Can you believe it’s February already? What I can’t believe is that one of my New Year’s resolutions is still going strong. Normally I don’t bother making these as they never tend to last. One year I resolved “no more bad language at all – under any circumstances, no matter the provocation” and got as far as January 2nd when I was laying a new lobby carpet and the hammer missed one of the tacks I was holding. However, in 2013 it’s different: I haven’t visited the online Daily Rectum site once, and what’s more, I don’t miss it. I know what bile and drivel is lurking in their editorial section. It taunts me, it beckons me, but even though it could provide a rich seam of content for this blog, as the days pass it gets easier to just ignore it.
I’m ashamed to say that I actually used to be an avid Record reader into my early 20′s, but as I got more politically aware and realised the dross they were printing, I became increasingly reluctant to give them my cash. I just couldn’t give it up though as I would’ve missed the adventures of Angus Og too much. However, once its ingenious creator Ewen Bain sadly passed away and they used up all the cartoons he’d been working on, that was me done and dusted.
It’s certainly got me thinking what the impact would be if we all just ignored them. What would happen if nobody on the Yes side visited for 6 days out of 7, but on Tuesdays just accessed Joan McAlpine’s column via a direct link? It’d be interesting although extremely difficult to organise. In fact maybe each unionist budgie cage liner could be ignored on a rotating basis? Somebody somewhere is monitoring their visits and hit counts and probably having a good laugh to themselves as the army of cybernats descends on each controversial piece.
Although it’s not easy to resist, absolutely the worst thing anyone can do is go onto Twitter, Facebook, etc. and post, “Have you read what these bastirts at the Northbriton are sayin’ noo? Here’s the link…” Google have recently changed their ranking algorithm to give more preference to pages that are being heavily linked in social media for the obvious reasons that they appear to be popular and people are talking about them and that’s exactly the type of information that they want to present to their own visitors. So by working yourself into a lather over some garbage they’ve published and then sharing it on your timeline or in a group, even with the intention of slagging it off – congratulations, you’ve just done them a major turn.
The good news is that when you search for “Scottish news” in Google, the Northbriton is nowhere to be seen when just a short while ago they were in the top 3 or 4. I looked 5 pages down which is something that no other Google visitor will do and they’re just not there. Meanwhile the excellent Newsnet Scotland have at last moved up to the first page although I don’t understand why their sharing buttons are limited to Facebook and Twitter. There’s a whole host of other sharing sites out there where their articles are just waiting to be discussed.
The Yes side are obviously never going to get a fair crack of the whip from the MSM or the BBC so we have to make as best use of facilities online as we can as well as getting our stuff through the nation’s letterboxes. So if you haven’t got an account on Digg, Reddit, Tumblr, etc., then it’s well worth getting one and sharing some informative articles you’ve found. For Facebook be sure to share them on your own timeline and not just in pro-Yes groups where we all preach to the converted.
When doing some basic research on some figures for this article I was astonished to see that “the daily record” is searched for 550,000 times each month in Google! Relax though – it doesn’t mean that over half a million Scottish households are eagerly anticipating their next installment of how Scotland alone amongst nations is lamentably incapable of running her affairs herself. Further investigation revelaed that nearly every other country has one with this title! No doubt their editorial policies aren’t geared towards telling their readers how wee, poor and stupid they are, so the name will be where the similarity ends.
A Cybernat
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Yep, I remember the days when the daily record ruled the roost among the printed media of Scotland and labour basked in its glory, changed times, now both are seen in their proper light. As a pair of selfcentred, truth twisting, barefaced lying organisations who would rather stab Scotland and its people in the back if it would promote their own causes.
I have not bought record in more years than I can remember now, but you can not help see their headlines as you pass the stands, no change still shite.
Say what you mean, Davy!
I hesitate to say I’d love to see a Scottish business go under with the consequent job losses, but if a fairer publication was to rise from the ashes it’d be worth it. I’d love to know what’s in it for them with their unswerving devotion to Labour in all its various forms down the years to its present incarnation that bears scant resemblance to the original.
Dave
I can’t remember the last time I actually bought a newspaper and have no inclination to buy any of the crap that graces the counter at the local newsagent these days. Until a decent pro independence paper comes into being I will keep my money in my pocket.
I also try not to click any links to rags like the Scotsman and the Record, but sometimes it is unfortunately unavoidable (more like slowing down as you pass a car crash than a stimulated interest at reading the enlightened commentary of the ‘esteemed’ journo concerned – it seems I’m now some kind of ghoul when it comes to the mass media in Scotland). Still, despite the horror of the former, the latter usually brightens my day as the growing attempts at scare-mongering and blatant lies becomes more and more outlandish and bizarre, it is almost at panic-stricken levels, which makes you wonder, how they can continually print such drivel they, at the paper, obviously don’t believe. They are fooling no one.
If a blanket ban could be organised on linking to some of these rags I think I would sign up, unfortunately I think it would be hard to do so effectively. I do not though ever click on any advertising link on such sites. Even if I have an interest in any company advertising there. I would take the details and close the page, wipe the cookies from the computer, then look up the company myself on google or such. This way the paper gets no follow through credits at all.
I think I will be heeding your advice about posting links to twitter and facebook though, no need to spread contamination further afield than necessary, the internet has enough crap circulating the ether!
Now I’m away to find a small coalbunker to live in. Wee Willie Rennie leads me to believe I can improve my social mobility this way. Perhaps I can share it with half a dozen other families looking to simultaneously avoid the bedroom tax and climb the social ladder.
The problem us bloggers have is that if we don’t visit them then there’d be nothing to write about, Stevie. As puerile as their drivel is, it’s always good for a laugh at least. Still, I’m going to continue my ban on the Daylate Rectum as I reckon that’s the worst of the lot. “The Voice of Scotland” my @rse. Anyway, whatever dross they’re spouting will no doubt be in all the rest as well so no need to give them the benefit of a click.
Dave
Just found you and enjoyed the blog.
Got a deal of childish enjoyment from Hangman too!
Thank you very much, Dorothy. Welcome aboard!
It’s been a wee while since I updated the Hangman game so there must be loads more wacky reasons by this time!
Dave