Tag Archives: james delingpole

The welfare debate and the age of the trollemic

By Stephen Tall | Thu 4th April 2013 - 9:25 am

I decided to invent a new word yesterday:

Is “trollemic” a word? If not it should be. Trollemic = deliberately OTT argument to generate controversy & make rational debate impossible.

— Stephen Tall (@stephentall) April 3, 2013

It’s the welfare debate that’s prompted it, but it could be any other topic on a given week.

Yesterday saw the Daily Mail publish a typically sensationalist front page blaming the welfare state for the tragedy of six children being killed by their parents. On Monday the Mirror shouted ‘Shameful’, with a cartoon showing Thatcher, Cameron, Osorne and Clegg banging in the final nail of a coffin marked ‘RIP Welfare’.

Each is exaggerating to make their own point. Both are gross over-statements: trollemics.

Posted in Op-eds | Also tagged ben goldacre, charlie brooker, daily mail, daily mirror, featured, julie burchill, mick philpott, polly toynbee, trollemic and welfare | 26 Comments

Ah, now I see why I’m paid by neither the Daily Telegraph nor the Spectator

By Mark Pack | Fri 28th January 2011 - 8:55 am

You see, when I write about topics such as election law and psephology, I frequently check to see what is said in peer-reviewed academic papers. Particularly when I’m disagreeing with what people have claimed in such academic papers because, after all, saying something is wrong without actually taking a look at it is a bit of a risky leap of faith isn’t it?

But seeing what James Delingpole says, I can see where I’ve been going wrong. Clearly if I want to be a serious proper writer who gets published regularly by the Daily Telegraph or the Spectator the thing to remember is that criticising peer-reviewed papers (and indeed accusing authors of being in a conspiracy) is most properly done by never actually looking at them yourself:

Posted in News | 14 Comments

Three “disgusting, eco-fascist, bullying” questions for Conservatives

By Alex Foster | Thu 28th January 2010 - 11:18 am

Cast your world-weary, battle-hardened, politico and political eyes over this disgusting filth spewing from the keyboard of swivel-eyed maniacs working through the night on behalf of some disreputable campaign to send vile messes to hard working Tory PPCs:

Can you clarify that:

You accept that climate change is caused by human activity?

Do you support the target to achieve 15% renewable energy by 2020?

Do you support the EU imposing tougher regulation to combat climate change?

Hardly the worst questions a campaigner will receive.

In my brief time working in politics both as an elected representative myself and for MEPs and MPs, I have seen some …