Bizarre is probably the best word for it.
You see, earlier today Ed Miliband proudly “launched” the LabourSpace website. Now I thought this all seemed a bit familiar, and indeed on checking I found Alex Hilton (of LabourHome and Recess Monkey) was writing about the site having been launched back in November 2006. So not really so much of a launch today if it was actually launched 26 months ago?
Ah, but you might say, perhaps the launch 26 months ago was a beta and today is the final version. Er, no. Because post-“launch” the site still producly calls itself Beta 0.2 (and yes, I did all the boring stuff to ensure that I wasn’t viewing any cached images):
There’s then a rather weird slanging match between Labour and the Tories after the Tories issued a press release poking fun at Labour re-announcing something they’d already announced and Labour / LabourList dishing out the insults in return, but without ever actually explaining, “If you’re trying to explain away all this by saying the launch is about LabourSpace no longer being in beta, why is it still saying in nice letters right at the top ‘Beta 0.2?'”
Indeed, it does leave LabourList looking rather silly for mocking the Tories for supposedly not noticing that LabourSpace used to say at the top of the site that it was in beta without apparently noticing themselves that it still says at the top of the site that it is in beta.
Aaah, internet politics; ain’t it great?
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10 Comments
So I didn’t just hallucinate that.
As those who know me at Cif….I am NOT Labours greatest fan LOL (yes, I know!)
BUT…….I HAVE been able to leave a comment at LabourList, which hasn’t been pre-moderated (as happens on just about every other Labour Blog)
That’s a good start.
I have left a mildly (for me) anti Labour comment / request for more info…..so let’s see if they are robust enough for Free Speech.
I will let you know.
Now that’s interesting!
THIS site, clearly IS pre-moderated.
So, where’s the Freedom of Speech here then?
Mark, can you please start liking to Labourist instead of Labourlist?
LabourSpace was launched two years ago at Labour conference – I have the branded conference guides to prove it.
Silent Hunter – it is standard practice to mod the first time you comment as it blocks 99.9% of spam. Get over yourself.
Mark, can you please start liking to Labourist instead of Labourlist?
Can I not like either of them?
Isn’t the only effective difference that one is moderated and the other isn’t?
Of course, technically this place is moderated, but if only to remove the occasional accidental spam put in place by myself thanks to this horrendous internet browser. Wait, where was I…
Ah yes, Labourlist. If everybody would be so kind to scroll to the top of this page (come back afterwards!) you will see…
“…independent, collaborative website run by Liberal Democrat activists, where any individual inside or outside the party can express their views…”
Labourlist/Labourist makes no pretence to this. It is a mouth organ of the Labour Party. I might well expect this website to post up a post decrying Nick Clegg (as indeed has been the case in the past) etc. AFAIK ConservativeHome and LabourHome are the same, as they are both run by activists of their parties, holding their elected officials to account. LabourList will not do this. I cannot forsee the Labour party actually allowing anything remotely anti-party to post there. It is a sham, and should not be linked to by this place (or by Conservative/LabourHome).
Huw, think you’re wrong there, because I’ve written ‘anti party’ stuff on there myself. Check out my post few days back on blair and Blinton.
The reason most of the comments which have been deleted have been is because they are libels, or contain other illegal content.
The incomprehensible LPUK OMGZANULIEBORE rants mostly go in the trash can, but are still up and quite visible, if you choose to see them.
Like any other website, it’s up to the owner to decide on and enact a comments policy, which I think we’ve done quite well at, given the vast torrent of gleeful guido-watchers we had when we launched.
Clinton, even. Damn these ceramic fingers!
Sorry for the lengthy time to respond, but that example given (Blair and Clinton) would have referred to antics in the first 3 years of Blair’s leadership of the UK. That’s over 8 years (and two general elections) ago.