Otago students trespassed from parts of their own university

hometoad · Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 6:41 pm

Have been doing a little surfing and watching the telly at the same time while getting ready to head off for an hours cleaning work.

Still got my TV on TV3. I see that the Otago University is running an add campaign touting for business aimed primarily at new zealanders.

I'm guessing the proctor or whoever is having a quiet spew about the negative publicity that they are currently getting

SMR · Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 11:59 pm

sorry if this has been posted already

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10523111

undercover cops spying on uni students and arresting them for smoking weed?

mfinest · Heavy User Joined: Jun 20, 2006 Posts: 223 Location: NZ

I saw the peice about this on the TV One news last night. They made it sound like the students were just being paranoid stoners for thinking the cops were doing under cover work at the uni. Pretty piss poor reporting really, they gave little attenting to the cannabis protest. They only really focused on the police on campus aspect. I know we should not judge people by thier looks, but hey if you are going to be on TV and be the spokesperson for the organisation, then we need to try not to play into people stereo types. The Spokeperson for Otago NORML really needs to shave his beard and put a suit on when he goes on TV. Otherwise no one is going to take a few paranoid stoners seriously. Cause thats just what it looks like..

BudBeard · Heavy User Joined: Oct 27, 2004 Posts: 203 Location: SINZ

hey cheers mfinist NOT
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Paul13 · Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 3:00 pm

menial · Heavy User Joined: Jul 21, 2008 Posts: 101 Location: akl

To some degree, don't you think the most efficient road to change is the one with least reisitance? If you are trying to convince someone of something, you should perhaps try showing them how simular you are to them rather than underlining certain differences.

Alienating some of the people you are trying to persuade to see your view point, doesn't do you any favours.

Convincing "them" that you are "normal" (the same as them) as well as enjoy a toot for your ailments is imo, a better way to go than making headlines for the wrong reasons.

Don't give the media opportunities to twist and distort the truth.

steveoh · Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 3:39 pm

mfinest · Heavy User Joined: Jun 20, 2006 Posts: 223 Location: NZ

BudBeard and Paul13,

you have every right to be pissed off...but how are we going to change peoples opinions if we are just playing to thier sereotype of your typical stoners.
How are we going the get more people on our side?
If all they see on the TV are people who re-inforce thier preconcived ideas. Unfortnately those we need to convince are the ones that by thier nature won't take you seriously unless you look and sound like them.
We need to convince NZ First(old people) and National party(individualists) supporters to your cause. Capitalists who believe in bullshit like free market trickle down economics and personal resposibility and nanny state interference.

People who "look" lazy arsed dole-bludging/students/unemployed and scruffy are not going to convince anyone, if anything they will say that the police should lock them all up, send them to the army camp for re-education etc etc.

Most stoners are people with jobs/families and do an honest days work, people who look like that need to be the public front of the organisation.

We can keep fighting the system(stereotypes)= two war fronts, or use the system = one war front

BudBeard · Heavy User Joined: Oct 27, 2004 Posts: 203 Location: SINZ

Look conformity is for wankers, we shouldn't dress up as people we are not simply because we are going to be on TV.

I agree that coming accross as respectful and non-dopey is important. I just dont agree with cutting of nandors dreads and throwing them out with the bath water.

MFinist when you have genarated national publicity for the cannabis movement, you can preech about appreances...

Why do you dopeheads always whinge? I thought the TV3 stuff in particular but also the TV1 stuff was Great for the movement.

http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/536641/1935765

http://www.3news.co.nz/Video/National/tabid/309/articleID/64153/cat/142/Default.aspx#video
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MrNiceGuyNZ · Forum Moderator Joined: Sep 18, 2005 Posts: 2872

The first thing that ran through my head when I saw Abe Gray on the front of the ODT was - is he a gang member? Short hair and beard.....

I am fully aware he is not, but to look at him is the impression I got.
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nukachura · Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 6:41 pm

So is Abe the "known gang member" the police refer to at every opportunity?

MrNiceGuyNZ · Forum Moderator Joined: Sep 18, 2005 Posts: 2872

I have heard from several sources now "homeless people"

I hope we all don't get tarred with the same brush in that regards....

The sheep that are the public usually do though! Thanks for your contribution....
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Paul13 · Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 8:33 pm

Some people don't seem to get it. Where the fuck has being respectable ever got the cannabis movement? It has tried that approach in different places at different times as well as following due process and what has that acheived? The upfront approach of J days, 4:20s and the cannabus gets attention and gets away with it, while pissing off prohibitionists. I think that "do it ourselves as we are" approach is far more empowering then bitching away on the keyboard because something doesn't meet your stereotype of effective lobbying. Do you think this issue is going to be won without courage? How about you wingers showing some?

MrNiceGuyNZ · Forum Moderator Joined: Sep 18, 2005 Posts: 2872

provocation promotes action as we have seen Paul, the arrests have promoted cannabis for sure, but in a negative way. All this is not about how you think or how I think regarding stereotyping, it's what the public think, if you appear to them as gang members, bogans, deadbeats or homeless people what sort of reaction do you think you are going to get from the public? We NEED the public's support.
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Tony · Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 9:33 pm

OK ,
I am in for it now..

The CLR movement does have an image problem and its not just the media who emphasis the stereotyping .

I am sure it would do the cause a lot of good if a few hundred 50 yr old white females were doing the protesting..
but lets face it the reality is for the most part it takes an alternative sort to have the balls to stand up and be counted .
Hells teeth for 40 yrs the CLRers and their supporters have been alternative sorts..Back in the 60/70's it was all long haired , make love not war hippie type protesters , Muldoon had some very derogatory descriptions of them long haired , layabout dropouts were some of the more gentile .Was look at a photo of me and Phil Goff taken at a protest .. what a couple of long haired scruffs .. never go anywhere that sort..

I made a huge sacrifice a couple of years ago , 45yrs of long beard and hair ( well round the shinny bit on top ) to now actually get mistaken for Pete Hodgson..so I did not get lumped into the stereotype associated with CLR..and thought maybe I would not only get listened to but try and encourage other .

But the reality is while the majority of cannabis smokers are not alternatives or hoody wearing stereotypes , only they have the motivation to speak out.

I too cringe when I see the take the media and the like put on those protesting and can just imagine what the bulk of the observers are saying..
BUT until such time as more conservative older straights see a critical mass of similar out there fronting they will continue to remain the silent majority .

I am as guilty here as those I am be critical of.. I cringe at those who do front, while I retain a wall of secrecy. Ok maybe I am more out front in my own way than most but still don't have the guts to front on TV for the medpot cause ..

I keep throwing stones in this fragile glass house as I ponder an answer .

But as an aside , not just this thread but others as well we are snipping at each other.. Its frustration , but lets try and excepts others differences of opinions to ourselves and focus on the one thing we all do have in common..

and if you want to see a bunch of long haired scruff actiists , go look at photos of our older current MP's when they were activists .. hmmm and some of the media people as well.. how about someone with the skills actually post some of the older photos of Phil Goff and others on this forum..

tony


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