• How come there is a lot of that Latin about when someone dies? Vale (or is that Wally?!!) Hazel. R.I.P with a good send off. - ro.watson
  • The Rudd Haters are just as divisive for the success of Labor being re elected to office as are people like John Jay. For gosh sakes! I prefer a mind changer to a voter full of hatred for a particular member. If you had been following Rudds' writings, what he does in his own electorate et al this would not come as such a 'shock' to your divisive sensibilities. Enough of the hatred and lets come together to defeat the un palatable Abbott!!! Thank goodness politicians can change their minds when it comes to matters of Equality and Fairness. Now let's get this election sorted and stop the hate-speak. You ain't helping!!!! - Annie Also
  • A huge part of the problem is that most conservatives regard the telling of the Truth as being the same as being a leftie greenie. Hence any reporting which does not conform to their worldview, however truthful or scientifically proven, is deemed left, extreme, green, socialist and crap ( Abbott's famous declaration about climate science)....all loaded terms in their twisted lexicon. - Geoffrey
  • There are some things I said no to as a young lawyer because of my bias and prejudice and I still think I was right to do that, notwithstanding the hired gunslinger approach of some members of my former profession. So I really hope you are right Emma~ that most journalists seek the truth(too). - ro.watson
  • Hazel was a beautiful Lady in every sense of the word Australia is poorer for loosing her R I P you above deserve it - Sarah
  • I have lost patience today. Balance has always been a pile of crap when the evidence is overwhelming. - ro.watson
  • Many of us are old enough to remember those debates about terrorist versus freedom fighters and the weird and false dualities if your country has involved itself in a war overseas killing people, especially if it is illegal under UN Conventions.. Many protested to gain attention for what we thought was illegal or unjustified wars with the aim of getting our point of view put across('getting attention") with the ultimate purpose of our actions being to STOP violence. Many of those protests were not ever published~ the one I am thinking of is the opening of our current Parliament House where many of us spent a very very cold Canberra night before marching early to demonstrate our views about the treatment of aboriginal Australians by governments, past and present. There were and are lots of us. Anyway~ about those young men in Woolwich, who did what they did and then after that, sought to gain, and did gain, media attention, around the globe is different. I am still unsure about whether or not those images of those men should have been published. - ro.watson
  • Love your work Matilda. A pithy mix of intellect and anger! I have given up on the 7.30 report; too much yelling at the TV listening to the blatantly biased and negatively emotive Uhlman whenever he speaks about the government. - Kel
  • Until the ABC has the guts to get off their backside and investigate the Ashby/Pyne/Brough disgraceful attempt to bring down the Govt. Until some goolags are evident in persuing Kathy Jackson and the Victoria Police for their scandalous handling of the attempt to destroy Craig Thomson, his career and his family. Ms Sales you can shove your ABC right up where the sun doesn't shine. No offense intended just want the truth which is being kept from the public. Thank heaven for independent jurnos like Peter Wicks and Dave Donovan of http://www.independentaustralia.net/ who are not afraid to seek the truth - Zachary Church
  • Thanks Sandy. Despite my disposition - I'm not a total basket/welfare case. I just want our decision makers and women's studies theorists to be aware - that many of us midlife "women" are truly independent of having sugardaddys at home to support amd patronise us (and therefore poor). And copious indulgent, in-house parliamentary debate on misogyny and sexism does not get unemployed people like me anywhere. I am fully aware of my rights as a woman and individual - I've read the literature. Which makes it all the more annoying when our leaders (men or women) ignore the key and crucial issues at hand affecting women from all sections of society (and particularly the poorer ones). As for starting a business: I'm looking at all options including midlife pole-dancing - maybe I can fill a gap in a niche market? - Patrice
 
19
Categories:  Must see

ENOUGH OF GRUMPY OLD WHITE MEN

By Mr Denmore
September 5, 2012

Call it the Grumpy Old Man business model.

At a time when our busted mainstream media are axing the jobs of hundreds of hard-working journalists, the market for ageing male misogynists in print and broadcasting remains stronger than ever. Why?

With a nod to our new ideological overlords of the Institute of Public Affairs, it seems the market has spoken.

What Australia wants from its media is not The Truth, but something that the archetypal 50-something Dad – full of three James Boags and two Pinot Noirs at the family barbecue – declares to be the reality.

Old, grumpy, racist and reactionary is clearly the new pathway to media millions.

So let’s sack all the working journalists – the ones who went to university, learnt a trade and then plied it in 10-hour shifts at not much above the average wage – and employ instead for six figures the bigotry peddlers. Because it’s all about grabbing an audience and flogging to to advertisers; and the market is never wrong, right?

Clearly, that’s what the public wants.

The Australian public wants whitebread certainty; it wants its prejudices pandered to by the all knowing, half-cut Uncle Alan at the bar, going red in the face and sticking his RM Williams up the backsides of dole bludgers, darkies, sundry immigrants, working women and poofters, (well, not all poofters).

We are in love with the opinions of the lip-curling, finger-pointing, vein-bulging grumps who hate change and want to reassure us that the world is not warming; that the consequences of globalisation does not include the mass movement of people; that a woman can’t be an effective prime minister; that homosexual people cannot love each other till death; that we can’t be a mature nation without a German dynasty looking over our shoulders and that we are forever defined by Don Bradman, Henry Lawson and Robert Menzies.

 

I get the sense Australia is more than that, is bigger than that, is more imaginative than that.

But we’re currently in a place where people feel unnerved by change and do not want to deal with the complexity and richness of the real world. These are the people who respond reflexively to those whomPaul Keating called the punishers and straighteners. And they are defining the debate in this country.

I say it’s time other voices were heard. And I’m male, 53 and white.

 

MORE FROM MR DENMORE

Foot in Mouth Disease

Abbott’s Off Broadway Try-Out

 

*Mr Denmore was a finalist in The Sydney Writer’s Centre Best Australian Blogs in 2012. You can read him here. Or sample his stylings on Twitter @MrDenmore.

 

 

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19 Responses to this article

  1. Margot September 5, 2012 Reply
     
     

    Hear hear! I am one of those journalists who is out of work. After my position was made redundant 4 years ago I worked for Federal politicians for 3 years but since January I have only worked at two short contracts. I have so much experience and knowledge. Now I blog. It was meant to be a blog about my life but increasingly I am commenting on what’s happening politically and socially. I am gradually building a readership and I’m prepared to keep going. I’ve found my voice, I hope others want to hear what I have to say.

     
    • MichelleP September 5, 2012 Reply
       
       

      @Margot Please link to your blog. Hope Wendy thinks its okay – I’m curious to read it

       
    • Benison O'Reilly September 5, 2012 Reply
       
       

      Yes please, Margot! What’s your blog address?

       
  2. The Huntress September 5, 2012 Reply
     
     

    I am embarrassed by the grumpy old man. My father is one, full of fear and bigotry for no reason. I have no idea how these people can be admired or looked to in times of uncertainty.

     
    • Margi Macdonald September 5, 2012 Reply
       
       

      Me too.
      My Dad ditto.
      Bless him.
      These days, I joke – grimly- that I must have been adopted.

       
      • The Huntress September 5, 2012 Reply
         
         

        @ Margi

        I am fortunate in the respect that I am adopted. Mr. Huntress always breathes a sigh of relief when he remembers that LOL

         
  3. Sam W September 5, 2012 Reply
     
     

    Oh Mr. Denmore you’re right! You only have to spend some time living in another 1st world nation to realise on return that the Australian media is rife with bigots. Way too many backward thinkers that get passed a megaphone to announce their regressive views. But then again, let’s not forget that we do have some outstanding, informative journos too. It’s just that sadly, their voices get drowned out in the shout of the lip-curling, finger-pointing, vein-bulging grumps!

     
    • Cuppa September 5, 2012 Reply
       
       

      I can’t think of another democracy – from the wealthiest to the poorest – that has a media as one-sided partisan as Australia’s.

      The US has Fox, true. But there are numerous progressive mainstream media outlets (newspapers, radio, and, to an extent, TV networks) to leaven the wingnuttery. Australia has ZERO progressive mainstream outlets. Zero. There’s no such thing as a pro-Labor outlet or an anti-Liberal in the way, say, talkback radio is anti-Labor.

      Balance? Not here!

       
  4. Liz September 5, 2012 Reply
     
     

    Well said. Bring on change

     
  5. Caz September 5, 2012 Reply
     
     

    Margot, could you include a link to your blog, please? I would be interested to read it.

     
  6. Pam Newton September 5, 2012 Reply
     
     

    I think I may have just fallen a little bit in love with Mr. Denmore.

     
  7. Freya September 5, 2012 Reply
     
     

    Thank you Sir, you have restored my faith in white males over 50 which was getting v shaky lately!
    Now we need some more men to come out and proud as rational and compassionate human beings – the men of the governing Labor party would be a great start! Wouldn’t it be great if they had the courage to stand up behind their leader – calling sexism what it is – like the Labor women have!

     
  8. Cuppa September 5, 2012 Reply
     
     

    A petition to 2GB advertisers to make Alan Jones apologise.

    http://www.change.org/petitions/all-companies-which-advertise-on-2gb-get-alan-jones-to-apologise-make-a-contribution-to-gender-equality

     
  9. Benison O'Reilly September 5, 2012 Reply
     
     

    Alan Jones is losing his influence; hence he’s becoming increasingly strident. Love the fact that only 50 people turned up at his last protest – probably they couldn’t get their walking frames on the train.

    If we ignore him long enough he might just go away.

     
  10. mel September 5, 2012 Reply
     
     

    The stupid white men syndrome

    Steve Vizard-lovely and funny but old

    Steve Price -old and stupid

    Tom Elliot to take over Derryn Hinch (hes younger and an Oxford graduate)

    John Faine-old and nicely grumpy

    Alan Jones- need of psychiatric care not just old

    Do what Cassandra Wilkinson did and set up your own radio station

    fbi radio is edgy and has great music

    Europeans have the most sophisticated news media in the world

    The world thinks we really are racist and dumb

     
    • cass September 8, 2012 Reply
       
       

      thanks Mel – it’s so nice to hear that you love FBi!

       
  11. homo123 September 5, 2012 Reply
     
     

    The ipa have a prominent gay man that engages in blokey rants on 3aw

    Its weird and ridiculous to listen to as he also has extreme ideas and loves being part of the gay scene!!

    Identity crisis and messy to say the least when you work for the ipa BUT radio is accepting of diversity and people like him as a gay man

     
  12. jean September 5, 2012 Reply
     
     

    Ahem

    Those grumpy old men have teenagers at private schools

    They need those gigs…,

    Smirk

     
  13. janet September 5, 2012 Reply
     
     

    Those ipa guys are hot and nice to look at on t.v epecially that Wilson guy

    Get to replace the old ánd grumpy with eye candy like that and they may be the thinking womans sex symbol of the right

    he he he he he

    Hot homcon has spunk!!

     

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Comments

  • ro.watson: How come there is a lot of that Latin about when someone dies? Vale (or is that Wally?!!) Hazel. R.I.P with a good send...

    Reply|Read all

  • Annie Also: The Rudd Haters are just as divisive for the success of Labor being re elected to office as are people like John Jay. ...

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  • Geoffrey: A huge part of the problem is that most conservatives regard the telling of the Truth as being the same as being a lefti...

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