TT: Crackpot clearinghouse or forum of ideas?

Thomas Rignoli

In this regard, TT is coming close to fulfilling the Premier’s dismissive comment ‘F…in’ useless’. The Premier may be right, TT is now largely the mouthpiece for these inter-related subgroups of Tasmanians, but in doing so, it has come to the point that it is constantly preaching to the converted, playing to its constituency. Outside this group, who is listening?
Has it become, for the wider Tasmania, ‘f…kin’ useless’ ?

IN RECENT MONTHS, the views and comments on Tasmanian Times have become more strident and somewhat unidirectional. In general, the stories have revolved around some common themes such as opposition to the pulp mill, opposition to industrial forestry, opposition to the use of pesticides, antagonism towards opponents of environmentalism and, in general terms, strongly anti-government.

Now, there is really nothing wrong with that in principle, good luck to those who write the stories, even if they are the same story over and over again. By and large, the comments that follow lend their support and generally serve an impression of an active inward-looking and debate-stifling ‘mob’ that won’t brook the possibility of views that don’t fit their vision of how things should work in Tasmania, if they were in charge.

Again all this is fine – it provides an outlet, a rallying point, for a, largely disaffected, subgroup of internet-savvy Tasmanians. TT has become something of a heroic figure for some out there. In this regard, most alternative views have been hounded off, many never to return, by barrages of posts that, perhaps unintentionally, and sometimes intentionally, seek to crowd out any potential for dissent.

In this regard, TT is coming close to fulfilling the Premier’s dismissive comment ‘F…in’ useless’. The Premier may be right, TT is now largely the mouthpiece for these inter-related subgroups of Tasmanians, but in doing so, it has come to the point that it is constantly preaching to the converted, playing to its constituency. Outside this group, who is listening?
Has it become, for the wider Tasmania, ‘f…kin’ useless’ ?

But could TT be more? Could it be a site where we have essays from leading thinkers in different sectors, where debate is well-informed if not polite, where people are not abused for having a different view?

Where our politicians would feel safe enough to contribute and discuss? Where our teachers, lecturers and scientists can get on board and share with us their areas of specialty that have relevance for Tasmanian life? Where Tasmanians from different walks could come together to share some vision to take us forward?

I am not for controlling what people say or do, but a code of conduct may be a useful tool for directing more respectful discourse. I am not seeking ‘balance’ in any way, just the creation of an on-line environment where it is accepted that there are different ways of seeing things. I also have no issue with ‘dissent’ directed at majority interests, but I would prefer a well-argued dissenting position, rather than one that simply reflects political ideology, disaffection, parroting or simply not getting what you want.

This could all be wishful thinking – ‘start your own site then!’ I hear many crying – and maybe I shall.

But Tasmanian Times has shone brightly from time to time, and it could be more than a series of negative, knocking stories and posts if you can imagine a world outside your immediate interests. Or perhaps the descent into irrelevancy is unstoppable at this time.

I would be fairly certain that Lennon has not visited for some time, but how many other potential leading Tasmanian contributors have switched off?