On Thu 26 Mar at 7:08pm Nevillman wrote:
Mick Symes on lewes present is saying that he will not allow any posts complaining about Boris Johnson on his site because we must show unity. I totally agree that we must all work together socially and economically but although there may be parallels with wartime, this is not war. It was important that the Nazis saw that we were united but we are dealing with a virus here. It really does not know or care if we are united politically. It will presumably do as it will and we allow it until we get a vaccine.
The actions of politicians will to a large extent determine the course of the virus. It is more important than ever that we are checking what they do and holding them to account. If Mick Symes regards that as some way undermining the country's effort to get on top of the virus it is up to him but he should not impose that on others. He is custodian of what is for some reason the biggest mouthpiece of lewes people. Even Maria caulfield posts on it but he can decide what is allowed to be said on it and who is allowed to see it.
On Thu 26 Mar at 7:15pm Sleeveless wrote:
Just a thought Nevillman, you could always set up a Facebook group, couldn’t you?
On Thu 26 Mar at 8:16pm David Stanley wrote:
I think Mick just wants to keep it a pleasant, civilised agreeable place for people to share local info. We all have our " special insights" but they are often dull for others .
Your obsessions are general rather than specific to this locality. Your personal opinion on BJ or " free speech" isn't particular to Lewes or even very interesting. There are lots places online where you can get jolly cross and demonstrate your wit and erudition.
On Thu 26 Mar at 8:49pm 35+Male.Nev wrote:
Isolation getting to you? As before start your forum/group/website own. Not that hard, or expensive. It seems to be getting obsessive for you.
On Thu 26 Mar at 9:17pm Blatant Liar wrote:
Nev, tell me why you want to complain about Boris on a local FB page ?
It would be akin to me continually mentioning Labours laughable general election performance, or that of the Lib Dems which concluded with their leader losing her seat. Now we all wouldn’t want that, would we …
On Thu 26 Mar at 10:50pm Nevillman wrote:
Firstly I don't want to complain about Johnson anywhere. I think it is important that if people do want to they can. Who cares if these 'special insights' are dull for others? So is a great deal of stuff on Facebook but I accept people have a right to say it. Opinions on the virus and how to deal with it are very pertinent to the people of lewes. There is a lot of information and opinions on the site that are general rather than specific to lewes.
Secondly I do not have a smart phone and am not in a position to set up a Facebook site. However I am strongly of the opinion that if I ran a Facebook site called Lewes present I would moderate it only by removing offensive posts and leave all other discussion up to the people of lewes. I would not permanently bar people from it who disagreed with me.
Thirdly I'm not particularly enjoying isolation 35 but doing my best like everyone else.
Has that dealt with your points? I don't expect everyone to agree with me. I would really love not to have to comment on Symes again but will continue to stand up for free speech wherever I wish. Liberty is potentially at risk like never seen in peacetime.I don't particularly think that Johnson is trying to take our rights away permanently but will be vigilant in defending them at all costs and that includes upsetting people on here.
I repeat. This is not a war. We do not all have to think the same to undermine the will of the enemy. Discussion and holding politicians to account is far more likely to yield a positive outcome.
On Thu 26 Mar at 11:00pm Tom Pain wrote:
Just let it go Nev, there's nothing you or anyone can do about it. The famous quote by Lord Acton springs to mind ~ All power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Even in something as trivial as a website in darkest sussex, the maxim holds. It's a very much quoted statement but it seems never to be acted on. For instance~ by voting in a general election we give our power to someone knowing he will be corrupted by the power we give him,or her of course~lost before we've even started. We know that Bozo is going to do whatever his sponsors tell him or he will lose his position, if they turn off the money tap he's done for. Until people face the fact that those who control the money control the government nothing can change.
On Fri 27 Mar at 8:12am Formerly AC-T wrote:
I'm a Farcebook refusenik, so have no idea what this Lewes Present group is all about, but as a general principle I hate that sort of heavy-handed moderation.
Unless someone is being out-and-out racist, homophobic etc, or actually insulting to other members, I think open debate is to be encouraged.
Out of interest, is it just the party of government that you aren't allowed to criticise? That sounds proper dictatorial imo. And this government have been proper hamfisted in dealing with this virus, so they deserve a bit of criticism.
On Fri 27 Mar at 8:40am Sleeveless wrote:
There has been a fair amount of twaddle on Lewes Present in recent days. Much of it opinion and not scientific fact. None of that has been censored. Maybe its just a personality thing eh Nev?
On Fri 27 Mar at 12:44pm Tom Pain wrote:
I'm not too sure that the government were that hamfisted. First they said it was not serious to reassure everyone,just like in America. Then they said it was really serious and instituted a lockdown. In between, those in the know, like Bezos, sold their shares and probably invested in pharmaceuticals. Sounds like a very shrewd policy to me...... If you're one of the 0.001%
On Fri 27 Mar at 10:33pm Nevillman wrote:
That is good if the site is not actually being censored sleeveless. Don't understand what you mean about the personality thing. Tom. You seem to be saying that all politicians are corrupt therefore stop trying to keep watch on them. No. I'm not letting it go. I haven't been following the news enough to know if the government has been wrong so venture no opinion on it but I will continue to venture an opinion on censorship of any media.
On Sat 28 Mar at 3:06pm Tom Pain wrote:
That's a classic Nev. Where did you notice me saying that all politicians are corrupt? And where did I say we should stop keeping an eye on them? You couldn't get it more wrong without trying even harder!
On Sat 28 Mar at 4:20pm Nevillman wrote:
It's in the post 5 above where you say 'all power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely...... In an election we give our power to someone knowing he will be corrupted by the power'. I can only apologise if I have miss interpreted it Tom. You also say 'just let it go. There's nothing anyone can do about it' which obviously erroneously lead me to think you were saying we should stop keeping an eye on them.