparked-evacuatio...

A few points. On the risk of birth defects I think they miss the point in the SMH. My understanding is that an isolated marriage of first cousins does not create a significant risk, but when it occurs over several generations within the same extended family, it becomes a problem. Happy to be corrected if there is new data since I last looked at the issue a few years ago.

On Ben's point I think my views have shifted in some areas and I certainly have a much deeper insight into the views and feelings of those I disagree with, which can't be a bad thing. The other aspect of this and Stu or Ben may correct me here, is that some people regularly read the forums without contributing and if I am trying to persuade anyone, it is probably them since their views are less likely to be set in stone. Anyway we are incredibly lucky to have this place and from time to time we all need pull our heads in for the sake of maintaining civility.

ScoMo preferences One Nation last in upcomung election. There's every chance it could harm the Lib's chances so let's give credit where it's due.

Pffffft........

The nationals and LNP haven't.... And that's who runs in most country seats.
Scomo is also putting One nation above the greens. A quinoa salad is more dangerous than a pet rock named coaly mc coal face.

"ScoMo preferences One Nation last in upcomung election. There's every chance it could harm the Lib's chances so let's give credit where it's due."

Never, he was dragged kicking and smirking all the way.

Ha ha. Props to ProMo.

We are "lucky to have this place". In a sense , as facto posted - 'we are the news".
Certainly the links to various articles that one would not, in the normal course of a day, come across is great. Would like to contribute more but full time work/family and getting a surf in here and there in between is limiting.

Tough situation, no?

If he preferences them he looks unprincipled.

If he doesn't - and the Libs lose because of it - then his integrity is intact but his political career is over.

Yeh I am not for giving much credit to what, in the end, is probably just a decision based on a cynical political calculation. Baby steps when striding out is what is required of our leaders on this issue.

For those disinclined to view Australia as a racist nation, a couple of things that might have been over looked.
One the decision to place 22,000 indigenous people on cards that restrict 80% of their spending.

Two, the reinstatement of the use of restraints in NT youth facilities and extending the powers of the facility officers. This is also retrospective. Presumably so that incidents of violence which have already occurred cannot result in prosecutions. Shameful shit.

How to Sell a Massacre (Part 2) Al Jazeera Investigations.(Watch Now)

Early screening exclusively for Swellnetonians & YouTube Viewers....
27/3/2019 Must have been released late last night...as I checked earlier in evening.
Over to you crew! No spoiler!

"On ABC radio this morning, the LNP’s Keith Pitt called the Greens “the most dangerous group in this country”.

“They should be on the bottom of any ticket we put up,” Mr Pitt said.

His colleagues Scott Buchholz, Llew O’Brien and Ian Macdonald all said they wanted to preference the Greens last this week.

Ken O’Dowd went even further, saying he wanted to see One Nation “well above the Greens and Labor”.

Human Services Minister Michael Keenan didn’t offer an opinion on preferences, but did say the Greens were “more dangerous” than One Nation.

“The Greens, I think, are more dangerous than One Nation in many ways,” he said.

“They would close down whole sections of the Australian economy. They are very, very dangerous people in their ideology.”

https://www.news.com.au/finance/work/leaders/tony-abbott-once-argued-for...

Forget 'fake news', fuck fake equivalence.

@lostdoggy

No need to get nasty.

Just sick of these countless articles going on about white supremacy BS, it's the medias new buzz word, I'm going to go fucking crazy if i read one more article where they even mention the word or Islamphobia.

Anyway wasn't talking about the NZ dude was just talking about in general, i have no idea what the dude was/is i haven't read his manifesto thing, just seen youtube videos that go through it, and it seems all over the place, just full of weird memes and confusion and contradictions, some of the countries he visited he even previously made social media post about how great the country and people are that from memory weren't white.

Pretty safe to say the dude is just a fruit loop, no different to Martin bryant or others..

BTW. just for arguments sake if people can say that the Lindt Cafe siege dude wasn't a muslim terrorist because he was a lone wolf and had mental issues (despite the fact he was muslim and held up islamic black flag), then there is most likely a fair argument that he wasn't a white surpremesist (not that i can be bothered arguing that point, because i really don't care what he is)

I find it weird that liberals would consider putting One nation last even with all the latest shit, if you want to get into government i would have thought you put your main opposition last Labor then Greens and even if you don't agree with others like one nation you work with them to stay in power.

"Cutting off the nose to spite the face"

It's pretty easy to explain to people why you wouldn't put them last, because well you want to win the election, not rocket science.

There as an interesting point made on The Drum the other night about how, beyond the first 48 hours, the NZ massacre coverage became all about white people; the perpetrator, the political leaders, those responsible for inappropriate comments etc. Hardly a word about the victims or those grieving. Why? Well have a look at the racial composition of the professional commentators, Waleed Aly, then wall to wall white people!

Pretty simple Blindboy, not much you can say about the victims and those grieving you just let them do it peace, im sure they dont want media and microphones in their faces.

But much to say about the other issues surrounding it all.

But yeah it would be great if people like Rita Panahi had as much presence in the media as Waleed.

@ID,

Because it punishes One Nation, that's why. Sends a message that no party can undermine Oz politics (least of all with NRA money) and calls them out on their foreign donation hypocrisy. What you've proposed rewards ON while also making hypocrites of the Libs as gun control was a Howard/Liberal achievement.

Pragmatism vs principle. Sometimes you gotta choose.

It was all talked about before those issues though yeah, and the pressure was on liberals to put One nation last.

I just think its silly, shooting themselves in the foot, they are most likely going to lose the election, but putting one nation last pretty much seals the deal to lose.

Labour gets the support of the Greens, if liberals were smart behind the scenes long ago they would have talked to One nation and said if you tone things down in areas and get your shit together we will preference you highly and expect the same.

I mean really isn't it just like political survivor if you dont form an alliance your going to get voted out.

"I mean really isn't it just like political survivor if you dont form an alliance your going to get voted out."

You know what the NP stands for in LNP?

Pauline implied Port Arthur was a conspiracy theory.

That is beyond the pale for all except the heartiest racist/right wing fruitloops.

That is what forced Morrison's hand.

He was pushed.

Nothing noble whatsoever about his move, the lost votes from supporting One Nation simply became a greater number than the preference flows from supporting them.

.......... so let's hope the commercial TV channels stop giving ON a voice out of all proportion to their representation.

In NZ atm and the TV and newspapers have many stories about the terorist attack focusing on the victims and the Muslim community, suspect the Drum got it wrong.

Morrison has made the right and principled decision, good on him, he will hoping beyond hope it doesn’t cost him too much but I note the decision doesn’t apply to the LNP in Qld, is that right? because, if true, there is also a large slice of pragmatism about his decision.

It’s a good thing that One Nation are finally being called out for the nutcases they are. How anyone, even the yokels in the good ole boys National Party, can align themselves with One Nation is beyond belief. But FNQ is a different world.

Ben, that quote and what you had to say earlier today was very good, tend to agree with the lot.

There has been zero Conservative Diplomacy between Australia / Trump.
Naturally giving rise to Right Wing nut jobs as self styled Oz/US powerbrokers.
re: Murdoch/Hockey/One Nation are simply filling Oz leadership void with U.S.

All that changes now.
Welcome to US Ambassador Arthur B. Culvahouse Jnr.
Big Artie knows more about Lake Burley Campbell than most Aussies.
No! No! Just put away your google! US has already renamed it under Patriot act.

https://www.canberratimes.com.au/politics/act/new-us-ambassador-slips-up...

Indo this is the post I responded to.

"If that NZ dude was Asian or middle eastern would he still be a "cough cough" a white supremacist?"

This is your response.

"Anyway wasn't talking about the NZ dude was just talking about in general"

Sorry, pal.
No entiendo.

"But FNQ is a different world."

Don't fool yourself Guy Smiley.

There are far bigger pockets of reactionary right wing voters in Sydney and Melbourne than there are in FNQ.

@Lostdoggy

Here is my post in full below, because just picking one bit from it is quoting it out of context.

"Im curious:

If that NZ dude was Asian or middle eastern would he still be a "cough cough" a white supremacist?

If a coloured person in Indonesia or Africa or wherever did a revenge attack against a mosque are they are a white supremacist?

IMHO this white supremacy angle is just typical media beat up always wanting to put labels on things, the attention the media give these groups is just basically free publicity that is more likely to see their support base grow rather than dwindle.

The number of people with white supremacy views would be tiny compared to say 30 +years ago be much less, it's just now with things like the internet or youtube they can band together easier."

The point is this white supremacy bull shit is just a distraction from the real issue, which is the attack was a counter attack on the large number of Islam inspired attacks.

Its really just a flip of the coin, next time the dude could be another skin colour, then the media are going to have to paint it for exactly what it is rather than other BS.

It's not quoting it out of context.
That part was the context of the rest of the post.
I would have quite happily put the whole post down but hard to copy paste on phone.
It still reads exactly the same way. You're mad about all the white supremacy talk and lead in if 'it wasn't the NZ dude but a non-white.'

Possibly Freeride but look at the knuckleheads they continually elect to represent them, speaks volumes I would have thought.

Just heard Facebook are deleting/banning all references to white nationalism as well as the existing ban on referencing white supremacy following Christchurch.

Yeah , White nationalism is abhorrent. Fancy giving seperate considerations to people based on the colour of their skin or their racial heritage ! That’s some crazy , retrograde cognition. I’m glad we have finally left that behind us in our forward thinking nation.

Anyway , let’s bring on the vote for black people to have their own voice in parliament. Let’s finally draw the line between them and the whiteys , the asians and the Indians . Let’s nip this “all for one / one for all “ bullshit right in the bud before it gains too much traction.

Hello, you completely changed the words and meaning of your original post ..... your original post mentioned Abbott!,

Former labor Senator Lindsay Tanner with some sharp analysis. (from The Monthly daily Briefing)

"The future is most obvious in European countries like Poland, Tanner said, where two major political forces have emerged – one urban, middle class, socially progressive, internationalist, pro-multicultural, non-religious and pro-market, and the other less educated, rural, older, pro-religious, xenophobic if not racist, obscurantist and paranoid. “They’re the two long-term political configurations that are in the process of emerging in Western societies,” said Tanner. “What is unclear is how our existing parties will morph into those two dominant strands.”

Load of utter bullshit that “ analysis “.

If you think a senator is an automatically credible resource for analysis, think again. Check Bronwyn Bishops University record :
“Bishop undertook a five-year LL.B. program at the University of Sydney.[9] However, she was deemed ineligible to continue after failing a number of subjects multiple times.[10] Bishop failed a total of 11 subjects over six years.[10] In her first year in 1960, she failed all four core subjects. In 1964, she failed four subjects again and repeated them in 1965, in which she failed three again. The policy of the University of Sydney at the time was that a student was required to show cause why they should be allowed to repeat a subject for a third time, and Bishop was deemed ineligible to continue.[10]”

Or thrill to watch this dynamo in action :

You could seriously train a cat to do a better job than that mess. Watch it all - if you’ve got the stomach - to find out just how effective and efficient our elected officials can be.

"Load of utter bullshit that “ analysis “.

Pretty good summary.

BTW. dont you love how bias the wording is they use "Internationalist" but instead of then using "nationalistic" they use "Xenophobic' and "racist", kind of hard too take serious when worded like that.

Thats hardly insightful analysis.
Old news.

Not so sure about the non-religious nature he speaks about in the urban areas either.

More complicated than that.

Old news? Well given the current political climate you would think it would have come up over the last week. Feel free to provide the reference.

"Utter bullshit". Hmm the considered opinion of a respected ex-Senator vs Blowin and Indo offering an alternative view of ......... absolutely nothing. Easy pick that one.

Mate , you think it’s amazingly accurate cause it’s what you believe. You think anyone with a differing political view is a toothless, bib and brace wearing yokel who’s just got off their sister.

That’s okay though , cause I imagine your ilk set up in a dark, wood panelled room , your elbow patched tweed jackets folded with compulsive neatness in the corner as you form a naked human centipede in order to achieve the elevated statis of groupthink required for you all to climax together.

Are either of us so far from the mark ?

"The psychological projection is strong in this one."

Yoda

"You think anyone with a differing political view is a toothless, bib and brace wearing yokel who’s just got off their sister."

There you go again Blowin. Telling me what I think. Why not tell us why you disagree with the Honorable Senator's views? You could even offer a view of your own. Naysaying and insults get a bit tedious.

Hang on while I get my tweed jacket - sorry to disappoint but no leather elbow patches but yep, the real Harris Tweed.

You’ve really got to come up with some new material , Facto.

Sorry.....the people that have ideas that you think clever really need to come up with some new ideas , so that you can repeat them so often that they lose all worth as you do all too regularly.

Psychological projection
Dunning Kruger
Useful idiot
Etc
Etc
Etc

The English language is going to need a bigger graveyard you’ve killed that many otherwise effective terms.

Well for a start , socially progressive and pro-market are anything but regular bed fellows. Unless you’re saying you think the LNP are just misunderstood little L liberals?

The religions are dying on the vine everywhere except those urban magnets of new immigration who are by very definition internationalist. So calling the regions comparatively pro- religion is completely incorrect.

Again , the segment accounting for both pro multicultural and non - religious accounts for only the slim percentage of remnant incumbent citizens who remain in the urban areas. In Sydney they are now in the minority. Unless your disputing Confucianism , Muslim and Hindu as religions.

Xenophobic, racist and paranoid.....isn’t that your definition of an LNP voter ? LNP heartlands are in the urban areas.

Non - educated and elderly ruralites ? Are you aware of the proportion of wealthy, educated people who are escaping the city ? What about yourself - which camp to you sit in ? You’re rural ....has this reduced your IQ as massively as you’d assumed living in the regions has to others ?

Or .....there’s just the fact that it’s a bucket load of stereotyping freshly dropped shit . Your dream of the xenophobic and racist rural hordes is nothing more or less than the very generalised and unsubstantiated accusations you so vociferously despise.

And it’s offensive.

Face it . You like it because you like to think of yourself , and others who think the same , as the smartest people in the room and everyone else is a backwards , feckless dickhead who should be grateful for your generous leadership when it comes to contemplation.

Which is quite puzzling to everyone else when your thinking is so obviously flawed as displayed by examples such as this piece of trite bullshit.

Blowin, not all religions are dying on the vine (I know, I know, different country somewhere else in the 9 worlds):

https://icelandmag.is/article/asatru-old-norse-paganism-fastest-growing-...

http://www.dazeddigital.com/artsandculture/article/24321/1/inside-icelan...

https://www.history.com/news/first-viking-temple-in-1000-years-coming-to...

The bit i found the weirdest was the "Pro Market" bit.

Pro Market="A social and economic system in which prices are fixed by the law of supply and demand rather than by a government or other body."

Id associate that with liberals and privatisation etc(letting the market decide) rather than more socialistic type views that i thought were more a labor/greens thing?

Wouldn't Pro Market also mean that you are also happy to just have free trade of all types especially if into internationalist.

But if your into that then how can you be "socially progressive" when you are getting everything from developing countries where workers are exploited and little to no regulations etc???

Maybe im wrong as it's not the shit im into or my area of knowledge, but i found some of things sitting side by side kind of contractions.

"Ya fuck one goat..."

A line of dialogue from Blowback Mountin'

Its not enough to repeat phrases into the ground, Facto, now you’ve got to hammer every bit of humour out of a classic joke too ?

As has been said before, for the benefit of those for which nothing ever, ever, ever sinks in...

Ad infinitum. Ad nauseam.

You're the classic joke.

Except for the classic bit.

Well, unless we're talking about people with classic obsessions like immigration, China, Muslims, indigenous Australians, and every weasel word under the sun that embodies bollocks like the "great replacement" snowcone whinge.

Classic Blowie and his ilk.

English language enough for ya, comrade?

I also know a teeny bit of Indo Bahasa , but if you’re going to continue writing all your posts in the dialect of self satisfied wankers you’ll have to give me time to translate each one using google.

Haha. Bahasa. Pffft.

Funny, I know a fair few blokes - some on here would know them too...small world - who share the same supposed Indo experience as our supposed Indo expert on here (hint for the slow: not you, Blowie. You're a relative "I've been to Bali too" type).

But they are diametrically opposed to most anything in any sphere that Swellnet's very own Indo "I'm not politically savvy, but..." champ has to utter. Ah well, life's rich pageantry and all that.

I must say Blowie, although your English is a bit shakey at times, you do seem marginally competent in fake working-class Poh Lin.

Well done, champ.

Everyone gets a lollipop and a pat on the back on Swellnet. Huzzah!

Meanwhile in Australia...

https://www.sbs.com.au/news/the-feed/international-embarrassment-governm...