UKIP adbuster explains his actions.

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Previously I posted a thread about UKIP adbusting which drew mixed opinion.

Here, one of the adbusters gives a thorough articulation for his actions.

http://www.birminghampost.co.uk/whats-o ... er-7084059

From the article:

In other words: I don't like the political message on this billboard, and since I'm so self-absorbed about my political views that I cannot grasp one of the fundamentals concepts of an open democracy... I'll vandalize it.

Now please excuse me, as I have to go shop for groceries. It could take longer than usual, as I might just stop on the way to deface a few posters from political parties that I just happen to disagree with.

After all, these election posters offend me morally and aesthetically, and they go against everything that I feel political discourse should be about.

Alas, something compels me not to do so... as a profound historical quote just manifested itself in my mind:

Going to have to agree with you, I think. Even though I live in Canada and this really has nothing to do with us. lol If this had been a billboard selling some sort of product I would feel differently about it.

I've always understood adbusting to be in relation to actual advertisements, not bilboards with political opinions on it.

There's a bus-stop bench sign I'd like to paint over around the corner from where I live. It says, "You just proved that signs work," on it, and every day I used to walk by it with my Dad's dog and silently curse myself for seeing it.

yet again, you miss the point. As he laid out in the article the political intent of the billboard is only one component. As with the original purpose of the pain to destroy commercials of loan sharks etc the reason he targeted the UKIP boards was also due to the intent to prey on the weakest of society through opportunism and appeals to ignorance in a predatory fashion which is precisely the sort of cynical, tribal and negative campaign that theirs has been about thus far. This dangerous, business-like form of politicking is why this transcends more than a mere debate on freedom of speech.

The problem with Farage is that he only seems interested in selling us a lexicon of Euro-Scepticism, Anti Immigration and cookie cutter right wing rhetoric without a jot of concern for issues which are unique to, and effect local communities. Particularly those who their points rub the fur of the wrong way. Its not a coincidence that only UKIP posters have attracted this sort of 'attention'.

There. Fixed it for you.

I, too, can unleash a loquacious tirade about political parties/organizations/movements and use it to justify restricting their freedom of speech... but once again, something compels me not to.

I'd ask you to re-read and ponder upon the point in Evelyn Beatrice Hall's quote (last time I checked, most people who believe in free speech and democracy get it right away), but - given your history on WP of defending some of the worst authoritarian regimes in the world - I cannot really be surprised by your disregard for freedom of speech.

Please stop trying to make this debate a matter of absolutes. Ms Hall's views on the matter do not constitute an absolute moral authority.

Its really laughable that anyone could fear that the right of centre parties, least of all UKIP's freedom of speech is being undermined; Lord Toad is hardly off TV, and those who feel compelled to vote for him are going to do so anyway. All that these billboards serve is to rile people up that live in areas who will be hardest hit when government debate is pushed even further to the right in the house of commons.

Oh, don't you worry about UKIP or its leadership. It is ok for Farage and his rich friends, they wont be the ones suffering when the cost of living continues to balloon, the bite of fuel poverty intensifies, wages stagnate or when access to medical treatment is curtailed because doctors, beds and resources have been hawked off to whichever private contractor is in town. When all is said and done it seems rather trite to shed tears over a few paint covered posters.

Anyway, As Ms Moore here argues, UKIP and its celebrity supporters, far from being fringe mavericks or some kind of 'champions' for the silent British majority, are at the beating heart of the establishment, putting the brakes on social progress.

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfre ... ent-racist

Once again, you are justifying vandalizing political posters simply because the political message is unpalatable to you personally. The entire bolded part of your message demonstrates this.

And vandalising political posters is unpalatable to you personally.

Precisely. You have heard of the saying 'the ends justify the means'. In GGP's view 'the means justify the ends'.

To hell with those who suffer the ramifications of Farage's push to change public debate, huh?

That article was a load of politically correct crap. Just because he makes jokes about Germans does not mean he hates Germans. Otherwise, why would Germans appear on Top Gear? Same with the gay jokes. If he was an anti-gay bigot someone like Stephen Fry would not work with him.
I believe in freedom of speech, so that when an actual bigot says something we know what they really think. Like the racist chanting prompted by Geert Wilders: I would never have voted for his ridiculous party anyway, and now I have another big reason never to vote for that party of clowns.

Well, I suppose I have made my point quite well in this thread.

Once again, I find myself lucky to live in a part of the world where people like thomas81 do not hold the reins of political power.

ikr. As if Farage gives even a single hoot for democracy, for the 'democratic spirit'.

Also, I don't see how this is a freedom of speech issue. UKIP have been allowed to put up the posters. The vandalisms are members of the public engaging in creative 'conversation' with them. The public are well aware of the posters. Indeed, where the vandalism is reported, by the nature of the reporting, the posters are referred to.

My mind is still boggled at what the BBC have been doing with their incessant promotion of UKIP.

As for Top Gear:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7CnMQ4L9Pc[/youtube]

But wait, i thought you were a supporter of diversity of opinion?

Or you only like people to hold the reins of political power whose views you find 'personally palatable'? You're a hypocrite.

UKIP have not had their freedom of speech limited. Nobody has been imprisoned or threatened by the government. It is extraordinarily easy to access the political opinions of UKIP by simply Googling them, or purchasing a newspaper, or turning on the television.

There is no absolute right to have your views plastered across advertising boards.

I think the vandal should be made to pay for the cost of the advertising space, so that UKIP are in the same position they would have been if the advertiser had refused their service.

Precisely. What is more, now that the Labour party seem not to have learnt a damn thing from the Blair days, there lacks a visible progressive opposition to the consensus being championed by UKIP and those like them. Destroying these billboards is for many, the only way in which to register their discontent and to protest against their invisibility in the so called democratic system.