Internet and this Election

[August1991]

I have read in several places that the web has had a large effect on this campaign. One ffect, it is thought, is that the main stream media® has lost its monopoly. Some argue that this benefits the right wing, but then I've also read that the left has more time to blog and post.

In elections past, I would have bought one or two newspapers daily and perhaps caught one TV news report. This election, I bought one or two papers during the whole campaign. I still listen to radio reports.

I'm not sure the web favours the Left or the Right but it certainly favours the speedy dissemination of news. At the same time, it seems to me that the Internet divides society into those who are well-informed (about public affairs) and those who are not. We all know people who don't use the Internet (or use it rarely) and who get their news (if at all) from a newspaper or TV. IMO, I don't think it's possible to follow an election campaign now without using the Internet.

Television changed politics because it meant candidates had to look physically attractive. The Internet will change politics but I'm not sure how - maybe it will be connected to organization. In the future, political parties may have many weblogs and engage posters to participate in forums such as this one.

Lastly, before you think that the web has helped the Conservative's campaign, remember that the Liberals were elected in June 2004 and the web hasn't changed that much in a year or so.

[scribblet]

I think blogs are starting to affect the campaigns, but not discussion groups.

[mowich]

This is an interesting topic August. I too wonder how much of an effect blogs have had. I for one started blogging at the beginning of this campaign as I found it a great way to engage others in political discussions. One of my favorite bloggers is Warren Kinsella, read him daily, he is quoted often and by all but the libs (I wonder why, not). Also Bourque Newswatch is a good read daily.

I live in a rural area an hour from the village of 1OO Mile House, BC. The major newspapers we get are The Vancouver Sun, The Province, The National Post and The Globe and Mail. I was a daily reader of the Post and Sun and less frequently the G&M. Now I read all the dailies I want on-line and find that I am much better informed for doing so.

Whether blogging will influence politics or the way campaigns are run in the future is still debatable I think. I do believe that politicians should start paying more attention to them and to forums such as this one as they are a wonderful opportunity to understand how voters are thinking and feeling.

[theloniusfleabag]

Dear August1991,

I'm not sure the web favours the Left or the Right but it certainly favours the speedy dissemination of news.

This is very true, but internet information must often be taken with a grain of salt. 'Blogs' are most often the rantings of idiots, not 'news'. Do they influence people? I certainly hope not, but I think they probably do.

But then again, have you ever changed your mind about something because of something I (or anyone else here) wrote?

[geoffrey]

Dear August1991,

I'm not sure the web favours the Left or the Right but it certainly favours the speedy dissemination of news.

This is very true, but internet information must often be taken with a grain of salt. 'Blogs' are most often the rantings of idiots, not 'news'. Do they influence people? I certainly hope not, but I think they probably do.

But then again, have you ever changed your mind about something because of something I (or anyone else here) wrote?

Absolutely. There are many people here that have convinced me to look at issues from a perspective I had never before seen (credit Sparhawk, Kimmy, August and tml especially). I've never been completely swayed, but I do have a better understanding of certain issues. But I'm merely one vote, if 1000 Canadians participated (which is way too optimistic), thats still less than 1% of voters. Not really enough to change anything.

[BubberMiley]

This discussion group has reinforced my already existing political leanings (I credit Argus, Leafless) and it certainly includes ideas I would never have otherwise considered, but it hasn't made me change my mind one whit (if there's a whit left to change).

[geoffrey]

This discussion group has reinforced my already existing political leanings (I credit Argus, Leafless) and it certainly includes ideas I would never have otherwise considered, but it hasn't made me change my mind one whit (if there's a whit left to change).

If Argus is a complement to your thinking, I fear you.

This forum made me realise I'm not as crazy as some out there.

[BubberMiley]

If Argus is a complement to your thinking, I fear you.

Yeah, but he's a conservative and I vote NDP. He's reinforced my ideas, not complemented them.

[August1991]

Dear August1991,

I'm not sure the web favours the Left or the Right but it certainly favours the speedy dissemination of news.

This is very true, but internet information must often be taken with a grain of salt. 'Blogs' are most often the rantings of idiots, not 'news'. Do they influence people? I certainly hope not, but I think they probably do.

But then again, have you ever changed your mind about something because of something I (or anyone else here) wrote?

Yes. The long discussions about Iraq changed my thinking about the war. Closer to home, Black Dog changed my thinking about same-sex marriage. On other subjects, I may not have changed my mind so much as I learned alot more about the issue - free trade, government debt. And our frustrating debates with Hugo made me think about what "government" is.

More generally, I have a better understanding of how people in Western Canada view the country.

----

I think of this forum like a pub where one stops in and has a chat about politics. The pub of course has people from all over the country. In addition, any time there is a dispute, there's a large library next door to confirm a point.

In the past, a politician could say one thing in one city and then something else, in another city. The only chance anyone would ever know is if a journalist picked up on the difference and wrote about it. People like Jeffrey Simpson were important because they had privileged access.

That's gone now.

[theloniusfleabag]

Dear August1991,

I too, have been influnced here.

And our frustrating debates with Hugo made me think about what "government" is.

Hugo made my brain strain. As do you and others here on occasion.

I think of this forum like a pub where one stops in and has a chat about politics. The pub of course has people from all over the country. In addition, any time there is a dispute, there's a large library next door to confirm a point.

Well said, and it humourously reminds me of an old saying my mom told me..."Never discuss religion or politics at the the table or with people you just met. It is a sure-fire recipe for conflict." I partook in a 'pseudo-blog' years ago, with the purpose of putting out a book. An old friend of mine gathered a mixed bag of a few others and we sat in a pub in Calgary (this would have been about 1990-92) to banter about politics, while he took notes about our views of the circumstances of the day. I do believe he got it published, but I can't recall the name.

Wonderful times.

[Guest eureka]

What I ahve ;earned in recent weels makes me more pessimistic abou the future of the human race and less certain that it is homo sapiens.

I have learned that no matter that the world scientific community tells us that the climate situation is desperate and needs immediate and dramatic action, there are those who stare into the sandstorms and swear that it is gentle rain falling.

I have learned that though virtually all economists tell us that cutting the GST is bad economics and policy, there are those who swear that it is the road to riches. They do this for temporary political gain. Even those on this board who claim to have a background in economics or finance.

I have learned that even though Canada now has a 17.6% poverty rate, there are those who still call these suffering masses, lazy bums.

I have learned that in spite of a desperate need for childcare, there those who still think of themselves as great individualists and believers in personal choice. Personal choice as in give me the money and the devil take the rest.

I have learned to understand why an old couplet has always stuck in my mind: "I do not like the human race; I do not like its silly face."

Its silliest face looms as large as that of Big Brother in every so-called Conservative word picture.

[August1991]

I have learned that no matter that the world scientific community tells us that the climate situation is desperate and needs immediate and dramatic action, there are those who stare into the sandstorms and swear that it is gentle rain falling.

On this point, I agree with you eureka (although probably for different reasons).

Given TheloniousMonk's question above, reading your posts eureka, I must admit that you make me think about morality, and what is right.

[Montgomery Burns]

I think blogs might have had a small effect on this election. Mike Kandahar getting busted on his blog hurt. The rightwing blogs can help keep the biased MSM in line (witness the state-run Taxpayer-funded CBC eventually removing the cropped cartoon pic of Harper giving a Nazi Salute). The main reason why it might have helped the right in this election is because of the gaffe-filled Liberal campaign.

Blogs can be valuable because they often save video from TV. I've linked videos at MLW for people that missed it on TV (beer and popcorn, Mike Duffy vs John Duffy). People who missed this on TV can see it in the blogosphere.

Additionally, it you get linked from a "biggie", say an Instanpundit in the USA, or Smalldeadanimals in Canada, thousands or hundreds of thousands see this information.

However, the MSM still controls the news because they have far more resources than bloggers.

[Montgomery Burns]

What I ahve ;earned in recent weels makes me more pessimistic abou the future of the human race and less certain that it is homo sapiens.

I have learned that no matter that the world scientific community tells us that the climate situation is desperate and needs immediate and dramatic action, there are those who stare into the sandstorms and swear that it is gentle rain falling.

I have learned that though virtually all economists tell us that cutting the GST is bad economics and policy, there are those who swear that it is the road to riches. They do this for temporary political gain. Even those on this board who claim to have a background in economics or finance.

I have learned that even though Canada now has a 17.6% poverty rate, there are those who still call these suffering masses, lazy bums.

I have learned that in spite of a desperate need for childcare, there those who still think of themselves as great individualists and believers in personal choice. Personal choice as in give me the money and the devil take the rest.

I have learned to understand why an old couplet has always stuck in my mind: "I do not like the human race; I do not like its silly face."

Its silliest face looms as large as that of Big Brother in every so-called Conservative word picture.

NDPers live in a utopian fantasy world where only they are smart enough to redistribute other people's hard earned wealth so as to end poverty, suffering and discrimination.

You can't really expect them to have any quality troll abilities.

They're too busy being themselves.

[Leafless]

I have heard talk show host admit they regularly cruise discussion sites for facts and idea's.

I have read editorials with closely resembled articles that we have posted here.

In turn I would definitely say political discussion groups have an impact on current election.