What do media personalities Bob Hughes, John Gormley, Krista Erickson, Lloyd Robertson, Kevin Newman, Peter Mansbridge, Rex Murphy and Conrad Black have in common? Their names are associated with groups on the immensely popular social networking site, Facebook.
Most of us join Facebook so we can stay in touch with family and friends, a pastime over which we control. However, that is not the case with Facebook groups whose dedicated purpose is the adulation or enmity of individuals. Anyone can create a group.
One such example is ‘Bob Hughes….it’s time to go’ whose stated goal is a quick retirement of the Regina Leader-Post columnist.
The group’s preamble does not mince words: ”His column is often used as a personal soapbox for relentless rants on daylight savings time, petty vendettas against workers, and updates on his conspiracy theories to turn Wascana Park into a personal toilet for geese.”
On the other hand, News Talk host John Gormley has his own Facebook fan club where you can read such profundities as “I saw John in Walmart.” He also has his detractors. One group sarcastically calls itself “John Gormley is unbiased and open-minded.” Read further and its mission statement reveals, “a group for people who appreciate our minds being numbed by the ramblings of this combative neo-conservative son of a bitch.”
There are Facebook cliques committed to harmless fun such as ‘Rex Murphy – Sam the Eagle.’ The creator observes, “anyone ever notice how much CBC’s Rex Murphy looks like Sam the Eagle from the Muppets. I think there’s a connection.”
Some are more serious minded such as the supporters of CBC reporter Krista Erickson who believe she was wronged by CBC after being suspended for feeding questions to a Liberal MP at the Schreiber/Mulroney committee hearings. The Erickson foes have gathered in a smaller circle ‘Fire Krista Erickson Entirely!’ (Note: Do these big brains think you can fire someone ‘partly?’)
There is however, one Canadian personality who looms much larger than most on Facebook. More than 20 groups are focused on Conrad Black, clucking away at his Lordness and indiscretions.
2 responses so far ↓
John Davies // February 18, 2008 at 9:13 am |
Poor Ol’ Boob Hughes. I attended a private brunch last Sunday at which not one, nor two, but three English/Journalism teachers admitted to using Hughes’ columns as teaching examples of how not to write. The man has his uses.
Will Chabun // February 21, 2008 at 4:31 pm |
A recent letter to the editor from a distinguished U of R English professor yielded three grammatical clangers that had to be corrected. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.