Mike Ford: Do my comments upset you?

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Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Profile image for This is Bristol

This is Bristol

The other day as I was sitting down and signing some more fan photos of myself (£5.99 + P&P) when I got an email from my manager, alerting me to the presence of a Bristol blog evidently written by someone from Berate, and a firm member of the linen-pyjamas and wheatgrass toothpaste brigade (I'm refusing to name the person or the blog as he does not deserve to get publicity off the back of my high-profile).

I have constantly had criticism of having a "chip on my shoulder", but this guy could have opened an organic takeaway, believe me.

The blog entries in question included a childish and unnecessary pop at the Evening Post's coverage of the whole food store/stadium situation (using shocking language and disputing the quality of journalism in a most immature and inappropriate manner), and a scare-mongering piece attempting to make people protest against the new stadium plans.

Thank the Lord this person wasn't in a high-profile position, I thought to myself.

If they were an elected official or something like that, I'd be deeply concerned that their time was spent writing furious, fictional, expletive-ridden rants on the internet rather than fulfilling their important job-role.

It's obvious that this person isn't a councillor or something like that, or he surely wouldn't be posting up aggressive and unprofessional material such as the gossipy, unfounded emails disclosing council finance plans for the stadium that appear on his site.

There could be no gain in trying to deceptively sway opinion like this – unless of course this person was only interested in one view and possible outcome for Bristol, instead of listening to the people he claims to represent.

I then moved on to the meat and gravy of the site, the comments section. I noticed they were discussing a certain Mike Ford, particularly my articles and statements from the Evening Post. What struck me is how these self-appointed intellectuals, the so-called peaceful people who vote for pathetic, hippy, utterly pointless political parties are always so very rude, and very aggressive.

Amongst their smug comments where they sit and bicker about "ripping apart" my articles, I found needless conjecture, anger, and doom-mongering relating to me.

For example: "What [the Evening Post] are doing now [letting Mike Ford write] is completely irresponsible, whipping up hatred and undermining social cohesion in South Bristol."

They go on to say that my comments may cause violence towards local people in the streets!

I find this slightly rich, personally. His expletive-riddled blog does nothing BUT stir up irresponsible half-truths and bad feeling, tries to turn the people of Bristol against each other for the sole purpose of creating the "utopian" vision of one power-crazed madman.

The person in charge of the blog needs to take a good look at himself, it's as bad as MPs cheating on expenses, writing this sort of inflammatory rubbish when he should be working hard to play down the sort of thing that is being said on the comments board, but play it down in the community.

I don't know who the owner of the blog is, but he seems to be a right Charlie.

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183 Comments

  • Profile image for This is Bristol

    by A Bloke, Bristol

    Saturday, November 21 2009, 2:03PM

    “Has Mike Ford been gagged at long last? Has the annoying Ford experiment been terminated? Has the BEP seen the error of its ways?

    Has Mike Ford, in FACT, been SLAYED?”

  • Profile image for This is Bristol

    by Mike Ford - Berate Slayer, Bristol

    Wednesday, November 18 2009, 2:05PM

    “No problem Gordon, I challenge Darren to a contest of being an amazing local journalist with the most popular column in the South-West.
    I win.”

  • Profile image for This is Bristol

    by Rob, Knowle

    Tuesday, November 17 2009, 8:59PM

    “I bet your eyes were a-swivelin' and your mouth was a-frothin' when you typed that little beauty, eh, Gordon?”

  • Profile image for This is Bristol

    by Gordon, Here

    Tuesday, November 17 2009, 6:05PM

    “MR FORD
    THIS IS THE SITUATION YOU HAVE PLACED YOURSELF .IN
    YOU CAN MAKE A FULL APOLIGY TO DARREN. OR YOU CAN AGREE TO FACE HIM IN ANY SITUATION OF YOUR CHOOSING.
    iF FAILING TO TAKE ONE OF THESE OPTIONS, YOU WIL BE FOREVER SEEN BY EVERY ONE ON THESE BOARDS AS THE TWO FACED INTERNET COWARD YOU ARE.
    I KNOW DARREN AND HE WILL ACCEPT YOUR APOLOGY AND SHAKE YOUR HAND, THE CHOICE IS YOURS”

  • Profile image for This is Bristol

    by darren, bristol

    Monday, November 16 2009, 11:56PM

    “Rob,
    well the thing is, it's not the website that gets to me, it's some of the people.
    Since the story of creepy cat fetish guy hit I've come accross loads of forums and comment pages, the ammount of times he turns up in them was unbelievable. Then you start to notice the little persona changes needed for different forums and start seeing how fake he is. On BEP he was the one who most had a violent answer to me. Things like I would be given beatings and "Now I am not saying kill the snake (the owner maybe)"
    I don't respond to things like that very well, so if someone wants to act the hard man at my expense, it kinda gets my back up. Then you chuck the name calling on top of it. Then I find this blogg and you notice the persona change. Obviously you need to have a more innocent, level headed and dignified approach when you're a columnist than when you're just another commentor. Then you get pseudo-gang too. The guys a complete fake hiding behind a pc, just like the people who push in traffic que's iin their nice safe metal boxes, they wouldn't do that in a shop, just walk to the front but in the metal box they have no problem with it. He's just a guy with no respect for different views and a massive ego throwing his weight about around the internet trying to intimidate people. If he wants to threaten violence against me, i'll call him on it.
    He'd be the real life equivalent of mayor Quimby!”

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