Dear ABC, In response to Q and A tonight.

Dear ABC,

Wow, just finished listening to Q and A online. Talk about proving my point about the rampant misogynistic attitudes in Australian politics and media. Even on my beloved Aunty. When Ms Kate Ellis, was trying to answer a question, asked of her, Mr Christopher Pyne and Mr Piers Akerman would talk directly over her. Mr Pyne had the social grace of mule and spoke to a young audience member in an unnecessarily aggressive and condescending manner. To say that her question was an unpaid advertisement for Labor is yet another display of his school yard bully attitude. He showed no respect for himself, the questioner, nor the people watching or listening to the show. To say that Mr Tony Abbott has never said anything against women, even in the face of evidence, is again a sign of selective memory. Mr Pyne himself has said some pretty vile things about the PM. Mr Akerman is a disgusting creature, every time he opened his mouth he proved further that the Liberal Party have no idea and what a powerful force social media is. Look at Alan Jones lastest sh!t-storm and the Jill Meagher case. The Liberal’s are foolish if they don’t quickly get hip with the kids. To discount the online community is to commit political suicide.

I was disappointed in Tony Jones as well. You know this makes me sad. I am a massive Silver-Fox fan-girl and to see him fail to mediate Mr Pyne and Mr Akerman when Ms Ellis was speaking spoke volumes about the character of Mr Tony Jones. Disappointing. I know what they would say; “Don’t be so sensitive Pinky”. Well guess what…you make me like this. You make me angry because out of your mouth comes one thing and yet your behaviour screams the very opposite. Actions speak louder than words. Why is it okay to speak over Ms Ellis, demand an answer that she was trying to give? But when Mr Pyne starts getting shouty, you do nothing? Gentlemen, you make me cry. I have a daughter and it’s your behaviour that makes me scared for her. It makes me fear for her safety. You all have privileged positions of power over others, why can’t you model the type of behaviours you’d hope to see in young men? Those of respect for self and others, diplomacy and willingness to stand up for those with a lesser voice than their own. You need to remember one thing Gentlemen, if we stop engaging, you lose your voice too. So while you sit aloft your ivory towers, remember, you’re only there because, we the people, say it’s okay.

Another question ABC, where are the female presenters? *raises eyebrow* Ever thought of having female co-hosts on the radio? I don’t know about other states, but 774 is very male dominated. When such talent as Libby Gore and countless other female social commentators are available? I don’t know if Ms Gore is available, I just want to hear her everyday, she has great taste in music. My motives on this one are purely selfishly motivated.

So, seriously Aunty, watch Q and A with a critical eye. Watch the appealing behaviour by all the male panel members. Ms Ellis, thankfully seems a resilient woman who has some kind dignity and carried herself very well. (will insert iview link when available)

Thanks for your time.

Regards

Pinky

Oct 1

What A Week: A Reflective Piece (bit ranty at the end)

This past week has been difficult particularly the latter half. The rape and murder of Ms Gillian (Jill) Meagher has left a lot of people feeling a bit on edge (see http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-09-27/man-charged-with-rape-murder-of-jill-meagher/4284826). This anxiety is revealing itself in some pretty ugly ways. I have seen friends, usually loving and supportive of each other, turn into irrational and intolerant and cruel towards each other. I have seen usually rational people, even after being told not to jeopardise the criminal case, still go ahead and make outrageous accusations that they cannot support and that could possibly see a guilty man go free. I have seen women speak unfairly and without cause or evidence about others. Rather than analysing what was actually written or said, they just bitch (or group think as it is called in my beloved psychology) like a bunch of high school girls. It saddens me that while the murder of Ms Meagher was still making its way into social conscious, they turn on each other. What does that say? They are educated women, surely they can rise above the pack mentality? Ms Meagher’s death should not be in vein, it should remind us to be grateful for our friends and family, not matter how limited or vast. Please, by all accounts Ms Meagher was a warm and thoughtful person, lets up hold those values, let that be what drives us forward not anger and violence (either verbal or physical).

These observations have been made over many versions of social media of which I partake in. I just want to clarify that I am not talking about 1 or 2 people but lots.

Yesterday I was so upset with the world I wanted to pack up the kids, Mr P, and the animals and move as far away from this so called “advanced society” as I could. Somewhere I could hide from all the violence and anger. So I wrote a blog instead (see: http://wp.me/pYozN-3R) and this morning I was able to hear the Triple J closet tapes (see: http://tindeck.com/listen/dulw) and became more despondent. On top of the wide spread grief for Ms Meagher; Mr Jones goes and says some of the most distasteful remarks I have ever heard. This is from someone who survived both the Kennett and the Howard Years. It takes a lot to make truly disgusted. After researching for my blog I realised that this man has had a lot leniency over the years (how many times can one person be held in contempt of court before it’s a serious crime?) and Mr Tony Abbott’s statement in regards to what was said not only condones Mr Jones behaviour and attitudes and lends some weight to that argument that “cash for comments” is still alive and well, it’s just this time it’s not cash, this time it’s political support (at the highest end) and a licence for hate speech for which the consequences are minimal. When you have men like Mr Jones riding the airwaves saying that women are “destroying the joint” is it any wonder that violent crimes against women are so prevalent? When you have top parlimentarian’s like Mr Abbott and Mr Joe Hockey, you can’t wonder why violent crimes happen (and yes I realise there are other factors). I know Mr Abbott and Mr Hockey would both argue, “We don’t condone violence towards women” my reply would be, “No out loud you don’t, but, your behaviour speaks louder than words”. Their relationship with Mr Jones and open support (until yesterday) was almost farcical as was Mr Abbott’s two line statement regarding Mr Jones’ behaviour. Saying that “it’s good he apologised” is so contrite and pathetic I keep wondering if it’s real or am I not reading it properly…Alas all checks have proven that it is true. <sad sigh> (see: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/tony-abbott-joins-chorus-condemning-jones/story-fn59niix-1226484661391)

We need to take stock Ladies and Gentleman. We need to continue to boycott all companies that have a relationship to Mr Jones and 2GB until he is removed. The law needs to be reviewed and “a code of practice* needs to be made into something far more powerful (which I’ll leave to the Legal Geeks to work out) in order to stop this kind of hatred being aired. I am still shocked that he got away with in sighting the Cronulla Riots. I mean WTF. If I did that, goodness! The law applies to everyone, even to Mr Jones.

On reflection this week has been a bit WTF to be honest. Everyone just needs to keep calm and destroy the joint.

Sep 30

Alan Jones: A Review

Dearest Reader,

Twitter and FB have imploded after Alan Jones gave a speech to the Sydney University Young Liberal Club saying that Ms Gillard’s father, whom recently passed away, died of shame because of his daughters lies. You know something is really offensive when even the most conservative thinkers gasp in recoil. This has caused outrage and a quick response from politician’s on both sides condemning Mr Jones’ behaviour and which includes Tony Abbott, who gave a weak statement about how Mr Jones (a close friend of Mr Jones) has been a naughty boy (see: http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-national/abbott-says-jones-was-out-of-line-20120930-26t8o.html).

The shallow performance of Mr Jones’ apology to Ms Gillard was a poor attempt to smooth things over with his sponsors and radio network (see http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-09-30/jones-apologises-for-black-parody-remarks/4288118). What was really telling was his use of language, his facial movements and his varying speech styles. All of these things add up to “I don’t really mean it” (see Dr Paul Ekman’s work on micro expressions https://face.paulekman.com/face/aboutmett2.aspx).

But putting that aside for the moment, we need to reflect on whether or not we should be so surprised and how it is, when one looks at the behaviour of this man in the past, could still be on air. From saying Ms Gillard should be drowned in a chaff to women are “destroying the joint” should have been enough to him shut down. This may be the worst of his crimes so far but lets reflect on the history of this so called political powerhouse and current king of the Sydney Shock Jocks.

1988:

Mr Jones is charged with two counts of outraging public decency in London’s West End. The charges were later dropped by the police (due to lack of evidence) and Mr Jones was awarded costs from the police.

1990:

Mr Jones is dismissed from the Sun-Herald for plagiarism and was then hired by their rival the Sunday Telegraph.

Mr Jones was ordered by the court to pay Mr David Parker $55,000 in defamation charges for election to the NRMA Council in October 1986. 2UE was also ordered to pay Mr Parker $80, 000 for the same incident.

1991

July: Mr Jones was charged with contempt of court which was not held up, but Jones was deemed a dangerous man.

1992

Mr Jones as he found himself once again (along with 2UE) in contempt of court when the criminal trial against ex-policeman John Killen had to be aborted because of an interview Mr Jones conducted with a former Drug Enforcement Squad Officer.

1993:

January: Mr Jone’s describes Australian of the Year winner, Mr Mandawuy Yunupingu as an “insult” and given the award because he’s an indigenous person (I find it too vile to repeat his words here. They are not warranted So I have heavily paraphrased his remarkshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Jones_(radio_broadcaster)#cite_note-34).

March: Contempt of Court charges were prosecuted by the NSW Department of Public Prosecutions (DPP) against Mr Jones and 2UE for yet another aborted case against an ex-police officer

June: Mr Jones makes yet more racially driven comments live on television about indigenous people to Mr Charles Perkins about land rights.

1994:

April: Jones’ failed television program Alan Jones Live is finally pulled off air by Channel 10

July: Media Watch highlights Mr Jones on-air promotion of Optus

November: Mr Don Mackay (NRMA President at the time) sued Mr Jones and 2UE for making a number of false imputations about him.

Jones had a very public row with then fellow broadcaster Mr John Laws which lead to the then PM Mr Paul Keating to comment: “You know, he’s got a good rating program, even though it’s basically, you know, most of the stuff is middle of the road fascism”.

1998

Mr Jones is sued by Bill Harrigan for defamation and is awarded $90,000. On top of this Mr Jones is publicly humiliated by the leaking of pre-recordings of his show on Triple J(see: http://tindeck.com/listen/dulw). Personally the “dust” comments are hilarious…

1999 – 2004

Mr Jones one of the radio presenters caught up in the “Cash for Comments Scandal” that lead to changes in the law to stop it from happening again. (see http://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/transcripts/s1095125.htm & good ol’ wiki for a highlights package: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cash_for_comment_affair). He spent a lot of time lying about it.

April It was relieved that the then chairman of the Australian Broadcasting Authority (ABA) who headed the Cash for Comments enquiry sent admiring letters to Mr Jones as was not as impartial as first thought.

2005

Mr Jones encourages the Cronulla Riots where extensive property damage, assaults and violent acts against ambulance officers . He OPENLY encouraged it. (http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2005/12/12/1134236003153.html and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cronulla_riots).

2007

October: Mr Jones and The Daily Telegraph were referred to the NSW Supreme Court because of allegation’s against legal council in an inquest into the death of Private Jake Kovco which could have lead to prejudicing the inquest.

2008

Mr Jones was convicted of contempt of court again for the naming of a juvenile witness in a murder trial. Jones appealed the conviction until it was turned over on the 27th of March. The Judge Mr Finnane said that Mr Jones was guilty of contempt but over annulled it anyway (or legal reasons that I don’t understand)

2010

Mr Jones vilifies Brigadier Lyn McDade and due to his timing was not charged with contempt of court yet again. (see: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/inaccurate-vilification-beyond-joness-remit/story-e6frg6zo-1225939391939)

2011

November: ACMA finds that Jones in in breach of the commercial radio code of practice when reporting environmental issues. His use of inaccurate figures and one-sided reporting landed him in hot water.

December: Mr Jones is being sued by bureaucrat Terry Clout over comments he made in March, 2009.

2012

June: ACMA finds Jones guilty again of unsubstantiated environmental claims.

I am sure, Dear Reader, you would agree that if anyone else had behaved at work the way Mr Jones has, they would be quickly deprived of their capacity to earn a wage at that particular company. Is it because he owns the company he works for? Is it that all the fines for contempt of court have really not damaged his hip pocket? Has he had protection because of his membership to the Liberal Party? Why hasn’t Mr Abbott kicked him out if he actually believes that his friends actions were out of line? Why did it take so long for Mr Abbott to comment on the disgusting display when other politicians responded straight away?

Mr Jones, clearly, by his behaviour over the last 25 years, needs to be stripped of his Order of Australia, kicked out of the Liberal Party, fired from 2UE and be bought in front of the ACMA and be forced to pay serious money in damages and striped of his rights to broadcast on any medium for a set period of time. He has insighted violence. Insulted the Prime Minister and fuelled gender discrimination.

The evidence suggest that Mr Jones is unstable and the last thing he should be able to do is speak, without filter, to an audience of angry and frightened people. He should be held accountable both in the law and in society for what his has done both in the past and his current violations.

Sadly Dear Reader, I doubt very much that what should be done, will be done. Mr Jones will continue to abuse his privilege and continue to give shallow apologies. There will be ill informed people screaming “freedom of Speech” in Mr Jones’ defence.

In the words of Spiderman: