Now this isn't right

[davieG]

Tell us, seriously, do journos go through some sort of initiation ceremony (similar to the masons) where they swear an oath to defend and protect each other no matter what?

Type "daily mail pays libel damages" into Google and you'll find any number of examples where that publication has recklessly run stories without even making the slightest effort to establish they contained even the remotest shred of truth.

While all tabloids and indeed broadsheets and TV channels have also been guilty of this practice, as we've seen in the Madeleine McCann saga, with the Mail it's so frequent it's virtually impossible to conclude that it's not deliberate and systematic.

Sadly, even in the 21st century, there are sufficient numbers of people whose minds are so twisted by bigotry and hate that they are prepared to swallow any number of lies that the rag will feed them.

The same ceremony that MPs of political parties go through!

[Thracian]

While all tabloids and indeed broadsheets and TV channels have also been guilty of this practice, as we've seen in the Madeleine McCann saga, with the Mail it's so frequent it's virtually impossible to conclude that it's not deliberate and systematic.

You've really conceded my point with this comment.

As for frequency, search the net with the words "libel actions against the (traditionally Labour supporting) Daily Mirror", for instance, and you can read for hours as I'm quite sure would be the case if you typed any other newspaper's name.

No newspaper deliberately gets whacked with the cost of a libel action especially these days when for many, it is hard enough to stay in business as it is, so to suggest they do is laughable.

As for me carrying some sort of flag for the media it's simply not the case. In fact I've probably been more critical than supportive overall.

I also vary the newspaper I read on any particular day and sometimes buy several on the same day because it is quite fascinating to see how different papers, with their individual standpoints, treat the same information.

But before you complain about the "hatred" you perceive in others perhaps you need to examine your own dogmatic standpoint and the Labour Party's concept of free speech and fairness given that racists lose their jobs if they are members of the BNP but there is no such threat to the demonstably anti-white racists of the Labour Party.

As everyone knows you only stand for one concept, socialism as practised by your beloved Labour Party and that despite the long term and quite possibly irrepairable damage your party has finally done to this country, even to the point where we are now officially close to bankruptcy according to at least one leading banker.

Unlike you I don't vote for anyone because, while I might well agree with some socialist ideas, I might not agree with others and might much prefer the Conservative, Liberal or even BNP stance.

Similarly I might detest some parts of the BNP doctrine and much prefer the stance of someone else. It is called keeping an open mind which is something I doubt will ever be your strong card despite your many commendable qualities.

Honesty, transparency, a sense of fairness and a lack of hypocrisy are the minimum requirements I expect of anyone I'll choose to support.

Which probably explains why I haven't voted for so long. Because all those things seem in short supply nowadays. Especially among our government leaders.