Alan is very able to defend himself but what I find odious is people who criticise others for actual or perceived slights whilst hiding under the cover of anonymity. There is a long and fairly honourable tradition of satire in Britain. This post falls within that. Many of us have been on the receiving end but we survive and, indeed, with a bit of self-deprecation can often use it at the expense of the satirist. Which is invariably taken in good heart by the satirist.
Agree 100% with you David. Too many people mistake satire for abuse. They feel they are justified in abusing others as ****ist. A sense of humour seems to an increasingly rare commodity.
Waves hi to Lucy, Simon, Sian or whatever anonymous is called. One must ask how is lampooning the TGO relentless and boring.? poking fun out of stupid idiotic stuff is always fun. Alan should be commended for this witty fun post.
It's not satire. It's a sad bunch of middle aged farts having a go at a young woman and I, along with a lot of people outside of this little clique of supposedly 'outdoor' bloggers, find it quite unpleasant. It's bullying and you should be ashamed. Alan – I thought with our last Private Mail exchange you had at least some sense, but it seems not. Odious seems a pretty apt description. That's my last visit to this little den of small-minded bullying. I haven't the energy to lampoon the idiots on here who can't separate bullying from humour. You wouldn't recognise the latter if it bit you on the backside.
If you saw this huddle of idiots hurling this kind of abuse at a woman in the street it would be totally unacceptable. Why do you feel it's acceptable online? Alan K
My, my... Still, I'm happy to publish your comment. I believe in free speech Alan K...
And, just for the record, we did not have a Private Mail exchange. You asked me not to publish your comment sent through to me to authoruse, and I respected your request.
I respect all those who take time to proffer opinion: Even those I disagree with, Alan.
Alan you are a bully plain and simple. Martin you are his unthinking sidekick. You are a very unpleasant little group who are bullying a young woman. No where is that acceptable. Why do you think you can get away with it here? You unpleasant little bunch of middle age farts.
The one thing the outdoors needs less of is idiots like you, I work in the outdoors trying to get people to care about what happens in the fells and people like you make it ten times harder to get young people to engage. You are a total nightmare and the long term damage you cause is incalculable. You selfish, self obsessed, idiots. Do you not realise the damage you do?
Let's count them up: "Bulley" "Sidekick" Unpleasant bunch of middle aged farts" "Idiots" "total nightmare" "selfish, self obsessed idiots"...
Not many constructive points made in that rant, was there? I hope you feel better and more superior now, Alan.
Introducing the term "young woman" into your comment is a rather nasty attempt, following on from Andy Howell's failed effort, to turn this into an issue sexism. Well that fails to impress me, Alan.
I doubt very much if you have ever engaged, or are ever likely to engage with any the readers of that blog. I suggest you have a good read and think again.
It is not a blog designed to get people out of doors. It is a blog designed to make money.
Again Alan Kay what has the lady in question got to do with Alan poking a bit of fun out of TGO ? Stop trying to make this into something it is not.
But since you and you alone keep making this out to be about the TGO Blog of the Year let me put it to you my position.
When the result was announced I congratulated the winner. Hardly bullying. Then people started to say their views on the result and comment on the blogs approach.
The former TGO Editor wrote "it appears to written for teenagers". Have you taken it up with him about that Alan Kay ? Andy Howell wrote: "So, while I am happy to ridicule this particular blog for this content and approach" - so go take exception with him for promoting ridicule of the blog.
Others took exception to the wild camp post on the winning blog as a professional journalist and a person employed in the outdoors industry decided to have a camp fire while out wild camping, and then blog about it while writing about leave no trace principles.
Hardly a surprise there was a outcry. Calling it a mistake is in my view a poor defence - as the blog in question could have answered comments, and dealt with it sooner and not got to the point when complaints to the national park were needed. Plus as a professional outdoor writer they should done their research on the subject.
Looking at the advice on hooking up with others while in relationships (if you think that is fine blogging to encourage people to engage in the outdoors you are indeed a shallow person Alan Kay ) and dubious recommendations like night time swimming outdoors after a few drinks it is not surprising some took exception to the blog. Free speech about online content is not bullying. Its free speech about debatable advice.
But do if you so hate bullying go talk to winning blog writer about her behaviour over at Post Card from Timperley blog, as when that blog writer wrote a post before the vote on TGO Awards the lady in question took exception with it. Timperley blog pulled the comments reporting a less than kind email exchange with the Outdoor Blog of the Year winner. Seems a case of less than kind, or encouraging behaviour to me. So jog on and have a word about it wont you with your crusade. Meanwhile we will like many here have a laugh about Alan's post.
Martin, that quote from the former TGO Editor ("it appears to written for teenagers") goes right to the nub of this whole episode. TGO has - over a good number of years - established a distinctive editorial and journalistic style; that style has in turn established its niche and broadly shaped its readership demographic.
If this blog (the other TGO) had been shortlisted by Heat, Closer, or Glamcamping Monthly (I might have made that last one up!) for one of their blogger of the year awards, I doubt if a single eyelid anywhere would have been batted. In fact it would have passed most of us by unnoticed.
What a shame the author isn't black and foreign as well, as then you could have added racism and xenophobia to the charge sheet!
You have, I believe, shared a small fractions of your many challenges with Mr Fellbound, and Mr Banfield. Did Mr F strike you as misogynistic fiend? Or Mr B as a rabid anti-capitalist, deserving of a roasting?
The criticism has been of the style and content, not the author. It could have been a male fashionista and the same critique would have applied. And strangely not one commentator has stepped forward to say "I am a long time subscriber to TGO, and I voted for this blog." Not one. Not even you.
And yet it "won" - and who can argue that it received the most votes, although I suspect that none were cast by regular TGO readers.
On the whole I would put this into the "it really doesn't matter" category, so to finish with a light-hearted dig at the TGO Mag for letting it happen really isn't anything to get upset about. It really isn't.
I'll remain "anonymous", as we may well meet, and it would be good to share a pint of bitter free of any bitterness.
Have to agree with Andrew, chaps 'n chapesses. Time to call "Time". Even the poor old Doodlecat began to take some flack, both upsetting and annoying Miss W - so the "everyone's a Winner post has, I'm afraid, been deleted.
Oh, and (2 days late) Happy Birthday for Saturday, Al!
Hi. Because of spammers, I moderate all comments, so don't worry if your comment seems to have disappeared; It has been sent to me for approval. As soon as I see it, I'll deal with it straight away. Thank you!
cruel
ReplyDeleteYou'll be banned from The Challenge!
ReplyDeleteThat is very very naughty.
ReplyDeleteBut Genius!
Fablious concept dahling
ReplyDeleteGreat fun
ReplyDeletePriceless! I'm saying that in a disapproving way, obviously.
ReplyDeleteIt's about time that fashion on the hill was treated seriously, glad to see TGO is at the cutting edge.
ReplyDeleteJJ
This new edition of TGO is ridiculous. It has forgotten its target audience. There ought to be an article about keeping beards looking neat and tidy.
ReplyDeleteYou just can't leave it alone, can you. Relentless, boring and odious.
ReplyDeleteAlan is very able to defend himself but what I find odious is people who criticise others for actual or perceived slights whilst hiding under the cover of anonymity. There is a long and fairly honourable tradition of satire in Britain. This post falls within that. Many of us have been on the receiving end but we survive and, indeed, with a bit of self-deprecation can often use it at the expense of the satirist. Which is invariably taken in good heart by the satirist.
DeletePS For the avoidance of doubt, in case you are not aware via Twitter, my real name is David Williams.
DeleteAgree 100% with you David. Too many people mistake satire for abuse. They feel they are justified in abusing others as ****ist. A sense of humour seems to an increasingly rare commodity.
DeleteAnon, if you find it all so "Relentless, boring and odious", what are you doing here? Can you not... oh, I don't know, just leave it alone?
DeleteVery eloquently put, David.
DeleteOh, and Alan Sloman, you are a very bad man.
DeleteAs they say in my neck of the woods: Loffin
Waves hi to Lucy, Simon, Sian or whatever anonymous is called. One must ask how is lampooning the TGO relentless and boring.? poking fun out of stupid idiotic stuff is always fun. Alan should be commended for this witty fun post.
DeleteIt's not satire. It's a sad bunch of middle aged farts having a go at a young woman and I, along with a lot of people outside of this little clique of supposedly 'outdoor' bloggers, find it quite unpleasant. It's bullying and you should be ashamed. Alan – I thought with our last Private Mail exchange you had at least some sense, but it seems not. Odious seems a pretty apt description.
DeleteThat's my last visit to this little den of small-minded bullying.
I haven't the energy to lampoon the idiots on here who can't separate bullying from humour. You wouldn't recognise the latter if it bit you on the backside.
If you saw this huddle of idiots hurling this kind of abuse at a woman in the street it would be totally unacceptable. Why do you feel it's acceptable online?
Alan K
My, my...
DeleteStill, I'm happy to publish your comment. I believe in free speech Alan K...
And, just for the record, we did not have a Private Mail exchange. You asked me not to publish your comment sent through to me to authoruse, and I respected your request.
I respect all those who take time to proffer opinion: Even those I disagree with, Alan.
Claiming poking fun out TGO is about another blog and bullying is a tad pathetic Alan K.
DeleteAlan you are a bully plain and simple. Martin you are his unthinking sidekick. You are a very unpleasant little group who are bullying a young woman. No where is that acceptable. Why do you think you can get away with it here? You unpleasant little bunch of middle age farts.
DeleteThe one thing the outdoors needs less of is idiots like you, I work in the outdoors trying to get people to care about what happens in the fells and people like you make it ten times harder to get young people to engage. You are a total nightmare and the long term damage you cause is incalculable. You selfish, self obsessed, idiots. Do you not realise the damage you do?
Alan Kay
Let's count them up: "Bulley" "Sidekick" Unpleasant bunch of middle aged farts" "Idiots" "total nightmare" "selfish, self obsessed idiots"...
DeleteNot many constructive points made in that rant, was there? I hope you feel better and more superior now, Alan.
Introducing the term "young woman" into your comment is a rather nasty attempt, following on from Andy Howell's failed effort, to turn this into an issue sexism. Well that fails to impress me, Alan.
I doubt very much if you have ever engaged, or are ever likely to engage with any the readers of that blog. I suggest you have a good read and think again.
It is not a blog designed to get people out of doors. It is a blog designed to make money.
Again Alan Kay what has the lady in question got to do with Alan poking a bit of fun out of TGO ? Stop trying to make this into something it is not.
DeleteBut since you and you alone keep making this out to be about the TGO Blog of the Year let me put it to you my position.
When the result was announced I congratulated the winner. Hardly bullying. Then people started to say their views on the result and comment on the blogs approach.
The former TGO Editor wrote "it appears to written for teenagers". Have you taken it up with him about that Alan Kay ? Andy Howell wrote: "So, while I am happy to ridicule this particular blog for this content and approach" - so go take exception with him for promoting ridicule of the blog.
Others took exception to the wild camp post on the winning blog as a professional journalist and a person employed in the outdoors industry decided to have a camp fire while out wild camping, and then blog about it while writing about leave no trace principles.
Hardly a surprise there was a outcry. Calling it a mistake is in my view a poor defence - as the blog in question could have answered comments, and dealt with it sooner and not got to the point when complaints to the national park were needed. Plus as a professional outdoor writer they should done their research on the subject.
Looking at the advice on hooking up with others while in relationships (if you think that is fine blogging to encourage people to engage in the outdoors you are indeed a shallow person Alan Kay ) and dubious recommendations like night time swimming outdoors after a few drinks it is not surprising some took exception to the blog. Free speech about online content is not bullying. Its free speech about debatable advice.
But do if you so hate bullying go talk to winning blog writer about her behaviour over at Post Card from Timperley blog, as when that blog writer wrote a post before the vote on TGO Awards the lady in question took exception with it. Timperley blog pulled the comments reporting a less than kind email exchange with the Outdoor Blog of the Year winner. Seems a case of less than kind, or encouraging behaviour to me. So jog on and have a word about it wont you with your crusade. Meanwhile we will like many here have a laugh about Alan's post.
Martin, that quote from the former TGO Editor ("it appears to written for teenagers") goes right to the nub of this whole episode. TGO has - over a good number of years - established a distinctive editorial and journalistic style; that style has in turn established its niche and broadly shaped its readership demographic.
DeleteIf this blog (the other TGO) had been shortlisted by Heat, Closer, or Glamcamping Monthly (I might have made that last one up!) for one of their blogger of the year awards, I doubt if a single eyelid anywhere would have been batted. In fact it would have passed most of us by unnoticed.
Mr Kay.
DeleteWhat a shame the author isn't black and foreign as well, as then you could have added racism and xenophobia to the charge sheet!
You have, I believe, shared a small fractions of your many challenges with Mr Fellbound, and Mr Banfield. Did Mr F strike you as misogynistic fiend? Or Mr B as a rabid anti-capitalist, deserving of a roasting?
The criticism has been of the style and content, not the author. It could have been a male fashionista and the same critique would have applied. And strangely not one commentator has stepped forward to say "I am a long time subscriber to TGO, and I voted for this blog." Not one. Not even you.
And yet it "won" - and who can argue that it received the most votes, although I suspect that none were cast by regular TGO readers.
On the whole I would put this into the "it really doesn't matter" category, so to finish with a light-hearted dig at the TGO Mag for letting it happen really isn't anything to get upset about. It really isn't.
I'll remain "anonymous", as we may well meet, and it would be good to share a pint of bitter free of any bitterness.
Burlesque :)
ReplyDeleteVictoria´s secrets goes off the lacquered toenail track ...
Arf! arf! Imagine the meeja types will have a sense of humour failure and complain about abuse and trolling.
ReplyDeleteNaughty, but, Nice!
ReplyDeleteAnd I though Backpacker Magazine had acquired them!
ReplyDeletePriceless! Still chuckling now!
ReplyDeleteI think the title should be THE GREAT POUTDOORS. Otherwise I like it. Can we have Page 3?
ReplyDeleteExcellent Alan, love it, very funny.
ReplyDeleteWhere can I buy a subscription Allan?
ReplyDelete'Rhianna goes snow-holing'
ReplyDelete*can't......breath...*
I had to look that up, OwdBum.
Delete;-)
I can assure you that TGO and all its staff all love and respect the welfare of Polar Bears.
Who is doing the gear reviews in the latest issue Gok Wan? Love to see Chris Townsend covering and modelling this stuff, go on Chris, ������
ReplyDeletevery original and very funny
ReplyDeleteSnortty Snorrt! Love it!!
ReplyDeleteBut need more make-up tips! And please, please, can we have some Relationship Counselling? Just asking (#*needyface*).
As much as I have enjoyed reading all of this. It is time to put it to bed.
ReplyDeleteIn a non sexist way.
Isn't it?
Have to agree with Andrew, chaps 'n chapesses. Time to call "Time". Even the poor old Doodlecat began to take some flack, both upsetting and annoying Miss W - so the "everyone's a Winner post has, I'm afraid, been deleted.
DeleteOh, and (2 days late) Happy Birthday for Saturday, Al!
Al, I know this is against your policy of openness and free speech, but it might be a good idea to close comments on this one. Waddya reckon?
DeleteGood idea.
DeleteIt's run its course, Phil / Andy.
No further comments on this thread will now be published