Comments on: Blogosphere versus The Times: the outing of Night Jack http://liberalconspiracy.org/2009/06/16/blogosphere-versus-the-times-the-outing-of-night-jack/ creating a new liberal-left force Mon, 22 Mar 2010 11:30:16 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Neil http://liberalconspiracy.org/2009/06/16/blogosphere-versus-the-times-the-outing-of-night-jack/#comment-53821 Neil Mon, 13 Jul 2009 08:51:46 +0000 http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/?p=5731#comment-53821 Interesting article. Were did you got all the information from? Did you type it yourself or you copy it from elsewhere? Interesting article. Were did you got all the information from? Did you type it yourself or you copy it from elsewhere?

]]> By: Brendan http://liberalconspiracy.org/2009/06/16/blogosphere-versus-the-times-the-outing-of-night-jack/#comment-53813 Brendan Mon, 13 Jul 2009 07:12:10 +0000 http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/?p=5731#comment-53813 Hello! can't find your contact, so I thought I will use this, anyway, we got a private webmaster forum ready to roll in a weeks time, pm me if you're interested. Hello! can’t find your contact, so I thought I will use this, anyway, we got a private webmaster forum ready to roll in a weeks time, pm me if you’re interested.

]]> By: Michael http://liberalconspiracy.org/2009/06/16/blogosphere-versus-the-times-the-outing-of-night-jack/#comment-53742 Michael Sat, 11 Jul 2009 18:54:53 +0000 http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/?p=5731#comment-53742 gr8 work bro, check out my blog when you have the time, don't forget~ gr8 work bro, check out my blog when you have the time, don’t forget~

]]> By: Moses http://liberalconspiracy.org/2009/06/16/blogosphere-versus-the-times-the-outing-of-night-jack/#comment-53730 Moses Sat, 11 Jul 2009 14:13:42 +0000 http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/?p=5731#comment-53730 It just don't make sense to me, plain damn weird... It just don’t make sense to me, plain damn weird…

]]> By: vic http://liberalconspiracy.org/2009/06/16/blogosphere-versus-the-times-the-outing-of-night-jack/#comment-50680 vic Thu, 18 Jun 2009 08:53:30 +0000 http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/?p=5731#comment-50680 http://www.bluemoon-mcfc.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=127470 Night Jack get your complaint in first P Foster would have done well to have read this when he was confronted at his door by the boys in blue http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1531307/Student-barred-over-sex-film.html Patrick Foster Peeping Tom http://www.bluemoon-mcfc.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=127470 Night Jack get your complaint in first

P Foster would have done well to have read this when he was confronted at his door by the boys in blue

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1531307/Student-barred-over-sex-film.html Patrick Foster Peeping Tom

]]> By: Reuben http://liberalconspiracy.org/2009/06/16/blogosphere-versus-the-times-the-outing-of-night-jack/#comment-50530 Reuben Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:27:08 +0000 http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/?p=5731#comment-50530 More generally i think we need to stop fetishising anonymity - and to stop conflacting it in our heads with the image of the heroic whistely blower. Sometimes the capactiy to right anonymously can be a force for good. Yet arguably it is not particularly healthy to be moving towards a situation in which some of the big political movers and skhakers are able to excersize power unasccountably. THis is not what i call citizenship. As I wrote on The Third Estate in the wake of the McBride scandal: "It is possible to establish a popular blog, to put stories in the public domain, and to influence events without ever revealing who you are, and without ever having to take personal responsibility what you say or imply. In some cases this is enables people to speak truths which would otherwise be unspeakable. Yet, at the same time, we should be wary of any excersize of power without accountability. And this is something us bloggers can acquire in spades." More generally i think we need to stop fetishising anonymity – and to stop conflacting it in our heads with the image of the heroic whistely blower. Sometimes the capactiy to right anonymously can be a force for good. Yet arguably it is not particularly healthy to be moving towards a situation in which some of the big political movers and skhakers are able to excersize power unasccountably. THis is not what i call citizenship. As I wrote on The Third Estate in the wake of the McBride scandal:

“It is possible to establish a popular blog, to put stories in the public domain, and to influence events without ever revealing who you are, and without ever having to take personal responsibility what you say or imply. In some cases this is enables people to speak truths which would otherwise be unspeakable. Yet, at the same time, we should be wary of any excersize of power without accountability. And this is something us bloggers can acquire in spades.”

]]> By: ejh http://liberalconspiracy.org/2009/06/16/blogosphere-versus-the-times-the-outing-of-night-jack/#comment-50529 ejh Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:25:31 +0000 http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/?p=5731#comment-50529 Does #15 fall within this site's comments policy? Does #15 fall within this site’s comments policy?

]]> By: Sunder Katwala http://liberalconspiracy.org/2009/06/16/blogosphere-versus-the-times-the-outing-of-night-jack/#comment-50528 Sunder Katwala Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:18:36 +0000 http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/?p=5731#comment-50528 Dan@20 Thanks for the clarification: apologies - yes, I misread the linked post which mentions that you publish other anonymous police bloggers and writers in book form. Dan@20

Thanks for the clarification: apologies – yes, I misread the linked post which mentions that you publish other anonymous police bloggers and writers in book form.

]]> By: Reuben http://liberalconspiracy.org/2009/06/16/blogosphere-versus-the-times-the-outing-of-night-jack/#comment-50527 Reuben Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:08:32 +0000 http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/?p=5731#comment-50527 I am with Tim F here. Of course outing him is not in the public interest. and of course he may have a moral right to privacy. But the idea that who endeavours to be anomymous should have a legally enforceble right not to be rumbled is nonsense. I am with Tim F here. Of course outing him is not in the public interest. and of course he may have a moral right to privacy. But the idea that who endeavours to be anomymous should have a legally enforceble right not to be rumbled is nonsense.

]]> By: tim f http://liberalconspiracy.org/2009/06/16/blogosphere-versus-the-times-the-outing-of-night-jack/#comment-50521 tim f Wed, 17 Jun 2009 11:49:32 +0000 http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/?p=5731#comment-50521 #21 No, it's perfectly possible to hold the position that something is allowable under law, but that it would be better if it weren't done. We can praise the judge for applying the law, and criticise the Times for doing something legal but wrong. #21

No, it’s perfectly possible to hold the position that something is allowable under law, but that it would be better if it weren’t done. We can praise the judge for applying the law, and criticise the Times for doing something legal but wrong.

]]> By: jailhouselawyer http://liberalconspiracy.org/2009/06/16/blogosphere-versus-the-times-the-outing-of-night-jack/#comment-50519 jailhouselawyer Wed, 17 Jun 2009 11:42:35 +0000 http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/?p=5731#comment-50519 "But the legal ruling and The Times decision to out the blogger are separate issues". KnightJack challenged the Times using the law and the issue was decided by a judge. Laurel and Hardy were individuals but what brought them together was the double act. There is nothing separate here. “But the legal ruling and The Times decision to out the blogger are separate issues”.

KnightJack challenged the Times using the law and the issue was decided by a judge.

Laurel and Hardy were individuals but what brought them together was the double act. There is nothing separate here.

]]> By: Dan Collins http://liberalconspiracy.org/2009/06/16/blogosphere-versus-the-times-the-outing-of-night-jack/#comment-50504 Dan Collins Wed, 17 Jun 2009 09:52:05 +0000 http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/?p=5731#comment-50504 Sunder Thanks very much for the mention. I ought just to correct one point - we're not publishing Nightjack. We approached Richard six months ago (or so) to see if he was interested, and I had a long chat with him. In the end, however, he decided against a work on non-fiction, whcih we were interested in, and set to work on a novel. I have no idea if this will ever see the light of day now but if it does we're not in any current arrangement with him in respect of it. best wishes Dan Collins Monday Books Sunder
Thanks very much for the mention.
I ought just to correct one point – we’re not publishing Nightjack.
We approached Richard six months ago (or so) to see if he was interested, and I had a long chat with him.
In the end, however, he decided against a work on non-fiction, whcih we were interested in, and set to work on a novel.
I have no idea if this will ever see the light of day now but if it does we’re not in any current arrangement with him in respect of it.
best wishes
Dan Collins
Monday Books

]]> By: bluepillnation http://liberalconspiracy.org/2009/06/16/blogosphere-versus-the-times-the-outing-of-night-jack/#comment-50500 bluepillnation Wed, 17 Jun 2009 09:26:15 +0000 http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/?p=5731#comment-50500 @ 14 : Some credo about no matter how vehemently one disagrees with what a person is saying, nevertheless defending to the death their right to say it springs to mind... @ 14 :

Some credo about no matter how vehemently one disagrees with what a person is saying, nevertheless defending to the death their right to say it springs to mind…

]]> By: Old Holborn http://liberalconspiracy.org/2009/06/16/blogosphere-versus-the-times-the-outing-of-night-jack/#comment-50499 Old Holborn Wed, 17 Jun 2009 09:25:02 +0000 http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/?p=5731#comment-50499 I was quite amazed that Sir David Eady QC of GOODSHILL FARMHOUSE CRANBROOK ROAD TENTERDEN KENT TN306UN, a man noted for his obsession with privacy, would do such a thing. I was quite amazed that Sir David Eady QC of GOODSHILL FARMHOUSE CRANBROOK ROAD TENTERDEN KENT TN306UN, a man noted for his obsession with privacy, would do such a thing.

]]> By: Rayyan http://liberalconspiracy.org/2009/06/16/blogosphere-versus-the-times-the-outing-of-night-jack/#comment-50498 Rayyan Wed, 17 Jun 2009 09:23:55 +0000 http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/?p=5731#comment-50498 http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2004/03/19/ http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2004/03/19/

]]> By: Letters From A Tory http://liberalconspiracy.org/2009/06/16/blogosphere-versus-the-times-the-outing-of-night-jack/#comment-50494 Letters From A Tory Wed, 17 Jun 2009 08:56:47 +0000 http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/?p=5731#comment-50494 <a href="http://www.lettersfromatory.com/2009/06/17/is-anonymous-blogging-under-threat-after-nightjack-was-identified/" rel="nofollow">I posted on this story today as well because it raised two interesting issues.</a> Firstl, Nightjack was clearly in breach of his statutory duties to not divulge information about police investigations. Much as his readers would have liked him to keep feeding them information, several of his posts broke public duty laws that bind all police officers, so for him to argue that he should be allowed to remain anonymous just because he'll get into trouble if outed was a pathetic defence. Second, the fact that journalists and editors can still choose whose privacy they invade and whose they don't is totally unacceptable. The Press Complaints Commission are spineless and unable to protect the public when editors sense a story. For the judge to declare that denying Nightjack anonymity was 'in the public interest' is disgraceful. So, in short, Nightjack should face the consequences of his actions with his local police force, but there is no justification for putting his name in the national papers. I posted on this story today as well because it raised two interesting issues.

Firstl, Nightjack was clearly in breach of his statutory duties to not divulge information about police investigations. Much as his readers would have liked him to keep feeding them information, several of his posts broke public duty laws that bind all police officers, so for him to argue that he should be allowed to remain anonymous just because he’ll get into trouble if outed was a pathetic defence.

Second, the fact that journalists and editors can still choose whose privacy they invade and whose they don’t is totally unacceptable. The Press Complaints Commission are spineless and unable to protect the public when editors sense a story. For the judge to declare that denying Nightjack anonymity was ‘in the public interest’ is disgraceful.

So, in short, Nightjack should face the consequences of his actions with his local police force, but there is no justification for putting his name in the national papers.

]]> By: Old Holborn http://liberalconspiracy.org/2009/06/16/blogosphere-versus-the-times-the-outing-of-night-jack/#comment-50490 Old Holborn Wed, 17 Jun 2009 07:50:41 +0000 http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/?p=5731#comment-50490 Rueben I wish face cancer upon you Rueben

I wish face cancer upon you

]]> By: cjcjc http://liberalconspiracy.org/2009/06/16/blogosphere-versus-the-times-the-outing-of-night-jack/#comment-50489 cjcjc Wed, 17 Jun 2009 07:45:12 +0000 http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/?p=5731#comment-50489 It was clearly an undesirable and indeed pointless thing to do. Though I thought you didn't like him?! http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/2009/04/26/the-evil-poor/ It was clearly an undesirable and indeed pointless thing to do.

Though I thought you didn’t like him?!

http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/2009/04/26/the-evil-poor/

]]> By: The Convoluted Canvas » Blog Archive » Blogger’s Anonymity http://liberalconspiracy.org/2009/06/16/blogosphere-versus-the-times-the-outing-of-night-jack/#comment-50479 The Convoluted Canvas » Blog Archive » Blogger’s Anonymity Wed, 17 Jun 2009 02:06:06 +0000 http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/?p=5731#comment-50479 [...] Now, this police officer’s blog was, before this, completely anonymous. NightJack was the fellow’s user-name. He was non-profit, having turned down an offer from a publishing house to write a book. He had been awarded an Orwell Prize, and had accumulated a large online following. The fact that a respected blogger has had his privacy overridden in such a manner has, I think it would be no exaggeration to claim, struck the blogosphere like a gong - with reverberations felt all over. [...] [...] Now, this police officer’s blog was, before this, completely anonymous. NightJack was the fellow’s user-name. He was non-profit, having turned down an offer from a publishing house to write a book. He had been awarded an Orwell Prize, and had accumulated a large online following. The fact that a respected blogger has had his privacy overridden in such a manner has, I think it would be no exaggeration to claim, struck the blogosphere like a gong – with reverberations felt all over. [...]

]]> By: Shatterface http://liberalconspiracy.org/2009/06/16/blogosphere-versus-the-times-the-outing-of-night-jack/#comment-50474 Shatterface Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:43:03 +0000 http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/?p=5731#comment-50474 Privacy is a free speech issue: without it many of us would be forced into silence for fear of losing our jobs, or suffering physical harm. That over-rides a newspaper's 'free speech' defence of outing bloggers ... UNLESS the blogger is publishing falsehoods or violating someone else's privacy. Then it gets complicated and we fall back on notions of 'public interest'; unfortunately it's the press which largely determines what constitutes that. Privacy is a free speech issue: without it many of us would be forced into silence for fear of losing our jobs, or suffering physical harm. That over-rides a newspaper’s ‘free speech’ defence of outing bloggers … UNLESS the blogger is publishing falsehoods or violating someone else’s privacy.

Then it gets complicated and we fall back on notions of ‘public interest’; unfortunately it’s the press which largely determines what constitutes that.

]]> By: NightJack Hammered (by the spirit of the Times) « Raincoat Optimism http://liberalconspiracy.org/2009/06/16/blogosphere-versus-the-times-the-outing-of-night-jack/#comment-50473 NightJack Hammered (by the spirit of the Times) « Raincoat Optimism Tue, 16 Jun 2009 23:23:56 +0000 http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/?p=5731#comment-50473 [...] Sunder Katwala has done a far better version of what I’m doing here. [...] [...] Sunder Katwala has done a far better version of what I’m doing here. [...]

]]> By: Carl http://liberalconspiracy.org/2009/06/16/blogosphere-versus-the-times-the-outing-of-night-jack/#comment-50469 Carl Tue, 16 Jun 2009 22:59:19 +0000 http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/?p=5731#comment-50469 @councilhousetory I feel a project coming on @councilhousetory

I feel a project coming on

]]> By: Rayyan http://liberalconspiracy.org/2009/06/16/blogosphere-versus-the-times-the-outing-of-night-jack/#comment-50466 Rayyan Tue, 16 Jun 2009 22:15:13 +0000 http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/?p=5731#comment-50466 If he wasn't anonymous then there's no way he'd be able to blog about the stuff he does as a police officer. Even though I disagree with his general outlook on things (I'm a leftie and he's a police detective, so there's no surprise there), I found his writing quite fascinating. Just after he'd won those awards too. I'm assuming he wore a mask to them. If he wasn’t anonymous then there’s no way he’d be able to blog about the stuff he does as a police officer. Even though I disagree with his general outlook on things (I’m a leftie and he’s a police detective, so there’s no surprise there), I found his writing quite fascinating.

Just after he’d won those awards too. I’m assuming he wore a mask to them.

]]> By: Left Outside http://liberalconspiracy.org/2009/06/16/blogosphere-versus-the-times-the-outing-of-night-jack/#comment-50465 Left Outside Tue, 16 Jun 2009 22:07:05 +0000 http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/?p=5731#comment-50465 What an awful thing to do. Good work Old Holborn Good luck to Night Jack, I think Chicken Yoghurt suggested a whip round for a fighting fund, I'm in if needs be. What an awful thing to do. Good work Old Holborn

Good luck to Night Jack, I think Chicken Yoghurt suggested a whip round for a fighting fund, I’m in if needs be.

]]> By: Reuben http://liberalconspiracy.org/2009/06/16/blogosphere-versus-the-times-the-outing-of-night-jack/#comment-50464 Reuben Tue, 16 Jun 2009 21:59:58 +0000 http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/?p=5731#comment-50464 The decision was absolutely correct. This case was not about whether people should or shouldn't be able to blog anonymously. It was about whether anonymity should be a legally enforeble right for whoever happens to run a blog. It was about whether bloggers who have endeavoured to conceal their identities should be able to call in the powers of the state to stop themselves being rumbled. Revealling his identity may not be in the 'public interest'. But if newspapers only published what was in the public interest they would be very very boring. The decision was absolutely correct. This case was not about whether people should or shouldn’t be able to blog anonymously. It was about whether anonymity should be a legally enforeble right for whoever happens to run a blog. It was about whether bloggers who have endeavoured to conceal their identities should be able to call in the powers of the state to stop themselves being rumbled.

Revealling his identity may not be in the ‘public interest’. But if newspapers only published what was in the public interest they would be very very boring.

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