Kiwi politicians lack humor
June 27, 2007 1:39 AM   Subscribe

The New Zealand media knows when something is funny[youtube], but seems parliament lacks a sense of humor. Parliament is moving to restrict publication of footage of MPs misbehaving. Oh well. No more of this then. Censorship of satire? What Next?
posted by chrisbucks (12 comments total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
It's not just a lack of humor, it's anti-democratic. I'm super unimpressed.
posted by The Monkey at 2:03 AM on June 27, 2007


If I were running a television station in such a situation, I would respond by blurring and/or blocking out parts of MPs bodies whenever they were shown in parliament. When questioned, I would say that it was done as a result of the new rules, and would stop when the rules were lifted.
posted by alexei at 2:04 AM on June 27, 2007 [1 favorite]


I want to find out what Ron Mark got for flipping the bird in parliament, I'm guessing he didn't get the week long ban which TV3 got just for publishing it... And had TVNZ (state funded charter-based broadcaster) reported the same thing, would I be presumptuous to think that they would have been treated differently?
posted by chrisbucks at 2:15 AM on June 27, 2007


Don't want to be made fun of? Then don't act like an ass in the parliament chamber. Sheesh.
posted by 1adam12 at 2:25 AM on June 27, 2007


To an non-Kiwi person, this just looks pusillanimous. Attempting to muzzle the press is hardly the act of an ardently democratic body.
posted by chuckdarwin at 2:39 AM on June 27, 2007


If I were running a television station in such a situation, I would respond by blurring and/or blocking out parts of MPs bodies whenever they were shown in parliament. When questioned, I would say that it was done as a result of the new rules, and would stop when the rules were lifted.

That's pretty much what the BBC did when members of Sinn Féin were banned from having their voices heard (or similarly worded ban) in any form of media. They put them on screen, let them speak and then had a voice over artist almost but not quite lip synch the words to show how ridiculous it was. It went on like that for years. I still say the guy who did Gerry Adams did a better Gerry Adams than Gerry Adams does.
posted by vbfg at 2:42 AM on June 27, 2007


Ubiquitous YouTube link
posted by Jofus at 4:11 AM on June 27, 2007


Or do I mean Obligatory? I rather think I do.
posted by Jofus at 4:33 AM on June 27, 2007


One small step for MPs, one giant leap for censorship, and one gargantuan reach around for Big Brother.
posted by RenMan at 4:43 AM on June 27, 2007 [1 favorite]


So wait, lemme see if I've got this straight; the MPs are allowed to commit acts of jack-assary, or sleep on the job, but if this is reported it is the press that gets in trouble?

Madness. (anyone care to wager on someone in the U.S. trying to pass a similar bill?)

Also;

Dear old elected people,

Don't dance to MC Hammer. In fact, don't attempt to look hip or trendy by dancing at all. You end up looking ridiculous, and we feel a little queasy for having seen it.

Thank you,

The voting public worldwide.
posted by quin at 11:30 AM on June 27, 2007


lemme see if I've got this straight; the MPs are allowed to commit acts of jack-assary, or sleep on the job, but if this is reported it is the press that gets in trouble?

Pretty much sums up how I feel about it.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 6:53 PM on June 27, 2007


Isn't parliament a public forum?
posted by blacklite at 6:40 PM on June 28, 2007


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