Small-minded Bureaucracy

[poliphilo]

Does a local council have the power to stop a child posting pictures of her school dinners on her blog? The one in this story thinks it does.

The blog is politely critical, charming, responsible and constructive. It has an international readership. The girl's school is supportive. Only the Council objects.

There's a certain type of jack-in-office that hates any kind of scrutiny- and never saw an independent initiative it didn't want to squash.

Comments

[heleninwales.livejournal.com]

Yes, I heard the Head of the Council doing a swift U-turn on World at One at lunchtime. However, as michaleen said, it's more complicated than many people have tried to make out and the real problem was her blog going global in the first place. If she'd just been blogging to a few local friends and family, I don't imagine anyone would have bothered, but when people all around the world start criticising the school and the staff for things that are outside their power to change, it all got serious and the council were in a lose-lose situation. If they told her to stop, they'd be pilloried and if they allow her to continue they'd have to deal with all the issues that caused.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Well, yes, who'd have thought this modest little blog would have gone viral.

But, really, whatever the complexity of the issues, shutting it down was an act of oppression- and enormously stupid.

Yes

[ideealisme.livejournal.com]

They should have explained the exact reasons rather than the usual waffle. A population who has been pushed around, lied to and bullied by the collective Them is bound to think the worst. And using "refute" on the first line of their statement when they meant "deny" put my teeth on edge.

I don't know if you've seen the injustice I've talked about on my blog, but it's along similar lines, though far more extreme. There's also this unpleasant story about Apple pulling an app which a lovely disabled little girl depends on to speak...
http://niederfamily.blogspot.ie/2012/03/goliath-v-david-aac-style.html

I'm tired of Them throwing their weight about and thinking it's ok not to bother explaining why to the people They hurt, again and again and fucking again.

Re: Yes

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

The trouble is "They" are paranoid. They interpret even friendly criticism as attack. Power does this to people. I've always thought a lot of trouble could be prevented in this world if those in authority would only lighten up a bit and learn to say, "Sorry, we'll do better next time."

Re: Yes

[ideealisme.livejournal.com]

Personally at this point in my life I am happy to bring on the trouble. I want Them taken down, wherever They manifest themselves. They've laughed at us often enough while screwing us and I'm not in a gentle self-indulgent mood any more.

Re: Yes

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Nobody should be allowed to become too comfortable in the seat of power. It's bad for them and it's bad for us.