Since my last post, I have received several, quite nasty and personal attacks on my character, my earning capability, and my environmental values. Not happy at all.
Well guess what? I have had enough. If certain people can’t say something nice and look at what is going on in the world objectively, then ‘bugger off’ is all I can say to them.
Sorry, faithful readers, this is not directed at you, just the trolls that frequent my email inbox and post comments. Thankfully most of them go into the spam folder automatically, however, I still have to read them.
Hey, I am normally a nice person, I have a great outlook on life, I try and do what I think is best for our family, but it just gets me down when people cannot look beyond the present, settle on an nonfactual opinion touted by vested interest, and then attack me personally. It just gives me the shits!
In case the trolls had forgotten what we have been working towards for all these years namely some positive action on averting man-made climate change, then have a read of this article from the Director of the Australian Youth Climate Coalition;
Ellen Sandell writes: Yesterday the Sunday Telegraph ran a headline about Tim Tams and Weet-Bix — and how Gillard would use them as ‘typical Aussie’ products that would rise only a fraction under the carbon price. Today as I open the newspaper I can see that the headlines are similar: how much will this cost? What will the compensation be? Who will be better off when we introduce a policy to put a price on pollution?
The government even has a calculator on its website where you can work out how much it will cost you (I’ll be $33 better off, in case you were wondering).
But despite the government banging on and on about the fact that Australian families won’t be worse off under a carbon price, people still aren’t listening, because we have forgotten to talk about the ‘why’.
Why are we doing this in the first place?
Many polls have shown that people are willing to pay something to clean up our environment and invest in the future, because they can see that the outcome is worthwhile. But in this climate debate we have got sucked into the cost frame and stopped talking about what we’re trying to achieve — and people won’t pay for something if they don’t understand the point of it.
So let’s talk about what is worth paying for:
Powering Australia by 100% renewable energy is worth it.
Cleaning up our skies so we can breathe easier is worth it.
Shutting down the most inefficient power stations in the world, is worth it.
Stopping our biggest polluters pumping tonnes of pollution into the atmosphere for free, is worth it.
And ensuring that our kids still have a planet to live on in the future, is definitely worth it.
The policy announced yesterday, with $10 billion of new money for clean energy projects, and increasing the government’s emission reduction target from 60% to 80% by 2050 is a really great step in the right direction, and we need all politicians to support it, because it will start getting us to the future we want to see.
Over the last week, 100 young people have been walking the halls of Parliament talking to politicians about what this policy means for their future and this video sums up nicely why the Australian Youth Climate Coalition has been working tirelessly to put a price on pollution and is happy about the announcement yesterday: because we can see what the outcome could be.
So for all trolls, get real, and bugger off! Boo Hoo if you have to pay a few dollars more each week. Here is a suggestion. Turn off your television for a while, save some money on your power bill, and disconnect yourself from the propaganda machine. We do what we do for the future, not the old ways of the past. Clear enough? Bring on the Carbon Price.
So without further adieu, comment moderation is now turned on! Anymore troll like behaviour will simply be deleted and filed where they deserve to be.
Go Gavin!!! If only people would at least try to educate themselves…
Hey don’t let the buggers drag you down Gavin. I don’t usually comment on blogs but i have read and enjoyed yours for a long time now and felt you need to know how many enjoy what you share with us . Keep up the good work Gavin xxx Julie UK
Small minded people always try to attck visionaries and bring them down. Keep up your fabulous, insprirational work Gavin.
Gavin I am still giggling. I know it is a serious matter and all but my goodness I just loved the way you said what you wanted to say. Yep still giggling. It’s your blog and your life and you don’t come on here bagging out others who do things their way – you just are trying to lead by example is the way I see it. I read all of the time – don’t always comment. Wish there was a little button that I could click sometimes to let people know I have read their post for the day or week. Keep up the great work. Wendy
Hi Gavin, i have been following your blog for a few months now and always look forward to reading the new articles when you post, although i have never left a comment, i appreciate the time and effort you put into blogging about your green journey and have learnt many new things along the way! I too, like Wendy wish there was a button so you know we’ve read your posts!!
If they don’t like what you’re writing about i don’t understand why they are still reading!!! Keep up the great work and don’t let them get you down! Mel x
Go Gavin!!!
How ridiculous that these trolls are looking at the small picture and not considering the repercussions of their actions and what damage it is doing! Could they get any more selfish?!
The carbon tax is a small price to pay for such big improvements.
I drop in here regularly and enjoy your blog. Don’t let fools drag you down. I think what you are doing is terrific.
Well said, Gavin! Personally I found your last post quite inspirational – the little green actions really add up over time, but because gains are made gradually, it’s easy to forget how far one has come.
But there are plenty of people out there who are prepared to drag others down, often to justify their own inactivity.
Or perhaps it’s just lack of imagination on their part – they argue that individual actions can’t save the world, while completely missing the underlying paradigm shift that is the important thing. The hope for human survival will come through such diverse things as re-establishing community ties, re-developing a healthy relationship with food, and fostering real feelings of achievement and self-worth through mastering functional skills like food gardening, animal husbandry, cheese-making, brewing, among other things.
I’m a low income renter myself, and if current conditions continue I’ll never be able to afford a house or be able to have private solar or water tanks, but I understand that it’s not necessary to the health of the planet that everyone drive a hybrid car (there’s always the bicycle!) or own personal property. Sadly the naysayers aren’t interested in creative solutions though.
Hey Gavin. Don’t let the trolls get to you. Their comments just show that you are getting through – and they are afraid of any future other than one which looks just like the past – and having glimpsed the future they are frightened by their lack of ability to adapt to it.
Go for it.
Go Gavin!!! Sometimes we are all in need of telling the trolls to eff off.
Wishing you a wonderful week and keep up the good work!!
Power to you, Brother!!!!
Gavin,
I do not typically comment, but I have enjoyed your blog for some time. The thoughtful and deliberate way you approach your life is refreshing.
Nice to know you have a backbone, too. Keep up the good work.
Kate, USA
Hooray for you, Gavin! I know it’s frustrating to be bullied by ignorant people, but I’m glad you are taking it in stride. We are with you. Change will come! Your blog and your efforts are awesome. Thank you!
Go on Gav, tell the buggers to get stuffed! Bloody morons…..
Big hugs to you and Kim
Babs xxxxx
You rock, Gavin! Keep up the good work! 🙂
Gavin – keep doing what you do for the reasons that you do them – you can`t alwasys please everyone right…
so keep up the good fight and keep teaching others…that is probably what the universe had in mind when they created you…
let trolls fall off your back like water off a duck`s back…and get back to doing what you are supposed to be doing…
oh and btw….thank you for all that you do!
I wish Julia would adopt some of your language Gavin, the plebs might sit up and listen!
It means you are being read, not just by those of us who agree with you, but also by those who find the reality and the values you talk about discomfiting, threatening, difficult. For every troll who responds to fear with stupidity, there are a dozen or more who respond to fear with the courage to consider, to think, to confront a harsh reality. Be glad you are not just preaching to the converted. And keep being so wonderfully real!
What morons! They must have way too much time on their hands. Thanks for all your efforts. Appreciated.
What they all said! You tell them, Gav…
Woohoo!!! Go Gavin!!!
What a bunch off tossers. Personally I think you should let them comment, publish their emails and show the world what bloody idiots they are. but I’m nasty like that.
You do a fantastic job and I for one am very greatful for it.
Amazing stuff Gavin. There are some big issues here to deal with.
I think you have done a brilliant job educating and promoting a better way of life for the future. You have every right to be proud of your achievements and are to be congratulated for the effort you put in day in day out so that people like me can learn, think and begin to change. Thank you for the inspiration you have given me.
We have solar on the roof, a water tank system, veg garden front and back, and loads of strategies we follow to reduce our impact on this Earth. We are unashamedly middle income and we know that the changes we have made to our lifestyle would not have been as easy, even possible, without the rebates and the green loan. We took advantage of what we could and are grateful for the opportunity we had. We certainly could not have contemplated the big changes (solar/tanks/LEDS) if we did not have reasonably paying jobs and $10,000-$20000 to spare.
Low income families, the disadvantaged, the aged and the sick generally don’t have the money to make the big changes that my family has adopted. Sadly most never will and will be left behind. Rebates, loan and incentive schemes need to be strengthened and better targeted so that low income earners can also take part in making the bigger changes that inevitably are also costly.
Yes, the fight for a carbon tax has been won but we seem to have lost sight of the fact that government support to households is being reduced. Can we afford to let our government get away with this? I hope not and its people like yourself who can add their voice to lobby for help for the less fortunate in our society.
If this is a ‘trollite’ perspective, so be it. I make no apology for it but I am sorry that you perceive it as a personal attack on you. It is not.
golly Gavin you took my comment off ,so must think I am a troll whcih I am not ,I do like reading your blog here and have learnt a lot from it all ,but at times I dont agree with somethings does that make me a troll I think not , had a look at the estimator you had ,we arent any better off but no matter we do what we can ,no dont have the tv on ,like I said we do what we can ,by the way my post was the only one up yesterday so I have no idea what was after it
You go Gavin, pleanty of us are on your side. Personally I believe the environment is the only issue.
Wow, that video left me in tears. Is it possible? Let the young people lead they way.
Way to go for standing up for yourself.
Gavin, My kid reads you blog. Your tirade of abuse and lack of self control does not set a good example for leadership, it drags it down. You an apology to the so called ‘trolls’. You have serious anger management issues mate.
Thanks for everyones comments. I appreciate them all and they have given me a big boost to keep going.
@ Anon. I am sorry if I offended your children, however if you had received some of the emails that I had, you would have wanted to vent as well. I am not Mr Perfect (neither is anyone else that I know), and one can only hold ones breath for so long without exploding. I am trying to help others by setting an example, but when you are attacked personally, this is what happens. It is a part of life!
I make no further appologies for my behaviour.
Gav
Well done for sharing Gavin and for naming this behaviour for what it is …. in large part, it comes back to ignorance and a lack of awareness on the trolls’ behalf as to what is really going on. I am sorry to hear about the personal attacks as I think that you do great work on the awareness raising front and I am sure that many people would not want to see you recoil from this important role – we love your work! So please continue to believe in what you do and receive the good wishes of the 98% who do support your work (figures not unlike the climate science debate itself).
Unfortunately, the anti-social behaviour of a minority is a part of life on the internet and periodically raises its ugly head, targeting writers with an online presence. Hard not to take it personally but please don’t let the comments of an angry and ill-informed few deter you from your advocacy role and from simply living by example. See it for what it is and keep doing what you do so well. You are a lighthouse. There is a lot of love and support, respect and appreciation for you out here in the blogosphere! So keep shining.
May any unfair attacks simply become like water off a duck’s back, and may the light of awareness eventually shine upon those who ignorantly fling the arrows from the shadows.
Kind Regards – Tess (tessholderness.com)