Comments for Activate Online

Comment on Silent Protest Gallery by g12n0630

g12n0630 — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 20:30:06 +0000

THAT WAS THE MOST MEANINGFUL DAY I HAVE EVER HAD IN MY LIFE,EVER SINCE I CAME TO RHODES UNIVERSITY. AT FIRST I THOUGHT THAT I WOULD JUST PARTICIPATE, BUT I WAS ACTUALLY SUPRISED ON HOW I HAPPENED TO FIND MYSELF SO MUCH INVOLVED. I ACTUALLY FOUND MYSELF TRYING TO CONVINCE OTHER PEOPLE TO JOIN THE PROTEST. TO ALL THE PEOPLE THAT MADE SURE THAT THE PROTEST WAS A SUCCESS, YOU DESERVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.I USED TO THINK THAT MYLIFE WAS MESSED UP AND WOULD ALWAYS COMPLAIN, BUT AFTER THAT DAY, I REALISED THAT I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL ABOUT WHAT I HAVE. TO SEE THOSE BRAVE YOUNG WOMEN SHARING THEIR MOST PAINFUL EXPERIENCES WITH THE WORLD MADE ME TO LOOK AT THINGS DIFFERENTLY. AND THE GUYS WHO PARTICIPATED, REALLY MADE ME PROUD TO BE A YOUNG SOUTH AFRICAN WOMEN, AND ACTUALLY REALISE THAT NOT ALL MEN ARE BEESTS, BUT TO KNOW THAT THERE ARE MEN WHO CARE. THE PROTEST MADE ME DO A SELF INTROSPECTION IN TERMS OF MY LIFE AND TO ACTUALLY RESPECT OTHER PEOPLE, BECAUSE YOU MAY NEVER KNOW THE WHOLE STORY. IT HAS ALSO MADE ME TO BE AWARE AND ALERT, FOR YOU MAY NEVER KNOW WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN TOMMORROW. I SALUTE THOSE SURVIVORS,MEN, AND THE PARTICIPANTS. I REFUSE TO BE SILENCED.
UYANDA NGOBENI(BSS1)

Comment on Club etiquette by Julia Fish

Julia Fish — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 12:47:02 +0000

I fully agree with Daemojizzle on the words Michelle chooses to use in her comments.
I have seen “batshittery” in two instances in her writing and find it unnecessary and rude. I ask kindly Ms Solomon that you refrain from using it in your editorial capacity as it comes across as unprofessional especially at your level of journalism.
Further thank-you to Activate for apologising for the gaff. The article was incredibly short sighted but by acknowledging fault you have restored my faith in your writing. Let’s hope that personal wishes to be published in national newspapers will not lead to the level of embarrassment you were forced to endure for this mistake again.

Comment on Apology by Jes

Jes — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 10:53:10 +0000

You handled that well. You didn’t respond to the attack with an attack. You didn’t play dirty and the apology was better written than the thought leader “article”.

Comment on Apology by Ruby Alexander

Ruby Alexander — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 11:32:24 +0000

A very well written apology Activate.

Yes, Miss Wallace- “next time” an attack of this nature is made on Activate I’m sure they will react in the exact same manner: well written, polite and taking the entire team into consideration as they have illustrated.

Comment on Apology by Fiona Wallace

Fiona Wallace — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 14:14:37 +0000

At last. A great apology, Activate. Well done! We’d like to see this done immediately next time (hoping that there won’t be a ‘next time’!)

Comment on Apology by Ajibola Amzat

Ajibola Amzat — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 13:19:24 +0000

That’s the way to go. All the best Activate.

Comment on Club etiquette by Daemojizzle

Daemojizzle — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 11:05:38 +0000

I think this article is just okay, could have been written much better, but I’m not in the industry so my judgement isn’t of any consequence.

I think Michelle is reaching with her analysis. The fact is men and women take ‘scraps’ home from clubs under the influence of any number of substances and your publication is not at fault for pointing that out and cautioning against it.

I don’t agree that you’re guilty of batshittery. I think Michelle needs to clean the guano off her own pen before commenting further.

Comment on Club etiquette by Fiona Wallace

Fiona Wallace — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 17:30:13 +0000

Michelle’s response in the comment thread below her article:

“For clarity’s sake, since so few of the commenters here seem to understand the notion of self- regulation: I did contact Activate, specifically their editor, the evening that this was published, which was Tuesday. I explained all my concerns to her. I wrote this piece, and sent it to her on Thursday evening. I met with her and Activate’s ombudsman on Friday morning. This was published on Friday afternoon.

Perhaps the question now should be: why has Activate not yet responded, when they were clearly consulted about this not once, not twice, but three times?

Self-regulation does not necessitate that I wait for Activate to respond to my claims in private before I can make a public criticism. It is exactly the opposite. Self-regulation is about criticisng our fellow journalists in the public space, andhoding each other accountable. The subject of the critique must them take the criticism on board, and respond to it by either standing by a story, or apologizing and issuing a retraction. Self-regulation is also that which would save the press from the Media Appeals Tribunal. And if the general public response to critique by someone affiliated to a rival paper is accusations of mudslinging, then I have no hope that future South Africa journalists can turn the tide against us and in favor of the MAT.”

Comment on Club etiquette by Matthew de Klerk

Matthew de Klerk — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 17:42:01 +0000

In all honesty, Michelle has turned a harmless, trivial (albeit badly-written) features piece into a sick and twisted Rorschach test of things that aren’t there. Add this to the fact that she gave Activate no opportunity to respond or retract the article, and you have my disgust.

This isn’t journalism. This is mudslinging. This is a farce. For shame. And to think I’ve worked at OppiPress before.

Comment on RAMfest accused of Satanism by Liny Kruger

Liny Kruger — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 07:21:43 +0000

Hi there Grahamstown,

Just a note: The international acts will only be performing at RAMfest in CT and JHB. The PE line up will be SA bands with Fokofpolisiekar as headliner. Date: Fri 2 Feb at Hume Park in PE. There are camping options as well. Go to our FB page or website for more info.

Regards,

Liny Kruger
PR RAMfest
liny@mweb.co.za
Twitter: @liny_kruger