Comments on: Paedogeddon Redux http://www.chickyog.net/2006/06/19/paedogeddon-redux/ The weblog of Brighton-based writer Justin McKeating Fri, 30 Jul 2010 12:42:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Andrew Zalotocky http://www.chickyog.net/2006/06/19/paedogeddon-redux/comment-page-1/#comment-12540 Andrew Zalotocky Fri, 23 Jun 2006 17:22:05 +0000 http://www.chickyog.net/2006/06/19/paedogeddon-redux/#comment-12540 It's pretty obviously just another bit of "kite-flying" aimed at manipulating tabloid headlines. The bit about sending a minister to America is the give-away, as there's no need to actually do that in order to study how "Megan's Law" works in practice. A ministerial visit would inevitably be a very short one, so he/she wouldn't learn anything that wasn't already known to experts in the UK, or indeed to experts in the civil service. But it makes it look as if the government is taking action, when it's really just kicking the issue into the long grass. It’s pretty obviously just another bit of “kite-flying” aimed at manipulating tabloid headlines. The bit about sending a minister to America is the give-away, as there’s no need to actually do that in order to study how “Megan’s Law” works in practice. A ministerial visit would inevitably be a very short one, so he/she wouldn’t learn anything that wasn’t already known to experts in the UK, or indeed to experts in the civil service. But it makes it look as if the government is taking action, when it’s really just kicking the issue into the long grass.

]]> By: redpesto http://www.chickyog.net/2006/06/19/paedogeddon-redux/comment-page-1/#comment-12107 redpesto Tue, 20 Jun 2006 11:46:41 +0000 http://www.chickyog.net/2006/06/19/paedogeddon-redux/#comment-12107 'processology' goes back to the glory days of Alistair Campbell, though the inventor was apparently Godric Smith (<a HREF="http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/s2.cfm?id=569012003" rel="nofollow">see this article</a>): <i>As the assembled journalists gather breath, Smith runs through the Prime Minister’s day before laying himself open for questions. His replies are a mixture of polite obfuscation - this is the man who invented the word "processology" as in "I’m not going to get into the processology of the euro announcement" - and wry observations, usually at the expense of the media, his favourite chew toy.</i> In other words, it doesn't matter how the decision was arrived at, as long it's a decision. And taking decisions (however stupid) proves what a caring, sharing government we have. ‘processology’ goes back to the glory days of Alistair Campbell, though the inventor was apparently Godric Smith (see this article):

As the assembled journalists gather breath, Smith runs through the Prime Minister’s day before laying himself open for questions. His replies are a mixture of polite obfuscation – this is the man who invented the word “processology” as in “I’m not going to get into the processology of the euro announcement” – and wry observations, usually at the expense of the media, his favourite chew toy.

In other words, it doesn’t matter how the decision was arrived at, as long it’s a decision. And taking decisions (however stupid) proves what a caring, sharing government we have.

]]> By: Nosemonkey http://www.chickyog.net/2006/06/19/paedogeddon-redux/comment-page-1/#comment-12094 Nosemonkey Tue, 20 Jun 2006 09:26:52 +0000 http://www.chickyog.net/2006/06/19/paedogeddon-redux/#comment-12094 Rubbish - <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5097102.stm" rel="nofollow">government policy is not media-led</a>. So there. Rubbish – government policy is not media-led. So there.

]]> By: Bloggerheads http://www.chickyog.net/2006/06/19/paedogeddon-redux/comment-page-1/#comment-12091 Bloggerheads Tue, 20 Jun 2006 08:09:12 +0000 http://www.chickyog.net/2006/06/19/paedogeddon-redux/#comment-12091 <strong>John Reid is a gutless thug...</strong> The Friday Thing - Paedomania, And Other Distractions: On the steps of the court, megaphone in hand stands John Reid. 'What do we want?' he shouts. 'Longer sentences to placate over-inflated public fears!' roars the crowd. 'When do we want...... John Reid is a gutless thug…

The Friday Thing – Paedomania, And Other Distractions: On the steps of the court, megaphone in hand stands John Reid. ‘What do we want?’ he shouts. ‘Longer sentences to placate over-inflated public fears!’ roars the crowd. ‘When do we want……

]]> By: Ben http://www.chickyog.net/2006/06/19/paedogeddon-redux/comment-page-1/#comment-12022 Ben Mon, 19 Jun 2006 23:28:09 +0000 http://www.chickyog.net/2006/06/19/paedogeddon-redux/#comment-12022 Nose. Finger. Points. Nose. Finger. Points.

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