23 July 2007

Media statement: For immediate release

Uthink.Co.NZ Aims To Revolutionise The ‘Soapbox’

uthink.co.nz is a website on a mission to revolutionise the way New Zealanders communicate with each other.

uthink.co.nz spokesman Kirk MacGibbon said that the website was created to give kiwis a place to engage in debate and discussion without someone in a position of ‘authority’ dictating to them how they should write or speak.

“In fact a key driver behind the development of the site was an experience suffered by a business partner of uthink.co.nz’s founder, Nelson businessman Dan Slattery.

“This person had received some shabby treatment from a company and wanted to let others know about it by writing a letter to his local paper. His letter was rejected for being too long, then they wanted parts changed. The process was extremely frustrating and highlighted the difficulties in using mainstream media to communicate with others,” said Kirk MacGibbon.

“uthink is independently owned. It has no political or religious affiliations. Its aim is to become the pre-eminent site for the exchange of views and opinions in New Zealand. Along the way we hope to reduce the ability of others to dictate agendas.”

“Most people would agree that the media sets the agenda for discussion in this country. It is the media who decide what is news and how we should think that ‘news’. Then that

“And on the other side of equation we have a rabid political correctness brigade who will close down any debate that’s not to their liking simply by labelling opposing views sexist, racist, fascist or any other ‘-ist’.

uthink.co.nz users register and then they’re free to post ideas, criticisms, thoughts, take part in ‘channel’ discussions around specific subjects – for example, surfing, posting recipes, gardening and chess – or simply start their own discussion.

To encourage people to share their views, uthink will pay $50 for popular posts. There is $1000 being given away each week, for the next ten weeks.

The launch of uthink.co.nz includes full page advertising in the NZ Herald, Dominion Post and the Press. The ads feature a number of images, including a man with his head down the toilet and the caption ‘house-husband or your wife’s bitch’; a couple of All Blacks hugging each other to the caption ‘they’re all pussies and will choke anyway’; and a P pipe with the caption ‘Is it all media hype?’

“The point of the ads is not, as some might suggest, simply to be offensive. It is to emphasise that there are a whole lot of opinions out there that might not be to everyone’s taste but they’re still valid and worthy of expression,” said Kirk MacGibbon

“The avenues for genuine freedom of expression in this country are narrowing – and finding avenues that actually work can be hard. The internet offers seemingly limitless opportunities for freedom of expression, but its sheer size can also be its weakness. Unless you’re ‘in the know’ they can be difficult to find and even then you’re often only talking with people who think exactly the way you do.

“There are thousands of blogs and chatrooms and online forums but how do you find them and, unless you’ve got a pointy head, can you really be bothered?

“uthink brings it all together into one place. We all think and we all have an opinion that is just as valid as anyone else’s. What we don’t have is one, easily accessible platform to air those views.

“In a sense the company is aiming for nothing less than the ‘re-democratisation’ of media access, which has become increasingly restricted and fragmented – even as ownership concentrates in the hands of fewer and fewer corporate players,” said Kirk MacGibbon.

“One of our major free to air broadcasters is now owned by a private equity company with absolutely no experience in running a media organisation and probably even less interest in news and content except how it makes them money,” said Kirk MacGibbon.

Interest groups and pressure groups can also use the site to spark debate and encourage wider participation in their activities.

Well known personalities are sharing their views, including Tony Veitch and The Mad Butcher.

“We chose to launch uthink with some thought provoking and controversial activities because that was a way to get across unequivocally that uthink.co.nz is a place for everyone to have their say,” said Kirk MacGibbon.

ENDS

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