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JOURNALIST MAKES A NEW FRIEND

Left-wing journalist runs a blog. Left-wing journalist has comments at his blog. Left-wing journalist can’t tell fake comments from real comments. Left-wing journalist is finally made aware of this:

Neil, you appear to have started a conversation with a comment spam robot.

(Via Tim Worstall, who has lots more on the chap involved)

Posted by Tim B. on 01/02/2006 at 07:36 AM
  1. Journalists aren’t actually dumber than other people.  They just get more opportunities.

    Posted by rhhardin on 2006 01 02 at 09:16 AM • permalink

  2. Lefties are more likely to be pessimistic than right-wingers.  Could this explain the drearier tone of most lefty blogs – brought out by the failed attempts at humour in the Neil Clark blog (as quoted in the Worstall piece)?  Some evidence for progressive pessimism:

    Labor voters are not ringing in the New Year with great optimism, according to the latest Newspoll.
    The poll showed 22 per cent of ALP supporters believe their standard of living will worsen in 2006, The Australian reported.
    This is compared to the 87 per cent of Coalition voters who say their fortunes will remain the same or even rise this year.

    http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Labor-voters-cast-pessimistic-view-poll/2006/01/02/1136050364534.html

    Quite a bit of US research points in the same direction:

    http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/andres200506130738.asp

    Posted by Seneca on 2006 01 02 at 09:36 AM • permalink

  3. Yeah, Seneca, but those figures could have something to do with the fact that currently governments in Australia and America are right-wing. It’d be interesting to hear the reaction from lefties in Britain or (for somewhere a bit more far out) Spain.

    That lefty blogger seems to be an ‘interesting’ chap. It says on his site that he supports conservation of the green areas of Britain, the renationalisation of the rail network, and the reintroduction of capital punishment!

    Posted by TimT on 2006 01 02 at 09:52 AM • permalink

  4. Point well-taken, TimT.  I guess the underlying hypothesis would be that lefties generally see society moving in a direction that doesn’t fit “left"notions so feel uncomfortable.  Not sure that your average British lefty would think they had a left-wing government, though.
    Clark sounds a bit like an early 50’s British Labour Pary person - they supported death penalty I believe.  Not sure about the green bit though.

    Posted by Seneca on 2006 01 02 at 10:10 AM • permalink

  5. I see Neil Clark claims to be a “regular contributor” to the Spectator, which is something I read. Tell me, Neil, when exactly did your work appear there?

    Posted by Susan Norton on 2006 01 02 at 10:14 AM • permalink

  6. ha, ha, ha ... I think Neil’s comment spam robot has passed the Turing test ... maybe Neil’s a bit like a work colleague ... would argue with a signpost ... and just as effective ...

    Posted by Stevo on 2006 01 02 at 10:14 AM • permalink

  7. The poll showed 22 per cent of ALP supporters believe their standard of living will worsen in 2006

    I guess most of them are graduating from the university and are now faced with the prospect of having to get real jobs.

    Posted by Andrea Harris, Administrator on 2006 01 02 at 10:16 AM • permalink

  8. The intellectual compass has a butt-end: Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you Neil Clark, Britain’s most unread journalist and blogger!

    Not reading Kamm’s book before actually reviewing it is a new low though, even for Clark. I can’t help but think the Telegraph likes the book and has employed Clark to affirm their readers prejudices about it. For one can be assured that if Neil Clark holds a position on any political issue, then its inverse must be part of the universal Truth.

    Posted by Hyggelig on 2006 01 02 at 11:18 AM • permalink

  9. Poor bugger =)

    I feel embarrassed for him- really, my face is a bright red for some reason…

    Posted by anthony27 on 2006 01 02 at 11:18 AM • permalink

  10. It says on his site [Clark’s] that he supports conservation of the green areas of Britain, the renationalisation of the rail network, and the reintroduction of capital punishment!

    I’d like to take this opportunity and politicize this thread, if I may. As a liberal, the death penalty is an affront to my personal values. By pointing out to readers that Neil Clark supports capital punishment, I can only hope that death penalty’s proponents reconsider their position on this important issue.

    Posted by Hyggelig on 2006 01 02 at 11:26 AM • permalink

  11. I think that spambot is overqualified for the job…

    Susan Norton—what an elegant and insightful question!  When has your work appeared in The Bulletin?

    Posted by richard mcenroe on 2006 01 02 at 11:27 AM • permalink

  12. Heggelig — Just means Neill’s been mugged recently, is all.

    Posted by richard mcenroe on 2006 01 02 at 11:29 AM • permalink

  13. Chimpy Bushitler sez-

    Thanks for letting us post comments - very cool of you. I work online with my own used condom website. Check it out if you get the chance. Thanks again!

    Posted by Mystery Meat on 2006 01 02 at 11:58 AM • permalink

  14. Well, apparently this Neil Clark fellow is a commie-worshipping retard so I’m not surprised he got taken in by a spammer. I wonder if he’s helped out any Nigerians with their bank accounts?

    Posted by Andrea Harris, Administrator on 2006 01 02 at 12:22 PM • permalink

  15. Richard McEnroe, I’m sorry, I don’t understand the relevance of the question. I never claimed my work appeared in the Bulletin (though as a matter of fact it has).

    Posted by Susan Norton on 2006 01 02 at 12:48 PM • permalink

  16. The poll showed 22 per cent of ALP supporters believe their standard of living will worsen in 2006 ...

    I guess most of them are graduating from the university and are now faced with the prospect of having to get real jobs.

    And the remainder is probably made up of Fairfax journalists facing the inevitable next round of redundancies…

    Posted by PW on 2006 01 02 at 03:41 PM • permalink

  17. #15: Susan, don’t mind Richard. He was on a mandatory vacation but apparently slipped back to the office before he was sufficiently, er, rested. C’mon, Richard, back in the van you go, buddy! Look what I’ve got for you: the Mermaid edition of Vanbrugh’s plays!

    Posted by paco on 2006 01 02 at 03:45 PM • permalink

  18. Susan as a regular reader of the Speccie, I can assure you that Neil Clark’s work does appear there.  A search of the Spectator online shows up fewer articles than I recollect seing in the paper edition (which goes to show the vageries of human memory)  but he does write for it.

    Posted by Just Another Bloody Lawyer on 2006 01 02 at 04:25 PM • permalink

  19. Neil Clark is probably wondering why his pen friend of two years only ever wishes to discuss his penis size.

    Posted by Ross on 2006 01 02 at 04:28 PM • permalink

  20. The choice facing us is stark: More Shock and Awe- against Syria, Iran or Belarus, or any other country which refuses to pay Danegeld to The Empire- or lasting peace and security- based on respect for the sovereignty of nations.

    This from Mr. Clark’s profile.  I’m wondering:  which Empire is he speaking of?  The British?  Sun’s set on that one already, pal.  The American?  If there’s danegeld to be paid, I’d like to know how come fuel prices are so high.  Come on, Syria, Iran, and whatever.  Fork it over.

    Posted by RebeccaH on 2006 01 02 at 04:47 PM • permalink

  21. Look what I’ve got for you: the Mermaid edition of Vanbrugh’s plays!

    I think it needs to be something that features Great Pervert Crab.

    Posted by PW on 2006 01 02 at 04:54 PM • permalink

  22. #20 RebeccaH:

    You just have to love how morons like Clark invariably assume that putting one’s head in the sand will lead to “lasting peace and security”. I used to think this kind of idiocy is mostly borne out of ignorance, but it’s more and more looking like an incurable pathology.

    Posted by PW on 2006 01 02 at 04:57 PM • permalink

  23. Neil, you appear to have started a conversation with a comment spam robot.

    That’s a step up from the usual conversations the chap seems to have - at least that conversation isn’t with one of the voices in his head that would lead to such astonishing headlines as this:

    Milosevic, Prisoner of Conscience

    Shorter Neil Clark:

    Since they sell Tony Benn works in Belgrade bookshops, rabid Serb nationalism, genocide and ethnic cleansing are the figments and fantasises of corporate, capitalist Zionist propaganda.

    What a tool.

    Posted by SoCalJustice on 2006 01 02 at 05:04 PM • permalink

  24. P.S., sort of OT: Ironically enough, there’s a whole bunch of Bush haters on a Civilization IV forum I’m lurking at right now, some of them justifying it along the same demented lines as Clark. You’d think that people playing an often-violent civilization sim, of all things, would realize the lack of long-term value in the “sitting duck” strategy. Guess gaming skills don’t quite transfer to real-world understanding sometimes.

    Posted by PW on 2006 01 02 at 05:04 PM • permalink

  25. I’m wondering:  which Empire is he speaking of?

    Well, the Danish one, obviously…

    Posted by jic on 2006 01 02 at 05:43 PM • permalink

  26. #3 The fact is that few of us fit into the rigid moulds that the media especially would have us in. I recall the Australian MSM being shocked a few years ago when a University of Queensland survey found out that many people who voted National (conservative) also enjoyed looking at porn. I remember one headline was literally ‘Conservative Porn Shock’. The idea of people having a mix of liberal and conservative attitudes just didn’t compute in their puny black and white minds. It’s why they can’t get a handle on 98 per cent of the population.

    Certainly, I’m always sickened by left-wing revisionism and support for the murderous Soviet Empire, but I have to admire NC’s willingness to openly admit support for the death penalty. It must have lost him a few friends on his side of the political sphere.

    It would nice if he could spell though - perpertual, indeed. That’s what happens when journalists aren’t given a going over by a sub.

    —Nick

    Posted by The Thin Man Returns on 2006 01 02 at 05:59 PM • permalink

  27. If this guy, Neil Clark, says all this crap, maybe it’s because Milosevich was at one time the head of the Czech Communist Party. Neil sees him as a leftist fighter for rights, like the right to be buried in a mass grave.

    And what’s with the gamers? Must not be playing first-person shooters.

    Posted by ekw on 2006 01 02 at 06:00 PM • permalink

  28. If something isn’t done about the Mad Mullahs he’ll eventually find out what paying Danegeld is really like, paying to Iran.

    WTF is it with this malicious lie about American Empire?  When has the US required tribute or Danegeld, that is wealth transfers from conquered countries to us under threat of force?  The US lavishes money on all sorts of other countries, far too much and to people we ought not in my opinion.  We have annexed no territory in the last hundred years, despite having been the most powerful country in the world for most of that time.  These moonbats are projecting “If I had the power the US has I’d conquer the world, so they must be doing it.”  Alternatively, they are unable to think outside the tired cliches of vulgar Marxism.  Typical socialist twits, they evidently think voluntary trade is some kind of tribute.  This is cranial rectal impaction in its most pure state.

    Posted by Michael Lonie on 2006 01 02 at 06:14 PM • permalink

  29. I kinda like Mao, the Burmese Cat.

    Posted by Dave S. on 2006 01 02 at 07:04 PM • permalink

  30. Oh, c’mon people!!

    There’s no such person as Neil Clark.

    That whole thing is obviously just a blog robot responding with faux A.I. to the comment spam robot!

    Posted by rinardman on 2006 01 02 at 07:06 PM • permalink

  31. At least the ABC is fulfilling truth in its adversting - see http://weekbyweek7.blogspot.com/

    Posted by WeekByWeek on 2006 01 02 at 08:05 PM • permalink

  32. Susan, I apologize, I misread your post.  I thought you were snarking about Tim appearing in the Spectator.  My fault entirely.

    Posted by richard mcenroe on 2006 01 02 at 09:41 PM • permalink

  33. Danegeld?  You mean somewhere on this planet there’s a country that gives us money?  Where the hell’s my check?!

    Posted by Achillea on 2006 01 02 at 10:02 PM • permalink

  34. Cripes, I hope he is not an investigative journalist.

    Quite funny, really.

    Posted by Major Anya on 2006 01 02 at 10:22 PM • permalink

  35. Milosevich was at one time the head of the Czech Communist Party.

    Don’t you mean either Yugoslavian or Serbian?

    Posted by jic on 2006 01 02 at 10:34 PM • permalink

  36. - Interview with a Spambot
    - The Spambot and I
    - Enter the Spambot
    - I, Spambot

    Must be a story there somewhere.

    #19: I have lots of little email friends like that, and I always wondered about their preoccupation with said appendage.

    Posted by Henry boy on 2006 01 03 at 02:14 AM • permalink

  37. Journalist makes a blog
    Journalist gets noticed because if his discission with spammers
    Journalist gets lots of hits on his site, but just for the comments…..

    Journalist should write his posts in the comments section until he can stop spammers

    Posted by davetherave on 2006 01 04 at 07:57 AM • permalink

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