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I’ll do it, but only if you’ll help


Pledge “bintheherald”

"I will Stop using the Glasgow Heralds comments facilities until freedom of speech is returned and intend PICKET the Glasgow Herald if they do not allow free speech and reasonable comments. Say no to ministerial bullying. Democracy and freedom of speech is a human right. but only if 50 other local people will do the same."

— Juan Kerr

Deadline to sign up by: 11th December 2009
16 people signed up, 34 more were needed

Country: United Kingdom

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As a disgusted longtime user of the heralds comments facilities I find it disturbing in the run up to the Glenrothes bi-election they decided to block comments boards, remove posts for no reason other than politics and allow BNP rascists to destroy the comments section. To date only a select few are allowed to post.

Heavy handed and weighted moderation

I think they should be shamed in front of their peers as lickspittle's and yes men for their governmental masters in westminster. Not a goodspace for a Broadsheet to inhabit.

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Comments on this pledge

  • The web is the publics only recourse to tackle the excesses of our elected repersentatives. Giving the people "binary democracy" to allow their view to count and hopefully listened too. Not in 5 years , as with voting, but instanteously.

    The westminister cabinets current war on bloggers and blog owners only shows their fear of people holding them to account.
    Juan Kerr, 3 years ago. Abusive? Report it!
  • >> As a disgusted longtime user of the heralds comments facilities

    Yeah, right. Nothing to say he buys the print edition of The Herald. He merely reads the free online edition; and thinks this qualifies him as an authority!

    There is no censorship here. The Herald facilities are financed and maintained by their staff and resources. It would be an infringement of their freedom of speech to demand that they give any individual a soap-box. No-one has been prevented from setting-up their own web-forum or contacting their elected representatives.

    The Herald can reasonably be associated with the tenor of comments and opinion on its web-resources. If these are seen to be nasty, unpleasant, vitriolic and personally abusive, this reflects on them. I have personally witnessed a number of comments which skated perilously close to incitement to violence or contravention of Race Relations legislation. Thus, I can entirely understand why The Herald introduced moderation.
    Alec Macpherson, 3 years ago. Abusive? Report it!
  • not an authority, I do buy the print edition, I have it delivered.Sorry, Had it delivered.

    So, if their is no censorship why are comments pre moderated. The forum has always been self moderating for years up until an important election.....
    Juan Kerr, 3 years ago. Abusive? Report it!
  • Allthough your usage of "here" is obviously a pointer too the fact your an employee and are every so slightly rattled by the fact people are signing up. And are merely trying to discredit a user.

    Nae luck!
    Juan Kerr, 3 years ago. Abusive? Report it!
  • I believe in freedom of speech, but only when it's spelt correctly.

    >> Allthough your usage of "here" is obviously a pointer too the fact your an employee

    No, but this is a pointer to the fact that you're a delusional paranoid loonie.

    >> and are every so slightly rattled by the fact people are signing up.

    Five signatories thus far, one of whom doesn't even have the honesty to leave an Internet nickname. Infamy, infamy they've all got it in for me!

    You cannot even get your fantasies straight. On one hand you accuse us... whoops... The Herald... #wink# #wink#... of accommodating B.N.P. supporters (always a sign of the green-ink brigade), and then cry blue bloody murder at our... damn!... *their* introducing moderation.

    Which is it?

    >>So, if their is no censorship why are comments pre moderated.

    Because moderation is not censorship, you numpty. You contribute nothing to the comments section... not taxes, not subscriptions (online editions are firstly paid for by advertizing), not effort... their blog, their choice.

    You are not being prevented from creating this 'petition' (on another free online resource which you contribute nothing to). You are free to set-up your own blog. Just that, I suspect, no-one will read it. Therein lies the problem... you want a worldwide audience for your burblings without any effort. In Yiddish, you are a shnorrer or trombenik.

    >> not an authority,

    Which is why you're threatening to picket the offices and refusing to buy the paper.

    >> The forum has always been self moderating for years

    Like those B.N.P. supporters you see under the bed? Loonie!

    >> up until an important election.....

    Which one? Last week?

    >> I do buy the print edition, I have it delivered.Sorry, Had it delivered.

    This reminds me of when little William Brown and his Outlaws formed their Nasty Party because someone had said something they didn't like.
    Alec Macpherson, 3 years ago. Abusive? Report it!
  • It must shurely be working your getting very het up. Tell AM2 a thanks for sending folk from his blog to sign.

    Cheers ;-)
    Juan Kerr, 3 years ago. Abusive? Report it!
  • I have not made this a party issue, but you are. Just shows some people hate hearing the world is round.And the old cliche of ignorance is bliss clearly appeals to you all.
    Juan Kerr, 3 years ago. Abusive? Report it!
  • "The forum has always been self moderating for years

    Like those B.N.P. supporters you see under the bed? Loonie!
    "

    AHHHHH, So Sam the BNP unionist was a figment of everyones imagination then......

    Are you living in an alternate universe or have you actually been to the herald forum, or just assume AM2 is against it and following suit.

    Sounds like the latter.

    Please don't mock my spelling, it is SO hurtful! I may cry!
    Juan Kerr, 3 years ago. Abusive? Report it!
  • >> I have not made this a party issue,

    Except when you accused The Herald of accommodating the British Nationalist *Party*, or being beholden to Westminster. Loonie alert!

    >> but you are.

    Maybe your time will be better spent reading Richmal Crompton than setting up vacuous petitions.

    >> Are you living in an alternate universe or have you actually been to the herald forum,

    I have, and it was a nasty place.

    >> or just assume AM2 is against it and following suit.

    >> Tell AM2 a thanks for sending folk from his blog

    I suppose this is less barking that having thought I am a Herald employee. Still wrong. I came of my own volition, and was troll-baiting long before I found his blog.

    >> to sign.

    I didn't sign you twit.

    >> AHHHHH, So Sam the BNP unionist was a figment of everyones imagination then......

    That's not what you said. You said the forum was riddled with B.N.P. posters, then you said it had been successfully self-moderating, now you're back to saying it riddled with one (!) B.N.P. poster. Loonie!

    >> Please don't mock my spelling, it is SO hurtful! I may cry!

    Oh, I'm sorry. You're a schmendrik's schmendrik! This is Yiddish for someone who's socially well-adjusted and has a healthy relationship with his mother, and is incidentally quite lucky with the girls.
    Alec Macpherson, 3 years ago. Abusive? Report it!
  • "That's not what you said. You said the forum was riddled with B.N.P. posters, then you said it had been successfully self-moderating, now you're back to saying it riddled with one (!) B.N.P. poster. Loonie! "

    A guy was faking others and the herald allowed it too continue, I reckon someone thought it amusing and to get hits up or something.He was pretty bottom barell even for my cut and thrust standards. Some pretty nasty stuff on ethnic issues.
    Juan Kerr, 3 years ago. Abusive? Report it!
  • Good on yer Juan about time the Vichey were challenged we need to do it on every means available. Even poor Tibet has been flung to the wolves by their chief snot gobbler.
  • This herald boycott is childish at best, possibly illegal and without a doubt malice.

    Because someone was clever enough to find a way to get the Herald(and rightly so) to stop all threads looking like an snp chatroom which was full of comments sometimes hundreds from a handful of snp activists who also reported all non snp posters.

    How do you know this "Sam" was a BNP member?, also were you not named as a fake poster yourself, and if i remember correctly at least two people said they had past your comments to the Police naming juan kerr as the faker.

    The bottom line here is that juan kerr is gutted that the Herald is no longer an snp chatroom and place to spew snp propaganda.

    A large number of people are pleased with the new Herald comments system including myself.

    P.S Note the kerr person is calling someone who is of a different view a member of the Herald staff.
    Dave Allan, 3 years ago. Abusive? Report it!
  • Dave, "How do you know this "Sam" was a BNP member?,"

    He posted vote BNP frequently

    "if i remember correctly at least two people said they had past your comments to the Police naming juan kerr as the faker"

    By Sam using his two pre proven (by other users) fake accounts. I have never said anything that would require a visit from the police.

    "The bottom line here is that juan kerr is gutted that the Herald is no longer an snp chatroom and place to spew snp propaganda"

    No, my view is that freedom of speech and toleration of banter has been killed.It os everyones recourse against politicians of all parties.
    Juan Kerr, 3 years ago. Abusive? Report it!
  • In addition the posters views of Asians and imigrants was terrible.

    How dare you slander a fair campaign, probably the same guy who ruined the herald no doubt.
    Juan Kerr, 3 years ago. Abusive? Report it!
  • Alec, Smendrick is quite a poor and quite racialy disgusting usage and stereo type of Jewish people.

    You should be quite ashamed.
    Juan Kerr, 3 years ago. Abusive? Report it!
  • Free speech is both a right and a responsibility.

    “The Herald has been forced to suspend reader comments on its political stories because of persistent and unacceptable levels of personal abuse posted by some contributors. The decision has been made pending a review of the way our stories are commented on.”
    http://www.theherald.co.uk/politics/news...

    Douglas Fraser: “These online discussion forums have taught me quite a bit - rarely about politics, but much more about the disturbing results you get from the interplay of anonymity, group psychology and bullying. This is not unique to The Herald's website, or to Scottish politics, but as the content and tone of this conversation represents a daily injection of poison into the well of Scottish public life, we are all worse off for it.”
    http://www.theherald.co.uk/politics/poli...

    How anyone can criticise the Herald over this defeats me.
  • Douglas Fraser - the very man who described bloggers and his commenters as "internet vermnin"

    "“The Herald has been forced to suspend reader comments on its political stories because of persistent and unacceptable levels of personal abuse posted by some contributors. The decision has been made pending a review of the way our stories are commented on.”
    "

    there is is tounge in cheek and there is hate. Posters arent daft as to which is which.
    Juan Kerr, 3 years ago. Abusive? Report it!
  • Juan: The habit of disturbingly many nationalist posters on the old Herald forum to refer to non-nationalists as “traitors”, “anti-Scottish”, “Scotland haters”, “scum”, “onanists”, “quislings”, “Anglos”, “enemies of Scotland”, “wannabe English”, “hypocrites”, “born liars”, “fascists”, “racist against Scots”, “creeps”, “leeches” (and plenty more besides) clearly wasn’t tongue-in-cheek. The Herald had no choice.
  • Am2/scottish unionist - , you omit the active taunting from your own camp. such as "bravehearts" , "gnatZ," , "cybernats" etc which yourself use. So, you're being a bit free in ommiting your own contributions too.
    Juan Kerr, 3 years ago. Abusive? Report it!
  • Good evening, good people of Scotland and elsewhere. This is the PledgeBank moderator speaking.

    We believe strongly in free speech, as apparently do others in the comment thread above.

    However, we also recognise circular, fruitless, name-calling, covered-all-of-this-ground-before "discussion" when we see it too.

    We welcome positive contributions (including *constructive* criticism) from all. Please keep things civil, respectful and useful.
    PledgeBank moderator, 3 years ago. Abusive? Report it!
  • Hen Broon#

    He will have to come of the list as it breaks the terms of the pledge, he is busy spewing rubbish on the Herald.lol.

    I do suspect a couple of the others on your pledge are posting in new names or as you say yourself "Fake" names, i will not name them YET.

    Juan Kerr you must show people with different views respect and stop saying people are Fake posters or this that and the next thing, just because you lose the debate does not mean you have to be abusive, i note you dealt badly with the Glenrothes majority for Labour and posted almost 2000 posts of abuse in other posters names, you failed, your angry is a worry perhaps a poor education or issues, please seek help and also please stop faking others especially when you post dogs abuse in other peoples names.

    I wish you luck with your pledge i think you will need it and more.

    P.S Are you sure you are giving yourself enough time Dec 2009?, better to make it Dec 2015.lol.
    Dave Allan, 3 years ago. Abusive? Report it!
  • Blooming eck! 2000 posts! I mustnt have slept since to get that many in. Also the comments moderation went on before the glenrothes result, hence why I have not posted a psingle post.

    I am sure your stretching credibility by lying your bottom off.
    Juan Kerr, 3 years ago. Abusive? Report it!
  • Hen I think your post constitues "spray and pray"
    Juan Kerr, 3 years ago. Abusive? Report it!
  • sorry last comment for Dave Allen (the comedian)
    Juan Kerr, 3 years ago. Abusive? Report it!
  • The Stats for the Herald

    Key statistics: Last week
    Site Visits - 256,083

    Page views - 1,026,770

    Last month - October
    Site Visits - 1,022,888

    Page views - 3,985,969

    Rest your case Juan.
    Conan the Librarian™, 3 years ago. Abusive? Report it!
  • Conan, So are they down to a quarter? I assume the monthly figure is a weekly breakdown/comparison? If thats the case they are bombing rapidly.
    Juan Kerr, 3 years ago. Abusive? Report it!
  • Well Done to the Glasgow Herald for the MASSIVE rise in print and on-line reader figures.

    Well done to Sam for stopping snp propaganda and lies and detailing with others juan kerr`s activities such as serious abusive postings and him being behind various sick and disgusting blogs.

    This pledge is nothing short of a vendetta by juan kerr and the juankerrwatch has just blown his free speech argument to bits, read the comments above and note the volume of deleted comments, seems kerr does not like free speech unless it`s to his views.
    juankerrwatch, 2 years ago. Abusive? Report it!
This pledge is closed for new comments.

Current signatories (Green text = they've done it)

Juan Kerr, the Pledge Creator, joined by:

  • george alexander
  • Conan the Librarian™
  • Andrew Robertson
  • astonished
  • Hen Broon
  • Clara Ross
  • Joseph
  • Steven McCaw
  • Wardog
  • Ruth Shepley
  • Juan Kerr (Pledge founder)
  • Poop My Pants
  • Steve A-a.k.a- Juan Kerr
  • Daisy Clark
  • 2 people who did not want to give their names, 1 of whom has done the pledge

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