tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9095270985170721876.post1377216688451003250..comments2024-03-24T23:22:43.753+00:00Comments on Tony's Musings: The Mutation of Time: How A Story Changed in the TellingTonyTheProfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10486414706261508994noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9095270985170721876.post-63615495152263463322013-12-08T22:58:53.190+00:002013-12-08T22:58:53.190+00:00Yes, as I say, I contacted Waterstones directly re...Yes, as I say, I contacted Waterstones directly regarding information about the ban, both by email and by phone.<br /><br />What's more, I was also able to check the Waterstone's position by a friend at Waterstones.TonyTheProfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10486414706261508994noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9095270985170721876.post-75828954785592687012013-12-08T22:47:53.389+00:002013-12-08T22:47:53.389+00:00Hi Tony --
In addition to being a journalist, I a...Hi Tony --<br /><br />In addition to being a journalist, I am an author at HarperCollins -- the publisher in question. <br /><br />HarperCollins at present states it cannot in any way confirm Lucy Stephenson's reporting at the JEP. In fact, they have distanced themselves entirely from it. I have spoken to Lucy as well. You do not say where you get your information -- other than from Lucy. Do you have any other sources? (This I would be interested in hearing.) <br /><br />I did my work at the time of the ban, not after the fact, as was the case with the JEP. If one is unable to confirm on the ground what is happening at the time, as I did -- not gleaning, you understand or 'mutating' over time, but real reporting AT the time -- you cannot hope to patch the details together afterward. What I see happening now by others is 'mutating' over time. I do my research live, when others are asleep at the switch. Case in point: the JEP, straggling in with one source, years later.<br /><br />As for my information on book bans in Jersey, yes, Waterstone's confirmed that all sales of the book were blocked in Jersey in the summer of 2010. I did not glean it was a "ban," that was Waterstone's word. Note the year -- 2010 -- rather later than the research you and Lucy cite, which I suspect is probably the same "research." <br />Other books have received the same treatment, but "Nobody Came" interests me most for obvious reasons. I also was the first to report that the Jersey libraries managed to get copies of the book. If my research is so poor, funny how people keep citing it when it suits their purposes, no?<br /><br />(As a minor point, incredible people run the Jersey library system; people who have done their level best to collect info as it arises with the expectation that it will soon disappear if they don't. They are the true keepers of information on behalf of the people of Jersey.)<br /><br />As I have said, I confirmed personally with the Jersey bookshops (all of the shops in St. Helier) in 2010 that none of them were allowed to sell the book -- and not because it was their choice. And not because it was HarperCollins's choice, either. (As it happens, HarperCollins is not in the business of trying not to sell books; funny that.)<br /><br />The reason you were able to buy the book on Amazon (which should have tipped you off to the fact the problem was on-island, not off) is that Amazon is not on-island. And, therefore, not beholden to the island's rules, as are its bookstores.<br /><br />Please consider the facts as you urge others to do so. You do damage by only muddying the waters. <br /><br />Not that I need to mention it, but you should know better than to rely on the JEP for your facts. One day, the JEP will be an independent voice speaking on behalf of the people of Jersey. But it is not there yet.<br /><br />As for Mr. Garner's accounts of suicide and what he considered to be murder, you only have to read the book. The child he believed was likely killed before his eyes was scalded to death. Not my contention -- his. Also, have you spoken to Mr. Garner? I would suggest you reach out to him.<br /><br />I do enjoy reading your blog and you do offer good insight. But I would like to see you be as critical as you say, Tony.<br /><br /><br />LMGLeah McGrath Goodmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01176564019295643515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9095270985170721876.post-55962148401033845102013-12-08T22:46:06.221+00:002013-12-08T22:46:06.221+00:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Leah McGrath Goodmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01176564019295643515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9095270985170721876.post-16456894474654252402013-02-12T20:36:51.060+00:002013-02-12T20:36:51.060+00:00Let's be clear that I'm not saying Leah Mc...Let's be clear that I'm not saying Leah McGrath Goodman is wholly wrong; there is a kernel of truth, but like Chinese whispers, it has changed in the telling.<br /><br />As someone who looks at ancient sources, and how they change and are retold, I'm just applying the same kind of historical methods here. <br /><br />This is not a "let's rubbish" Ms Goodman; and it is certainly not uncritical of some of the Island authorities with regard to Haut de La Garenne (or for that matter the suspension of Graham Power). <br /><br />TonyTheProfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10486414706261508994noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9095270985170721876.post-47955527845458120602013-02-12T20:00:43.993+00:002013-02-12T20:00:43.993+00:00I see your very informed article hasn't been w...I see your very informed article hasn't been well received by other blogs. You really must get back in line and stop printing tithe truth about Leah McGrath Goodman. You will be next on there target list if you don'tAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9095270985170721876.post-13633916671935280422013-02-12T11:54:58.316+00:002013-02-12T11:54:58.316+00:00I share the opinion that this is quite an importan...I share the opinion that this is quite an important and informative piece of work.<br />I'm someone who went along with this banned books 'conspiracy' and I will admit from what I have read on this post, I'm inclined to suspect that on this occasion, it is likely I was wrong to support it. <br /><br />That said, I have to also agree with the first comment that partial blame should be aportioned to the Jersey government and the legal department in particular, due to their endless evasiveness and lack of transparency. These are key factors for moving Jersey forward undivided, and this must not be over-looked. <br /><br />Tony, if you ever produce research that disproves a cover-up by the authorities, like you have with 'banned books'- and the evidence is is there and is convincing, I won't be too proud to admit it if I get that one wrong too. <br />Somehow, I don’t think you'll be able to because I don't think the evidence is there. Lets face it, the Establishment has never put forward any counter arguments to disprove the theories of the excellent local bloggers. <br />On a slightly different note, should you with your objective, middle ground approach- ever provide convincing research which points the finger at the Jersey authorities (like the bloggers do), do you think their supporters, will follow my example and say "I got it wrong" - I doubt it somehow and yet it is exactly that 'meeting in the middle' that is so deperately needed to stop the island becoming even more divided on this issue. One gets a clear impression that the authorities have more interest in Jersey's international image than the well being of the local population. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9095270985170721876.post-85636848429476286122013-02-12T09:09:02.407+00:002013-02-12T09:09:02.407+00:00I share the opinion that this is quite an importan...I share the opinion that this is quite an important and informative piece of work.<br />I'm someone who went along with this banned books 'conspiracy' and I will admit from what I have read on this post, I'm inclined to suspect that on this occasion, it is likely I was wrong to support it. <br /><br />That said, I have to also agree with the first comment that partial blame should be aportioned to the Jersey government and the legal department in particular, due to their endless evasiveness and lack of transparency. These are key factors that must not be over-looked. The handling of the 'historic' child abuse has been poor from day 1.<br /><br />If you can produce convincing research that disproves a cover up by the authorities , I will admit that I got that wrong too. Somehow, I don’t think you'll be able to as the Establishment have never put forward any counter arguments to disprove the theories of the excellent local bloggers. And if you did provide convincing research which points the finger at the authorities, do you think they, like me will say "I got it wrong" - I doubt it. <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9095270985170721876.post-10580306097564907032013-02-11T21:10:42.549+00:002013-02-11T21:10:42.549+00:00Excellent, well researched piece. Silenced a lot ...Excellent, well researched piece. Silenced a lot of people!<br />-BoffologyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9095270985170721876.post-51312188147578788002013-02-11T19:05:24.853+00:002013-02-11T19:05:24.853+00:00I too am extremely impressed by your research. I&#...I too am extremely impressed by your research. I'm going to write a more detailed comment later- Well done.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9095270985170721876.post-18629133962859786172013-02-11T07:35:16.035+00:002013-02-11T07:35:16.035+00:00This is quite an important and informative piece o...This is quite an important and informative piece of work Tony.<br /><br />It seems to me that, because our Ministers and Law Officers are so habitually evasive in answering legitimate questions, it is all too easy to believe that there's a conspiracy in just about everything that anyone does.<br /><br />Disinformation is damaging to everyone. The sooner our government and justice system realise that more transparency is essential the better. Always assuming, of course, that they have nothing to hide!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com