I ORIGINALLY POSTED THIS COMMENTARY IN JUNE. FRAUDULENT COMPLAINTS MADE ABOUT IT TO BLOGGER ARE DESIGNED TO GET IT REMOVED BECAUSE NKF “KEY MASTERS” ARE INTENT ON SUPPRESSING EVERY VOICE BUT THIER OWN. THERE IS NOTHING IN THIS PPOST THAT CONTRAVENES ANYONES COPYRIGHT. IF NKF HAD A GENUINE COMPLAINT THEY WOULD VOICE IT ON THE COMMENT PAGE AND I WOULD ADDRESS IT. BUT THEY DONT – DEMONSTRATING THE INSINCERITY OF THEIR CONCERN ABOUT COPYRIGHT.In my deleted forum, I had planned to present an overview of the various Internet Sites that currently exist, as a sort of Guide to what was available out there and what to watch out for. So I shall start again.
One of the easiest to find using your search engine is of course the Ned Kelly Forum, a place set up within the last couple of years. The Clue to what you will find there is contained on the welcome page, where the NKF is described as a “Pro” Ned Kelly and a “celebration”. The Forum contains many discussions about a large variety of topics that are mostly peripheral to the core elements of the Kelly story, such things as members favourite Kelly songs, books and movies, discussions about the annual Ned Kelly Weekend at Beechworth, and items that appear in the news from time to time.
The most recent discussions have been about some old gates that were purported to have come from the old Melbourne gaol, the site of Neds execution. In fact as the material presented makes clear, there is not a scrap of evidence linking the gates to the Old Melbourne gaol and nobody has any idea where they came from. The source of that claim has been completely discredited because it also said the gates were erected in 1937 when in fact they were erected in 1930. Never-the-less the post is entitled “Old Melbourne Gaol gates at the Frankston Oval” and a couple of members seem to think that this has now been established and heartily thanked the person who brought this to their attention. Having said all that, it was an interesting discussion that showed how rumours and misinformation can be incorporated into accepted history, and that very careful research is needed to uncover the truth. This is a lesson that I think most of the NKF will have missed but is very relevant to the search for the truth about all historical claims, and no less important in the search for the real Ned Kelly.
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| The Gates at the Frankston Oval |
In addition to the publicly accessible threads they have a Private Members Only thread not accessible to non-members . Security and the identity of members is a preoccupation of the people who run the site, and recently everyone was forced to change their passwords because it was thought that someone leaked another members phone number. Anyone who didn’t change their password was immediately relegated to the status of Contributor rather than Member and would no longer have access to the secret Members Only area.
To me this preoccupation with identity and with secrecy seems quite paranoid. It is clear from the History of the site that members with alternative viewpoints are quickly set upon by the resident Bully and either resign or get expelled. There was a thread devoted to the Kelly Gang Unmasked book when it was first released but contributors who defended the book – as I would have – were expelled, and the thread removed, but there are still traces of what happened to be found at various places. For that sort of reason, and also because of the sort of vile attacks on me and other posters to my forum made online by pro-kelly people in the past, I would never consider joining such a Forum where people who have been proven to be vile internet pests can have free access to my identity and email. In my previous Forum I described the NKF as the North Korea of the Kelly World – and I still see it as an apt description, because it is a place where there is expected to be unquestioning acceptance and devotion to the dear Leader, a readiness to censor, delete and expel dissidence, a deep fear and distrust of “outsiders” and a rigid enforcement of ideology to keep the world of the NKF calm and free of controversy. Its worth a visit, but after a while the endless back slapping and hearty birthday wishes and trivial discussions becomes tedious.
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The individual who has been stalking you, has had over 30 Forumjar forums removed. That is in addition to his removal of several forums of yours, and attempts to censor this one. In the past week, it has been found that he, with the connivanance of Forumjar, has been able selectively remove particular posts he didn't like as well.
What I am getting to is that there is a strong case for letting sleeping dogs lie. It is important that this blog continues because it has broken new ground in many aspects of the Ned Kelly story.
I am not a fan of NKF, but that person who complains endlesly and gets dozens of forums removed is a clear and present danger to free speech. Maybe you should leave your summary of NKF in the bring-ups drawer?
The things I like most about your blog is your eye for the absurd, and sharp incisive wit. Likening the Ned Kelly Forum to NK (North Korea) is brilliant satire. The propaganda poster summed it all up nicely!
Thanks for the support.
The hilarious thing they seem to miss is that having Posts deleted by their underhand tactics proves my point about them – they are unable to defend their Religion except by suppressing and censoring other points of view, and by whatever it takes.
Remarkably, one of them BOASTS about this, and thereby shoots himself in the foot and again, proves my point.
The owner of that website is rather quirky and intolerant. His ideas about 'copywrite' are a bit strange given that the homepage image is of Ned's helmet owned by a prominent Victorian Public Institution. I'm sure he would be fun to have a beer with, althouh you would have to be careful to say nice things about Ned. Every so often, there is some infighting with a member or another website. Horribly fascinating. Extraordinary.
Dazza, you talk about 'copywrite' I think he means copyright.
On NKF – " Hi all Because of certain people copying and pasting posts and information I’ve been given instruction to place a copywrite statement on this forum. If you click on the tab About Ned Kelly Forum you will see the new drop down tab COPYRIGHT giving our rights to stop certain people from posting information that is on this website forum posted by any member or contributor onto other websites. Cheers Trent "
Perhaps copywrite Trent needs better advice as under the Copyright act,
" It is permissable to copy any content and re publish elsewhere for the purposes to research, critisism or review as permitted under the Coyright act "
If you google 'copwrite' it takes you to a twitter ' Murderland' site which seems appropreate to NKF
If the Ned Kelly Forum went along to a good suburban solicitor like George Brandis, they would be told you can't copyright stuff on a public forum that anyone can read.
Good Afternoon. Interesting blog but I don't necessarily agree with your view point. There is some good stuff on Trents site. I am not however a Kelly hagiographer. Ian McFarlanes "The Kelly Gang Unmasked" was a worthy addition to the Kelly Library. Some things needed to be said. To me, all view points are welcome as Ned was a man with many shades of grey. Doug Morriseys thesis also offers some interesting insights. Having said all this, the works of McMenomy, Ian Jones, Fitzsimons, Kenneally, Castles are equally valid. Cheers. Mark.
Thanks Mark. By all means disagree with me! And yes, there IS some good stuff on the NKF site – after all Sharon is still a “Contributor” ( though not a member anymore) – but if you want a place where “all viewpoints are welcome” its here not there.
I must admit Dee, (and maybe I am exposing my stupidity or naivity here) but I only discovered your blog this morning. It's needed though as the other side needs to be examined too for a fair appraisal without rancour, anger. foaming at the mouth or poison spitting. . I would be very keen to hear your thoughts on the Sherritt/Byrne angle in a coming piece. I have kept off Trents site as a poster simply because I'm not "one of the boys" and not into hagiography. And I am an adult. Cheers. MP
I must admit Dee, (and maybe I am exposing my stupidity or naivity here) but I only discovered your blog this morning. It's needed though as the other side needs to be examined too for a fair appraisal without rancour, anger. foaming at the mouth or poison spitting. . I would be very keen to hear your thoughts on the Sherritt/Byrne angle in a coming piece. I have kept off Trents site as a poster simply because I'm not "one of the boys" and not into hagiography. And I am an adult. Cheers. MP