Apparently, John Terry has cheated on his wife/partner/girlfriend/whatever she is to him. I heard this on the grapevine. Through the subtle and tasteful network of information that is the weekend tabloids (...), we have been informed of this, then slapped across the face with it, beaten over the head with it, and had its sorry, unimportant arse rubbed in our faces. And for what reason?
SO WHAT!? I genuinely feel sorry for people who find this kind of garbage news interesting enough to warrant frontpage coverage, with follow up stories and way too many inches of comment articles from loudmouth journalists over the course of the week, that have taken to this with dispicable glee.
And I've rarely been more infuriated when reading a newspaper than when I read the two cents of Terry Prone (Evening Herald, 3rd February). It's bad enough that there was yet MORE coverage of an ENGLISH football player in an IRISH tabloid (that wasn't the sports pages), but when Prone began to condone this kind of coverage and analysis of something that really should be kept private, my letter-of-complaint writing hand began to itch quite badly.
It was as if this event is something monumental, not just in the world of tabloid journalism but also in the sporting world, which anybody knows is pure bull. As a sports journalist myself, I know that when I'm reporting on a match or commenting on a player's ability, I certainly do not delve into his private life (apart from the possible one use of the horrible "playing offside" joke in passing), yet Prone seems to think that sports journalists gloss over private lives of sports professionals in fear of not getting an exclusive interview. Absolute madness.
She then shakes her head in disapproval because he is the England team captain, and he is an idol for millions of young English footballers. He shouldn't cheat because these kids will learn to copy him.
Did she stop to think for one second that the very thing she was doing was adding fuel to that fire? These young footballers would never hear ANYTHING about Terry cheating if the tabloids had eased up on the coverage, and the sports journalists focussed purely on the football side of things (which in most cases, they did).
I'm beginning to get the feeling that every woman feels personally insulted when a public male figure cheats on his wife. I can't remember the last time there was as much furore over a female celebrity cheating on her husband. Well, I'll be waiting in the wings with bated breath and keen interest to see how the media reacts to this next case of this.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
The Internet: A Breeding Ground of Ignorance and Hatred
Anybody with even the vaguest experience of a Youtube comments page will know what I'm talking about already. That user that writes walls of text with incorrect grammar, that uses words and phrases like "fag" and "that sucks" like a young teen uses Kleenexes....when he has a terrible cold. Or how about that other user that cannot get it through his impenetrable skull that, oh no, God forbid, somebody has a differing opinion to him about a particular issue/band/song/whatever it may be.
These sad, lonely individuals hide behind the anonymity and facelessness afforded by the internet, and in a way, provides an insight into how a lot of individuals are underneath the facade they construct to hide the qualities they feel will hamper them in life, such as their baffling intolerance and borderline hatred to anything that doesn't conform to their view of the world.
For the purposes of this post, I'm doing a little bit of research. I typed in Linkin Park and clicked on the first video I found (I love them, but they generally get a lot of hate). Sure enough, about twenty comments down, I come across "fuck this song". Three words, no elaboration on the comment or any sign of tolerance towards others opinions. It's as if, in this person's own little world, it is plain fact that the song in question is awful, and there can be no debate about it. To quote a very wise man, it really "grinds my gears".
Another angle I took while researching was a classic cleavage filled with tension and controversy, American politics. On one video, the user posted the following in the info box: "I had stopped the comments on this video for many reasons, for example: racist rants, death threats, calling out for murder". (I'll take the user's word for it, considering there's thousands of posts). But is this not an awful sign of what we're really like? When the reins are loose, when we're allowed the luxury of pure free speech without consequence or the possibility of it being traced back to us, we are animals. The fact that people would make death threats over differing political views is truly shocking.
As a journalist, I often wonder also how easy it for people like this to get their views onto a pedestal more public and accessible than Youtube. It really is a simple matter of copying and pasting from Youtube, correcting all grammar mistakes, capitalising where appropriate, removing any expletives that will give them away as the immature, spoilt brats they are, and, hurrah, they have an opinion column on some random website. And of course, it being the internet, these distorted, warped, hateful views of our world will probably appear somewhere in, oh I don't know, a college essay, or serious publication, citing this verbal vomit as fact. False information has been posted on the internet before for experimental purposes, which has in turn been posted, so what's to say the opinions and spewings of these nutcases could be misconstrued as fact?
Everyone loves the internet, for a variety of (sometimes private, best left alone) reasons, but the dangerous mixture of unlimited free speech, anonymity, and ease of publishing information has lead to it becoming largely a dangerous concoction of distorted facts and extremist opinions, that only serves to spread all of this around until nobody really knows what the truth is.
A half an hour examination of comments pages and forums about anything, from politics to porn, will prove this, and will really make you fear for the future of humanity..
These sad, lonely individuals hide behind the anonymity and facelessness afforded by the internet, and in a way, provides an insight into how a lot of individuals are underneath the facade they construct to hide the qualities they feel will hamper them in life, such as their baffling intolerance and borderline hatred to anything that doesn't conform to their view of the world.
For the purposes of this post, I'm doing a little bit of research. I typed in Linkin Park and clicked on the first video I found (I love them, but they generally get a lot of hate). Sure enough, about twenty comments down, I come across "fuck this song". Three words, no elaboration on the comment or any sign of tolerance towards others opinions. It's as if, in this person's own little world, it is plain fact that the song in question is awful, and there can be no debate about it. To quote a very wise man, it really "grinds my gears".
Another angle I took while researching was a classic cleavage filled with tension and controversy, American politics. On one video, the user posted the following in the info box: "I had stopped the comments on this video for many reasons, for example: racist rants, death threats, calling out for murder". (I'll take the user's word for it, considering there's thousands of posts). But is this not an awful sign of what we're really like? When the reins are loose, when we're allowed the luxury of pure free speech without consequence or the possibility of it being traced back to us, we are animals. The fact that people would make death threats over differing political views is truly shocking.
As a journalist, I often wonder also how easy it for people like this to get their views onto a pedestal more public and accessible than Youtube. It really is a simple matter of copying and pasting from Youtube, correcting all grammar mistakes, capitalising where appropriate, removing any expletives that will give them away as the immature, spoilt brats they are, and, hurrah, they have an opinion column on some random website. And of course, it being the internet, these distorted, warped, hateful views of our world will probably appear somewhere in, oh I don't know, a college essay, or serious publication, citing this verbal vomit as fact. False information has been posted on the internet before for experimental purposes, which has in turn been posted, so what's to say the opinions and spewings of these nutcases could be misconstrued as fact?
Everyone loves the internet, for a variety of (sometimes private, best left alone) reasons, but the dangerous mixture of unlimited free speech, anonymity, and ease of publishing information has lead to it becoming largely a dangerous concoction of distorted facts and extremist opinions, that only serves to spread all of this around until nobody really knows what the truth is.
A half an hour examination of comments pages and forums about anything, from politics to porn, will prove this, and will really make you fear for the future of humanity..
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
A country going backwards
On the 1st January 2010 the new blasphemy law came into effect in this country. It outlines that a person can be fined up to €25,000 by the State for saying anything "that is grossly abusive or insulting in relation to matters held sacred by any religion".Naturally there is global outcry over this mind-boggling law that is a throwback to the middle ages. In the age of free speech it's an appalling step backwards.
Let's not assume for one minute that I think hardened atheists should be swanning around spewing hatred and insults to the religious folk out there, upsetting them as they go. This isn't acceptable in any walk of life, not just with regard to religion. And neither do I for a minute think this will ever be enforced on any meaningful or consistent basis, as unless someone writes a blasphemous statement down and exhibits it to the public, I can't really see our Gardai ever catching anyone.
Anyway, what was Justice Minister Ahern thinking when he introduced this bill? It was clearly high on his list of priorities, in a year when gang violence terrorised neighbourhoods and towns across the country. His priorites beggar belief. According to a post by the group Atheist Ireland on Blasphemy.ie, "Islamic states led by Pakistan are already using the wording of this Irish law to promote new blasphemy laws at U.N. level." This could conceivably open the floodgates for similar laws to be introduced in other countries around the world and, more frighteningly, for bodies such as the EU to adopt them and enforce them on member states.
As I've said already, the scope for proper prosecution with this bill is slim, considering that real crime is rampant and it would be very hard to catch someone being blasphemous, but the principle behind it is worrying. Have we as a nation instigated something worldwide?
Friday, December 11, 2009
Gogarty outburst a long time coming
The news that Green Party TD Paul Gogarty has used "unparliamentary" language in the Dáil today in response to constant heckling from the opposition comes as no surprise to me whatsoever.
In fact, an outburst like this, I feel, is long overdue. Never mind how unprofessional and rash Gogarty's outburst was, this incident highlights a much bigger problem within the Dáil chamber.
Watching the live coverage of the Budget on RTÉ the other day, I was once again dismayed at the disrespect the opposition showed to Finance Minister Brian Lenihan as he read out the details of the Budget. (Let me lay down for the record I have no outstanding Green or Fianna Fáil leanings). There was the constant, albeit slightly understandable, background din of disconcerted opposition TDs, and I fail to see any advantages of this tactic.
Last year, we saw then-Ceann Chomhairle John O'Donoghue suspend the Budget hearing at least 3 times because of a very vocal Sinn Féin TD. This did nothing whatsoever except soil that TD's reputation and delay the reading of the Budget by a mere half an hour.
This constant protest while the Budget is being read out, and indeed any other time when a member of government is speaking in the house, beggars belief. It's almost like a watered down, laughable version of Parnell's infamous "obstruction" technique which his party used in the House Of Commons. But do the opposition really think it'll get them anywhere? Raising their voice to a considerable decible level is NOT going to persuade the government to listen to them in any way, shape of form.
Even as Gogarty was reading his apology earlier on, there was a chorus of voices screaming their outrage at his use of language. But do they ever stop to think that their constant, needless racket is also a disgrace? It's almost as if these TDs are pursuing celebrity status, hoping to shout loud enough to be seen on RTE news, so their constituents will hail them as a hero and a dedicated fighter for them.
This citizen is not impressed. The Dáil chamber is a place for constructive debate, not a forum for every loudmouth TD to vent their opinions in any way they want. No matter how badly the government may be handling the economy at the minute, shouting will not solve anything.
So fair play to Paul Gogarty TD. He may have to face the considerably frightening music for his outburst, but his "F*** you" has highlighted how government TDs cannot speak anymore without being bullied by an ever less civilized opposition. Let's hope this is a product of the economis troubles, and that when we do find our feet again on the economic front, our politicians will discuss matters instead of shouting incoherently.
In fact, an outburst like this, I feel, is long overdue. Never mind how unprofessional and rash Gogarty's outburst was, this incident highlights a much bigger problem within the Dáil chamber.
Watching the live coverage of the Budget on RTÉ the other day, I was once again dismayed at the disrespect the opposition showed to Finance Minister Brian Lenihan as he read out the details of the Budget. (Let me lay down for the record I have no outstanding Green or Fianna Fáil leanings). There was the constant, albeit slightly understandable, background din of disconcerted opposition TDs, and I fail to see any advantages of this tactic.
Last year, we saw then-Ceann Chomhairle John O'Donoghue suspend the Budget hearing at least 3 times because of a very vocal Sinn Féin TD. This did nothing whatsoever except soil that TD's reputation and delay the reading of the Budget by a mere half an hour.
This constant protest while the Budget is being read out, and indeed any other time when a member of government is speaking in the house, beggars belief. It's almost like a watered down, laughable version of Parnell's infamous "obstruction" technique which his party used in the House Of Commons. But do the opposition really think it'll get them anywhere? Raising their voice to a considerable decible level is NOT going to persuade the government to listen to them in any way, shape of form.
Even as Gogarty was reading his apology earlier on, there was a chorus of voices screaming their outrage at his use of language. But do they ever stop to think that their constant, needless racket is also a disgrace? It's almost as if these TDs are pursuing celebrity status, hoping to shout loud enough to be seen on RTE news, so their constituents will hail them as a hero and a dedicated fighter for them.
This citizen is not impressed. The Dáil chamber is a place for constructive debate, not a forum for every loudmouth TD to vent their opinions in any way they want. No matter how badly the government may be handling the economy at the minute, shouting will not solve anything.
So fair play to Paul Gogarty TD. He may have to face the considerably frightening music for his outburst, but his "F*** you" has highlighted how government TDs cannot speak anymore without being bullied by an ever less civilized opposition. Let's hope this is a product of the economis troubles, and that when we do find our feet again on the economic front, our politicians will discuss matters instead of shouting incoherently.
Monday, November 30, 2009
The Swiss minaret vote - oppressive or acceptable?
The news that a referendum in Switzerland has banned minarets from being constructed in the country will spark debate around the globe.
A minaret I understand is a tall spire structure distinctive to Islam culture, and in modern contexts is usually built onto mosques as a symbol of the religion. The vote is seen by some groups as an indication that anti-Islam feeling is present and Switzerland, and is indeed present, and spreading, throughout continental Europe, but is this really the case?
I must admit, when I first heard of this story through word of mouth, I got the impression that these minarets were everywhere, and that they were of fairly substantial size and prominence.
There are four in the entire country.
During my ignorant phase, I thought to myself that this vote could only be a good thing. Surely if these minarets are everywhere, in a mainly Christian country, the minority were beginning to take hold? Now that I have all the facts, I find this story bordering on the disturbing.
I'm a person that supports expression of religion, but I also think that in any given country, the majority religion should get preference in the way it displays itself, etc. If there were minarets on every second corner of Dublin, I'll admit I'd be slightly outraged, even though I'm not a hugely religious person. Let's put that into perspective. Would you really expect, in a Muslim country, to build a Christian Church with the symbol of the cross on top of it without causing mass uproar? I wouldn't bet on it.
In a presumably more tolerant west, we allow places of worship for all religions, and rightly so, but if they start to take prominence from the country's religion, that doesn't really sit right with me for whatever reason.
However, I digress. Let me repeat what I said above about the minarets in Switzerland. There are four in the entire country. Four. And they are, from what I've seen, rather humble in size. This vote really starts to stink of oppression on closer inspection. I can't find a possible way to justify this vote that isn't a dressing up of blatant oppression. I may sound like a hypocrite but there's distinct differences between what I condone in ways of national religion superiority and what the Swiss public is after doing. If there were minarets dotting the skyline, then yes, I feel they would be justified in reaching this decision. But there are FOUR in the whole country. This is nitpicking and pettiness, nothing more.
Muslims may not be entirely tolerant of our cultures though, even as they live in them. I've heard of an Irish woman on a bus in Dublin city, saying "God bless me" after she had sneezed, and being promptly told by a Muslim woman sitting across from her that she had been offended by her use of the word "God". If this is widespread it should be addressed, although there is very little we can do.
Except stop regressing and lead by example in the way of tolerance perhaps?
A minaret I understand is a tall spire structure distinctive to Islam culture, and in modern contexts is usually built onto mosques as a symbol of the religion. The vote is seen by some groups as an indication that anti-Islam feeling is present and Switzerland, and is indeed present, and spreading, throughout continental Europe, but is this really the case?
I must admit, when I first heard of this story through word of mouth, I got the impression that these minarets were everywhere, and that they were of fairly substantial size and prominence.
There are four in the entire country.
During my ignorant phase, I thought to myself that this vote could only be a good thing. Surely if these minarets are everywhere, in a mainly Christian country, the minority were beginning to take hold? Now that I have all the facts, I find this story bordering on the disturbing.
I'm a person that supports expression of religion, but I also think that in any given country, the majority religion should get preference in the way it displays itself, etc. If there were minarets on every second corner of Dublin, I'll admit I'd be slightly outraged, even though I'm not a hugely religious person. Let's put that into perspective. Would you really expect, in a Muslim country, to build a Christian Church with the symbol of the cross on top of it without causing mass uproar? I wouldn't bet on it.
In a presumably more tolerant west, we allow places of worship for all religions, and rightly so, but if they start to take prominence from the country's religion, that doesn't really sit right with me for whatever reason.
However, I digress. Let me repeat what I said above about the minarets in Switzerland. There are four in the entire country. Four. And they are, from what I've seen, rather humble in size. This vote really starts to stink of oppression on closer inspection. I can't find a possible way to justify this vote that isn't a dressing up of blatant oppression. I may sound like a hypocrite but there's distinct differences between what I condone in ways of national religion superiority and what the Swiss public is after doing. If there were minarets dotting the skyline, then yes, I feel they would be justified in reaching this decision. But there are FOUR in the whole country. This is nitpicking and pettiness, nothing more.
Muslims may not be entirely tolerant of our cultures though, even as they live in them. I've heard of an Irish woman on a bus in Dublin city, saying "God bless me" after she had sneezed, and being promptly told by a Muslim woman sitting across from her that she had been offended by her use of the word "God". If this is widespread it should be addressed, although there is very little we can do.
Except stop regressing and lead by example in the way of tolerance perhaps?
Monday, November 23, 2009
Music wears many masks.....
What does music mean to you? Why do you listen to music? I'd say ask yourself these questions and you'll find much deeper answers than you'd bargained for.
I got to thinking about this the other day while listening to my own cauldron of sonic bliss (Ipod, I know, poor metaphor) on the way home from college. When the goosebumps started to hit for the umpteenth time over the course of that long walk, I realised that is the reason exactly that I listen to music. Nothing beats the conclusion of a massive period of build up into an explosive climax, and the resultant shivers down the backbone. Whether this be achieved through listening to Scandinavian extreme metal, 90's grunge, techno or plain ol' folk rock, this build up and climax can be found all across the board in music.
For me, the ability of an artist lies not in the technical mastery of their chosen instrument, but with a genuine composing talent. Someone who can deliver moments of musical bliss with the simplest of chord progressions or riffs is a true talent in my eyes, something which no fast-fingered, virtuoso musician will ever really achieve. To put what I mean in simpler language, it's music that grabs you by the gonads, no matter how passively you may have been listening to it. When you're walking down the street, with music playing merely as a backgrounf thing, and a song that is so powerful/beautiful/intense rips you out of yourself to make you think "Wow, that was unbelieveable" is true music in my eyes.
Of course I don't base all of my music taste on this, and I doubt many people actually do. Some music has its merits on simply making you smile with its upbeat tempo and catchy riffs/whatever. Some songs drown themselves in complication that you can't help but listen to to attempt to decipher what f-in time signature it's in. And, speaking in terms of the general public, a song can simply make you just want to get up and thrash around the place. There are a whole variety of other reasons I'd wager aswell.
I hope what I've managed to convey (poorly, I concede) is that music affects all of us, albeit in drastically different ways. We all have our own particular tastes to conform to what we expect music to deliver. But all of it is, I think, essential to modern life. I've yet to meet someone that simply just doesn't like music. Some people stick purely to chart music and don't pursue it further, others pride themselves in having the rarest of albums from the rarest of bands. It's odd in the way that a general liking of music can unite us all, yet when we even begin to get into specifics, it divides us, sometimes drastically. But I can guarantee you one thing - music can get all of us talking. Even if for different reasons.
I got to thinking about this the other day while listening to my own cauldron of sonic bliss (Ipod, I know, poor metaphor) on the way home from college. When the goosebumps started to hit for the umpteenth time over the course of that long walk, I realised that is the reason exactly that I listen to music. Nothing beats the conclusion of a massive period of build up into an explosive climax, and the resultant shivers down the backbone. Whether this be achieved through listening to Scandinavian extreme metal, 90's grunge, techno or plain ol' folk rock, this build up and climax can be found all across the board in music.
For me, the ability of an artist lies not in the technical mastery of their chosen instrument, but with a genuine composing talent. Someone who can deliver moments of musical bliss with the simplest of chord progressions or riffs is a true talent in my eyes, something which no fast-fingered, virtuoso musician will ever really achieve. To put what I mean in simpler language, it's music that grabs you by the gonads, no matter how passively you may have been listening to it. When you're walking down the street, with music playing merely as a backgrounf thing, and a song that is so powerful/beautiful/intense rips you out of yourself to make you think "Wow, that was unbelieveable" is true music in my eyes.
Of course I don't base all of my music taste on this, and I doubt many people actually do. Some music has its merits on simply making you smile with its upbeat tempo and catchy riffs/whatever. Some songs drown themselves in complication that you can't help but listen to to attempt to decipher what f-in time signature it's in. And, speaking in terms of the general public, a song can simply make you just want to get up and thrash around the place. There are a whole variety of other reasons I'd wager aswell.
I hope what I've managed to convey (poorly, I concede) is that music affects all of us, albeit in drastically different ways. We all have our own particular tastes to conform to what we expect music to deliver. But all of it is, I think, essential to modern life. I've yet to meet someone that simply just doesn't like music. Some people stick purely to chart music and don't pursue it further, others pride themselves in having the rarest of albums from the rarest of bands. It's odd in the way that a general liking of music can unite us all, yet when we even begin to get into specifics, it divides us, sometimes drastically. But I can guarantee you one thing - music can get all of us talking. Even if for different reasons.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Irish Pride
I could use this post to give out hell about the complete injustice the Republic of Ireland football team experienced last night at the hands (literally) of the French. Yet I doubt on one blog it will do any good, and I've vented my frustration sufficiently enough for today anyway.
No, what I want to mention is just how bloody well the boys in green played last night. The performance was nothing short of inspirational. After a year of dodgey performances, we finally got it right and produced a breathtaking display. We passed the ball with conviction and accuracy, we had imagination in our play, we defended doggedly and admirably. There was literally nothing more we could have asked from the players-not mentioning the chances that went begging, but that shouldn't detract from a wonderful shift.
And all this is what made defeat so hard to swallow. Scenes at the end of the Irish players openly crying touched the hearts of every Irish person with even the faintest interest in the sport. They thoroughly deserve to be enjoying a summer in South Africa for all the hard work they put in, but they're not due a huge injustice.
To the players: well done lads, all of you can hold your heads high in pride, because for the length of a full game you made the whole nation believe. You've shown us that we can expect big performances, and that you won't wilt in the face of, on paper at least, superior opposition. Take time to get over the disappointment, and come back ready for Euro 2012 with the same attitude and we can really make an attempt to storm Europe.
Lads, ye were inspiring.
No, what I want to mention is just how bloody well the boys in green played last night. The performance was nothing short of inspirational. After a year of dodgey performances, we finally got it right and produced a breathtaking display. We passed the ball with conviction and accuracy, we had imagination in our play, we defended doggedly and admirably. There was literally nothing more we could have asked from the players-not mentioning the chances that went begging, but that shouldn't detract from a wonderful shift.
And all this is what made defeat so hard to swallow. Scenes at the end of the Irish players openly crying touched the hearts of every Irish person with even the faintest interest in the sport. They thoroughly deserve to be enjoying a summer in South Africa for all the hard work they put in, but they're not due a huge injustice.
To the players: well done lads, all of you can hold your heads high in pride, because for the length of a full game you made the whole nation believe. You've shown us that we can expect big performances, and that you won't wilt in the face of, on paper at least, superior opposition. Take time to get over the disappointment, and come back ready for Euro 2012 with the same attitude and we can really make an attempt to storm Europe.
Lads, ye were inspiring.
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