Labour continues to focus on the things that matter to the voting public…like starting wars with bloggers.
MPs shouldn’t engage with bloggers. At least not publicly. Especially not to go to war with them. Whaleoil’s Rules of Politics explains why, especially Rule 7. Never wrestle with pigs, two things are for certain if you do. You will get dirty and the pig will enjoy it.
Darien Fenton hasn’t learned these rules and is too pig-headed and nasty to think she should. Morgan Godfrey is a good blogger, pretty frank and focused on Maori issues. Darien Fenton has picked a fight with him. Silly Darien. Rule 7 is in full flight at Maui Street:
Darien is Labour’s new junior whip (JW). Whips are responsible for caucus discipline. However, as evidenced in the above, she has not exercised discipline herself. It is a cardinal sin for an MP to engage a blogger. The MP adds legitimacy to the blogger and the bloggers’ claim. You cannot win a fight with a blogger. You can win the battle, in other words you can win the argument, but you lose the war. Trevor Mallard smashed Whaleoil in their cycle race, but Whale still won the war. Trevor was pulled down to Whale’s level and smashed in the mud fight.
Darien, as JW, is unwise to go around engaging bloggers. She risks turning what was an irrelevant claim from a small time blogger, read myself, in to something serious. Imagine if this comment was left on Kiwiblog, or any other right blog for that matter. Darien would be crucified.
In my valueless opinion, Darien (as JW) should impose online discipline on Labour MPs. No commenting on blogs would be a good start. Also, don’t acknowledge bloggers, hell, don’t even say their names.
Now, I accept Darien’s right to take me to task. She has an even greater right given my unkind comments towards her. And hey, maybe I am elitist and ignorant. But isn’t it just monumentally stupid though, to engage me?
Yep it was stupid. Darien Fenton has proven time and again she isn’t blessed with brains. Now her little spat with a niche blogger is getting a much wider audience and I wouldn’t mind betting that when Farrar gets near a wireless connection he will join in with his smaller audience.
I’ll make an offer though to David Shearer. I’ll come and spend a day explaining to your caucus why Facebook, Twitter and blogs are a really dumb place to exist if you are trying to convert voters. I’ll spend the second half of the day explaining why your social media strategy for 2011 was a disaster. Yes it will cost money, I’m a professional and professionals charge. But it will be money well spent.
Same offer goes to other political parties. I’ll come and explain how it is people like me work and how social media is a gift that keeps on giving to us.
I doubt anyone will take me up on my offer. That is their problem, meanwhile I’ll keep on exposing their stupidity just so long as they keep on displaying it.
