News   Jul 19, 2024
We're Swimming In Water
 121     0 
News   Jul 18, 2024
Cladding, First Glazing Installed as the Foster-Designed 50 Scollard Rises
 973     2 
News   Jul 18, 2024
Affordable Rental Housing for Low-Income Seniors Planned on The Queensway
 883     0 

Rob Ford's Toronto

Status
Not open for further replies.
JWBF said:
Like all businesses, from time to time they by back stock to strengthen the company. In this case though, the main Ford organisms directly reabsorb their followers for strength, reinforce them with updated propaganda, and release them back in to the wild to indoctrinate others.

Or something like that. ;)
Click to expand...

So you mean to tell us that the Fords will spawn more of those things!? Please tell me the Socialist Alliance has a plan to fight the vermin!
 
This isn't directed at any one in particular - it's more about the tenor of this thread at this particular juncture.

It strikes me that this thread resembles so many others I've encountered over many boards down through the years. The amount of stagey posturing and near-habitual partisan sniping and bickering is in line with what passes for normal discourse in an internet forum. Were we all to meet up in meatspace that posturing and bickering would hardly disappear but it would certainly lessen in magnitude and we'd likely see less drama in the way of threats to leave, accusations of favourtism and of heavy-handedness in moderation, etc.

The net gives people license to act out. It's a brilliant tool for communication but it's also a great enabler for our baser motivations. When things get too heated the best option is to push away from your device of choice and find something else to engage with. No amount of simmering anger or resentment is going to guarantee that people will listen to your stance - much less agree with it.

As one clever wag put it to me once, years ago: "it's just a chat room." At the time his words weren't well received by yours truly... but he was absolutely right.
 
yes, the thread seems to have descended into personal attacks, but it seems different from usual. the "story" with Ford's mayorship has become the story of how he still has support. as such, it seems fitting that, in the absence of new developments, the conversation turns to wondering how it remains possible to continue to support Ford in the circumstances.
 
Discussing politics can become an emotional and divisive affair, with Rob Ford it's only been amplified. When one offers an opposing view, especially when not supported by truth (or facts), emotions can run high. I myself have had to ride the backspace button more than a few times before posting or take a time-out to cool down before responding to posts in this thread.
 
AlvinofDiaspar said:
JWBF:

Nope, not just you - I wiped them - discuss the topic, not making a member the topic.

AoD
Click to expand...

Cool, sorry for the devolution, and deviation.

---

The City of Toronto has received 29 freedom of information requests for the emails and telephone records of five former staffers in Mayor Rob Ford’s office.
Click to expand...

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/...ts_filed_for_emails_of_rob_ford_staffers.html

29 is swamped? I guess all those "efficiencies" Ford found really did make city hall efficient.

So... any odds on Robbie and or Dougie showing up at the parade?
 
Last edited:
dt_toronto_geek said:
Discussing politics can become an emotional and divisive affair, with Rob Ford it's only been amplified. When one offers an opposing view, especially when not supported by truth (or facts), emotions can run high. I myself have had to ride the backspace button more than a few times before posting or take a time-out to cool down before responding to posts in this thread.
Click to expand...

And, may I say it here--it's also been because the Ford mayoralty in practice has been the ultimate demonstration of "what if the trolls were in charge?"
 
voxpopulicosmicum said:
yes, the thread seems to have descended into personal attacks, but it seems different from usual. the "story" with Ford's mayorship has become the story of how he still has support. as such, it seems fitting that, in the absence of new developments, the conversation turns to wondering how it remains possible to continue to support Ford in the circumstances.
Click to expand...

I think those personal attacks stem from a common source. Here's my idea on why it happens:

1.) Ford has proven to be incapable of fiscal conservatism and actual city-building. He lies and schemes his way through office.
2.) The facts, whether implied or actual, seem to back it up.
3.) People still support Ford. Some posters attempt to defend Ford no matter what.
4.) Opponents ask why people would still stick to Ford when there are better representatives of conservatism out there.
5.) Opponents become confused and angry because they don't know why it's still happening despite all the reasons to believe otherwise.

IMO Ford is successful because he says lots of things, half-truths and lies, and continously pounds them into people's minds. Hence the resurrection of the bag-fee issue months after it was settled, saving billions(?), removing streetcars, etc.
 
jje1000 said:
I think those personal attacks stem from a common source. Here's my idea on why it happens:

1.) Ford has proven to be incapable of fiscal conservatism and actual city-building. He lies and schemes his way through office.
2.) The facts, whether implied or actual, seem to back it up.
3.) People still support Ford. Some posters attempt to defend Ford no matter what.
4.) Opponents ask why people would still stick to Ford when there are better representatives of conservatism out there.
5.) Opponents become confused and angry because they don't know why it's still happening despite all the reasons to believe otherwise.

IMO Ford is successful because he says lots of things, half-truths and lies, and continously pounds them into people's minds. Hence the resurrection of the bag-fee issue months after it was settled, saving billions(?), removing streetcars, etc.
Click to expand...

Ah yes, the usual right-wing populism that focuses on soundbites. Faux News and the Tea Party are also examples of Fordism (not the economic theory).
 
jje1000 said:
I think those personal attacks stem from a common source. Here's my idea on why it happens:

1.) Ford has proven to be incapable of fiscal conservatism and actual city-building. He lies and schemes his way through office.
2.) The facts, whether implied or actual, seem to back it up.
3.) People still support Ford. Some posters attempt to defend Ford no matter what.
4.) Opponents ask why people would still stick to Ford when there are better representatives of conservatism out there.
5.) Opponents become confused and angry because they don't know why it's still happening despite all the reasons to believe otherwise.

IMO Ford is successful because he says lots of things, half-truths and lies, and continuously pounds them into people's minds. Hence the resurrection of the bag-fee issue months after it was settled, saving billions(?), removing streetcars, etc.
Click to expand...

6.) Ford is devout family man, that is why Dougie is allowed to be co-mayor, and chief propaganda minister... ah... councilor.
 
Johnny Au said:
Ah yes, the usual right-wing populism that focuses on soundbites. Faux News and the Tea Party are also examples of Fordism (not the economic theory).
Click to expand...

Reminds me of a poster I saw a few months ago about the Jimmy Carter vs. Ronald Reagan presidential debates in the 1980.

On the left, it pictured Cater and quoted him about how the United States should be diplomatic and peaceful with the USSR.

On the right, Reagan screaming something along the lines of "lets stock up on nukes and blow up those damn commies".

Below both images, was the caption, "who do you think won the debate?".

I'm not sure how historically accurate the poster was, but it certainly fits the narrative of Ford's politics perfectly.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Back
Top