Since I won't give Storify the Twitter
permissions it wants, I've had to do this Tweet-by-Tweet.
I decided to argue climate change
action with the Sydney Morning Herald's Deputy Editor, Ben Cubby,
today. It became complicated, he says, so I've put the timeline
together here, and offer it for others to decide whether I was
obscure, circular, difficult, or even particularly trollish.
@niltiac Sydney #climateaction
rally was good turnout given downpour, but I don't think it was as
many as 10k as reported here http://t.co/1hbGEOPbel
@bencubby @niltiac @cousincat
sounds about right to me - surprised they got that many, given the
national mood re carbon pricing. (emphasis added)
That's the bit I took issue with.
From here, I will not highlight anything except usernames.
@R_Chirgwin .@bencubby I think
you're assuming that the journalistic mood about carbon pricing is
cognate with the national mood.
@bencubby so
many moods, so little time.
@R_Chirgwin @bencubby
Let's call it a national 30,000. They're misreading the national
mood?
@bencubby @R_Chirgwin
who can say?
@R_Chirgwin @bencubby
So - is there a "national mood re carbon pricing" or not?
@bencubby @R_Chirgwin
hard to say.
@R_Chirgwin
@bencubby You said so: "given the national mood re carbon
pricing" (verbatim). That's what I'm trying to grasp.
@bencubby @R_Chirgwin
it's hard to pinpoint these things specifically. however, i think
it's self-evident that people are less keen on these issues.
@R_Chirgwin @bencubby
Which brings us back to the protesters. Is a good number on the
street evidence for or against your assessment?
@bencubby @R_Chirgwin
why so interested in this?
@R_Chirgwin @bencubby
It fits a whole lot of my interests: politics, climate, editorial
assumptions, argument! :-)
@bencubby @R_Chirgwin
so what's your point?
@R_Chirgwin @bencubby
You said there's a national mood about carbon pricing. I'd like you
to back it, given that the protests offer a counter-argument.
@bencubby @R_Chirgwin
federal election result? polls since the election? smaller number at
#climateaction rallies this time? they're all indicators.
@R_Chirgwin @bencubby
Let's focus on the rally numbers. You were surprised, a moment ago,
at the size. Are they now a disappointment?
@bencubby @R_Chirgwin
60,000 seems about right, nationally. but hard to tell - i think most
of them are numbers from getup
@R_Chirgwin @bencubby
I didn't stipulate 60,000. But surely a successful protest movement
suggests "national mood" isn't a monolith?
@bencubby @R_Chirgwin
no one said it was monolithic. it has waxed and waned, and will
probably continue doing that, id have thought.
@R_Chirgwin @bencubby
If there isn't "a" national mood, why base your opinion of
the protests on "the" national mood?
@bencubby @R_Chirgwin
you've lost me
@R_Chirgwin @bencubby
You made a statement citing "the national mood". I'm asking
you if the protests count as counter-evidence that such a thing
exists
@bencubby @R_Chirgwin
can you be a bit clearer.
@R_Chirgwin @bencubby
1. Do you believe there is "a national mood" as you
originally said? 2. Does not a significant protest challenge that
belief?
@bencubby @R_Chirgwin
1. national mood ebbing on climate change action. 2. the size of
protests etc do feed into national feed.
@R_Chirgwin @bencubby
See? It wasn't hard. It will be interesting to see how the mood moves
in the future.
@bencubby @R_Chirgwin
you have a very circular way of talking.
***
OK. By now I will
insert myself. I really don't think I'd been that circular or
difficult. Hence my response.
***
@R_Chirgwin @bencubby
>shrugs< I am as I am.
@bencubby @R_Chirgwin
excellent. good for you.
@R_Chirgwin @bencubby
The question was simple. Did you believe what you said, and would you
back it on challenge? The complications were not mine.
***
Now,
I don't think I was circular or difficult or trolling. But I'll leave
it to others to tell me whether I'm wrong.
