The Tree Murderers

The Herald reported on the Government's desire to make it easier for landowners to cut down trees on their own property. A triumph for the libertarians! "I'm sick of being told what I can and can't do on my own property, now I can cut down all the trees I like!" Although it's not quite that simple, so don't run to the shed for your chainsaw just yet. The Government proposes that people still couldn't take an axe to any trees listed as protected trees in their specific council's district plan.

So Your Views pits the Greenies against the Freedom-loving Chainsaw-Happy Folks with the question: Is it a good move to make it easier to chop down and trim trees?

machan (Onehunga)

Most of these Greenies do not understand the health hazards of two many trees around the houses.It is one of the main cause for cold,damp houses which in turn causes asthma and other upper respiratory infections etc.More over trees around the houses prevent people from getting sun light which is very important for Vit,D metabolism which is important to prevent children from suffering with Rickets and adults from Osteoporosis.

And here was I thinking the world relied on trees to keep us alive? Chainsaw at the ready, the trees are giving us asthma!

Lady Barbie Girl (Epsom)

JK's right-wing National government will be remembered, not only in New Zealand but also world-wide, as "The Tree Murderers". Simply because no other government in the Western world allows such cynical killing of trees.

Perhaps this user was provoked by the Herald's Interesting choice of headline for the related story: 'Law changes could see open season on trees'. It does invoke shooting spree connotations, with "JK" and his big-shot mates decked out in trenchcoats ready for a tree massacre.

Tim C (North Shore)
Why is it that the 'left wing' in this discussion crudely and nievely conclude this tree debate is all about "greedy developers" (when they make up less than 1% of the population)?. You communists show your true colours. You want sameism & differing views to yours just isn't to be tolerated is it!. Big brother nanny state must intervene to control our every move, tell us what we can and can't do, that we can't cut our own tree on our own residential property or the East German neighbours (you) will dob us in!. Its called the tall poppy syndrome. You just cant stand someone being an achiever in any form of commerce ie; property, uncomfortably (for you) more of an achiever than you could ever be!. You need the state to control everyone so that it makes you feel good. You need to complain about the developers, or big business making far far too much money when most know that kind of debate is childish. Grow up! (some of you will achieve that with maturity & some of you will just never get it!).What sad creatures you are!. You would be more at home in the old Soviet Union wouldn't you, plenty of trees there!, but that was a hopelessly failed experiment wasn't it !.

I don't know where to start! What I can say is that I'm very sure Tim C isn't looking for an open and engaged discussion, with the possibility of having his own opinion challenged. The communist theme is incredibly consistent. The "you" being addressed is obviously any Your Views user of '"left-wing" political leanings but Tim C takes it as far as to call such people nanny-state lovin', East German communists who don't want to cut down trees but are the first to hack down tall poppies.

The Return of the Nazis

A group of researchers has proposed a number of changes in the fight against nicotine in New Zealand. These include the creation of a Smokefree Commission that would require retailers to have licenses for the sale of cigarettes and to stop the glossy branding of tobacco and cigarette packets, with health warnings the only stand-out feature on plain packaging. The proposed changes apparently have the support of public health physicians, policy officials across a range of government ministries and journalists alike.

But what do the users of Your Views think about it? Should cigarette packs feature only health warnings on a plain package?

Raymond (Hamilton)

I think the bright sparks that thought this up should go back to their day jobs as Nazi SS officers. Seriously. And no, I don't smoke, and I'm damned if I'll let anyone have the right to prevent me from choosing to.

steve (Tuakau)
Another proof that political-correctness is a dictatorship that has stricken freedom off the dictionary. Next will be alcool, and then they will just have to apply the same rule for not thinking the waythey do. Welcome to the NZ stalag

Raymond (Hamilton)

Wow, the cigarette Nazis are out in force. Why don't you all organise a march up Queen St, or go to a gym and take it out on a punching bag? Smoking a cigarette is Not against the law. So stop behaving like it is. And cigarette smoking will NEVER be outlawed, because the government makes too much tax out of it. And no, I don't smoke, but thank you for asking.

References to the researchers as Nazi secret service officers to New Zealand as a prisoner of war camp! Classic examples of Godwin's Law occurring in the Your Views forum. As the Wikipedia entry states, Godwin's Law, otherwise known as Godwin's Rule of Nazi Analogies, "applies especially to inappropriate, inordinate, or hyperbolic comparisons of other situations (or one's opponent) with Hitler or Nazis or their actions." These responses are worrying not only because the likening of a unrelated situation to Nazism or the Holocaust trivialises the seriousness of these historical examples, but because they are employed by users in an attempt to make their point more convincing rather than providing a detailed argument. However, the inclusion of such comparisons in one's argument also works to generate reaction from other users, as a kind of hot-button language that will inevitably split discussion between those who approve of the use of such analogies and those who don't.

Jessica P (Kohimarama)
Let's stop pretending this is a victimless habit and that an objector must be a "nazi". There's no plus side to smoking.

Freedom (Eden Terrace)
The parallels between the Nazis' progressively escalating persecution of Jews and the Authorities progressively escalating persecution of smokers is scary.