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Missing the outrage

We encounter a serving or two of outrage on this blog occasionally, or perhaps even a little more often than occasionally, and that's not counting the mindless responses of the imbeciles who coat their skin with permanent graffiti. And we can see from the spewing words that the outrage is genuine. Some people are precious indeed.

But I, myself, personally, seem always to miss the outrage boat, which is a pity because I think we are all the better for being scandalised from time to time. I've missed a series of boats in recent months.

The first one through the heads without me was the Matty Johns free-for-all, and if I was angry my anger was directed at the individuals who had hung this good man out to dry. Shame on you all. Still.

More recently there has been a series of missed opportunities. There were the Kyle Sandilands incidents, one the questioning of a 14-year-old girl about sex and the other a reference to the weight-losing advantages of a concentration camp. The first I found stupid, amazingly stupid, the second silly, but no outrage I'm afraid. There were the blackened faces of The Jackson Jive on the Hey Hey It's Saturday reunion just over a week ago, and despite the US and British being appalled at what they describe as racism I could manufacture no outrage. I thought it was funny, in that the primary purpose was to mock Michael Jackson's obsession with whitening his skin. A few days later we had the officially sanctioned "little cup" at Victoria's Cranbourne Cup racemeeting, with dwarfs or midgets riding piggyback as jockeys on racegoers racing 50 metres. Unfunny, and even sad that the small-statured people would do it, but no outrage for me.

Can you suggest a cause that will, or should, outrage me?

Posted By: Jeff Corbett on 16/10/2009 4:46:00 PM | Comments (61)

comments

Date: Newest first | Oldest first

I read your column everyday and I admire you very much. It is outrageous that the government allowed 42 men from Afghanistan into the country, yet refused men with wives and children from Shrilanka. The Afghans could be Taliban infiltrating, some of them set fire to their boat to get in, just the type we need here!!! are they going to bring in wives mothers aunts and children because as you must know they abhor western women,western religions and western culture, That's my idea of what is outrageous.

Posted by Susan, 19/10/2009 9:29:46 AM

A good thought provoking article this morning. Like you, I also was unraged by the antics of Matt Johns and Sandilands, who's name I had never heard until he was so publicised. I can think of many other events where public outrage seemed to be manufactured by the media; when Alexander Downer spoke of "things that batter", which enraged the feminists and when the rest of us should have just marvelled at his weird sense of humour; when the public turned on Gov.General Peter Hollingsworth at the behest of a self serving Queensland activist, etc. But doesn't it all point to there being too much power in the media to manipulate public opinion. Following on from that, is it not indicative that people are not educated to think for themselves, but have the herd mentality, which is really a lazy thing to do. Recently I chided my friends for becoming so hyped up about the NRL Grand Final. I asked why we, in Newcastle, should give a damn about which of two other teams in other cities win. I made a point by walking my dog at the time the match was being telecast, which I do also during every Melbourne Cup. Ah well - maybe I'm crazy mixed up too. But I've got a mind of my own.

Posted by Sam, 19/10/2009 9:30:54 AM

Jeff, how about Magda on good news week encouraging motorists to wipe out cyclists? That annoyed me. She says it was a joke gone too far, but her going on and on about it with pure passion, well, i have my doubts. Didn't that infuriate you??? just a little???

Posted by Nafe, 19/10/2009 9:32:58 AM

I suppose that while I saw her comments as outrageous I was not outraged. The comments were outrageously stupid.

Posted by Jeff Corbett on 19/10/2009 9:47:36 AM

Hi Jeff, What about all caravan parks being declared national no-go parks, areas as we now have in the marine parks (fish know not to swim outside the boundaries) In this way the endangered but utterly useless red spotted wild dog or similar utterly un-known species to modern mankind will be saved from extinction. Cant say the same about your caravan though. I suppose you may always be able to rough it in your backyard.

Posted by MizJasper, 19/10/2009 9:39:56 AM

Hello Miz. I believe marine parks are a great innovation!

Posted by Jeff Corbett on 19/10/2009 9:49:19 AM

I saw something about a pedaphile being quoted at his trial as writing that the distress of youngsters aroused him as he found it pleasurable. I think it was the same guy that just got 5 years? Are you not in the least disturbed about a defect human that sees our (collective) children as children who can seriously suffer for his defective form of arousal and pleasure. I define outrage here as an arousal of hard feelings that define a stance that is impossible to argue against and everyone can also relate to. the cause here being the judges admission that he was unlikely to be rehabilitated adn only got 5 years - with that form of defect thinking. 5 years and hes on the streets dreaming and fantisizing when he sees a youngster of causing harm to enjoy the suffering. Who cannot be outraged by this?

Posted by notashrink, 19/10/2009 9:42:38 AM

Yes, it was seriously offensive stuff. Hard to believe but the truth of it is beyond doubt.

Posted by Jeff Corbett on 19/10/2009 9:52:25 AM

Your inadequacy as a reporter, (you can't even get your facts right: michael's obsession of whitening his skin? which planet are you from?) is a mockery to me. its not funny mocking someone who has an auto-immune disorder (lupus) and a skin condition(vitiligo). Plus it is white australia that is laughing at the expense of african americans. Try asking your fellow, aborigines or african australians.. if you have any, if they thought the skit was funny.

Posted by hanah, 19/10/2009 9:44:55 AM

I would have thought Magda's idiotic comments about cyclists would have elicited some outrage from you.

Posted by Directeur Sportif, 19/10/2009 9:46:33 AM

It was so clearly stupidity at play, and I find it hard to be riled by stupidity.

Posted by Jeff Corbett on 19/10/2009 9:59:41 AM

How about a cause to inspire and motivate? As a rising senior you keep yourself in fine fettle consider competing in the World Wife Carrying Championships in Finland where the first prize is your wife's weight in beer.

Posted by chaff and oats, 19/10/2009 10:05:06 AM

I am "outraged" that "hannah" claims she has all the (actual) facts on Michael Jackson. - "Lighten" up hannah!!!!!!!!! it was only a "skit" and "outrageously" funny!!!!

Posted by Felicity, 19/10/2009 10:06:16 AM

DS would say that I must be a very calming influence on you if you can't be riled by stupidity. A reward points system for wiping out cyclists would make driving much more fun.

Posted by moron, 19/10/2009 10:08:07 AM

A reward system for head shots of drivers would make shooting much more fun, for those of such a mind. Thankfully there aren't many of such a mind.

Posted by Jeff Corbett on 19/10/2009 10:13:29 AM

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