Unbiased praise?
I frequently say we shouldn't believe everything we read on the internet, and now I'm going to add "especially if it is about a politician".
The Bournemouth Echo, like many local newspapers, has a website which includes a feedback area, where readers can comment on local stories and raise issues concerned with local politics. On the Echo's website, a poster going by the name of Omegaman was forthcoming in his praise for some of the local councillors, including Cllr Ben Grower. In one posting about a housing problem, Omegaman wrote "I have friends who live in the area. They say councillors Ted Taylor and Ben Grower fought hard against the proposals." On the subject of dentists he wrote "Just shows that the area does have councillors who care about their residents. Well done Ted Taylor, Ben Grower and Beryl Baxter", and on another he wrote "At least two councillors seem to be concerned about this mess. Well done Cllrs Ratcliffe and Grower." However, it turns out that Omegaman is none other than Cllr Ben Grower himself, singing his own praises.
When the Echo broke the story, Grower first denied it was him and then told the Echo "I have done nothing against the law. Probably next time I will just use a different pseudonym", and claimed that members of other parties did the same. I find it offensive that any politician should think it acceptable to deceive the electorate in this way, surprised that there are no regulations in place to prevent this deceit and wondering just how widespread this practice is. Last year the government introduced regulations which prevent internet sites from creating reviews for their own products and prevented businesses from inventing fake testimonials. If we expect transparency and honesty from people we do business with, surely we are entitled to the same degree of transparency and honesty from our elected officials.
Grower isn't the only politician to land themselves in hot water with the Internet this month. Uruguay's Interior Minister, 57 year old Daisy Tourne, has been heavily criticised by members of the opposition after she posted a picture of herself in the shower on her Facebook page. Some of her opponents have called it frivolous, others have labelled her an exhibitionist, and one former minister said "I think it's in very bad taste that the minister exposes herself so intimately". You have to wonder if any of her critics bothered to look at the picture before launching their attacks. It only shows her face and fingers under the running water, with nothing below the chin.
19th January 2009
This article comes from the SKILLZONE email newsletter, published monthly since January 2008, and covering topics related to technology and the internet. All articles and artwork in the SKILLZONE newsletter are orignal content.