Spannersplain (verb)
1. The process by which establishment figures, especially journalists, explain to members of the general public which matters are, and are not, of interest to the general public.
2. The process by which journalists explain that members of the public who investigate for themselves matters which they incorrectly think are of interest to them (especially matters which may shed light on the motivations and priorities of journalists) are mentally unstable.
And right on cue, to demonstrate this phenomenon, is an article in the Herald exploring which of our elected members interact with Wings over Scotland on Twitter and how often.
ReplyDeleteStrangely I can't seem to find their article on who interacts with Spanner Man.
Spannersplaining may lead to declining circulation and readership, followed by journalists being made redundant.
ReplyDeleteIt hurts journalists' feelings when members of the public do their own investigative work and take it upon themselves to make that information known. It reminds them that they aren't smarter, better, or more special than anyone else—they just have a louder voice.
ReplyDeleteThere may, just may, have been a tipping point where no-one cares a jot what some journalists say or think.
ReplyDeleteI found myself in that lifeboat a while ago with several Herald 'journalists'.
David Torrance, who gave us a vitriolic piece here:
http://www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/14259936.David_Torrance__Brickbats_and_Labour_bashing__just_another_week_of_the_Imperial_SNP/
is another one I shall not be following.
I do not see journalism as a popularity contest, but neither should it be propaganda. Which is all the aforementioned author offers.
Quite why the Herald see's it's future in a Unionist past is beyond me, unless that is where the advertising money comes from. That is a unlikely to be a sustainable model, given declining readership. But there are billionaire movers and shakers out there.
Declaration: I still subscribe to the on-line edition. Much as watching the collapse of East Germany was a delight, so is this. What did all those propagandists for the joy's of East Germany do with themselves after it fell? Perhaps some, most, Herald journalists should be looking to them for hints?
I remember the Herald heralding its digital awards. I presume for newspapers the digital subscriptions but also advertising keeps the revenue coming in. But part of the attraction of online articles is the forum which allows people to post.
DeleteBut there's a relatively few numbers of posters, the accepted figure for UseNet used to be 100 lurkers per poster and Rev has apparently confirmed that ratio. It;s clearly important to keep that interest from lurkers, to have intelligent posters posting on a regular basis.
The problem is that the intelligent and reasonable posters tend to be Indy supporters, or Indy party supporters, whereas the Unionist or anti-SNP (Green and RISE party escape notice), tend to be somewhat rabid. If it was just such rabid posters and the sensible ones left, the forum would be worthless as happened to the Scotsman.
That would presumably reduce the numbers of lurkers, devalue the attraction of the article, and hence the whole digital edition.
But what to do if you're a unionist rag, with Indy supporters contradicting your articles, pointing out errors, and posting quotes from official sources? What to do if you've decided not to cover a story because it's pro-indy or pro-SNP in its content, but a couple of articles have pro-Indy posters mentioning it in their posts? Delete those postings hoping nobody will notice?
I've seen late appearing articles that seem to be to be as a result of that, and even at times, "fairer" coverage.
Meanwhile perhaps the revenue per advert drops, so they load up more and more adverts on the same page. Ooops, that means the scripts lock up, the page gets slower and slower and slower, and very jerky.
Oh woe is me if I'm a Unionist rag, what to do?
The answer of course is to cover the damn news, make it accurate, make it true. One of these days that will dawn on someone, somewhere ...
I think this is the point I am trying to make about journalists, from a comment about Mr Torrance; from a Mr Ronald Bowie:
ReplyDelete"It seems to me that this is a journalist doing ( and on a regular basis) exactly what he claims the SNP are doing. Subjectively bashing the 'enemy'. The difference is the one is running a nation, the other is running a line."
Nuff said about heroic journalists to last us a lifetime?
The Nat sis just hate being investigated and open to investigation. What kind of country would we have if they had total power and controlled the media. Joseph Goebells could be at home in Scotland. Vote Labour and rid ourselves of the two Tory Parties.
ReplyDeleteI seem to recall Alex Salmond, then leader of the SNP referring himself for investigation.
DeleteNothing came of that. I suspect nothing will come of the smears on any of our suspended MP's.
But you will have done the businness, won't you?
No smoke without fire and raising Nazi's from the grave? How exciting for you, eh!, trollybus man.
The fact that no-one, apart from me, is listening to your through the looking glass notions says less about both of us.
Sad, in't it?
You may feel sad not me. The Nat sis and this must include you are a threat to democracy and accountability. The good thing about the Union is tolerance and all the politicians are under scrutiny. We are in a small island but the Nat sis are in a narrow minded cocoon. Have a look up to the sky Dougie Bhoy.
Delete@douglas, why bother trying to debate with this troll? I admire your efforts, but it won't make a blind bit of difference.
Delete@douglas, why bother trying to debate with this troll? I admire your efforts, but it won't make a blind bit of difference.
DeleteAnd your trolleybus comment really shows you are inept and lack any serious consideration.. Do take politics serious it can damage us.
Delete"Dougie Bhoy."
DeleteNuff said.
Anthony,
ReplyDeleteAs long as our good host allows freedom of speech Glasgow SS Branch will always remind me why Labour, National Socialists to a man, were drunk on power and some of them still get their electricity from overhead pylons.
It is an utter joke to be lectured by a corrupt unionist about anything.
Glasgow Gestapo Class is a complete, utter trolleybus.
His pantograph is unattached from reality....
And you are a fundamentalist Nat si with no care for the Scottish people. No policies. Just an idiot Nat si in a narrowback mindset. Joke off the North idiot.
DeleteHave you finished delivering the Tank Commander's leaflets yet?
DeleteThe Nat sis do not debate they just offer verbal diahorea.
ReplyDeleteAnd all you offer is Nazi slurs, SNPbad and variations on "shurrup n vote for the Labour man". This approach works so well that your beloved Labour party is bumping along in the low twenties in the polls.
DeleteNat sis, yet again from the Glasgow Gestapo Class...
ReplyDeleteDo better or fuck off.
'Tis you that has the shits.
It seems GWC has been at the sauce again.This happens on a regular basis.One has only to note the disintegration of sensible comment as the evening wears on.Best let him rabble on and eventually he will sleep it off
ReplyDeleteAll Nat si comments suggest you are losers which you are and know it. I feel sorry for you. AYE. Not that I want tae rub it in. AYE.
ReplyDeleteHad a few at the lodge the night?
DeleteIndeed I had a few bevvies with the Knights of St Columbia last night.
DeleteThat explains a lot...
DeleteSome sort of sado-masochistic exchange? Was there a goat involved?
DeleteGlasgow Working Class protests a lot. Could this knuckle dragging cretin be Spanners AKA potty pants Euan McColm?
ReplyDeleteI don't think GWC is a public figure, although I did receive a very interesting email the other night about some of the other comments. At least one person was pretending to be someone they weren't.
DeleteJust a working class person James that detests the Nat sis. They will eventually be known as the biggest lump of political con merchants in Scottish history. At least the Tories are honest scum.
DeleteSpanner called - stop nicking his material and get back out with Ruthie's leaflets
Deletehttps://www.facebook.com/euanmccolmmustresign/
ReplyDeleteHe's an ugly cretin that one.
I've just been reading up on this filthy dirt bag.
ReplyDeleteThe Scotsman has paid out more than £6,000 in damages to Scottish news website Wings Over Scotland owner the Rev. Stuart Campbell in a settlement over an article published earlier this year.
The complaint referred to an article published on 13 June by Euan McColm , which claimed the Rev. Stuart Campbell, founder of the website, had used the service to encourage “nationalist campaigners” to photograph opponents in a bid to publicly identify them.
I used to have a quite popular blog. It took the piss out of the Scotsman. I have retired, but here ye go:
Deletehttp://mypseudepigrapha.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/wings-over-hootsmon.html
The Hootsmon won the piss taking, you lost. Are you sad?
DeleteDid it really? It's now as irrelevant as you in guiding public opinion.
DeleteThe moronic bean counters, and their unionist policies have destroyed a paper that I loved.
Onwards and upwards.
Onward, upwards and backwards to a narrow minded Nat si state. You must have some kind of a superiority complex.
DeleteStay tuned for more Spannerisms from Grand Westminster Coalition, folks...
Delete"You must have some kind of a superiority complex."
DeleteOnly when I'm interacting with you.
Glasgow Wehrmacht Class of 1939 (Uber Gestapo Wing)
ReplyDeleteCan you help me out here, please? Thank you.
What's with your fixation apropos your natural sister (aka abbreviated as "Nat si[s]"?
Perhaps - after a wee swallie along the lines of a Baker's Dozen of the Bonnie Buckfast and a few wee hairspray chasers - you are prone to getting your websites mixed up?
A wee suggestion, why don't you bung a few Post-Its on your GCHQ (Brownshirt Division) computer screen with the relevant incest websites info so that you do not go off at tangents again and keep boring the shit out of us with your sister-brother sexual obsessions?
Achtung and all that in your preferred cultic lingo
A Fervent Non-Admirer
PS Conan used to publish a magnificent site and one which would have also raised your limp ire (if nothing else), and even "Aldo" out-Spanners you in the trolling stakes.
Time for you to get back to your palpably needy basics on more appropriate blogspots?
Och well David I see I managed tae get yer Nat si ism oan the agenda. Cannae beat people who eat and shit Nat si ism. Och AYE.
Delete