The totally off-topic thread

[RooFlyer]

I'm pretty sure it's not the run-of-the-mill reactions to Leaks cartoons that are being referred to but the thugs and Quislings at the HRC who helped push him to an early death. Witness the, er, 'confused' testimony to the Senate enquiry by the HRC Chair to get an idea of how The Inquisition works.

its the process, not guilt or otherwise that is the punishment, and a constant reminder to all citizens to toe the HRC etc line - or you too could be ruined financially and reputationally irrespective of the outcome ( absent the deep pockets of an organisation such as the Oz).

'Disgraceful' is putting it mildly.

 

[JohnK]

I don't know if political discussion belong here or not but I do agree they are waste of time because:

Very good summation. No one is going to change their political view and I don't understand why anyone wants to defend these political thieves.

Leave me out of it.

 

[amaroo]

Why? He chose to be controversial in some of his work - he can take the flack. He was a big boy.
That said, it is a pity as he was very young.

It seems like it was only yesterday that the western world defended the right for free speech and satire - remember Charlie Hebdo ?

Disgraceful that this country and the pointless / useless commission attempted to persecute and close down the likes of Bill Leak. A cartoonist in Paris is worth the same in Australia - surely?

No doubt there are many that felt for the victims of Carlie Hebdo - but felt nothing for Bill Leak... just sad!

Vale Bill Leak.

 

[GarrettM]

It seems like it was only yesterday that the western world defended the right for free speech and satire - remember Charlie Hebdo ?

Disgraceful that this country and the pointless / useless commission attempted to persecute and close down the likes of Bill Leak. A cartoonist in Paris is worth the same in Australia - surely?

No doubt there are many that felt for the victims of Carlie Hebdo - but felt nothing for Bill Leak... just sad!

Vale Bill Leak.

I don't feel for Leak. His issues are no more. I do feel for his family, having been through just this scenario in recent months myself. It's a bloody awful thing to navigate, without all the extra attention. Some of the commentary has been pretty harsh in the sense many seem to lack that empathy for his family.

One less controversial cartoonist isn't going to make a dramatic difference to social debates.

Comparisons with Charlie Hebdo are odd in my opinion. They were unarmed civilians attacked by a bunch of religious nutjobs. He had a heart attack. Highly unpleasant but, all too naturally common.

 

[amaroo]

I don't feel for Leak. His issues are no more. I do feel for his family, having been through just this scenario in recent months myself. It's a bloody awful thing to navigate, without all the extra attention. Some of the commentary has been pretty harsh in the sense many seem to lack that empathy for his family.

One less controversial cartoonist isn't going to make a dramatic difference to social debates.

Comparisons with Charlie Hebdo are odd in my opinion. They were unarmed civilians attacked by a bunch of religious nutjobs. He had a heart attack. Highly unpleasant but, all too naturally common.

Funny! Has a member of your family been run thru the courts by a commission of the Government? If so, I'd love to hear about it...

Like I said - isn't a cartoonist in Paris worth the same as one in Australia... this man was armed with a pencil and ended up facing litigation by one of your government's commission - in the end, dead is dead!

 

[Cossie]

I don't feel for Leak. His issues are no more. I do feel for his family, having been through just this scenario in recent months myself. It's a bloody awful thing to navigate, without all the extra attention. Some of the commentary has been pretty harsh in the sense many seem to lack that empathy for his family.

One less controversial cartoonist isn't going to make a dramatic difference to social debates.

Comparisons with Charlie Hebdo are odd in my opinion. They were unarmed civilians attacked by a bunch of religious nutjobs. He had a heart attack. Highly unpleasant but, all too naturally common.

Exactly, how anyone in their right mind could compare his death to the Charlie Hebdo atrocity, beggars belief.

 

[amaroo]

LOL where are the words to describe this BS...

A former Canberra public servant had nearly 1300 physiotherapy sessions at a cost to taxpayers of more than $70,000 before the workers' compensation agency called a halt.

The former National Library worker, who had been getting the treatment since the 1990s, has lost a legal bid to force the federal government to continue paying for her regular physio sessions.

Govt calls time on public servant's physio after 1300 sessions

 

[Cossie]

Some people on here were very quick to stick the boot into Eddie Obied, (not that he didn't deserve it), no such self righteousness from the right on here regarding the former Queensland LNP member Scott Driscoll and his incarceration today, gee, wonder why?

 

[amaroo]

There are two cartoonist - one in France and one Australia.

The one in France turns up to work and within minutes his/her life is cut down by a terrorist. This is the Charlie Hebdo attack.

The one in Australia turns up for work, sketches his job and goes home. Some days later he's subjected to the normal complaints, only this time it's backed up with a very formal government enquiry threatening legal action. This goes on for many months.... in the end the threat is hollow and he is finally free from this stressful experience. However, the head of the commission continues to make ill-informed comments to the media and the Australian Parliament about you and your legal team. Within days - you die.

Which cartoonist would you want to be?

 

[whatmeworry]

Some people on here were very quick to stick the boot into Eddie Obied, (not that he didn't deserve it), no such self righteousness from the right on here regarding the former Queensland LNP member Scott Driscoll and his incarceration today, gee, wonder why?

Their was like ten Libs caught out by the ICAC but when Obeid is caught out, it becomes a real big hullabaloo probably because he is of Lebanese descent.

 

[jukebox333]

I despised Bill Leek as a cartoonist. His latter day attempts at "thought provoking" , to me, rang thick with deliberate racism and stereotyping for the sake of attention getting. However... I did not realise he was an accomplished portrait artist, and recognised many of his works when I image search googled him today. It is a shame he did not continue to produce works of art, instead of becoming a provocateur.

I do not respect him as a cartoonist, but as a father, and as a painter, yes.

 

[drron]

I don't feel for Leak. His issues are no more. I do feel for his family, having been through just this scenario in recent months myself. It's a bloody awful thing to navigate, without all the extra attention. Some of the commentary has been pretty harsh in the sense many seem to lack that empathy for his family.

One less controversial cartoonist isn't going to make a dramatic difference to social debates.

Comparisons with Charlie Hebdo are odd in my opinion. They were unarmed civilians attacked by a bunch of religious nutjobs. He had a heart attack. Highly unpleasant but, all too naturally common.

You obviously are unaware that Bill Leak and his family had to move home on the advice of security officials as his name was on a death list of a certain group who had an involvement in the Charlie Hebdo affair.Comparisons are valid.

 

[Denali]

Currently waiting at Rapi Nui Airport for our flight to Santiago.

They could do with some ceiling fans.

 

[Pushka]

It seems like it was only yesterday that the western world defended the right for free speech and satire - remember Charlie Hebdo ?

Disgraceful that this country and the pointless / useless commission attempted to persecute and close down the likes of Bill Leak. A cartoonist in Paris is worth the same in Australia - surely?

No doubt there are many that felt for the victims of Carlie Hebdo - but felt nothing for Bill Leak... just sad!

Vale Bill Leak.

I was always diffident about Charlie Hebdo. I could not and didn't defend them. Of course what happened was awful but I don't condone that either. Does a cartoonist get poetic license that would see others accused of vilification and discrimination? Thought what they wrote about religions/race was pretty awful. So in answer to your question - both were not in the right. And in both cases the subsequent actions were not right either. But that does not correct the first 'wrongs'.

Cartoons about Politicians on the other hand are fair game.

 

[Quickstatus]

One less controversial cartoonist isn't going to make a dramatic difference to social debates.

Especially when an agenda driven HRC and 18C is hanging over your head ready to pounce and with henchmen and women going door to door and on media spruiking the offence line.

Robust and frank social debate does not occur in this country.

 

[Denali]

All I wanted was a creamy pasta and ended up with a chicken caesar salad instead.

 

[GarrettM]

Murray Ball has died. Pity. Footrot Flats was one of the best strips ever.

 

[Milboo]

Was sad to read this - Footrot Flats is such a part of my childhood growing up in NZ.

 

[JohnK]

Only on holidays 1 week and ready to go back to work tomorrow. That doesn't happen very often.

Still another week to go.

 

[Cossie]

Another legend gone, John Surtees has died....

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/mar/10/john-surtees-formula-one-dies