iN DISCUSSION: Just how safe are rentable e-scooters?

This is where cold hard facts give way to the hottest of takes, mostly mine I suppose. I’m the editor, Marshall Jones.

Want to include yours? Listen, this isn’t the comment section, this isn’t social media. Discussion and debate requires context and a wee bit of bravery — we need your name and where you’re writing from. Include it in your account or email me anytime.

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As a pedestrian, e-scooters are worrisome

The rentable scooters are about to return to many of our streets, some have never left.

I haven’t used one yet, mostly because I haven’t desired a visit to the Emergency Room. 

I see the occasional kid look comfortable on them; most don’t. Most look very unstable. Those handlebars are deceptive, make you think this is a bicycle. Uh-uh. That’s what you’re holding when you fall, instead of reaching for the ground.

Some make me worry as a pedestrian.

If you’ll allow this old man to shake his fist at clouds for a moment, they’re terribly unsightly as well, strewn about sidewalks and buildings like a game of Pick Up Sticks (told you I was old). 

Such is the cost of progress, I suppose, because someone’s using them, right? Convince me. Are they convenient? Do you wear the community helmets? Have you ever been hurt on one? By one?

Email me at mjones@infonews.ca.

Mj

Marshall Jones

Managing Editor

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Why can’t we have a rational discussion about a BC Human Right Tribunal’s decision?

The BC Human Rights Tribunal made news last week with its highest ever monetary award. 

It ordered Barry Neufeld, a notorious former Chilliwack school board trustee who can’t stop himself from saying hateful things, to pay $760,000 in fines and compensation. Add them all up over the years, the tribunal has cost him almost a million dollars.

But I’m not sure people are reading this latest decision correctly. To my eyes, it reads like an obituary for the BC Human Rights Tribunal.

It’s among the more ridiculous documents with numbered paragraphs you can read. It makes sweeping generalizations, broad assumptions, doesn’t adequately address the tension with charter-protected speech and doesn’t fully identify a class of aggrieved people to be awarded.

Basically, Barry Neufeld is an old man. He believes part of his elected role is to protect children. He thinks we are moving too fast on enabling and accepting gender transition in kids. He thinks it’s still up for debate.

I’m offering you the best possible interpretation here because I imagine, like me, you might agree with him thus far. This is a discussion that often allows zero nuance from any side of the debate. 

I still have questions and concerns about public policy and the law on this subject. It still comes from compassion for any kid, any person not lucky enough to be certain about their own body. 

That’s not Barry Neufeld. He has said plenty of terrible things, worthy of rebuke. He’s spiteful, reactionary, sedentary in thought and understanding, callous where he should curious.

Damn them for making me do this — again — but I must defend his right to be so, particularly in the face of a government agency forcing him to shut up. 

He was an elected official, for pity’s sake. If he can’t debate a live issue without being hauled into tribunal after tribunal to be made bankrupt and broke, who can? We’re all going to have trouble with the words on the way to understanding, not all of us are jerks like Neufeld who weaponize them.

I know I’m under-informed about many sides of this issue, in part because we can’t discuss it rationally.

But I do know this decision can’t stand and if the tribunal has become this corrupted, we should get rid of it altogether. 

I’d love to know your thoughts. Email me at mjones@infonews.ca.

Mj

Marshall Jones

Managing Editor

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Cartel violence in Mexico hopefully won’t scare tourists away

It was tough seeing what happened in Puerto Vallarta on the weekend.

It’s a popular tourism city for Canadians and lots of folks from the Thompson-Okanagan were there when that famous Mexican Lawlessness returned in a big way with reports of fires, gunshots and violence in the streets.

Now they are sheltering in place. The violence erupted after government officials killed the leader of a major drug cartel.

Officials are trying to calm things down this morning, but it’s a mess down there as airlines cancel, suspend or move flights. 

As much as my thoughts are with Canadians, it’s also for the city itself. This is a poor reflection of the people of Mexico, mostly hard-working peaceful folks who will suffer the most if tourists are scared away.

I’m interested in your thoughts. Email me at mjones@infonews.ca.

Mj

Marshall Jones

Managing Editor

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Study finds charging non-Kelowna residents more for recreation is money loser

Vernon pay attention! I heard rumours that they were planning the same thing with our new rec centre.

— Bonnie Derry via iNFOnews.ca

Federal officials express ‘disappointment’ after OpenAI meeting over B.C. shooting

This is going to be extremely hard to regulate. Just looking at computer based games alone, first person shooter games are the most popular video game genre. “Grand Theft Auto” is similarly popular, or was, and sold 460 million copies. It is described as featuring intense realistic violence, gratuitous gore, crime etc. These are just some of the games out there. Is there room to argue that just engaging in playing these is of concern? Sure, but is it a realistic concern? Probably not. Similarly, looking at conversations with ChatGPT, it is going to be very tough to assess the realistic nature of a threat.

— William Mastop via iNFOnews.ca

THOMPSON: Decent Americans must reject Trump and his fascism

Why is an American contributing to your local paper? In my opinion this man should seek counselling and quick!! He’s clearly seriously suffering from TDS (Trump Derangement Syndrome)!

— Tamara Clarke, Kamloops via email

iN RESPONSE to Wednesday’s newsletter opinion-editorial regarding BC Human Rights Tribunal

Thanks for sticking your neck out to defend freedom of speech and to call into question the legitimacy of some activities and pursuits of the BC Human Rights Commission – it truly is having a chilling effect on a subject that desperately needs to be debated in the public sphere.

That said, I am a little disturbed on why you characterized Barrie Neufeld as an old, cantankrous jerk. Do you know him? Have you engaged in conversation with him? Do you have videos of him in his “jerk mode”.

I knew only a very little about Barrie Neufeld until I ran across this unscripted Youtube video interview that left me with the feeling that I now know what makes him tick.

Again, thanks for standing up for the protection of free speech – it is needed now more than ever.

Brian Kroeker, Vernon via email

iN PHOTOS: Rescued animals living their best lives in BC

Okanagan Humane Society is a wonderful organization. They help with abandoned and feral animals in conjunction with our local veterinary clinics. I found they far more responsive than the SPCA in dealing with feral cats. Bravo to them.

— Bonnie Derry via iNFOnews.ca

The Latest: Trump considers limited strikes on Iran even as diplomat says proposed deal is near

As a part time reader I find you have far too much American content which doesn’t incline me to become a full time reader. Just because it’s easy and cheap to fill this space with American news doesn’t mean it’s appealing to the audience, it certainly isn’t with me and this goes doubly for your opinion pieces.

— Mac Gordon via iNFOnews.ca

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Tara Armstrong Recall Countdown

Tara Armstrong is currently the MLA for Kelowna-Lake Country-Coldstream. She rode the coattails of the BC Conservative Party, got elected, then rejected and left the party to serve as an Independent within weeks because the Conservatives were too left wing. Now she gets to spout moronic, hateful rhetoric and claim that her riding supports her.

Elections BC says you can recall an MLA if 40% of eligible voters in the riding sign a recall petition — but not for the first 18 months after an election. Some people started an online petition calling for a byelection once she made a shift to independent, then got herself a raise by forming her own party, but it won’t mean anything until the countdown clock hits zero.

So let the countdown begin!

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Disclaimer: Any views, thoughts, and opinions expressed on this page are solely those of the writer and does not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, policies, or position of the editor, iNFOnews.ca, iNFOTEL MULTIMEDIA, its partners, principals or advertisers.