Then everynow and then I read something that gets up my nose - one example being the TB Legacy article - which did that annoying and oh so common thing of saying labour and tories are the same – so I commented. I didn’t agree with the person who said the article looked like a Daily Mail rant – it was in fact a funny and interesting article that got up my nose (no bad thing).

Then having taken a quick look on there to see any of the comments other people put – I read this – and it was so horribly close to a tabloid rant that I felt compelled to criticise it.

The exaggeration – the absolute nature of the negative – the dark imagery – the cartoon stereotypes - the writer adopting the position as spokesman for the people –

So I did what you invite people to do – and commented.

I tried to do it in a mocking way – since I like the tone.

ps - i don’t like the new legislation - but that doesn’t mean i like every article that criticises it.

Danny, I’m not quite sure where you’re coming from with this. You seem to be implying that the writer is saying the FoI act is a bad thing when to me he seems firmly in favour of it and is concerned about the losing that scrutiny! I don’t get it.

“I’ll call the era of greatest democratic scrutiny in history a “dark age””

Surely you have to concede that you’re twisting what was said a bit there? Also the term was “dark times”, not a “dark age”, which I read as a reference to the public being kept in the dark on certain issues - the government’s refusal to disclose the letters between John Reid and the police recently, for example.

What are your thoughts on the actual bill? You seem more interested in my (in)ability to formulate a narrative rather than the issue itself.

This ’small legal ammendment’ could be enough smallprint to negate the effectiveness of the Act forever. This doesn’t bother you?

Right, how can I satirise this?

I know - I’ll call the era of greatest democratic scrutiny in history a “dark age” - ooo and I can label MPs childish - ah and how about I exagerate a small legal ammendment as a bill to end democracy…

yeah - that’ll do.

Evil evil dictators!

(in case its not clear - I’m not convinced silly comparisons make a rant into satire.)