I've been made aware of a story that has been alleged to be in the Sunday Times this weekend. Prepare yourselves for it's a beauty....
Lord Foulkes considering suing Tory Bear!
The extremely popular blog from the little blue bear has seemingly upset the good Lord to such an extent that he needs to take legal action. Given George is not standing for election again and, as far as I'm aware, is a pretty thick-skinned individual, I am surprised he is making such a move. It can't be much worse than what others have said out there. This post of Mr Bear's might have something to do with it however...
Is it a bit harsh to sue the owner of what is clearly a tongue in cheek blog? I couldn't possibly comment but this is the same man who compared the First Minister of Scotland to fascist leader Mussolini as recently as this week and then went on to claim that the SNP was suffering from a humour bypass when it took exception.
Of course this could arguably simply be revenge from the Labour peer. Tory Bear played a leading role in Iain MacWhirter's campaign to be the next University of Edinburgh Rector, defeating Lord George by 69% to 31%.
Indeed Tory Bear has been a regular thorn in Lord George's side, there was even a "defamation row" (according to The Scotsman at least) mentioned as recently as September 2009. Although Mr Bear seemed to be unaware of that fact.
Whatever happens this weekend, it seems the fallout between Lord George, Tory Bear and perhaps even Kezia Dugdale could grow and grow if this 'tweet' is anything to go by:
Wondering whether @kezdugdale helped draft a good quote for this weekend's Sunday Times about the bear.. On behalf of @georgefoulkes. Hic.
Oh dear. Can't we all be friends?
________________________________________________
The latest round of exposes does not end there I'm afraid.
Most readers may be aware that Subrosa has closed down her blog. Deeply regrettably, it seems it may not just be to do with a stalker she seems to be plagued by but also could potentially be included in a tabloid story this Sunday. I am aware of some of the details, though not all, but I can only hope that these do not surface come the weekend without very good reason. I fear the newsworthiness of these recent blog stories has not been as strong a consideration as it should be.
Who is to know what to make of the recent focus on bloggers and the alarming spate of retirals that has sprung up amongst the Scottish blogosphere but we can only hope that 2010 ushers in a more placid age for one and all...
Salmond vs Trump
8 minutes ago
43 comments:
I had no idea about any of this Subrosa stuff.
It's all starting to get a bit out of hand now, I think.
There's an election coming up Jeff, that's what's happening. They don't want the blogosphere to be a fifth column rocking the boat of carefully prepared media releases in the mainstream papers. We can expect more of this. Blogging is just getting into its stride as a media form and it's a lot harder to track down whistleblowers on the net; that's why they're putting in the boot.
Haha, wow that is harsh.
Well, here's a new blog for you!
www.thejacobite.blogspot.com
- Niall
"Most readers may be aware that Subrosa has closed down her blog. Deeply regrettably"
I had no idea about the hassle Subrosa was getting, and I am really sorry to hear that she has had to close down her blog. This really is all getting out of hand now, what the hell is going on in the Scottish blogsphere when an excellent and very responsible blogger like Subrosa has to call it quits??!!
Exactly!
WTF is going on?
I can confidently say, given that I am self-employed and most of my clients are Americans have don't give a flying f&^k what the British gutter-press have to say, I will not be shutting my blog down (which is only really in it's first full month of writing!).
What Julie says does have a ring fo truth to it. Labour in particular do not like opposition blogs, which is probably why they set the NoTW on wardog et al, even though the Scottish Seceratoary has had virtually no press at all despite it being possible he's about to be sued by a senior member of the bar…
Not only that, why hasn't Foulkes been censored for comparing Alex Salmond, man who no mater what political party you belong to, must agree is wholly committed to democracy, to a fascist dictator?
That's a bit rich coming from a party that opposes referendums for the people, and a man who sits in an unelected House….
If it had been the other way around, Alex would have been in every newspaper in Scotland on the front page as a racist bigot, evil minister etc.
But no, Labour have swung things again.
My blog will be staying, and anyone who fears to publish something can most definitely send it my way….
I've been threatened by the same character.
Oh, Conan, bless. Don't think you're at any risk, you silly sausage.
Don't you work for Gil, Math?
I thought we'd met.
Labour know they need to close down the blogosphere before the election. We will see a lot of this, and abuse of legislation in support. It will get a lot dirtier before they go.
BrianSJ,
I beg to differ. Labour have recently hired a digital communications expert with the task of getting pro-Labour blogs 'on message' and tackling attack blogs. They are looking for another similar employee currently
While last night, Sarah Brown held a party for Labour bloggers (at least one of whom has been heavily criticised).
This reeks of a party who are seeking to use a new technology, not stamp it out.
Labour know as well as anyone that they can't lock down opposition online. It's an impossible endeavour and this 'conspiracy' doesn't explain why we aren't seeing Conservative (barring Tory Bear and I'd been wondering when he'd piss someone off enough...) and Lib Dem blogs targeted. It also doesn't explain Sub Rosa, who tended to give credit where credit was due rather then function as an attack blog.
It's also worth noting, that like The Sun, NotW is now a Tory paper.
So you have no problem with one of your cronies smearing Lord Foulkes, but when it looks as if a friend of yours in the blogosphere is about to get the same treatment you're horrified? What was going through your mind when you decided to run these two stories back-to-back?
That's a bloody shame about Subrosa. Things are not looking too rosy in the Scottish political blog garden. Might be a case of too small a pond? Too easy for bigger fish to eat up those without media backers.
Ashley, fair comment. I wasn't trying to link the stories other than political establishment vs bloggers angle. Of course there'll be a 'blogger's bias' but if I had to choose a side, I'd say Foulkes has a very strong case and TB has sailed far too close to the wind. Not that I know for sure what the details of the potential case are.
Nowt to do with me though, I'm just the messenger...
Both characters in the TB / Foulkes case are pretty objectionable. But the hypocrisy of one of the characters grates again and again. So if there's any sympathy...
Why on earth would you not put these two stories together? My only complaint is that the two streams of comment will get mixed up. I've never met SR, but the 'life's work' of commentary on her site built a pretty solid picture of a pretty solid individual. Incredible to see that at risk.
Labour closing down the Blogosphere? BRING IT ON!
Subrosa will be back, if not in her original form then in another.
In my opinion these threats boil down to an attempt to control brought on by desperation.
All politicians have chosen to make their living out of representing their constituents. Some have played it straight while others through ineptitude, incompetence or just bad luck have failed to pull it off. Some have used the guise of representation as a cover for self advancement or to the benefit of their party hegemony.
Eventually their veneer of competence and commitment is eroded by their underlying corruption. Often there's nothing specific, no definative analysis just a growing rumbling in the gut that the words/actions, whatever, don't ring true.
Generally it's that gut feeling that motivates the blogger. He/she smells a rat and generally, though the rat may be different to the one the thought, it's still a rat and, very likely, the instigator of the legal action has a pack of rats he's trying to keep from surfacing.
My advice to any amateur blogger facing this threat is, first decide whether the comment has some bases to back your interpretation. If you decide it has - don't spend any money defending it. Reply politely to letters from the court but disregard any correspondence from the other parties solicitors and handle your own defence 'if' it reaches court.
The court hates being used as a threat on frivolous cases. Especially those based on dubious vanity.
AT the end of the day a sows ear can never pass its self off as a silk purse. So say what you think but say it responsibly - it's the job of the blogs to take up where the papers have failed.
Anon:
I know a couple of Gil's, but I don't think I know who you're talking about…
I *may* have met you, after all, you're "anonymous", so you could be anyone :D
But no, at this time I am not employed nor in the employ of anyone in the party.
I *am* an activist in Inverclyde, and I'd hope to be considered a nasty thorn in David Cairns' side, but that's about it.
I *may* one day run for office, if I can find one that's up for election, suitable for my experience (so local council then) and if the Party choose me…
With regards the tabloid press trying to shut us down, or the Labour lot trying to intimidate us, I hate to quote a fool, but I say "bring it on!".
Math
You are displying the kind of bravado the unionists are banking on.
My advice, dont bring anything on, just keep posting and commenting on issues that interest you, not them. If the issue becomes whether or not cybernats are abusive or not the unionists have us exacty where they want us - their battleground.
My advice - just be sensible. Dont pick gratutous fights, dont call political opponents cunts etc, be able to back up claims you publish online. Not unreasonable self checks I think.
For sure the net is gearing up as an important battlegound, for sure the mainstream parties - and I hope also the SNP - realising the power of viral innuendo, smear etc. the damage it can do them, will be much quicker to get on top of things, threaten santions against offender, bring offenders to the attention of the MSM, try and "out" anonymous bloggers etc. But rather than complain about doing what from their perspective is no more than sensible, inevitable, just get smart. Dont give opponents the ammo they seek
And Tory Bear - what a clown.
I see Jeff has been told to remove one of his last comments regarding bloggers being more at risk if they have links to high profile politicians.
I really would watch this Jeff guy and warn other bloggers to give him a very wide berth.
Thanks Anon,
I'll heed your warning and give myself a wide berth going forward.
I wasn't "told" to remove the comment, I decided to myself as I thought the comment would continue to upset the horses rather than calm them.
That was all.
I've just been called a silly sausage!
That guy knows how to hurt.
Aye we Can's comment here is perfect common sense...I urge everyone to read his latest post on his blog re Alex Salmond's words on the blogging issue, and also Aye we Can's pertinent comments after it!
News from SNP Council In Perth this afternoon...Salmond on "cybernats"
http://www.ayescotland.com/
Aye we Can is giving us all extremely good advice here...I urge everyone to go and read his latest posting on his blog re Alex Salmond's words on the blogging issue - and especially Aye We Can's pertinent comments after it!
Thanks for all your support, I really appreciate it and if any of you have emailed me, please bear with me. Hundreds of people offered support and it's been quite overwhelming. I'm answering as quickly as I can.
Jeff, perhaps you know more than me? :)
Jeff, I'm sure you won't mind if I put this link here. We share many readers.
Subrosa's Super Seven blogs: http://bit.ly/7Q5Hav
Ashley
Not up here they aint. As I said at the time, since they have burned their bridges with New labour (for this election at least) whoever they back, they face either ridiculule (if they back the SNP) or commercial suicide (if they back the Tories). See http://humbug3.blogspot.com/2009/09/as-sun-sets-on-new-labour.html
As for Tory Bears accusation, unless he can prove it, it sounds like more dirt throwing of the type the Tories used to be rather good at.
That link isn't working for me subrosa can you post it again?
Folks, before anyone trusts that the Subrosa posting on here is the real Subrosa, I'd suggest you all go and take a look at Wholly Rude's latest posting on her blog. She's been doing some amazing investigative work! (Sorry, I am not techie enough to know how to put a link to it on here, but go and feast your eyes on it! I am most impressed).
Observer
http://www.annaraccoon.com/politics/subrosas-super-seven/
Thanks cynicalHighlander.
I guess I will check out the NOTW tomorrow. I'll wash my hands very thoroughly afterwards.
Subrosa
I don't have your email, but I hope you are doing OK and the stalker/ whatever hassle you're getting is not too much of an inconvenience for you. I enjoy redaing your blog and was sorry to see it go "private" the other day.
The comments from the character on Conan's blog were threatening and seem to come from the same character who was involved in the UoC affair.
All rather odious.
"Thinking you have evidence" and actually having it are two different things , as I reckon Tory Bear will soon find out.
Am I interested in his sewar level allegations ( or you repeating them)? - not in the slightest.
Aye We Can
I agree - I can see no relevance to assertions about a politicians private life in so far as these seem to bear no relevance to ability to do the job or highlight any hypocrisy/ conflict of interest.
nor do i, its just in case anyone was wondering,
i also dont think TB would just make something like this up, therefore it could be an interesting court case
i see no need to dig into private lives, sespecially with foulkes, hes enough of an electoral asset (for us) as it is
Tory Bear as it appears has found out the identity of the person behind the Nationalist Mythbusting blog.
Reporters Sans Frontières said...
The outing out of bloggers identity is going to get a lot more interesting when the author of this blog is outed and named.
Wasting time and effort on a notorious blog fueled by self indulgence of grandeur under the cover of ' anonymity ' will be his downfall.
Very interesting parallels with the defence industry in this blog and the small matter of the Intelligence and Security Committee in the Cabinet Office.
Watch this one squeak.
No i don't and even if I did I would think twice before outing the identity, unless that person was on the taxpayer.
I've just been alerted to your post Jeff. I assure you there are no reasons why I should be 'outed' whatsoever, but i though it my responsibilty to assure myself that the problems of the past few days were in the hands of the 'people who know'.
Many people know exactly who I am including yourself, because I told you confidentially some months ago when you first raised the issue if 'anonymous' bloggers.
Placid? That's the last thing we need in the blogosphere. We need people who initiate debate because without debate we will all become spokesmen for our relevant masters.
I don't have any masters, I have the freedom to say what I think, although I support the SNP policy of independence with a fervour.
"I've just been alerted to your post Jeff."
But that was your second comment Subrosa, the first being over 24 hours ago.
Jeff it was the first time it was alerted in my google alert. Apologies for not being as technical as yourself. I will try to do better in future.
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