We need some ingenious programmer to invent the cyberspace equivalent of the rabbitproof fence.

As the old saying goes amongst us “old hands”, there is no technical solution for social problems.

In response to the second, I don’t think there is anything very creditable about Bolt’s behaviour as such. For what it is worth I don’t really believe he is wilfully dishonest, persistently ignorant, or any permutation thereof either. I don’t even admire him in any sense of the word, I don’t really like his writing style and I frequently disagree with his conclusions. But for all that, I would rather read him than almost any Age columnist.

It is just a matter of taste, or so I think – perhaps if I was more morally sensitive I would think differently, but as far as I am concerned you can stand reading the SMH which I can’t and vice versa with respect of Bolt. But my point about the post in my response to your first question was not really justification of Bolt.

You clearly have a fine capacity for moral reasoning – not.

Partly the fact that I think you could say the same about any number of columnists from the opposite perspective, but mainly that I think the reaction is about as disproportionate as the action[sic].

I just wish, for amusement, that the Tele would hire a thoroughgoing Trot columnist.

They probably figure that the Age demonstrates that this wouldn’t improve their circulation figures.

I just wish, for amusement, that the Tele would hire a thoroughgoing Trot columnist.

Could the next blogger to MSM transition be from Leftwrites?

They certainly accord the Murdoch press more influence on election results than political scientists are prepared to!

http://www.leftwrites.net/2006/12/04/murdoch-tears-down-labor-leader/#comment-19722

On then other hand, the post anti-capitalism rally session down at the pub “I’ll shout the bar with the dosh I’ve taken from the bosses’ rag” might not go all that well…

Is [Bolt's] the anger of a sharp mind frequently impatient with the foolishness of those around him – Melbourne’s own Tom Wolfe?

More of an anti-Wolfe I’d say – the anger of a dull mind frequently impatient with the perspicacity of those around him.

gilmae, of course, is spot on. You don’t sell tabloids by putting forth well-reasoned, moderate and thoughtful views. You have to go to extremes, which generally means determinedly disregarding any inconvenient facts. I just wish, for amusement, that the Tele would hire a thoroughgoing Trot columnist.

As with his reaction to Andrew Bolt, it is to his credit. Not, unfortunately, yours :)

And how many times have we heard the claim in MSM vs. bloggers debates that journalists are rigorous fact checkers whereas bloggers just write biassed tosh and twist the facts? It seems that in the case of Bolt vs. Leigh, the boot is very much on the other foot.

Indeed Kim. In fact we need look no further than Piers Ackwit, “one of the nation’s most respected journalists,” apparently.

2006 has to go down as one of his bumper years. Not content with stuffing up a fairly straightforward yarn about Playschool, he later lands his employer with a $200,000 bill (plus costs) for wrting a story about a member of the NRMA board based on nothing other than his own fervid imagination.

And he’s still got a job. Publishing a whole two columns a week. How does this work exactly?

One could be a best seller.

If there was any justice in the world, this sort of pontificating would really put an end to any credibility Bolt has in his frequent criticisms of ARC research grants.

http://larvatusprodeo.net/2006/12/12/the-iraqi-peoples-struggle-for-freedom/

And how many times have we heard the claim in MSM vs. bloggers debates that journalists are rigorous fact checkers whereas bloggers just write biassed tosh and twist the facts? It seems that in the case of Bolt vs. Leigh, the boot is very much on the other foot.

Does News exercise any sort of quality control over Bolt’s ravings? Does Bolt consider himself to be a professional?