As some of you know, last year I received a letter from one of Kent Councils contractors suggesting that in criticising council policy I had somehow overstepped the mark of what was acceptable and defamed them (something I do not believe to be true).
To me there is a principle at stake, should a member of the public, find themselves receiving letters from contractors offering to initiate legal proceedings?What I write is personal opinion, which as I understand is a right and protected under various laws.
I shall suspend any further posts until such time as I receive a reply, to my an email I sent to Paul Carter leader of Kent Council asking whether he supports the right of constituents to comment freely on council matters without contractors taking issue with comments not addressed to them but KCC.
Fortunately since I began blogging there has been a big increase in blogs, and the quality, I see even ECR is getting quite good these days.
To me there is a principle at stake, should a member of the public, find themselves receiving letters from contractors offering to initiate legal proceedings?What I write is personal opinion, which as I understand is a right and protected under various laws.
I shall suspend any further posts until such time as I receive a reply, to my an email I sent to Paul Carter leader of Kent Council asking whether he supports the right of constituents to comment freely on council matters without contractors taking issue with comments not addressed to them but KCC.
Fortunately since I began blogging there has been a big increase in blogs, and the quality, I see even ECR is getting quite good these days.
If Kent council does nothing to discourage spurious legal threats made on its behalf who can blame you.
ReplyDeleteTony,
ReplyDeleteI trust that in the meanwhile you will write to local newspapers and ring local radio stations to get your point of view across.
Please do not give them the pleasure of silence.
ReplyDeleteJust a small point of order, my blog was here before yours.
ReplyDeleteHopefully, though, yours will still be here long after mine has bitten the dust. Don't give them the pleasure of being able to say they shut you up, sausage man!
When writing about Kent TV I feel it necessary to point out each time that my views are legitimate comment since I am refering to Kent TV which as I understand is part of Kent council, that happens to be run by a contractor.
ReplyDeleteI would like to comment on the video recently made showing one of the directors of Kent TV's contractor (the same bloke who popped into Margate to switch the lights on) and ask what part of any public service is discussing the benefits of Kent TV and talking about the established press.
I spoke to Michael Carey of yourthurrock who has managed since September to produce a very local tv service @ low cost and zero cost to taxpayers making kent tv's £1.4 mill with perhaps a top up of £400,000 seem totally over the top.
It will be interesting to see how many other county councils follow Kent and launch an internet based TV service. Its over 16 months since KCC went down this path, I dont see any followers.
ReplyDeleteYour blog posts are opinions, the opinions of Tony Flaig, and that's how I read them. Nothing libelous
ReplyDeleteYou are entitled to your opinion especially when in regards to council policy which effects us all.
Absolutly!Dont go Tony PLEASE
ReplyDeleteLily
Keep plugging away, TF.
ReplyDeletePlease dont go dont goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo dont go away.
ReplyDeletelove you
Yeah
Babe, I love you so
I want you to know
That I'm going to miss your love
The minute you walk out that door
(Chorus)
So please don't go
Don't go
Don't go away
Please don't go
Don't go
I'm begging you to stay
If you leave
At least in my lifetime
I've had one dream come true
I was blessed to be loved
By someone as wonderful as you
(Chorus)
Hey, hey, hey
Yeah
Babe, I love you so
I, I want you to know
That I'm going to miss your love
The minute you walk out that door
So please don't go
Don't go
Don't go away
Hey, hey, hey
I need your love
I'm down on my knees
Beggin' please, please, please
Don't go
Don't you hear me baby
please don't go
Don't leave me now
Oh, no, no, no, no
Please don't go
I want you to know
That I, I, I, love you so
Don't leave me baby
Please don't go
Tony we all Love you even if KCC's contractors dont Keep up the good work and forget about them
ReplyDeleteThe other favourite is the doorstep assault that local police "find impossible" to do anything about. Other than that I would say that, in my opinion, you are under no real risk. Your Mileage May Vary.
ReplyDeletePerhaps if you'd engaged brain before opening blog you wouldn't be in this mess Tony.
ReplyDeleteOoopps. Forgot. You are a hammer swinging track worker, not someone used to using the grey matter.
Anon 05:51.
ReplyDeleteYour insults are completly out of order. Tony is entitled to his views on KCC just like any other KCC Tax payer.
Its just not the views published in local newspapers that should be aired. Most local blogs have no paid for adgenda. To be threatened by legal action to shut up a blogger for expressing legitimate views is the same behavoir that the late crook Robert Maxwell used to resort to by taking out injuctions to silence people. Just remember it us Tax payers money that KCC are spending.
Offering gratuitous insults seems to be a norm for rather too many people who contribute to Thanet's local blogs.
ReplyDeleteAll too often those who wish to express a contrary view do so with an accompanying foul-mouthed remark; or a suggestion that their "opponent" has a reduced social or intellectual standing, or has a mental health problem; or a suggestion that they are a "lower-achiever".
Any/all of these are unacceptable. They show the person dishing them out as deficient themselves. Sadly, this sort of behaviour has been encouraged by some people - including past leading local bloggers - who should know better.
Time for a change, I think.
In Tony and Gordon's Britain, posting anonymous blogs is the only way to get away with being non PC these days.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I don't condone 5:51's comments, you have to be admit he has a point.
Or is it that Tony can say whatever he likes, about whoever he likes, but others aren't allowed to dish it back?
5:51 Is I assume a modern day nazi, who is welcome to his or her ideas of social order and what oiks like me can and cannot say.
ReplyDeleteNo doubt 5:51 is the sort of cretin who actually thinks KCC really is good at governing Kent.
I choose to differ when a contractor writes to me, opening their letter thus "I am responding to the comments posted on your blog regarding Kent TV. "
Clearly when they are writing, appear to be representing an arm of Kent county council(Kent TV), and Kent's top knobs don't appreciate the irony of me as a taxpayer being effectively threaten and insulted at the public s expense, then there is something seriously wrong.
When Carter and Gilroy got around to replying to my initial concerns, neither acknowledged my right to comment on Kent TV.
Just how far could this be taken, maybe if suggest Kent Highways is wasting money on pointless advertising I run the risk of Kent on Sunday, threatening me? or perhaps the supplier of their tarmac?
This Blog is on hold until such time as Kent Council acknowledge my right to comment as I see fit within the law without threats from their paid contractors.
re 05:51 Tony ignore the comments. and get back Blogging we have missed you but eventually our aim will improve or maybe we will hit you by mistake. Don
ReplyDeleteObjective achieved.
ReplyDeleteIgnorant loudmouth took the bait!
Why wait for KCC to issue a directive on how free your speech can be? Sod them.
ReplyDeleteOh and 5.51, What would you know about grey matter?
ReplyDeleteYou appear to have a mindless "troll" Tony - don't give it what it wants.
ReplyDelete"An Internet troll, or simply troll in Internet slang, is someone who posts controversial, inflammatory, irrelevant or off-topic messages in an online community, such as an online discussion forum or chat room, with the intention of provoking other users into an emotional response or to generally disrupt normal on-topic discussion."
In short these people are saying these things because they want to stop you talking. for godsake Tony don't let the bullies win.
I suggest that we as a community ostracise the troll(s). Agreeing that their comments, blogs and all activities be utterly ignored. Robbing them of their power, their satisfaction and indeed every last possible motivation for acting against us.
If you are attacking Tony, Peter, Michael, Bertie, Richard or any other member of the community then you are attacking me.
All in favour say iey You appear to have a mindless "troll" Tony - don't give it what it wants.
"An Internet troll, or simply troll in Internet slang, is someone who posts controversial, inflammatory, irrelevant or off-topic messages in an online community, such as an online discussion forum or chat room, with the intention of provoking other users into an emotional response or to generally disrupt normal on-topic discussion."
In short these people are saying these things because they want to stop you talking. for godsake Tony don't let the bullies win.
I suggest that we as a community ostracise the troll(s). Agreeing that their comments, blogs and all activities be utterly ignored. Robbing them of their power, their satisfaction and indeed every last possible motivation for acting against us.
If you are attacking Tony, Michael, Richard, Peter, Berty, Adem or any other member of the community then you are attacking me.
All in favour...
What happened there? Well, you get my point.
ReplyDeleteTony, I know you are not blogging at the moment but the Kent TV Board Meeting of the 18Dec 08 is available on the KCC web site. You wont be suprised to hear that KCC are looking at sending staff to Kent schools to try and promote Kent TV. It makes you wonder how much this will costs? How can they find spare staff to do this? I know KCC claim that Kent TV is saving money, at the council scrutiny committee on 21 dec they are still waiting for Peter Gilroy to come up with a savings statement.
ReplyDeleteDo you know what is the most scarey thing about this is that the Conservative led KCC are squandering money on a tv propanganda channel. They are meant to stand for the opposite! What has happened to Kent?
ReplyDeleteLets create a pettition to get TOny doing his blog again. We Miss you Tony please please please start blogging again.
ReplyDeleteTony has explained why he is reluctant to blog just now - it is all to do with the actions and behaviour of KCC and one of their contractors.
ReplyDeleteKCC is Tory controlled. There are at least 4 Tory District/County Councillors - Chris Wells, Ken Gregory, Simon Moores, Ewen Cameron - who either have their own local blogs, contribute regularly to others' blogs, or have done in the past. Most/all of them have appeared on Tony's blog.
Can't they make representations to KCC on Tony's behalf? Can't they try to remedy this impasse? What are their views?
So Sir Bob cares about the 3rd world but not freedom in the first.
ReplyDelete