Comments on: PM Invents New ‘Invisible Ink’ For Iraq Stories http://www.theslant.co.uk/2006/09/02/pm-invents-new-invisible-ink-for-iraq-stories/ Taking a different one on the news Sat, 19 May 2012 11:40:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.3 by: Stephen Ball http://www.theslant.co.uk/2006/09/02/pm-invents-new-invisible-ink-for-iraq-stories/#comment-76 Mon, 04 Sep 2006 12:19:34 +0000 http://www.theslant.co.uk/2006/09/02/pm-invents-new-invisible-ink-for-iraq-stories/#comment-76 "In a way never before seen in UK history?" Yes. Yes it would. “In a way never before seen in UK history?” Yes. Yes it would.

]]> by: Thesme http://www.theslant.co.uk/2006/09/02/pm-invents-new-invisible-ink-for-iraq-stories/#comment-75 Mon, 04 Sep 2006 10:34:12 +0000 http://www.theslant.co.uk/2006/09/02/pm-invents-new-invisible-ink-for-iraq-stories/#comment-75 I love these articles by the way. OH, by the way where you say "we know any protests will just be ignored" would it be fair to add: 'we know that any protest taking place too close to the Houses of Parliament will result in us being unnecessarily arrested in true democratic tradition'? At all? I love these articles by the way. OH, by the way where you say

“we know any protests will just be ignored” would it be fair to add:
‘we know that any protest taking place too close to the Houses of Parliament will result in us being unnecessarily arrested in true democratic tradition’? At all?

]]> by: Stephen Ball http://www.theslant.co.uk/2006/09/02/pm-invents-new-invisible-ink-for-iraq-stories/#comment-74 Mon, 04 Sep 2006 10:24:37 +0000 http://www.theslant.co.uk/2006/09/02/pm-invents-new-invisible-ink-for-iraq-stories/#comment-74 Ah, someone who knows me elsewhere online :) Yes, that would be me. Ah, someone who knows me elsewhere online :) Yes, that would be me.

]]> by: Thesme http://www.theslant.co.uk/2006/09/02/pm-invents-new-invisible-ink-for-iraq-stories/#comment-72 Mon, 04 Sep 2006 09:54:26 +0000 http://www.theslant.co.uk/2006/09/02/pm-invents-new-invisible-ink-for-iraq-stories/#comment-72 Stephen BALL eh? Stephen BALL eh?

]]> by: Simon Kimber http://www.theslant.co.uk/2006/09/02/pm-invents-new-invisible-ink-for-iraq-stories/#comment-70 Sun, 03 Sep 2006 21:17:38 +0000 http://www.theslant.co.uk/2006/09/02/pm-invents-new-invisible-ink-for-iraq-stories/#comment-70 Mawgen: I don't disagree with you, i just thought that your "So what?" was a little cold blooded. I think the approach of the newspapers is essentially a macrocosm of a family bereavement. Losing a (loved) family member will always be more distressing than hearing of any number of strangers dying. Rightly or wrongly, and regardless of numbers, I think most people will be more upset about the deaths of those from their own country, perhaps because they can more closely identify with them, or put themselves more easily in the shoes of the victims and/or their families than in the shoes of people from a culture they have no experience of and know much less, if anything, about. I'm not saying that it's right or fair but on all levels people are always going to be concerned about their own groups first and outsiders second. I think that's just an unavoidable part of human nature. Mawgen: I don’t disagree with you, i just thought that your “So what?” was a little cold blooded. I think the approach of the newspapers is essentially a macrocosm of a family bereavement. Losing a (loved) family member will always be more distressing than hearing of any number of strangers dying.

Rightly or wrongly, and regardless of numbers, I think most people will be more upset about the deaths of those from their own country, perhaps because they can more closely identify with them, or put themselves more easily in the shoes of the victims and/or their families than in the shoes of people from a culture they have no experience of and know much less, if anything, about.

I’m not saying that it’s right or fair but on all levels people are always going to be concerned about their own groups first and outsiders second. I think that’s just an unavoidable part of human nature.

]]> by: Mawgen http://www.theslant.co.uk/2006/09/02/pm-invents-new-invisible-ink-for-iraq-stories/#comment-69 Sun, 03 Sep 2006 20:44:37 +0000 http://www.theslant.co.uk/2006/09/02/pm-invents-new-invisible-ink-for-iraq-stories/#comment-69 In reply to Steve: Yes, that's what I thought. 8 one week for people who work in the armed forces. 3,500 Iraqis about a week later was reported. In reply to Simon: yes, but why do our newspapers make a big deal of 8 Britons dying, and the 3,500 Iraqis get much less press coverage. I have much more sympathy for the Iraqis. In reply to Steve:

Yes, that’s what I thought. 8 one week for people who work in the armed forces. 3,500 Iraqis about a week later was reported.

In reply to Simon:

yes, but why do our newspapers make a big deal of 8 Britons dying, and the 3,500 Iraqis get much less press coverage. I have much more sympathy for the Iraqis.

]]> by: Stephen Ball http://www.theslant.co.uk/2006/09/02/pm-invents-new-invisible-ink-for-iraq-stories/#comment-68 Sun, 03 Sep 2006 12:37:43 +0000 http://www.theslant.co.uk/2006/09/02/pm-invents-new-invisible-ink-for-iraq-stories/#comment-68 I do see an awful lot on the American boards that should be answered with "you know what? Soldiers *chose to be soldiers*." With all respect for the unbelievably hard situation and conditions they've fought in, many armchair commentators do seem to think that putting any soldier in harms way ever is an unacceptable breach of trust. As far as "8 soldiers killed in Iraq" goes, I don't think the public will ignore it just because soldiers dying in a warzone isn't that unusual. I think they'll ignore it because the number 8 is so tiny and insignificant compared to the daily carnage that we can't even put it on the same scale graph in our heads. 3500 civilians in July alone - and that's Iraq, not Lebanon. I do see an awful lot on the American boards that should be answered with “you know what? Soldiers *chose to be soldiers*.” With all respect for the unbelievably hard situation and conditions they’ve fought in, many armchair commentators do seem to think that putting any soldier in harms way ever is an unacceptable breach of trust.

As far as “8 soldiers killed in Iraq” goes, I don’t think the public will ignore it just because soldiers dying in a warzone isn’t that unusual. I think they’ll ignore it because the number 8 is so tiny and insignificant compared to the daily carnage that we can’t even put it on the same scale graph in our heads.

3500 civilians in July alone - and that’s Iraq, not Lebanon.

]]> by: Simon Kimber http://www.theslant.co.uk/2006/09/02/pm-invents-new-invisible-ink-for-iraq-stories/#comment-66 Sat, 02 Sep 2006 22:39:58 +0000 http://www.theslant.co.uk/2006/09/02/pm-invents-new-invisible-ink-for-iraq-stories/#comment-66 "So what?" is a little harsh isn't it? Yes, they chose their career, but I'm sure most people have, at one time or another, found themselves lumbered with an incompetent boss who doesn't know what they're doing. “So what?” is a little harsh isn’t it? Yes, they chose their career, but I’m sure most people have, at one time or another, found themselves lumbered with an incompetent boss who doesn’t know what they’re doing.

]]> by: Mawgen http://www.theslant.co.uk/2006/09/02/pm-invents-new-invisible-ink-for-iraq-stories/#comment-65 Sat, 02 Sep 2006 15:20:40 +0000 http://www.theslant.co.uk/2006/09/02/pm-invents-new-invisible-ink-for-iraq-stories/#comment-65 I can't be the only one that read the headline '8 soldiers killed in Iraq' and thought "So what?" That's 8 British soldiers, that chose their job. Not hundreds of civilians trying to go about their daily lives. I can’t be the only one that read the headline ‘8 soldiers killed in Iraq’ and thought “So what?” That’s 8 British soldiers, that chose their job. Not hundreds of civilians trying to go about their daily lives.

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