I recently wandered onto a blog that made my hair stand on end. Its called why south africa sucks (you can see it by clicking on the uhuru guru link below), and it really upset me. But putting aside the extreme racism of this blog, I spotted an article that a colleague of mine had written was reprinted on the blog without attribution, and commented on this. (turns out i'd missed the hyperlink to the original article, so i was wrong about the lack of attribution). But what really upset me was the treatment I received having commented. I've pasted the discussion below. I'm sure there will be lots of nasty comments following this move, but I was floored by the aggressive and childish response to a simple comment, and as is the nature of bloggers, felt compelled to blog about it.
Katie Possum said...
Hi.While I completely DISAGREE with the sentiments on your blog, I'm commenting now about something else: to ask you to try attribute the articles that you are reproducing correctly. Please give the site address from where you got them, and the journalist who wrote the article - its only professional decency.Thanks
10:10 AM
The Uhuru Guru said...
Katie Possum said..."Hi. While I completely DISAGREE with the sentiments on your blog, I'm commenting now about something else: to ask you to try attribute the articles that you are reproducing correctly. Please give the site address from where you got them, and the journalist who wrote the article - its only professional decency."
Gee Katie Possum, if you DISAGREE with the sentiments on the blog, why are you such an avid reader? Closet racist, perhaps? ;)Second point, take your blinkers off - every single article on this blog has a link to the source. Try clicking on the title (which is a hyperlink) which will take you to the original article. This is a non-commercial site, so we fail to see why we should promote the newspaper name. The source link already generates much traffic to their sites.
11:14 AM
Dickey Knee said...
Bullard is as careless as Firoz Cachalia and his wife, sporting jewellery openly in a public place.Was his window open, or simply not fitted with burglar bars?ALL the burglaries in the complex where I live have been through unprotected windows.
11:58 AM
Anonymous said...
DUUUUHHHHH Katie : You died your hair - you died while doing your hair???? Or did you dye your hair!
12:01 PM
The Uhuru Guru said...
Anonymous said..."DUUUUHHHHH Katie: You died your hair - you died while doing your hair???? Or did you dye your hair!"
LOL anon, I saw that too. She's probably also taking skin-darkening medication, and shopping for plastic surgery to have her schnozz flattened and her lips thickened. Hey Katie, they can also extend your jaw (super-reverse overbite) so you can have that 45 degree slope head angle ;) How sad that such a pretty girl (if the avatar pic is indeed hers) wants to deny her genes. I can understand Whacko Jacko's motivations, but Kooky Katie's is quite perplexing.
12:14 PM
Anonymous said...
I think Bullard is a twat being so chirpy and upbeat.If that bullet had gone a bit higher and to the left then suddenly it would have been a completely different matter and it would have been his funeral that we would be talking about.He is now making out to be a big hero, "He got shot, but he still believes in SA"He is now suddenly the poster boy for white ANC arse lickers.Next time he might not be so lucky.
5:37 PM
Anonymous said...
"katie possum"Must be using the computer while (her/his/can't decide yet) mother went to the store.
10:12 PM
knorrig said...
If that bullet had gone a bit higher and to the left..."Yeah, they should've shot him another arsehole.....preferably with a Patmor!...that would've at least saved us having to witness him take on the 'Madiba' role of White Crime Matyr! Useless LIBERAL IDIOT!
12:22 AM
jeff said...
Hi Katie Possum,Welcome to the blog. Please stay around and give your take on the issues raised. Intelligent and thoughtful people are welcome here, regardless of their views. Keeps the blog interesting. Hope you will have at it!
4:01 AM
Katie Possum said...
Wow! You guys have some serious chips on your shoulders. I am NOT a closet racist. I am NOT an avid reader of your blog, but of other blogs where I have seen you comment. Yesterday was the first time I ever visited your blog, and missed the hyperlinks (i'm happy to admit when I'm wrong). But as a journalist I know that I would be annoyed if I ventured upon an article of mine that was unattributed on another site.
"died my hair" - big deal. You're looking at a typo. It doesnt negate my point. And it is a childish reason to attack someone.as for sitting at the computer while my mommy is away - as above, this is a classic ad hominem fallacy. You're attacking the person because you cant attack their point. Furthermore, criticising from as anonymous doesnt add a lot of weight to your statements.
10:44 AM
knorrig said...
Jeff said,"Hi Katie Possum,Welcome to the blog. Please stay around and give your take on the issues raised."
NOOOO, please don't! The last thing we need is the Hollywood-philosophical musings of a 23-year old who has to tell the world about her hair color, listens to Madonna and reads Terry P!Rather go to News24...they've got all the right 'literature' for a young innocent little girl to 'find herself' in this ugly world raped by the Big Bad White Wolfmen!
12:02 PM
The Uhuru Guru said...
Dear Anonymous dufus who says "the bigots on this site should add swastikas to the posts", I was going to publish your pointless rant, but when you "dared" me, I just couldn't help but hit the reject button. Most comments get published, regardless of how facile, stupid and nasty they are. Try rise above infantile high school type 'dares' if you want to increase your chances of being posted.
12:22 PM
The Uhuru Guru said...
Katie Possum said "Yesterday was the first time I ever visited your blog".
Hmm, then I wonder who the Katie Possum was who posed here a few times over December...no matter Katie, we believe you. Oh, and Jeff's quite a nice guy actually, much more of a gentleman than I'll ever be, so don't paint him with the same brush you use for us incorrigible, hate-filled racists. Welcome to our dark, gloomy world, we hope you'll enjoy your stay and no, we don't offer free anti-depressant drugs- you'd better be emotionally ready to deal with the godawful content of this blog. Being a journalist, I assume you are?
12:31 PM
RSX said...
Being a journalist, I assume you are?WHAT?!? ANOTHER libby journalist?First, nic (who judging by his last post has seen the light), then inkonkoni, and now katie? I don't believe this.
1:22 PM
jeff said...
Hi Katie Possum,Some of your points are well taken. I spent some time reading your blog and came across a post from an ex Zimbabwe farmer in response to your comments about keeping a positive attitude about South Africa. You replied that you do have some thoughts about Zimbabwe. Could I ask you to share them with us? Thanks.
Here is the post to Katie Possum from The Granny Wrangler bloggist. I've copied it here because I thought it might be of interest to other readers of this blog:
"Always one to throw a spanner in the works...As a Zimbo who had her farm, livelihood and worldly possessions ripped away from her in the blink of an eye I have watched the rapid decline of a once fantastic country from a far too close for comfort perspective. It WAS fantastic and i'm sorry to say, better than SA ever was or will be. But that was then. 6 years ago i became a fully fledged 13-digit Id no. SA citizen and sought refuge in the sunny cape to study and subsequently work. I loved it. I learned to call it home. One has to. The thing is, i, like thousands of other Zimbos, have seen the patterns now happening in SA. Yip, the very same patterns which began the demise of what was once (excuse the cliché) the bread basket of africa. Do you have any idea the resentment and bitterness directed towards farmers who sold up and moved countries? They warned us all and we all stayed so fucking positive and buried our heads in our then fertile soil clinging to the hope that positivity and unity would see us through. Do you know what? It didn't. The one's who left, the ones who managed to sell their farms and make a new life for their children and families, they may have been scorned and resented but who feels like the arsehole who had everything ripped from them because they refused to heed the warnings and pay attention to all the signs? The ones who left got money for their farms and set up businesses, moved forex out of the country and put their children through good schools. The rest? Imagine being 65 and having not a cent. No pension to draw on. No escape. Now imagine moving to a foreign country in order to earn money to feed yourself, knowing that you will never be able to save up enough money to retire and will more than likely have to work until you die. Its real, and it's heartbreaking to watch. Don't get me wrong, optimism is great and i was as optimistic as i could be. But there comes a point when you have to think long and hard and actually LISTEN and absorb what is being said. Let it sink in. Instead of immediately jumping on the defensive and gunning down anyone who even mentions the word crime and SA in the same sentence, take the time to understand why they are saying these things. If you have lived through what Zim has gone through in the last 10 years your blood would run cold when you realised the EXACT same patterns happening south of the border. It is frightening. But whether you like it or not it's happening. Believe us. Don't believe us. We're all big enough to make our own decisions. I just hope that some of you will be spared the heartache and anguish so many of us have suffered - it's not something i'd wish on my worst enemy.Ok, i'm done. "
8:09 PM
Anonymous said...
Katie Possum on her blog, all rosy and cinnamon scented, says of the Springbok match at Twickers last year, "I wanted to cringe and die when I saw people waving the old flag at the rugby last year. I wish people who feel like that wouldnt identify themselves as South Africans...."
I would just like to bring to her attention the fact that one of the buggers who had the old flag draped over his shoulders was none other than one of her Noble Savages. He was making a statement about accepting the past and where SA had come from.I have as much contempt for the Katie Possum's of this world as she has for us evil racists. She should share a cell with a troop of sophisticated black gentlemen for the night (when she's not abroad spewing liberal propaganda for tourism SA and inviting tourists to their death) and then come and talk to us about how negative and racist we are and how she "cringes" when we identify ourselves as South Africans.
3:57 AM
Katie Possum said...
"The last thing we need is the Hollywood-philosophical musings of a 23-year old who has to tell the world about her hair color, listens to Madonna and reads Terry P!"
"Katie Possum on her blog, all rosy and cinnamon scented,"
Do you guys even know what an ad hominem arguement is? You can attack my writing, my music and literature tastes etc as much as you want - the problem is that is makes you look childish and DOESNT negate my point at all.
Jeff: thank you for your welcome. i wasnt necessarily painting you with the same brush, as I have yet to see your feelings on this issue.About that zim question: I dont think SA is going the way of zim. Crime, while still at an unacceptable level, is coming down every year. Employment is going up. Interests rates are fantastic. And most importantly, we are not run by a insane man who has held onto power for decades, and physically silences the opposition.
Uhuru Guru: I dont remember posting here in december, I had a quick look over the december archives and didnt spot anything I wrote, but it was only a quick look and i may have missed it. having said that, I do read nic's blog, so it possible that i followed a link from him to here at some point or another. having said that I am not an avid reader of this site. not then not now.
I'm going to go now, as I really dont have to waste my time being attacked on personal grounds by childish people who are too afraid to engage with the content of my point.
I'll try to avoid the temptation to come back and defend myself from the backlash this comment will surely have. I hope I'm able to just walk away, but i do tend to take the bait - personal flaw!
