Goodbye 2013. We are afloat on rivers of crap and the boat is sinking

I notice that ever since SMH etc started requiring payment, their front page story abstracts have gone from a synopsis of each story to enticing story starters like ‘A 2yo was near a river unattended – you’ll never guess what happened next!’
I suppose they have to lure the readers in to paying their subs, but it’s funny that journos now have to change their style to suit the business model!

“It feels like I can’t go to any meeting without being dragged over the coals for something someone said on this website at some point in the last decade. Simply allowing others to speak a contrary view is now considered a grave insult and possible source of court action.”

You know you’ve made it in this town when you have been personally vilified by Stanhope, Corbell, Burch or Barr in the Assembly. It’s a badge of honour. Wear it with pride.

Happy new year to all.

IrishPete said :

shauno said :

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd said :

PantsMan said :

I predict the seas will rise by 100 meters and we will all be dead by December because of dangerous climate change.

Anyone who disagrees is a “denier”.

How is that whole having no brain thing going for you?

I agree Robin Williams was sure the sea would rise by 80m haha it must be right its the reason no one takes this climate change crap seriously any more. And the gravy train is coming to an end.

No, I think you are mistaken. The gravy train (being the coal and gas “dig it up and flog it” industries) certainly isn’t coming to an end. In fact His Supreme Eminence T’Abbott seems likely to continue to subsidise those industries, exempt them from numerous taxes (including abolishing one they don’t like), even while he cuts social services to be able to do so.

In comparison he seems determined to shut down the niche renewable energy industry, which doesn’t get a fraction of the subsidies that mining does, even though it’s the future and infinite where fossil fuels are the past and finite.

But it’s what you voted for, so lap it up. Apparently ignorance is all the rage in 2014.

IP

I’ve done very well out of the renewable energy gravy train. I can’t say society has though.

shauno said :

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd said :

PantsMan said :

I predict the seas will rise by 100 meters and we will all be dead by December because of dangerous climate change.

Anyone who disagrees is a “denier”.

How is that whole having no brain thing going for you?

I agree Robin Williams was sure the sea would rise by 80m haha it must be right its the reason no one takes this climate change crap seriously any more. And the gravy train is coming to an end.

No, I think you are mistaken. The gravy train (being the coal and gas “dig it up and flog it” industries) certainly isn’t coming to an end. In fact His Supreme Eminence T’Abbott seems likely to continue to subsidise those industries, exempt them from numerous taxes (including abolishing one they don’t like), even while he cuts social services to be able to do so.

In comparison he seems determined to shut down the niche renewable energy industry, which doesn’t get a fraction of the subsidies that mining does, even though it’s the future and infinite where fossil fuels are the past and finite.

But it’s what you voted for, so lap it up. Apparently ignorance is all the rage in 2014.

IP

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd said :

PantsMan said :

I predict the seas will rise by 100 meters and we will all be dead by December because of dangerous climate change.

Anyone who disagrees is a “denier”.

How is that whole having no brain thing going for you?

I agree Robin Williams was sure the sea would rise by 80m haha it must be right its the reason no one takes this climate change crap seriously any more. And the gravy train is coming to an end.

PantsMan said :

I predict the seas will rise by 100 meters and we will all be dead by December because of dangerous climate change.

Anyone who disagrees is a “denier”.

How is that whole having no brain thing going for you?

maxblues said :

Happy New Year to all Rioters. Every Rioters opinion is valid and this site is important. To the pompous who hassle you JB..as the Romans used to say…fornicatum nil est acceptum humerati loosely translating to f#ck em if they can’t take a joke. The beauty of this site is… that I am sure a Rioter will correct my badly remembered Latin.

Every Rioter’s opinion…

There. I corrected your English instead. 🙂

Happy New Year to all Rioters. Every Rioters opinion is valid and this site is important. To the pompous who hassle you JB..as the Romans used to say…fornicatum nil est acceptum humerati loosely translating to f#ck em if they can’t take a joke. The beauty of this site is… that I am sure a Rioter will correct my badly remembered Latin.

PantsMan said :

I predict the seas will rise by 100 meters and we will all be dead by December because of dangerous climate change.

Anyone who disagrees is a “denier”.

I live well above 100m. Actually, so does everyone in Canberra. Back to the drawing board PantsMan. Or do you not believe altitude scientists either?

IP

I predict the seas will rise by 100 meters and we will all be dead by December because of dangerous climate change.

Anyone who disagrees is a “denier”.

ScienceRules said :

Still, thanks for sheparding us through the shoals of what has been a pretty average year both internationally and at home. Lets make sure 2014 is a cracker!

“May you live in interesting times.”

Yea (or should that be yaaay?) verily, in an ermagerd world of less than fabulous nobodies, the RiotAct is a blissfully blunt haven of unashamed down-to-earthness and parochialism.

“Politicians, restaurant owners, the pompous” should be truly grateful for an alternative to the echo chamber.

Looking forward to another year of irreverence!

poetix said :

Am I wrong in thinking that Twitter has made things worse?

A few weeks ago I finally took the plunge and created a Twatter account. It lived up to all my expectations.

Thanks, JB, for providing us with the wherewithal to express ourselves in more than 248 characters, to make our various points, to educate and become educated, to perhaps – just perhaps – change some minds, and just to enjoy the conversation.

Long may you run.

It certainly is a curiosity that many people seem to think that their “right” to speech also includes freedom from criticism and ridicule.

You would certainly see this kind of thing up close and personal, JB perhaps moreso than the regular Press. One of the things that make RA such an interesting, compulsive read is the contribution and feedback from the community to the articles.

There have been some fascinating discussions over the past year, some quite intense (think gun laws and marriage equality for example) but as heated as they’ve become, most contributers maintained a degree of civility and I learned a lot from the exchanges.

As to precious little snowflakes getting all upset, that’s genuinely weird. If I were a business owner, I would want to know what my customers thought. Feedback both positive and negative would help me stay on top of the game and keep the enterprise viable. The ones with thin skins are unlikely to survive genuine competition anyway.

Still, thanks for sheparding us through the shoals of what has been a pretty average year both internationally and at home. Lets make sure 2014 is a cracker!

Happy New Year to all rioters.

I’m happy to be a paid subscriber to RA, which has been my daily must-see website for many years now.

If you’re a regular visitor here, and you want the kelpies (oh…and JB, Barcham and Jazz) to continue to lead a happy life, spend the money. It will make you feel better.

And best wishes for a prosperous 2014 to the RA crew, and to all the RA community.

I knew the world had changed when being on the list for political press releases was seen as necessary for a news organisation. Used to be, pressos were something inflicted on news organisations, and they had to be damn good to arouse interest.

Happy New Year and best wishes to you johnboy, Barcham, kelpies, cyclists, motorists and pedestrians alike.

I’m not one for making new year resolutions, but I have decided to stop being so lazy and finally got round to becoming a paid up subscriber after errr…. nine years(!) of freeloading.

Thanks again for all your efforts to swim against the “tide of excrement”, they ARE appreciated.

Sincerely,
el / Enthusiastic Idiot.

“It feels like I can’t go to any meeting without being dragged over the coals for something someone said on this website”

what kind of meeting? Quakers? AA? NA? There’s probably an Internet Addicts Anonymous one by now.

IP

I read your third last par with trepidation. I thought you were about to say you were closing down the site. I’ve had four Facebook friends in the past week saying that Facebook isn’t cool anymore and they are closing down their accounts on NYE.

My favourite website! But hoping I’m not one of the enthusiastic idiots……

Thanks for a great year and here is to a very happy 2014!

Am I wrong in thinking that Twitter has made things worse?

Thank you for continuing to provide this site. Enjoy it I do.

and the very best to the kelpies, am sure they will have a wonderfull 2014.

.. better not leave it there, so all the best to the Riot team. If I can scratch some dough together will become a ‘paid up’ subscriber. All the best;; Merc600.