Blogging & Parliament

Last night, David Farrar and I were speakers at a forum organised by the New Zealand chapter of the Australasian Study of Parliament Group, to discuss "Blogging and Parliament."

The event was held at Bowen House in the meeting room on the 20th floor. Chaired by Rod Donald MP and convened by Elizabeth McLeay, there was a good audience of political and Select Ctte staff, academics and various unknowns.

A copy of my speaking notes is here in .pdf format.

David gave a fairly empirical presentation with lots of stats and suggestions; I gave a more theoretical and comparative take on matters. Both of us spoke beyond our notes; I guess you just had to be there ;) One person described it to the hosts as "pithy" which I take as a compliment - better than a tedious talk.

If any of you were there, I apologise for slightly losing my way around what is point 6c) to 6f) in the notes. The point I should have been making is that no matter how good or bad the blog space becomes in debating and discussing issues, the makeup of the people having those conversations is going to be skewed towards the upper classes in our society. That is a point that needs to be taken on board, to ensure people don't forget that there is a much broader community out there whose views won't be presented on the blogs.

Thanks to the Group for the chance to speak, and to the audience for showing up!

Comments

[Insolent Prick]

Amusing that your speech notes confess that Tim Barnett's blog degrades the debate!

[Jordan]

It's the comments that degrade the debate. I think some of the people there were shocked when I described the nature of some of the outrageous homophobia that people post on his blog.

[Paul]

IP what about Tim's comments are constructive and meaningful towards thhe debate.

And I'm not talking about slagging matches, the only way to resolve them is to take it outside.

I'm talking about empassioned political debate.

[Paul]

Yikes,

classic example of read before posting. the argument should have read the oposite.

Tim Barnetts blog adding to the debate, whilst Tim Brarclays commennts not adding.

You get the picture

[hans]

Sounds like it was a typical Wellington group wank :)

[Craig Ranapia]

Well, I don't want to assume too much from bullet points but I don't know quite what you mean by "mainstreaming".

I don't actually do much in the way of policy wonking - because I'm not very good at it, you and DPF are. Russell Brown finds the on-line column format works best for him; I'm more a frequent random outburst of splentic irritation.

The interesting thing about blogging for me is that it's not the MSM, but I'll be damned exactly what it is becoming.