After his ruptured spleen attack on me last week I challenged Bob Jones to a public debate as a fundraiser with proceeds to feed the kids in schools.
I followed up with an email to him to say I was serious and proposed we debate “That Internet Mana is just what New Zealand needs”. What a great debate it could have been.
But it’s not to be. These days Bob is all flatulence. Here’s his reply this week:
Dear John,
Thanks for your letter.
I returned to Wellington late on Friday to find your piece from the editor and his invitation to respond. I did that immediately but inexplicably it wasn’t used. Two points. I suspect you’re confusing me with someone else regarding the VUW debate. I’m certain I’ve never taken part in a debate there, not the least because I find it a childish format designed for entertainment rather than enlightenment. Furthermore, I couldn’t give a damn about rugby. Second, you miss my salient point, namely to shut up. Why I would wish to give you oxygen to carry on shouting and yelling, always adopting a narrow predictable negative view on everything, I cannot imagine. What I can is your motive, namely to draw attention to yourself. If your real concern was the issue you were on about then you would present it in an intelligent and civilised way, such as by newspaper articles for as I said, you write well. Bawling into a megaphone at your age is undergaduatish behaviour and suggests insincerity, borne out by the range of potential topics you list for debate. In other words, give you a platform in which everyone focuses on you, no matter what to argue about, rather than the issue.
I gave you excellent advice, namely to get a hobby. If none of my suggestions appealed then I’ll make some more. You could consider a one man black and white minstrel show which should pull the punters. So start practising Swanee river.
Best wishes,
Bob Jones
A couple of hours later:
Dear John,
It was remiss of me not to mention it but if you’re giving consideration to my solo black and white minstrel suggestion, then I’ll pay for the banjo.
Regards,
Bob Jones
Pretty much what I’d expect from Bob Jones.
*gobsmacked* 😮
Is that meant to be witty, Mr Jones?!
Welcome to the weakening of the public sphere. We hope you enjoy the following..
– mass media manufacturing and manipulating consensus, interested in removing the public sphere
– organised people institutionally exerting their influence on the public sphere and debate (particularly that of large organisations and corporations)
– meritocratic education which creates gaps, classes and conflicts
– citizens are treated like clients rather than, well, citizens. It feels as though citizens don’t have a stake in society
– public opinion becomes subject to measurement, commodification and manipulation
– democracy is reduced to a process of mass acclamation due to the commercialisation and massification of media, broadcasting and entertainment industries
So not only have we lost democracy, but we’re losing public opinion which is the critique and control of political authority. This is not a matter of left v right. This is about ideally having the mutual will to engage in dialogue, as extensive dialogue and in depth communication is consensually a means to advance society.
Why have you decided John, that Bob Jones is so important that his emails need to be published.
There’s definite interest in the publication of Jones’ email – it must be known that the debate didn’t happen because he blinked.
Brigid, I think the pic at the top kinda sez it all…
Indeed it does. Bob Jones is offensive and ignorant. He became rich by putting up the rent on his properties and reselling them. Not exactly rocket science is it? What has he contributed to this society that warrants any attention? I mean really! Who the hell is he? Nobody! Why can’t he just be ignored.
Have you not been able to keep up with the story Brigid ???
obviously not ……………. otherwise you would not be asking such a vacant question.
Would bob jones describe you as an empty skull???
Anyway the news that the scrawny old goat Bob Jones has nothing to back up his sledging of John Minto should surprise no one.
Bullys have no back bone and back down when called out ……..
Dear me. Re read my statement, and try, this time, to understand it.
Seems to me you have no “Reason” to bully “Brigid” who, from my reading on his/her post, was only pointing out that the BJ emails shouldn’t have been reproduced because they came from such a despicable source.
Personally I agree with “Graveyard Jones”, who seems to feel his namesake’s emails should be published so we judge if BJ is down on his knees blowing smoke on the job.
Lol “undergraduatish” – just as I suspected, without sub-editing Jones is hardly as literate as he claims.
Hahaha that’s actually quite a well written response. I wouldn’t have published that if I were you!
Indeed!
Pretty much what I’d expect from Bob Jones.
So looking forward to a change of Govt that gets him to stump up some tax rather than avoid it.
Bloke isn’t only illiterate, he’s confused “clever” for “greedy smarmy bastad” – the “greed is good” hangover from the 80’s.
Proceeds to charity? – That’ll trigger his Tourette’s, be careful 🙂
If the copy of Mr Jones’s reply is a direct cut and paste – he needs an editor.
The sort of chap who punches others while in pursuit of fishing…
Reading this reminded me that the ODT seem to have stopped publishing Bob Jones’s column, yay! Publishing the nasty, misogynost old bastard’s opinions was a waste of printer’s ink.
As Bob Dylan once sang,
You walk into the room with your pencil in your hand
You see somebody naked and you say, “Who is that man?”
You try so hard but you just don’t understand
Just what you will say when you get home
Because something is happening here but you don’t know what it is
Do you, Mr. Jones?/
You’ve been with the professors and they’ve all liked your looks
With great lawyers you have discussed lepers and crooks
You’ve been through all of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s books
You’re very well-read, it’s well-known
But something is happening here and you don’t know what it is
Do you, Mr. Jones?
He’s an opportunistic Tory scumbag. Willing to fund and create a political party to help cement neoliberal monetarist policies that benefitted the rich and screw the poor, widenig the wealth gap and creating the neoliberal unegalitarian society.
He needs to emigrate to Aussie – the IQ of both countries will rise after his departure.
His arrogance reminds me of Aaron Gilmore, David Seymour and every National Party member with a God-complex that predicates every sentence with “The reality is….”
The reality is, Jones is as much a Tory muppet as Colin Craig. Enough said.
Jesus loves sinners, and he may help them to find the way, to repent. Here is one, Bob Jones, a model sinner, will he see the “light”??? One day, even his last, perhaps???
Such facetious arrogance is painful to read.
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