Rundle treated this sociologically obvious observation with derision. Understandable, because tribalism-mateship etc is inimical to original thought and action- something the caferati find impossible to admit. They are self-referential. It’s peer review, and they’re very strict on deviation. This affects matters of consequence, such as the AGW “debate”: the left has been colonised by the now decaying climate orthodoxy. Not a trace of journalistic or intellectual wariness did they exhibit. The culturati backed real-world policies which have already done much harm. Knowing virtually nothing about the empirical world, they are easily led. They wouldn’t know a roof space from a dead possum. As so often, the Left’s myopia plays into the hands of the Right. The vile Bolt is just one beneficiary. As the climate cult disintegrates, Bolt looks like a prophet and Mad Monk emerges from the wilderness trailed by Howard’s living dead. We need an independent, detached intellectual class to ruthlessly analyse Australian society and public policy. What we have is a self-indulgent, ill-informed, demoralised and introverted support-group clinging to a lifestyle.

So that’s what it’s all about.

Gorgeous. Such”good, simple manners…”. Actually, I’m driven by my chauffeur.

“trying to rip into the broad fabric of Crikey!”: I’m just stating the obvious. Do you think Crikey will survive if it indulges rambling poseurs like Grundle?
And “Broad fabric”? That broad fabric consists of Crikey contributors, who are paid $100 apparently (note that one contributor wrote on Margaret Simons’ blog the other day that he/she wasn’t paid for two pieces published last year, so never bothered again). Crikey contribs. write on what they know, exposing the, ummmm, shortcomings of Australian society. Read the Crikey “mission” statement.

Engineer: “the next best option is to read something written by someone who is there”. What makes you think the Beeb or any other media aren’t there? (I clearly saw the Tossopolis in the background of one report.) Is Greece off limits to the Euro media?

And many of them know far more about Greece than Trundle, who knows absolutely nothing.

FC is again demonstrating his beliefs that he, alone, should be the sole judge of that which is acceptable to Crikey! and its readers.

Fair enough, I suppose, for one hollowed out prune driven by preconceptions and malice to say once that he has not enjoyed a particular column very much. Once is enough.

I have a suggestion for this would-be editor in chief. Start your own parallel online news magazine. Show us all how successful your myopic, narrow view of the world is, as you quaintly preach to the converted. Show us your successes and stop trying to rip into the broad fabric of Crikey! and its readership.

Unlike you, some of us are happy to read and to consider opposing and fresh views; to revisit previously held opinions and to absorb new facts.

Now, please leave us alone to enjoy our subscription news and current affairs magazine.

Remember: One comment on a topic = OK.
Continual repetitious affirmations as above = Not OK.

It is simple good manners, sir.

Nothing beats seeing what is going on for yourself. For us Crikey subscribers chained to the desks here at work the next best option is to read something written by someone who is there.

Throughout all of the reporting of the Greek trainwreck I’ve not once read about what it looks like on the streets in Greece. Now I have.

Good piece Guy - keep it up!

And what is Crikey’s role (n.b. Widow Wankey of Clunes)? This from the website:

“The Crikey mission

Crikey’s aim is very simple: to bring its readers the inside word on what’s really going on in politics, government, media, business, the arts, sport and other aspects of public life in Australia.”

Not forgetting: “Crikey must also operate as a business.”

Not while Crikey is run on a shoe-string. Not for content that is all over the net. Not for pedestrian rehash of foreign news.

Read it online or see it on TV.

Presumably this pointless rundlewander costs impecunious Crikey money.

It may be old news to you but not everyone has the time to scour European newspapers for opinion pieces.