Ripping down political posters (not this again)

coinop

The president of a political party's youth wing made a post on twitter openly boasting about tearing down a poster of Leo Varadkar. Now, I'm not a fan of the Taoiseach but tearing down political posters is not right. It legitimises others doing it to your posters. In a democracy, everyone is entitled to their say. Worryingly, this ripping down posters as a form of activism has become a growing trend in recent years.

I won't name the perpetrator without a mod's permission but politicians (and aspiring politicians in their youth wings) are fair game for naming and shaming in my opinion.

Your Face

Tear them all down - horribly garish looking things.

coinop

It's either tear them all down or leave them all up! But selectively tearing down the posters of the opposing party is not only childish but illegal.

Realt Dearg Sec

coinop wrote: »

In a democracy, everyone is entitled to their say. Worryingly, this ripping down posters as a form of activism .

Not sure how the posters constitute people having their say, they only ever say the politician's name. On the other hand I can't imagine a less effective form of political protest to dignify with the term activism. And I certainly can't fathom why you'd call it "worrying". I mean, what consequences of this are you worried about? Won't see all the ugly crooks looking to rob you blind on your way to work? Heaven protect us.

Boredstiff666

Where does the logical sense of someone come from who thinks that if they blanket an area of the country with pictures of themselves. That this will automatically make the public run to a voting booth and vote for them.

I think it just shows that they regard the public as dim witted morons.

freshpopcorn

Boredstiff666 wrote: »

Where does the logical sense of someone come from who thinks that if they blanket an area of the country with pictures of themselves. That this will automatically make the public run to a voting booth and vote for them.

I think it just shows that they regard the public as dim witted morons.

I don't know about people covering an area with posters but I know somebody who ran in the local election last year and she didn't use posters or leaflets.
Later on she regretted it because some of the older people who didn't use social media weren't aware she was evening running in the election.

Boredstiff666

freshpopcorn wrote: »

I don't know about people covering an area with posters but I know somebody who ran in the local election last year and she didn't use posters or leaflets.
Later on she regretted it because some of the older people who didn't use social media weren't aware she was evening running in the election.

Well that just proves that those people could be dim witted morons who vote for people who they either know, maybe local, related too, like the look of or other silly reasons.

Or it could be that the person who wants to be elected is a dim witted moron who thinks they just put their name forward making silly claims and sit back thinking .........thats it they will vote for me.

If you want to be elected.....go out and meet the people and have sound valid ideas and facts to back them up.

Sticking a pic up of anybody certainly wouldnt convince me to vote for anybody. If it does you...........seriously seek help and quick.

padd b1975

Galway city.

My money is on that waste of space Joe Loughnane.

kippy

Posters shouldn't be allowed. Simple as. I see a number of LAs and tidy towns groups asking candidates not to put posters up. I also see a number of candidates, at least one from Galway city, saying they will not poster. This particular candidate got elected in the local election without any posters.
People say it gives new candidates a disadvantage as they aren't well known. I'd say if they are not well known they've done very little in the way of public service to that point.
Not advocating tearing down posters. That's just childish.
Would question the intelligence and as a result the suitability of the person doing it to be a public representative......

suicide_circus

which youth leader of which party?

Wanderer78

kippy wrote:

Posters shouldn't be allowed. Simple as. I see a number of LAs and tidy towns groups asking candidates not to put posters up. I also see a number of candidates, at least one from Galway city, saying they will not poster. This particular candidate got elected in the local election without any posters. People say it gives new candidates a disadvantage as they aren't well known. I'd say if they are not well known they've done very little in the way of public service to that point. Not advocating tearing down posters. That's just childish. Would question the intelligence and as a result the suitability of the person doing it to be a public representative......

Its probably time to call it a day on these things, we ve moved onto other methods of advertisement now

coinop

suicide_circus wrote: »

which youth leader of which party?

I will gladly say if a mod gives me the green light. I should note that the perpetrator is no stranger to controversy and has made headlines before for all the wrong reasons.

Treppen

coinop wrote: »

I will gladly say if a mod gives me the green light. I should note that the perpetrator is no stranger to controversy and has made headlines before for all the wrong reasons.

If it's on a Twitter account just include the name. If it's in the public domain it's in the public domain
Pics or gtfo
New account chinny reckon

Del2005

freshpopcorn wrote: »

I don't know about people covering an area with posters but I know somebody who ran in the local election last year and she didn't use posters or leaflets.
Later on she regretted it because some of the older people who didn't use social media weren't aware she was evening running in the election.

And what would these people who don't use social media do if they did see her posters? They won't be able to see her policies and most just vote for the same party or someone who's comes to their door not someone littering the country.
Or maybe she just wasn't a good candidate and that's why she got so few votes.

punisher5112

So many put up at junctions, crossings and traffic lights and hinder ones view.

Shouldn't be allowed with 100 metres of any of the above.

Most not put up correctly and fall down in the wind and become a danger.

Irish Guitarist

My biggest objection is they just dumped the poster on the ground.

Ger Roe

freshpopcorn wrote: »

I don't know about people covering an area with posters but I know somebody who ran in the local election last year and she didn't use posters or leaflets.
Later on she regretted it because some of the older people who didn't use social media weren't aware she was evening running in the election.

Then, she wasn't working hard enough with an important demographic to get herself known. If the older people without social media access were important enough to her, she should have made it her business to be known to them... through actions, not words posted on web platforms.

weldoninhio

coinop wrote: »

The president of a political party's youth wing made a post on twitter openly boasting about tearing down a poster of Leo Varadkar. Now, I'm not a fan of the Taoiseach but tearing down political posters is not right. It legitimises others doing it to your posters. In a democracy, everyone is entitled to their say. Worryingly, this ripping down posters as a form of activism has become a growing trend in recent years.

I won't name the perpetrator without a mod's permission but politicians (and aspiring politicians in their youth wings) are fair game for naming and shaming in my opinion.

In fairness at least he admitted to it (stupidly). The Shinners in my area were actually putting up Labour posters a week after the by-election in November in an effort to get them fined. Absolutely pathetic.

JohnnyFlash

I presume this is the work of young rascal, Joe Loughnane. A very angry man. The best way to teach Joe a lesson would be to cut his social welfare benefits and make him get a job. He can keep the overthrowing of the State and communist stuff for his spare time.

He’s a textbook example of a loser.

s7ryf3925pivug

There are illegal posters of Varadkar up all over the place. Posters are supposed to display a candidates name and be displayed in their constituency. What FG have done is put up a load of unpaid for ads for their party.

They also put posters up before the election was announced, which was also illegal.

Boredstiff666

Kalani Clean Sesame wrote: »

There are illegal posters of Varadkar up all over the place. Posters are supposed to display a candidates name and be displayed in their constituency. What FG have done is put up a load of unpaid for ads for their party.

They also put posters up before the election was announced, which was also illegal.

So if these were defaced which is an illegal act. Can you commit an illegal act on something that isnt legal?

Surely the illegal act would have to be committed on something that is legal for the act to be illegal?

s7ryf3925pivug

Boredstiff666 wrote: »

So if these were defaced which is an illegal act. Can you commit an illegal act on something that isnt legal?

Surely the illegal act would have to be committed on something that is legal for the act to be illegal?

Actually I think I might have been misinformed, after looking up the rules.

Regarding the name, I just found things saying you have to display the name of the printer, not the candidate.

Regarding the time, it looks like the rule is "from the date of the election announcement". So putting up posters in the morning before a lunchtime announcement cement is not following the spirit of the law but is following the letter of it.

Timfy

Anyone who takes political advice from a lamppost shouldn't be allowed to vote in the first place!

is_that_so

Timfy wrote: »

Anyone who takes political advice from a lamppost shouldn't be allowed to vote in the first place!

Surprisingly some people barely know who's on the ballot, even on the day. If you have an issue with it get onto those who make the laws rather then presuming your method of candidate selection has any level of superior intelligence.

s7ryf3925pivug

Posters are a terrible idea. Just a waste of time and resources and there is always litter. But apparently they affect the votes so they will continue to be used unless regulations curtail them.

There are lots of ways of informing people of who is on the ballot. A billboard with equal space for every candidate would be one approach. Publication on a website. Announcement on radio and TV... The current system favours the candidates with the most resources.

is_that_so

Boredstiff666 wrote: »

Well that just proves that those people could be dim witted morons who vote for people who they either know, maybe local, related too, like the look of or other silly reasons.

Or it could be that the person who wants to be elected is a dim witted moron who thinks they just put their name forward making silly claims and sit back thinking .........thats it they will vote for me.

If you want to be elected.....go out and meet the people and have sound valid ideas and facts to back them up.

Sticking a pic up of anybody certainly wouldnt convince me to vote for anybody. If it does you...........seriously seek help and quick.

I think it just proves you have a fixed opinion that is not for changing. Leave people to their own choices. You could of course be more constructive and point out the offence of them to common intelligence to prospective candidates

cajonlardo

Yer man Dick Roche.

I remember his posters around Bray.
Some one got creative and neatly penned in Cock above his name.
His eyes were cut out of some of the posters so it gave him a strange menacing look.

Granted, it was still minor vandalism but at least the perp put a bit of effort into climbing up and down a ladder etc

weldoninhio

Kalani Clean Sesame wrote: »

Posters are a terrible idea. Just a waste of time and resources and there is always litter. But apparently they affect the votes so they will continue to be used unless regulations curtail them.

There are lots of ways of informing people of who is on the ballot. A billboard with equal space for every candidate would be one approach. Publication on a website. Announcement on radio and TV... The current system favours the candidates with the most resources.

Thats an oxymoron

s7ryf3925pivug

weldoninhio wrote: »

Thats an oxymoron

Not really; my point is that rules should be changed. I was acknowledging that they would continue to be used unless rules are changed.

Boredstiff666

is_that_so wrote: »

I think it just proves you have a fixed opinion that is not for changing. Leave people to their own choices. You could of course be more constructive and point out the offence of them to common intelligence to prospective candidates

Actually you have no idea of my opinions and I am all for people to make up their own minds regardless of those on Boards who think they are next to god themselves.

As for becoming someones instructor in anyway..........show me the money first and I will consider it.

Wanderer78

Boredstiff666 wrote:

Actually you have no idea of my opinions and I am all for people to make up their own minds regardless of those on Boards who think they are next to god themselves.

I'm better than god

conorhal

Ger Roe wrote: »

[/B]

Then, she wasn't working hard enough with an important demographic to get herself known. If the older people without social media access were important enough to her, she should have made it her business to be known to them... through actions, not words posted on web platforms.

So she should have ....put up some posters!


I find the same old arguments about posters tiresome.

They're about creating brand association and recognition in the voter, just like every other ad you see on a bus shelter or hoarding.
Are people so stupid as to argue that's ineffective and pointless? If it didn't work, advertisers wouldn't spend millions every year doing it.

As to how 'messy' it all is. Well that's democracy. Suck it up.
I think the reaction to election posters is merely an extension of the standard (I might even say deserved) reaction to politicians in general, people look up and see their gurning faces and think to themselves, 'oh would they ever just f!"$* off'.

Winning_Stroke

I'd a lot of respect for Sean Gallagher in 2011 being the only candidate not to use posters. Didn't do him any harm and were it not for RTE stitching him up, he's have won.

That being said, tearing down posters is a scumbag thing to do. I'll put my house on the perpetrator being a) a regular at the ol' Palestine solidarity committee meetings b) having numerous photos of themselves carrying the hammer and sickle flag over the years c) been in college for at least a decade

hatrickpatrick

Why are we not naming the f*ckers who did this? A lot of us would like to know so we can make sure to give their organisation a wide berth on our ballot papers.

coinop

The culprit was not self-confessed drug dealer Joe Loughnane of People Before Profit. It was actually young brat Róisín Nic Lochlainn of Ógra Shinn Féin in NUIG who made headlines when she threw a milkshake over Justin Barrett in Eyre Square late last year. She posted this on her twitter at around 2:30am last night.



However, the post was only up for about 20 minutes before she deleted it - a clear admission of guilt. She knew it was wrong. Luckily I got a screen shot. She then retweeted this subtle message of guilt (which has not been deleted - yet!)

jam_mac_jam

Wow SF are really outdoing themselves with their stupidity in this election so far. Long may it continue. If these are the members of their party.. oh dear.

J. Marston

coinop wrote: »

The culprit was not self-confessed drug dealer Joe Loughnane of People Before Profit. It was actually young brat Róisín Nic Lochlainn of Ógra Shinn Féin in NUIG who made headlines when she threw a milkshake over Justin Barrett in Eyre Square late last year. She posted this on her twitter at around 2:30am last night.



However, the post was only up for about 20 minutes before she deleted it - a clear admission of guilt. She knew it was wrong. Luckily I got a screen shot. She then retweeted this subtle message of guilt (which has not been deleted - yet!)

Policing Twitter at 3am to catch dangerous criminals like this.

Good man...

Blitzkrieger

I'm always a bit torn when it comes to vandalising political posters. On one hand it's a comment on the political system that maybe the public should be free to make, on the other it's an easy way to strong arm some political parties/politicians. I think it comes down to how it's done. I saw one in Cork yesterday with 'LIAR' written in the corner of a Simon Coveney poster. I think that's alright; somebody's given their view without overwriting Coveney's message. As much as I don't like seeing the election posters around I wouldn't agree with ripping down the posters of any any candidates you don't like, and/or covering up what they've printed on the poster.

Bobblehats

I’d actually help put these ones up

padd b1975

So it was a Shinner woman.

I suppose a couple of generations ago the likes of her would be in a nightclub trying to lure some innocent protestant to a violent death.

That's progress.

Iv only ever saw this once.

It was during the abortion referendum some student young fella ripping down no posters and throwing them into a busy road junction in the middle of town. In the middle of the day. Then going off on his bike back into the college.

Political statement me hoop. Go and litter your own home town ya little sh*te.

is_that_so

Topgear on Dave wrote: »

Iv only ever saw this once.

It was during the abortion referendum some student young fella ripping down no posters and throwing them into a busy road junction in the middle of town. In the middle of the day. Then going off on his bike back into the college.

Political statement me hoop. Go and litter your own home town ya little sh*te.

It's all pretty juvenile. There was a shot of a purple haired individual doing it to anti-repeal posters in Dublin. There might even have been a video of it.

whisky_galore

Bobblehats wrote: »

I’d actually help put these ones up

He will need all the votes he can get to get to 1%.

Edgware

jam_mac_jam wrote: »

Wow SF are really outdoing themselves with their stupidity in this election so far. Long may it continue. If these are the members of their party.. oh dear.

Just be glad its tearing down posters is all they do.

Realt Dearg Sec

Bobblehats wrote: »

I’d actually help put these ones up

He sounds like he needs help alright.

hatrickpatrick

Blitzkrieger wrote: »

I'm always a bit torn when it comes to vandalising political posters. On one hand it's a comment on the political system that maybe the public should be free to make, on the other it's an easy way to strong arm some political parties/politicians. I think it comes down to how it's done. I saw one in Cork yesterday with 'LIAR' written in the corner of a Simon Coveney poster. I think that's alright; somebody's given their view without overwriting Coveney's message. As much as I don't like seeing the election posters around I wouldn't agree with ripping down the posters of any any candidates you don't like, and/or covering up what they've printed on the poster.

I've nothing against defacing them with graffiti to an extent, that's making a statement of opposition like you've pointed out, but destroying or removing them altogether is essentially censorship, and f*ck that.

BlastaBorgaire

Do you have any proof that this person done it? Aside from the fact they took a photo of it lying on the ground? If not you could be in breach of some nasty defamation laws! Careful!

Ulysses Gaze

Bobblehats wrote: »

I’d actually help put these ones up

This is a WUM, right?

Winning_Stroke

BlastaBorgaire wrote: »

Do you have any proof that this person done it? Aside from the fact they took a photo of it lying on the ground? If not you could be in breach of some nasty defamation laws! Careful!

Hi Roisin.

AlanG

Boredstiff666 wrote: »

Well that just proves that those people could be dim witted morons who vote for people who they either know, maybe local, related too, like the look of or other silly reasons.

Anyone who thinks posters don't work is a closer fit to your offensive post. There are a lot less people engaged regularly on social media than most heavy social media users think and it is extremely difficult to reach a new audience on social media as users are selective in who they engage with.
The reason there are so many posters around is because they are proven time and again to work very well.

branie2

They're eyesores