More musings from Medway
Saturday, August 28, 2010 More on the ciggie busters school video that provoked such fury on the Internet this week. The latest blogger to pitch in with his thoughts is Tristan Osborne who writes a left-of-centre blog called Musings From Medway. Tristan kindly linked to my post on the subject so I will link to his.
He writes:
Individual bloggers have been writing letters to the Police and Council to attack school pupils for trying to highlight a real and remaining health problem which blights parts of Medway.
It should not be for this left-of-centre blog to highlight the health impact of smoking and the progressive policies introduced by the previous Labour Government to ban smoking from public places.
The impact of these policies will and have seen improved health outcomes for people. Put simply, less people are dying and more people can go out without having to put up with the secondary affects of smoke.
And so it carries on in a fairly traditional anti-smoking sort of way until Tristan feels sufficiently confident to add the following:
The Libertarian argument that someone has the right to smoke in a confined public space, where it can harm others is mad, just as the argument that someone has the right to rape, hit or harm someone else by violence.
Did I read that correctly?!!
Tristan concludes his observations with ten words that will no doubt be music to the ears of the beleaguered headmistress at Hundred of Hoo Comprehensive School:
Smoking Kills. Passive Smoking Kills. Well done our young people.
You can comment on Tristan's blog HERE. Be nice.
Reader Comments (24)
Originality is obviously not Tristan's strong suit.
Although I DO find his remark that 'less ('fewer' in English, Tristan) people are dying' so monumentally absurd that it almost made me smile.
Some Antis make you so angry that you want to throttle them.
Others just send you into a kind of Taoist trance.
I'd say Tristan's pretty safe.
He'll make a great MP one day.
I wish I was called Tristan (Ooooh I say)
I did comment on Tristan's blog...I wasn't polite...it got deleted.
He's an arse!
I commented too but it said comments were moderated so it wouldn't appear yet.
I won't comment ,but if this munchkin thinks harrasing people on the street is a good idea I can completely understand his left wing leanings.
Oh and another thing sonny the way you worded the school essay you composed you would think we where all stepping over dead bodies in the street.
You have a very narrow perspective on life ,probably because you have not had one yet.
You fail to see any other point of view but your own.
What's the word for that?
I can think of two.
Bigot.
Ignorant.
Mr Osborne seems to have said:
"Argueing that someone has the right to hit or harm others is mad."
Yet seems to argue that someone (the pupils who he praises) does have that right. His words themselves describe that type of argument.
The rest of his argumenet seems to lack specifics and is someone disjointed.
Does 'progressive' mean logicaly inconsistent?
"Does 'progressive' mean logicaly inconsistent?"
No:
Consistently illogical.
(In my experience)
BTW:
Clowns wear bow ties.
Does Tristan's spin, too ?
This type of video is likely to incite the harassment, assault, possibly the robbery of
law abiding members of the public.
Keep it up! Taking people's property without their consent is theft. Doesn't matter what this prat thinks, it's theft at least, probably more if you can prove menaces.
What a turd! typical left wing.
Be nice? Aw dammit!!
I liked Simon being classed as 'right wing'. They still find comfort in those illogical pigeon holes, eh? ;)
I have just been there and commented, although I do not really see the point. I mean, is this guy just another blogger, or what? Or does he have something imprtant to say about other matters?
If he is a potential parliamentary candidate, then all I can say is God help us all.
He's getting a bit of a roasting here:
http://garyallanach.blogspot.com/2010/08/want-cigarette-snatched-from-your-mouth.html
h/t corrugated soundbite
It isn't going too badly on his own blog, either, even with the fact that he'll only allow comments that he feels he can respond to.
Joyce -
Interesting blog, but WHY the:
"No-one would argue against the fact that smoking is bad not only for your own health, but the health of others if you smoke within a confined space." ?
Sorry, Gary - but I'm afraid some of us WOULD 'argue' with you on those points.
Quite vehemently, as it happens.
OK - maybe this is merely a tactical ploy to gain acceptance from the fence-sitters (a bit like Simon's 'Not In Front Of The Children' line).
But it's precisely THIS sort of Sloppy Thinking that has got us into this mess.
It's time to STOP making concessions to other people's ignorance (which is tantamount to FEEDING it, actually), and staunchly promote the ONLY two things that matter:
Truth, and:
Choice.
Period.
That well-mannered British taste for Compromise can all too often be seen merely as an admission of weakness.
I think we should avoid it.................................
(And we'll leave the obvious question of WHO the f....k decided that Smoking should BE a 'Community Issue' for another time)
A little sample of the Wisdom of Tristan:
"I supported the Cameron anti-chocolate in WHS Smith drive and also supported the drive to reduce super-size portions in McDonalds. Other great ideas from our young people always welcome."
Dear oh dear, oh dear...............................
Where's Isolde when you need her ?
Yes, Martin, such is the calibre of today's PPCs - enough to make you weep.....
Gary's remark might be a tactical ploy like Simon's that segregated smoking rooms need to be well-ventilated but Dave A has provided him with some facts to muse on. I, like you, believe that we mustn't show any concession. It's quite clear that anti-smoking zealots will stop at nothing in their quest for a smoker-free world (eg imprisonment for smoking in a park in NY) - we have to stop begging for crumbs..
Or imprisonment for failing to stop someone smoking in your own pub.
That's why I despise the Tristrams of this world,it's the Tristrams of this world who see a lie they can exploit for their own ends and no matter how many people's lives are wrecked ,it doesn;t matter ,all that matters to them is the strange little warped world they want to force everyone else to live in.
Then declare what a wonderfulll thing they have done.
A typical view fom a prat who wishes to belong to a political party that formed probably the worst government this nation has endured for nearly 2000 years.
Just come back from a lovley weekend in Penrith. Cumbria for all the uneducated. First class hotel and first class birds. We all smoking outside and having great social.Thanks a lot ASH and Zeros I have had a superb weekend .
The use of the word "progressive" by Tristan really makes my blood boil; more like regressive policies of the last Labour administration. It is going to take at least two parliaments to unpick all the needless legislation and reduction of personal liberties.
If this Tristian is a PPC, God help us all!!
I actually feel sorry for the control freak Zeros now. They have no life and jealous of any others. Cameron & Clegg ( Mikey & Mouse} are a waste of space. NICE are taking on more staff. What the bloody hell for !!! When Cancer paitients are denied treatment from NICE whom happen to be be spending 5ook of your money on a refurbishement to their offices complete with plasma tvs. Reverse or amend the smoking ban... forget it... in our lifetime.
No disrepect to Mickey but Mouse is in charge now. Smoking ban forget it.. Its over. Accept it and adapt No one has visited me whom toi have adjusted to the situation. You all moan and whinge. Find the facilities ok
Y'know, there's a great deal to be said for having the last word....the antis have been tryiing to do this and, in the MSM, have succeeded - amaz\ing how quickly they disappear online...
Jay
That's because the hide behind the faceless beurocracy and get the bully boys in the high vis jackets to do their dirty work for them,
Creeps.
Thats very true what you say Specky