tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6518202135348193859.post2834332857464417551..comments2024-01-25T09:28:56.610+00:00Comments on Confessions of a skeptic: Why do I keep on at this?Jonathan Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00527063732905729010noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6518202135348193859.post-48674248952355800172011-01-13T20:25:06.058+00:002011-01-13T20:25:06.058+00:00We note, Mr West, that moderation has passed over ...We note, Mr West, that moderation has passed over into personal and self-serving censorship!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6518202135348193859.post-64682664689562351532011-01-13T16:56:16.252+00:002011-01-13T16:56:16.252+00:00It makes me very upset that some people out there ...It makes me very upset that some people out there look to belittle what is a very real problem at the school.<br />The fact that it has gone on for decades makes me think that there is a lot to hide, and equally a lot to protect.<br />Navel gazing? More like kiddie fiddling. For decades. Widely known internally. And yes, I mean that.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6518202135348193859.post-3197866121243591002011-01-08T02:56:30.535+00:002011-01-08T02:56:30.535+00:00Ah, once more the bullies raise their collective h...Ah, once more the bullies raise their collective heads, or is it only one? If I was a supicious person I might ask myself just why are they so eager to stop this discussion? What do they have to hide? What are they frightened of being discovered? Because here's the thing, it's only silence and secrecy that protected these bastards for so long. Why are you trying to help them?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6518202135348193859.post-53863333769595393562011-01-04T10:16:12.132+00:002011-01-04T10:16:12.132+00:00R.I.P. Mr WESTR.I.P. Mr WESTAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6518202135348193859.post-59778764017758468072011-01-02T21:01:58.483+00:002011-01-02T21:01:58.483+00:00hindsight is a wonderful thing and memories play t...hindsight is a wonderful thing and memories play tricks with reality. horrible things happen all the time and a few people really do suffer but we seem to be in an age of hand wringing and navel gazing and assuming everyone was and is a victim. there are few people who have not had horrible things happen in their childhood but most people manage to cope, grow up and get on with their lives.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6518202135348193859.post-35925824869656342342010-12-31T12:38:49.504+00:002010-12-31T12:38:49.504+00:00..
MR WEST'S RHETORICAL QUESTION
The reason .....<br />MR WEST'S RHETORICAL QUESTION<br /> <br />The reason you do this and go on doing this Mr West is quite simple: you cannot help yourself. You're clearly a man obsessed. Others will have to decide just how ‘magnificent’ your obsession is, but generally speaking the condition is neither healthy nor admirable. Anyone obsessed is driven by an inner compulsion which, whether rooted in psychological or social factors, is beyond their control. In reality, Mr West, you are merely acting out an agenda for which you are only marginally responsible. I suspect, even now, you’re busy mulling over how you can spin this obsession out into another month and another year. Such activity, in my opinion, is more deserving of pity than admiration.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6518202135348193859.post-88714229173650641392010-12-30T23:00:36.283+00:002010-12-30T23:00:36.283+00:0013:05 is right. The readership of this blog is not...13:05 is right. The readership of this blog is not only wide but reaches high levels in government and the DfE as well as Ealing Children's Services, Ofsted and ISI. The press doubtless keep an eye too. Schools where there are current or historic safeguarding issues all have cause to worry. St Benedict's today. Who knows where tomorrow. This can only be good in the long term because it means the cancer will be cut out once and for all. Keep on pushing Mr West, you have brought a lot of sordid and corrupt behaviour out into the open, and if one child somewhere is spared abuse or one damaged adult achieves closure, then this blog has been worthwhile. It seems like there is now finally a real will at Benedict's to get things right on the safeguarding front. This is positive.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6518202135348193859.post-75336125797112506352010-12-30T18:10:20.534+00:002010-12-30T18:10:20.534+00:00Why so modest in your assessment 13:05? Mr West su...Why so modest in your assessment 13:05? Mr West surely has the entire nation in thrall.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6518202135348193859.post-67752490200552414942010-12-30T13:05:30.412+00:002010-12-30T13:05:30.412+00:00Just a note to thank you for running this blog and...Just a note to thank you for running this blog and an encouragement to continue. I was there when all of this was going on but unaware of it and thank goodness never approached by anyone. Maestri was a favourite teacher so that came as a real shock. Pearce was always smug and creepy and even as a kid I couldn't stand him. Chillman and Soper both pretty useless although again no hint of anything that I picked up on (I am not defending anyone here). <br /><br />So keep up the good work, I suspect you have a readership that is 100 times the number of posts you actually receive.Student 71-82noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6518202135348193859.post-24643482871984490742010-12-30T08:43:00.360+00:002010-12-30T08:43:00.360+00:00In response to 23rd Dec/00.20, you are not alone. ...In response to 23rd Dec/00.20, you are not alone. Unfortunately, when there are so many abuse victims that have come forward over the decades, passions can rightly boil over and people get angry.<br />I have experience as a pupil of the school and I recollect the bullying, in addition to friends of mine who were fiddled with.<br />The only solution available, that could offer any slight justice, would be to protect future pupils. To get that the abuse victims need to come forward with their statements to highlight the shortcomings and force in procedures that will protect future generations.<br />Otherwise this will go on and on, and like you say get swept under the carpet...<br />Your contribution is valuable.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6518202135348193859.post-35903124060251025202010-12-29T23:38:21.955+00:002010-12-29T23:38:21.955+00:005:31 makes some interesting points. These are all ...5:31 makes some interesting points. These are all issues of leadership. There appears to have been a lack of real leadership for decades and it is not surprising that the yes-men have made progress in their careers over the competent and professional. Got things to cover up? Solution: promote the weak and compliant who would never gets jobs elsewhere. They'll be so grateful they'll never blow the whistle. Come to think of it they're probably too thick to notice what's happening or too busy looking the other way.<br /> Good leaders empower, bad leaders dominate. Good leaders listen to everyone, bad leaders listen only to those who tell them what they want to hear. Good leaders put the institution first, bad leaders put themselves first. Good leaders humbly accept responsibility when things go wrong, bad leaders seek to blame others. Good leaders inspire, bad leaders conspire. And here we are!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6518202135348193859.post-79988638577981614302010-12-29T12:02:23.936+00:002010-12-29T12:02:23.936+00:00--- --- --- --- --- ---
‘Doing this’ ad...--- --- --- --- --- ---<br /><br />‘Doing this’ ad nauseam.<br /><br />BBC 4 ran a series of reflections over Christmas on ‘news and news reporting’ in which blogging and bloggers were generally dismissed as fanatical, obsessive anoraks, seriously lacking in balance and intellectual capacity.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6518202135348193859.post-36415564760919342272010-12-23T09:38:23.476+00:002010-12-23T09:38:23.476+00:00No need to refer to particular cases or be bothere...No need to refer to particular cases or be bothered about particulars at all 05:31 - that's that sort of freaky stuff only nasty people bother about.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6518202135348193859.post-82749564972907614442010-12-23T09:08:22.900+00:002010-12-23T09:08:22.900+00:00How refreshing to read the rant-free and beautiful...How refreshing to read the rant-free and beautifully reasoned contribution @00.20 - a splendid example of what this blog should be and can be at its best.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6518202135348193859.post-55318277278562570812010-12-23T05:31:39.575+00:002010-12-23T05:31:39.575+00:00Hear hear. Well done. You are exactly right. And t...Hear hear. Well done. You are exactly right. And this investigation by Carlisle and this evidence from past pupils is shedding light on the torment of the past but the present is here now and the abuse is still rife. The place has no soul. There are teachers who are being bullied, it's not just kids. If you were a pupil who was abused, you might not expect that. But they employ phonies and they force excellent teachers who could save the place to quit. It is beyond the pale, and I can't refer go any particular case, but it is happening now. They employ staff without following proper selection processes and then, they get rid of excellent teachers. There is no equal opportunities. If stAff Re treSted with disdain, they will take it out on the kids.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6518202135348193859.post-39033083003719309712010-12-23T01:32:11.775+00:002010-12-23T01:32:11.775+00:00When will the Carlile enquiry be published?When will the Carlile enquiry be published?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6518202135348193859.post-54316927526578814562010-12-23T00:20:14.054+00:002010-12-23T00:20:14.054+00:00Although I've posted on this blog before it...Although I've posted on this blog before it's been some time since I last did and I havn't been following it particuarly either. That said I am being asked to give a statement re an experiance I had when I was at the school in the late 70s. I am very unsure about doing that so decided to return to this blog to see if I could clarify my thoughts on it. Instead of finding a thoughtful conversation and exchange of views what I found is something that has become a hostile stream of what are best described as rants, some of which have shockingly reminded me of exactly what a misery it was to be in that school as a child. The bullying atmosphere was ever presant and the culture of brow-beating with insults well established. Those posting them here that claim to have been students during that time all I can say is you learnt your lessons well and I'm sure you left the school and went on to bully your way through life. Good for you. Of course I say that soley based on your comments here. Could be that having read this blog you've only temporarily reverted back to the bullying ways, though I doubt it. The 'we all had it bad so just live with it' school of thought is to my way of thinking the epitome of everything that was wrong with that Hell Hole they called a school back then. It was an is a license, nay, an excuse for the wrong doings to me and others ignored, swept under the carpet. To shut people up that would dare to complain. That school was a fucking discrace and was made so and allowed to exist as such for so long because to come forward, to speak, to complain was not just frowned upon but invited brutal reprisals. Anyone who wasn't there has no idea of just what a savage enviroment it was and what hatred and bile those of us that were forced to suffer through it carry. I do not doubt that these appologists will continue to try and bully and insult others into shutting up and 'toeing the line' but you know what? We are no longer frightened of you. We will speak up. We will shed light into that vile pit and show it for all the world to see and damn you for trying to stop us.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6518202135348193859.post-77623230926603849922010-12-17T14:46:21.932+00:002010-12-17T14:46:21.932+00:00Absolutely and I (the poster of the BBC News piece...Absolutely and I (the poster of the BBC News piece) agree with your sentiments. The film clip was most intertesting for what the cross party politicians said. We need more people in power to make similar clear statements of intent.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6518202135348193859.post-20830897843837857732010-12-17T13:55:33.989+00:002010-12-17T13:55:33.989+00:00It is good that the Northern Ireland inquiry will ...It is good that the Northern Ireland inquiry will include state run homes, not just catholic homes. In the Irish republic, people who were abused in Church of Ireland homes have no recognition and no compensation scheme. They are campaigning for the same treatment as those who were abused in catholic homes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6518202135348193859.post-66409114056733348232010-12-17T08:46:20.705+00:002010-12-17T08:46:20.705+00:00Plus ça change.Plus ça change.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6518202135348193859.post-29358082024182206982010-12-16T22:51:09.365+00:002010-12-16T22:51:09.365+00:00.
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Child abuse enquiry announced in Northern Irel....<br />.<br /><b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-12013695" rel="nofollow">Child abuse enquiry announced in Northern Ireland.</a></b> <br /><br /><i>Last year, Stormont assembly members backed the holding of an inquiry into the extent of child abuse in Catholic church and state-run institutions in Northern Ireland.</i>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6518202135348193859.post-80417901652608296062010-12-16T18:51:34.069+00:002010-12-16T18:51:34.069+00:00Looking down this thread and seeing 14:44's co...Looking down this thread and seeing 14:44's comments I'm left feeling that the blog has perhaps no more than two or three regular contributors. If they stayed away Mr West'd be left either high and dry or in spectacular isolation. However, the trio would not be missed as the only line worth following comes from Mr West himself. Not that that's saying very much, of course.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6518202135348193859.post-8161947791375999402010-12-16T15:40:12.527+00:002010-12-16T15:40:12.527+00:00No 11.53 - it is getting to the bottom of the deca...No 11.53 - it is getting to the bottom of the decades of systemic and systematic child abuse, its concealment, and the desire to have it finally stop, that keeps this blog going.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6518202135348193859.post-22131952530057681652010-12-16T14:44:12.102+00:002010-12-16T14:44:12.102+00:00Two postings from the same poster 11.39/53 - the a...Two postings from the same poster 11.39/53 - the answer to your whining is to go away and stay away. You clearly don't like this site or the people here because they are critical of the institutions in which you see little wrong. <br /><br />So stay happy and keep away, and let us chunter on without your offbeat and largely subject ignorant contributions.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6518202135348193859.post-49577890501121310162010-12-16T11:53:15.136+00:002010-12-16T11:53:15.136+00:00Re: 22:10/01:22 - Of course you do Jonathan. As we...Re: 22:10/01:22 - Of course you do Jonathan. As we’ve come to appreciate, no one can get an innuendo, an insinuation, an oblique reference or even the tiniest morel of gossip past you. It’s what keeps this blog going.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com