Brianna Parkins, Irish Times columnist

Badly Drunk Boy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122933459#Comment_122933459

Just because she mentioned it doesn't take from the fact that them having compulsory voting is significant. I didn't read the article because most Irish Times links I try to read are behind a paywall so I don't bother anymore.

I think people should vote too, and I often encourage colleagues who I think mightn't be interested. However, I don't see the value in her constantly poking at Irish society, especially since she doesn't live here anymore.

Hande hoche!

I still think that Brendan O'Connor has an incriminating video involving livestock and newspaper editorial staff, otherwise I can't understand his prominence.

elperello

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122933533#Comment_122933533

She did discuss some of the effects of compulsory voting.

I'm in the "don't know" category concerning compulsion myself.

She can be a bit blunt but I don't mind that.

An outsiders view can be informative.

I don't worry too much about opinion pieces, sometimes I agree with the writer, sometimes not.

Larbre34

I don't mind her outsiders view of Dublin, Ireland and the Irish.

But since she moved back to her native Australia, I'm not sure what she offers to Irish Times readers in terms of columns and colour pieces.

Former Former Former

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122933459#Comment_122933459

If Australians were as mad to vote as she thinks, they wouldn’t need mandatory voting:

It’s like saying Irish people love paying tax because 100% of us do it.

Galwayguy35

A terrible loss to Ireland now that she has gone back to Australia.

But as least we still have Roe and Vogue.

elperello

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122935352#Comment_122935352

She didn't actually say they are mad about voting.

They aren't even all in favour of mandatory voting even though they've been doing it that way for 100 years.

Nobody really knows what the effect on turnout would be if they changed to voluntary voting.

GAAcailin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122936598#Comment_122936598

wonder what % of the votes are spoiled in Oz. I'd imagine that some of the folks who don't show up to vote would spoil their vote if mandatory voting was in place.

She used the term 'special needs kids' which could be considered not politically correct; better phraseology would be 'kids with special needs'.

AndrewJRenko

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122940394#Comment_122940394

Better terminology would be "kids with disabilities". Unfortunately "special" terminology is deeply embedded in our educational system.

elperello

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122940394#Comment_122940394

Apparently Australia has a higher than average level of spoiled ballots. Similar reports from other countries, but there is no real confirmation of a link to compulsory voting.

I haven't read all the studies and as I said earlier in the thread I'm not sure about compulsory voting.

To get back to BP she was making the case for greater involvement in voting.

Suggesting that perhaps more people voting might have an influence on outcomes for those in society paying the cost of their issues being lower down in the political pecking order.

Also, maybe in her favour, she did refer to children not kids.

NIMAN

Some other journo (Irish this time) given time by RTE to tell us how much better Oz is than Ireland.

Currently on Drive Time on Rte radio 1.

Perhaps get on a person to tell us why they hated Oz and why they came home?

yagan

I really don't understand the hype, lived there for years but really it's very superficial. I found we had more in common with aboriginal people who understand craic and have a sense of community.

phelixoflaherty

I find her hilarious. Her weekend piece about Irish holding a grudge for a lifetime.

Having chats a being all grand, whilst giving you the middle finger in their coat pocket.

GAAcailin

more drivel from her today in the IT magazine; isn’t the Oz healthcare system fab. Don’t get why I paid good money for my paper today to read that condescending article. She has returned to Oz ~ we no longer need to hear from her.

Bring Roisin Ingle back ( heard her on BOC on the radio this am) ~ she is starting a new article in the IT on Wednesdays

browne_rob5

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123045796#Comment_123045796

The other one had her Christmas presents stolen and has tried to turn it into a negative on Ireland. It took her 3 weeks to build up the courage to submit that drivel.

https://www.irishtimes.com/abroad/2025/01/16/somebody-broke-in-and-stole-our-christmas-gifts-but-i-felt-a-sense-of-gratitude/

yagan

I saw that headline but didn't read it, reminds me of that awful Ryan Tubridy "god in a hoody" slock.

How much do these scribes get paid for such ramblings?

NattyO

After nearly 20 years as an IT subscriber (and a daily buyer of the paper edition for decades before that) I finally cancelled my subscription last week after many months of threatening to do so. It is sad to see how low it has sunk. A fine paper once upon a time, that could be counted on to do real reporting and bring real balance. It is now at the level of a student union rag. Obsessed with out-Guardianing the Guardian, and always being on the correct (i.e. whatever "liberal" opinion is most in vogue this week) side of any issue. It has become an embarrassment to read, with little in the way of journalism any more - almost every article now is either syndicated (but only from those with the same opinions) or an "opinion piece" where almost every opinion is identical. Sad to see.

yagan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123063017#Comment_123063017

I agree. I cancelled my subscription after their "all boys are raised in a soup of misogyny" piece. Rather than leading with facts and context they descended into gender war hysteria.

Jim Herring

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123062916#Comment_123062916

I read a few paragraphs. I strongly suspect that the boyfriend/husband staged the break in to cover up, either for getting her sh1t Christmas presents or for forgetting to get them.

LEGO Mona Lisa my arse. 😆

Wanderer78

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123063017#Comment_123063017

political correspondents are still very good, they also still do very good podcasts

elperello

The IT and it's stablemate the Examiner are both head and shoulders over any other Irish title.

It's a vital part of my day and has been for years.

It would take more than a few dodgy opinion pieces to change my mind.