Hi everyone, im studying A2 media studies at the moment and am using David Cameron and WebCameron as a case study for my critical research topic, which comes under the title 'Politics in the Media'.
If you could leave your opinions then it would be very helpful. Thank you very much.
David Cameron is a pioneer in many ways. Webcameron has gone through many changes but it remains unique and generally lots of fun. It has been an interesting year!
Personally, I have learned so much about politics just through participating in this forum and watching/listening to DC's contributions. The ongoing discussions/debates have helped me to think through many ideas - and helped me to form opinions...
Owen, as we're told the youf of today are so computer-savvy, the idea of letting anyone (even schoolkids) sound off on the Internet about a variety of issues ought to help encourage them to participate in politics. As you can see, you can introduce topics of your own and invite everyone to thrash them out. And there's always a chance that David Cameron or his minions are reading what you say.
Not bad, eh? It's the closest you'll ever get to grabbing the ear of a party leader. And you don't even need to agree with him.
The great thing about webcameron is that it isn't just Conservative supporters who come here. We see basically every shade of political opinion and everyone argues openly about issues of the day. Another good thing about webcameron is that David posts regular videos in his diary section telling us what he is upto and his personal thoughts on what is going on. David Cameron is making a real attempt to engage with voters through webcameron and as you can see there are people who visit this website every single day, which I think shows that webcameron was worth the effort and is a good idea. Although I'm not sure David will have the time to be so interactive once he becomes prime minister, after all that is quite a time-consuming job!
Hi Owen, I would echo what Tony says.
You could also mention that Webcameron was a real novelty when it first began just over a year ago when I joined, and still is.
No senior politician had ever been so interactive before.
Apropos your research, one of the main issues to address is why this particular site has attracted the diversity of people and opinions.
To understand the answer you will need to compare it with other sites viz interactivity, censorship and toeing the line, and dare I say, the core members who keep it alive.
I'm not convinced this, or other mainstream political sites, were aimed at winning the youth vote, rather than taking advantage of the individual MP's grant of £10K, courtesy of the taxpayer. That said, the grant was to help engage the internet community, largely made up of young people.
Anything more will be £10 per 500 words towards the Poppy Appeal 07.
Votedave, David Cameron is showing that he is the most up-to-speed politician that we have ever had. Politics has always been a slow science but David has changed all that. Take for example the policy groups and 'Stand up, Speak up' I was watching the videos on Stand up Speak up showing those young women discussing policy while traveling in a car and it struck me how original the approach was. Completely contemporary.
Canvas, one was keeping focused on the task of driving while the others were getting stuck into Tory policy. I liked that clip because its encouraging to see young people interested in politics.
Except for moderation, sometimes a bit heavy handed in my IMO, I have, of late, seen little interaction of any politician on this site.
I suppose we are being read and I hope someone passes the general mood and some of the points and suggestions onward and upward and I hope in a form not resembling the info that got to TB. (He never got to read any contrary opinions at all)
Before Webcameron, David Millband had a blog when he was environment minister in the labour party.
Also Anne Widdicombe created a website which she called the WiddyWeb, which amongst other things explained politics to children.
Thanks chulcoop. I'm aware Webcameron wasn't the first political forum on the Web - but as far as I know DC the first Leader of the Opposition to open one.
I have a lot of sympathy with canvas' last post - we ought to see more from David Cameron on this forum, and from the Shadow Cabinet as well. At least there's been more in the way of videos on the home page.
On the other hand, I wonder if any of us would find the time if we were in shoes (coming home at 10/11pm most nights)?
I've been reading this Webcameron for a while now and thought i'd join. I really cannot see any attraction to interest the young people to join, as basically I think it's over political and would bore the pants off most teenagers. That's just my opinion though, as I personally find it quite an unwelcoming site to any age. I joined to learn about politics and decide who I would vote for, but surprisingly this site has put me off voting for David Cameron. I'm even nervous about this post in case I get jumped on for my views, but I thought i'd say why I didn't continue posting, as others my feel the same as me.
Blue, that was thoughtful stuff. We've all been "jumped on" for our views, but who cares? Politics is a thick-skinned business and you can't afford to be too sensitive when in discussion/argument - as you'll know if you've ever been out canvassing during an election. So don't let anyone around here put you off, we'ree all pussycats really.
I'm interested to know what exactly puts you off DC on this site.
Maybe not everyone wants to be jumped on. Maybe I don't know bugger all about politics and just want to ask questions. Many people who vote don't really get all this house of commons stuff, they just want to know who is going to look after them if they vote for them.
To answer your question above, if David Cameron cannot even sort out his own forums and make them open to all, to the none politically minded too, then is he really interested in my vote?
Moody - why do you think this forum is 'closed'?
There all types on here, discussing things from gardening to TV to politics to current events etc.
It would be great if you joined in!
Many people who vote don't really get all this house of commons stuff, they just want to know who is going to look after them if they vote for them.
Good point, and I wish politicians were a lot more straightforward and straight-talking.
I'm reminded of a Liberal MP some years ago named David Penhaligon, represented Truro. He had a priceless skill - he was able to reduce complicated political issues to simple terms, sprinkle with a large dollop of humour and deliver in his marvellous Cornish accent. Perhaps his training as an engineer helped him get to the nub of things and explain how it worked.
He would sometimes drop into the common room at Exeter University on his way past and hold a lunchtime student audience spellbound and splitting their sides.
David was tragically killed in a car accident. Had he lived I'm pretty sure he would have succeeded Paddy Ashdown as leader and Liberal/LibDem fortunes would have been very different. We desperately need more like him.
I am not convinced this web site - or any other - will do much to win "de youf vote".
I am fifty, but I have two daughters, one aged 22 the other will be 17 in three weeks time. My 22 year old has been ignored by all politicians of all hues for two general elections. Because I live in a constituency - Newport East - where the labour majority is so large a woman parachuted in by Central Office who no-one has ever heard of would walk it - and did - no politicians give a toss about us. My elder daughter sees no point in voting because "it makes no difference that woman will get back in anyway" (her words not mine) and "no one bothers coming here to ask me what I think like 'that bloke' (again her words not mine) and she's talking about a certain chap leading the tory party at the moment being pictured on TV in yet another tour of the same marginal seat he did last week.
While politicians of all hues do nothing to make themselves visible at any level to the electorate of any age around here, and while our voting system continues to elect a governemnt from perhaps 3% of the electorate do you REALLY think a site like this will do ANYTHING ?
As you might have guessed this reply to your question is about as loaded as your question was in the first place. But hey when I was 17 I lived in the Cardiff North constituency and I got an invite to get on a coach during the summer recess and go up to Westminster at the invitation of our MP. I got the "VIP" tour of the place, stood in the chamber (yes, that's right, I stood three foot from the green leather seats) and I also walked on the terrace from where the stench of the river had caused gladstone and disraeli to have words over the despatch box.
And I got back on that coach feeling that when I got the vote in three months time it MUST mean something because if it didn't, that chap wouldn't have gone to all the trouble of fetching me up here to see the place and what it does.
How does this website provide a replacement for THAT ?
As a kid I had a private tour of Parliament, when everyone had gone home. I remember sitting on the Woolsack and the Speaker's Chair, not something I suppose would be allowed today! But it did get me interested in politics at an early age.
Well, first of all, good luck to Owen17 on your media studies course. Your choice of critical research topic is an inspired one!
It’s great of course if a lot of young people get involved on here, but I don’t really see Webcameron as just a “youth” thing. People of all ages want to be given a greater say on the things that affect them, and that includes having as many ways as possible to put their opinions directly to elected representatives.
It’s also really encouraging seeing posts from people saying that discussing issues on Webcameron has helped them to see things from a different perspective – and to develop their own opinions in the process.
The internet offers real opportunity for politicians and members of the public to communicate more effectively. To be honest we’re probably just scratching at the surface of what can really be achieved.
Hi David If we have your ear again (for which I am grateful knowing the pressures of the job) may I suggest you lighten the load a bit by asking/inviting some of your shadows to contribute here as well.
We were delighted when David Willets posted and would love to have more from others.
This is a lively forum some of the time but does need the spice to keep it going.
More than 34,000 people have now read the discussion I started about cannabis here, but we haven't seen any response at all from Mr Duncan Smith, and in his response Mr Cameron avoided addressing the substantial points I and others made. That is symptomatic of the problem with this site. It pretends to be open, but really it's one way traffic, a propaganda outlet rather than a dialogue.
Mr Cameron is pretty ignorant on this subject, he thinks for example that you can tell how strong cannabis is by smelling it. And Mr Duncan Smith has fallen so heavily for a silly urban myth about "superskunk" that he seems to have made this nonsense an element of Conservative policy.
My hope is that some of those 34,000 readers will have seen how shoddy and misguided Conservative thinking is in this area.
I'd still like to see Mr Duncan Smith come here to debate the issue, but I suppose he doesn't have the courage.
Not misguided at all Bernie; while doing my own internet research on David, I came across his snippet on cannabis which I present here OK along with a few other gems courtesy of the Guardian. I have dated each piece in a rough time-line to give perspective and I hope some insight.
Enjoy!
'Robert Mugabe is a monster' - Sept 5th 2001
'We must take out Osama bin Laden and his networks together with all those who stand in our way, including the Taliban. Nov 9th 2001 Parliament
'At reception there was a queue of smartly dressed young men owning up to the security guard that they had "forgotten their pin numbers" and couldn't get into the building. Great, I thought. Here are our brightest and best, engaged in a deadly struggle with the enemy and they can't even get to their offices'. - MI5 briefing Nov 9th 2001
'But I can't help feeling that the sun seems to have set on the House of Commons altogether. - Nov 22nd in relation to the anti-terrorist bill'.
'Is it extraordinary? Perhaps not. He is taking one risk: that the war when it comes will be short. And he has on his side one certainty: Iraqis can't vote'. Feb 4th 2003 On Blair on the Iraq war.
'The second reason we have been given is that Saddam has weapons of mass destruction, such as chemical warheads, and a growing arsenal of missiles with which to deliver them. We believe this and understand that dealing with Iraq must be at the top of the international agenda'. Feb 18th 2003
..'She has gone from being a politician who everyone thought had principles to one who everyone knows has none'. April 1st 2003 On Clare Short.
..'can inspire with his rhetoric and passion, but the content is utterly one-sided and predictable. Watch out for the first defection of the war - from Labour to Ba'ath, renaming his seat Baghdad, South'. April 1st 2003 On George Galloway.
'It is now clear that the Conservatives will go into the next election promising to scrap both the existing tuition fees and the government's planned top-up fees. This is a meaningful commitment to parents with children of school leaving age across the country'. 15th May 2003
'Given everything that's happened, maybe my colleagues were smoking it rather than talking about it. Whatever. Let's hope they don't stop'. Nov 3rd 2003 On cannabis
