Thursday 8 October 2009

A reminder

Just to remind readers that my name is Simon Webb and that my personal email address is;

simon.webb14@btinternet.com

Every list I join and every Blog upon which I comment, I always use my own name. How different, how very different, from many of the people who are commenting here! I find this particularly ironic in view of the fact that various individuals are now emailing the select committee claiming that I "infiltrated" the HE-UK list. Luckily, Mehetabel has helpfully put up a few old posts of mine there and it can be seen that I did not infiltrate this message board at all. Just used my home email address and usual name.

I have never been over-enamoured of those who write letters which they are ashamed to sign with their own name. I wonder if some of the people coming on here and making offensive comments would be brave enough to start using their own names? I have no moderation at all on this Blog and it is a team Blog, anybody can apply to become an author. I hope that people will remember this and not abuse this openess.

35 comments:

  1. Anonymous said...
    As an Author myself! It is apparent to see, you clearly target your audience by criticizing them in order to gain. As a Writer I jolly well think this is below the belt. The spirit of fluent dialogue should not breach anyone else's position, especially to reconise them selves. You clearly are breaking golden rules, in publishing material that can identify your characters.
    Clearly you are an established critique using your material to gain an income,at what appears, to be instigated out of personal circumstances to prosper on other Home Educator's personal upbringing of their own children and chosen way of life.
    Surely you know the rules of printing Libel.
    This extends to targeting your audience with intentions to use their material, without their knowledge. But to influence your own living from it at the expense of other people's anguish, then putting them on a pedestal in crucial developments that could turn their lives round for the worse. Surely is taking your INCOME a bit too far.
    The bible also indicates the Love of money is the route of all evil.
    But it is very difficult for any one to see the truth that's in you, as you quite bluntly admit you lie for gain.
    Please search your heart to understand why people are not trusting the character within your self.
    Or should we say - Character's.

    Moses

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  2. Hmmm... (I'm saying that a lot recently)

    When I write things that are worthwhile (calls to revolution, writs for damages and the like!) I use my own name. However, when I'm just investigating some interesting stuff out of curiosity - and people who are hate figures are often interesting - I tend to use a pseudonym, or post anonymously. It depends if I feel the subject is worth accepting come-back about. I'm fairly visible on the web and tracking down my email address from my name would not be difficult. There are only so many hours in the day (and increasingly the night). I would certainly understand people not taking me seriously because of it, and they are welcome to ignore me as is their right.

    I also rather like this pseudonym, Mouse. It has a touch of the Peter Sellers to it.

    I rarely post anything directly offensive though. Cynical, yes. The odd wry jab, certainly. I'm happy to call Ed Balls all kinds of names in print because I'm pretty certain that I can back up my words with examples of things he has said and done that warrant them!

    So Simon, do you feel you are misunderstood?

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  3. I would use my own name, but I don't want to. If you dismiss my comments because of that, so be it. Hopefully some of the people who read this blog will not. There aren't enough hours in the day to worry about your opinion of me, to be honest.

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  4. Come on Simon. Now using Mouse as another pseudonym. Lol. It really is taking the biscuit.
    But funny too. Don't worry someone else will soon put another post up.

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  5. Playing games with people and writing up comments as anon and other pen names is rather time wasting for your self. Try a recipe instead!

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  6. Simon how can anyone take your blog seriously. It
    is beyond the laws of commonsense. In fact it boarders on Malice.

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  7. Oi! Anonymous (whichever one of you that was)! I'm a real person thanks very much! Go tilt at a different windmill!

    UNLESS!!!!

    Have I been completely duped and ALL these posts are just Simon talking to himself???

    Is Simon actually real?

    Am I ????!

    [Falls into an existentialist coma)

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  8. MOSES SAID

    Now you been rumbled. Oh Shame. You may of thought it was fun while you had an audience. But time now to realise. YOUR GAME IS OVER.
    You can not spend the rest of your life writing to your self, now can you. Time to face reality and understand reality is not FICTION.

    MOSES

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  9. Mouse, I wasn't really talking about you. It is all these Anonymous types who come on here and I can't tell one from another. At least I know where I am with you. Assuming you are in fact a real person and not a chatbot.

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  10. Clever Move Simon. But as Moses I know!
    Your sins find you out in the end.
    Here endeth the last Lesson.


    MOSES

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  11. MOses said..."Now you been rumbled. Oh Shame. You may of thought it was fun while you had an audience. But time now to realise. YOUR GAME IS OVER."

    Don't you think that all home educators would do better to behave a bit more sensibly? Honestly the worst thing about this review is not the recommendations (which, to repeat my self, I don't actually support...) but the really weird behaviour of some of Badmans opponents... no wonder the govt wants more control...

    (and yes, I am real, and can probably produce a couple of hundred other home educators to bear witness to that fact...)

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  12. Oh Julie is real! And very nice too. I've met her. Twice! {vbg}

    Can't vouch for the rest of you weirdos though...

    Mrs Anon

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  13. Simon you are obsessed with Home Educators. Sadly I am not one. But it seems you presume to much already. I told you I am a Writer. No children. Please put your facts out correctly.

    Moses.

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  14. I am quite happy to post using my real name. However, it is not a good idea to use it when the person you are having a conflab with does not have all his faculties and his behaviour is somewhat erratic and a cause for concern.

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  15. So we have discovered that 'Moses' is a bit mad, but doesn't home educate, and that Julie is real (hello Julie, I'm real too and reasonably normal and I am a home educator).

    And so we see the problem with the Interweb. Nobody can be sure that anyone is who they say they are. I'm not sure it really matters though. Surely it it what is said that should be discussed, not who is saying it.

    Anyway, thanks for the chat all. I'm off to read some of Simes' old posts. I've reaad a few and dammit, he always seems to stop answering comments as soon as they put forward interesting and intelligent arguments. I might see if I can get him started again on a few.

    Blimey Simes, you do come across like Lord Haw-Haw!

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  16. "Surely it it what is said that should be discussed, not who is saying it" - I agree - but then when some people keep imaging that it is Simon who is making "us" up it all gets a bit circular.....mind you, you have seen nothing yet - there are some posters on here who gives a new meaning to the concept of "odd".....

    Unlike some posters I don't think that Simon is doing any of this to irritate home educators....he clearly has seen problems in the areas in which he lives and works; where I do disagree is the solutions he proposes.

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  17. "I have never been over-enamoured of those who write letters which they are ashamed to sign with their own name."
    I feel pretty much the same about people who forward posts from email lists but are ashamed to put their names to their actions.
    Joely

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  18. Simon can you please point me in the direction of evidence or research that shows autonomous education doesn't work and that children are being failed in their droves?
    Joely

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  19. Do you not want to look at the DCSF research that explains why Rothermel got the results she did? You don't seem that interested. Is that because like Badman you only want the evidence that supports your thesis?
    Joely

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  20. Vain, dishonest, intolerant and loudmouthed.

    The home schooling fraternity has more than it's fair share of nutcases but you take the biscuit Mr Webb.

    You seem a natural for EO Council though.

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  21. Thanks Julie. I think we may agree then. I'm not convinced either way on Simon's motives, but then I've only just picked up on his "fame". I have noticed a propensity to stop answering comments when they make intelligent and thoughtful points though...

    I think that there is a problem with people who work with 'problem' families, abused or otherwise distressed children, etc. in that it distorts their world view. I understand the idea that people who work with abused children have a unique perspective and experience to impart, and this is important, but I also know from experience that after a time their view of humanity often becomes jaded - how can it not? I see this most clearly in the advertising and public statements of the NSPCC. Those that have prolonged and intensive experience of the nasty things in the world should not be allowed anywhere near public policy on those things, IMHO. Or at least their judgement should be known to be compromised. I haven't read enough of Simes' posts to judge whether he falls into this catagory. Yet!!

    What do you do that gives you your perspective Simes? Sorry to talk about you like you're not here. Just chatting!

    As for 'odd' home educators, I think I can forgive *some* of the more extreme elements their conspiracy theories and so forth. They are exercising their lawful right to home educate as they see fit, and have often had huge success doing so. They have given up a huge part of their lives and livelihoods in order to do what is right by their kids. Those who have taken their children from tremendously difficult situations in schools who have seriously failed them, and have unarguably achieved an utter turn around in their lives, are, in my opinion, heroes. They are all law abiding people and have done nothing wrong. In some cases they have been harrassed by Local Authority staff to a grave extent for many years. Sometimes these are the very staff who caused or ignored their child's treatment. Suddenly they are told they have to be checked out, and if an anonymous LA Officer thinks they are doing it wrong they can be prosecuted. I can understand why they feel threatened and their depth of feeling. Heck, I share their depth of feeling, but I express it perhaps in a different way, through engagement with the system, talking sensibly to the people who have the power to change things (and many who don't) exercising my right to protest, and some mild mickey-taking wherever I can (because life's too short to be serious all the time).

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  22. Mouse, I work as an advocate for families containing children with special educational needs. Some of this involves fighting for their right to home educate and withdraw their child from a special school. the families that I have described are not caricatures, but real cases. I have done a lot of home visiting in another capacity as well. you say that I stop answering comments when they make intelligent points, but this is not intentional. It is just that I have many other interests besides this Blog and sometimes don't keep up with the various threads. I dare say that you are right and that my experiences have given me a somewhat jaundiced view of life. On the other hand, I suspect that many of the people commenting here have not actually been in the sort of homes which I am describing.

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  23. Joely, I rather lost interest in playing guessing games round about the age of twelve or so. If you wish to draw my attention to a piece of research by the DCSF then just do so.

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  24. So I take it you are CRB checked, vetted etc? Do you take children off into a room alone and ask whether they want to be home educated or if they are been forced into it by their parent so they can be abused? cos that's what the DCSF have lined up for every HE child in England.

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  25. "It is just that I have many other interests besides this Blog and sometimes don't keep up with the various threads."

    I can appreciate this. However, it is rather irritating that you make several interesting pronouncements, they are skilfully reposted, and you apparently respond with stony silence. Apart from anything else it makes you look like you have run out of arguments. But like I say, I appreciate that there are not enough hours in the day.


    "I dare say that you are right and that my experiences have given me a somewhat jaundiced view of life."

    As I say, it is important to hear from people who have experienced how bad things can get in whatever area, but the fact of what such experiences to to a person should be taken into account when listening to their views. I feel that at a certain point they simply cannot be objective. This is the problem with the voice of third sector institutions as lobbyists. They must be viewed as being slightly mad. Someone in the trenches during the first world war would have had important things to say about their experiences, but I wouldn't give them too much influence over the direction of the next assault.


    "On the other hand, I suspect that many of the people commenting here have not actually been in the sort of homes which I am describing."

    I have not personally experienced such homes, but I accept that they exist. I accept that some such people may even be claiming to be home educating. However, I don't believe that their existence negates the experience of the thousands of home educators who do not live like that, nor their right to continue the peaceful pursuit of such a life free of state interference.

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  26. "...but the fact of what such experiences to to a person should be taken into account when listening to their views..."

    I of course meant "...such experiences DO to a person..."

    Damn these little boxes we are forced to type in!

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  27. No HES, that is not what the DCSF have lined up for "every HE child in England" What on Earth makes you think that? Read Recommendation 7, "when deemed appropriate". This is to do with safeguarding concerns, not every HE child. Read the report.

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  28. Are "safeguarding concerns" defined somewhere Simon?
    Can you answer my question about evidence/research to back up your claim that autonomous ed is ruining the lives of countless children please?
    Joely

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  29. Oh and I'm not playing guessing games either and it isn't about whether or not I want to bring it to your attention. I want to know if you are genuinely motivated to see DCSF research that does not fit with your thesis. Apparently you aren't. Funny the DCSF didn't like it much either - they buried it.
    Joely

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  30. I think you need to read the report again Simon. The report is about HE children in England no other children. And who defines what is "deemed appropriate"??? Also you did not answer my question. Are you CRB checked/vetted etc?

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  31. HES, I can't imagine why you wish to know whether Ihave had a CRB check. Perhaps you could explain? Recommendaton 7 is the one which mentions seeing a child alone. There is no suggestion that this will be routine, I can't think why you imagine it would be? Mostly, it concerns vulnerable children or those with communication needs. The need to see children without the presence of the home educator should be fairly plain in such cases. I guess that they are thinking about some of the scandals connected with facilitated communication, for instance.

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  32. Simon, twice you have failed to answer the question of whether you are CRB checked/vetted. I ask because you say you work with SEN children. Why do you have difficulty in answering this simple and logical question?

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  33. I have no difficulty at all answering the question HES. It just strikes me as an odd question and I want to know why you are asking it.

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  34. Tut tut Simon, you just can't give a clear and precise answer. 3 times now you have refused to answer a very simple question and the reason I asked was included in my last post. Fed up now of all your prevaricating. Boring....

    Tootle pip all!

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  35. Simon, it appears as if you have a problem answering HES question re CRB check, please could you enlighten us mere mortals as to why this is such an issue? A CRB check is the norm nowadays for those people that come into contact with children, like yourself, so why do you insist on arguing as to the reason the question was asked? You are giving the impression you have something to hide. Perhaps you are not CRB checked???

    Also, did your mother never teach you that "I want..." never gets??

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