Posting to this site

 

I have just had a week’s holiday and am back at work. I have asked the IT specialist who does the technical work for this site to improve the experience for posters, as I do not wish people to be told they are typing too quickly or to encounter technical restrictions.

I have also had a few complaints about not posting items. In some cases they are very long, so I leave these until I have enough time to read and consider them properly. Short postings should get posted more quickly.

In some cases delayed postings  make allegations about people or institutions that are not well based or might be difficult to prove. After consideration I may  just delete these now rather than try and edit them. That can help the poster as well as me, as most well known people these days have systems to pick up potential libels whoever writes them.  I apply this rule to anyone, offering protection to Labour, Lib Dem and UKIP representatives as well as Conservatives. I also may delete a posting where it relies mainly on a citation to someone else’s website which I have not read or do not know. It is easier for me and for other readers if you summarise what you like about some other web commentary in your response.

 

PS The problem should now be fixed – apparently automatic downloads of improved software to impede attacks on the site caused the problem and have now been amended.

PPS  I note that the cycling piece has now attracted a well above average number of replies, so those who say it was not an important issue and unworthy of attention  need to understand that others disagree.

35 Comments

  1. margaret brandreth-j
    July 31, 2014

    I hope you enjoyed your holiday , although you don’t seem to have stopped working The ease of reading applies to government papers also where the summary is always a better way of getting an overall insight, rather than getting lost in pedantic minutae ( which can always be bent to suit the purpose anyway)

    1. Lifelogic
      July 31, 2014

      It is often the summary that is a political spin the bears little relation to the real meat hidden in the (often over long & for a reason) report. Over long in order to hide & deceive time poor readers.

      1. Bazman
        July 31, 2014

        Meat powered bike by any chance?!

        1. lifelogic
          August 1, 2014

          Unless you are a vegie that is indeed how they are powered. Sun to grain to pig, to airplane, to freezer to shop, to car, to fridge, to pan to mouth to stomach to gut to muscles to pedals, and very inefficient it is to.

          1. Bazman
            August 1, 2014

            You will not let this go will you? Are you claiming that people have to eat more to be able to ride a bike when they already eat to many calories anyway in the form of cheap fat and sugar mainly? The evidence is all around in most people. They need more exercise in one form or another and this is why a bike is inefficient? Exercise needs more food to be consumed? They have to have more food to power it or they would waste away!? Do you eat less when you are not moving? You are claiming that this is credible science!? LOL!

          2. Kenneth R Moore
            August 1, 2014

            Aside from the inefficiency in the food chain the human body in converting food to mechanical energy is around 20% – similar to a good petrol engine.
            Fortunately a pedal cycle only requires maybe 1/4hp at most compared to one driver requiring maybe 20 – 30 hp to maintain a moderate cruising speed.
            However modern agriculture is esentially about converting diesel oil and other crude oil derivatives into packaged food so cycling isn’t environmentally cost free in my view…..

          3. Bazman
            August 2, 2014

            We are eating oil, this is for sure. If you ride a bike then maybe we could eat less.

    2. Mike Stallard
      July 31, 2014

      I want to add my thanks because this is one of my favourite sites and has been for some time. Well done, and I, too, hope you had a useful and helpful holiday.

      1. David
        August 1, 2014

        I agree 100% with that comment. I support UKIP but you are a politician I admire (as is Frank Fields).

  2. Mark B
    July 31, 2014

    Sorry if I have been a pain in the rear end.

  3. Robert Taggart
    July 31, 2014

    Only a weeks holiday Johnny ?
    Methought your lot were off for three months !
    Enjoy your break !

    Reply I have just returned from a week’s holiday. My work stays for my return!

  4. margaret brandreth-j
    July 31, 2014

    Whilst John is more tolerant of free speech than myself , I do not understand why people on this website need to be rude to others when expressing an opinion . Do they not understand that this type of ill mannered behaviour incites trouble and reciprocation .The real problems are then diverted due to internal squabbles.
    I am appreciative of this site . In a world of single people and single parents who are cut off from joining in society due to working hours etcetera it is the only method of communication. It makes me feel downhearted that such a medium demonstrates the thing which prevents singles from entering into a social circle: time to be kind to one another and rudeness.

    1. Edward2
      July 31, 2014

      I fully agree Margaret.
      Politics is about opinions and the debating of ideas.
      We are lucky to have such a forum.
      Using abusive insults and attacking the poster personally is wrong.

      I try to write as if I was speaking face to face to others in a room.
      There are one or two on here who might consider that as a guide when they get cross and make insulting personal remarks.

      1. Bazman
        July 31, 2014

        How civilised of you Edward old chap! You might be a bit less cordial if you were being constantly attacked as a scrounger and having your living and working standards attacked in any which way whilst at the seem time seeing scrounging by rich oppressed minorities who do very little work if any, but expect more of a share of everything just because they have more.
        If you find yourself getting upset you can always phone your mum.

        1. Edward2
          July 31, 2014

          Oh just put a sock in it. Have you any idea how dull and repetitive your posts are?
          Life isnt fair, get over it and stop your perpetual ranting.
          Try putting up your own argument rather than shouting at everyone on here.

          1. Bazman
            August 1, 2014

            Thanks Guv. Cough! Hack! I’ll try and know me place in future. A reasonable living standard ain’t for the likes of us. Cough!Hack.

          2. Edward2
            August 3, 2014

            Chip on shoulder a mile wide.
            Abuse every time your argument fails
            Sad.

          3. Bazman
            August 3, 2014

            Need over greed is not a chip edward and your silly trickle down beliefs are for the birds.

          4. Edward2
            August 3, 2014

            I realise Marx had the odd belief that wealth cannot be created and so if I get richer you get poorer.
            But to hold this as your political foundation is a deluded nonsense.
            Your ideas, when you very occasionally write a post of your own, are always shown to be the failed socialist policies of the past.
            And this is I believe, why you are so continiually rude and abusive to others on here.

            I also want a wealthier society for all with low unemployment and secure well paid jobs.
            You wish for a big State, high tax nation, that has a monopoly over health, education and housing provision.
            Sadly your ideas would end with the UK being like a European version of Argentina, Venezuela or Cuba.
            Equality of poverty.

          5. Bazman
            August 4, 2014

            Or like Germany. Your vision of private companies being more efficient than the state is false. State owned as long as they are not British state owned. Lining the pockets of foreign governments and shareholders whilst paying poverty wages to the British employees. Subsidy of failed state backed companies such as banking. If everything was privately run and owned who would fill the gap. Its not possible in a modern society. America and Europe prove this. Private tool roads and a 100% private no subsidy railways would never work. Private healthcare would be the next banking scandal and would not be tolerated.
            A return to the 1900’s is not progress and trickle down economics do not work. That is not socialism.

          6. Edward2
            August 4, 2014

            Again you come back not answering any points but talking of my “vision” on a subject I have not even mentioned.

            Its not 100% public versus 100% private.
            Its about how you run modern mixed economies as we see in Europe today.
            You would go to an even bigger state with much higher taxes for those on above average earnings etc in your “vision” for a better standard of living for all.
            Im pointing out where these policies is seen to fail.
            If you are puttung Germany forward as an example of a socialist state then there is only one person on here that is deluded.

  5. Atlas
    July 31, 2014

    Quote: “I have asked the IT specialist who does the technical work for this site to improve the experience for posters, as I do not wish people to be told they are typing too quickly or to encounter technical restrictions.”

    Thank you John. I had a few posts rejected even when I had not been on the site for a day or so.

    Interesting what you say about automatic scanning for potential libels. It seems that some famous people like (their usually agent-generated) publicity but not the associated comment… A libel lawyer’s paradise, eh.

  6. Lifelogic
    July 31, 2014

    Cycling & transport is indeed an important issue it affect people every day, it should the absurdity of government (and BBC think) in having a pro cycling anti car agenda for no rational reason. Often giving 50% of the road space to less than 5% of the traffic. Even mad suggestions that car drivers should always be held at fault, which would clearly encourage staged cycle accidents!

    People and governments can get in to some idiotic ways a group think. Best way to avoid these is see what the BBC & Dave Cameron think and take the opposite view. Also read books by sensible people like Jamie Whyte, James Delingpole, Hayek, Adam Smith, Matt Ridley, Richard Dawkins, Freeman Dyson, Warren Buffet, Richard Feyman and the likes.

    Logic & reason over irrational brain less emotion and group think lunacy that we get from the BBC lovies.

    1. Lifelogic
      July 31, 2014

      sorry “shows the absurdity of government”

    2. Bazman
      July 31, 2014

      A pro cycling anti car agenda? What you mean is any promotion of cycling. How much is cycling helped and supported in this country as say France or the Netherlands. You travel in France quite often you tell us? There are very few cycle paths and it is in general quite dangerous on the road on a bike. Cycling to the next town takes a bit of skill and risk. What you are saying is that sometimes on your journey you find yourself having to give way to a bike and think that you should not have to in any way or any money should be spent on the promotion of cycling. How much is spent on cycle paths compared to roads for cars ? Nil, Zilch and nothing. More deluded selfish nonsense based on right wing writers and journalists often disproved theories. Such as the trickle down effect. Delingpole LOL!? How do you square off Warren Buffet’s massive investment in Green energy. He is just chasing subsides? No you are wrong.

  7. Leslie Singleton
    July 31, 2014

    PPS please Sir

  8. Paul
    July 31, 2014

    Cycling is indeed an important issue but the UK has some of the safest roads in the world. There will always be road accidents – we are not machines we are human. People just need to act more responsibly. How about tougher penalties for road users (including cyclists) who cause death and injury? Scrap the pointless careless driving law – careless driving is dangerous driving! How a driver can serve just a few months in prison for causing the death of another road user is just laughable. We need effective deterrent laws. I really don’t see any other measures that can be implemented on the roads without causing major inconvenience to other road users.

  9. zorro
    July 31, 2014

    Hope that you had a good holiday John. Was it your annual Scilly Isles visit? No summer holiday for us because of work but looking forward to a break in November. Thanks for your balanced administration of the site, and thumbs up to any customer improvements…. a little wine fountain protruding from my computer would do the trick!

    zorro

  10. bigneil
    July 31, 2014

    Thanks for the explanation – I tried to send a post yesterday – only to get the message back to slow down. Posting too quickly – – I was rather puzzled as I had not even been on your site for 0ver 40 hrs? – Hope you enjoyed your break sir.

  11. BobE
    July 31, 2014

    Thank you John. I very much value your site as a way to express my views. I thank you for it. Thank you John.

  12. Peter Davies
    July 31, 2014

    Hope you had a good break. I don’t get much time these days to post on blogs etc due to time/work commitments.

    I still read your pieces quickly though don’t read the often amusing comments by the usual suspects.

    All the best to you and keep up the good work of keeping the public informed.

  13. Martyn G
    July 31, 2014

    Hi John,

    Many thanks for the explanation and, if I may say so, yours is the sanest, most literate and likeable blog in my experience. Please keep it up – at aged 73 it and a well retired old war horse (38 years in the RAF) it makes my day to log on first thing in the morning to see what is on offer!
    Quite off topic but as an example of being an old war-horse, who other than me recalls that the first Gulf War was in 1961 when Iraq threatened to invade Kuwait (Operation Vantage) when the UK successfully quashed it before it happened? Good luck John and keep it up!

  14. Lindsay McDougall
    July 31, 2014

    It is not libelous to ridicule the belief systems of a particular organised religion. Nevertheless, you won’t let me do it.

  15. Alan Wheatley
    August 1, 2014

    It is an act of dedication to keep the site running through a holiday, and I hope the effort brings the satisfaction, and periodic pleasure and amusement, that such labour deserves.

  16. Bert Young
    August 1, 2014

    I appreciate the amendments you have made with your IT supplier . I failed to understand why I was ” responding too quickly ” on a few occasions ( my two finger approach could not possibly be guilty ! ). One discipline I think you should adopt is to stop the use of ” nom des plumes ” ; if someone has something to say , I believe they should put their proper name to it and not be allowed to hide . There are few blogs like yours – keep it going !! .

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