Cosgrave is, by and large, a complete wanker and rightfully disliked by an awful lot of Irish people, myself included. It is painfully ironic, and pretty funny imo, that the one time I'd agree...
Cosgrave is, by and large, a complete wanker and rightfully disliked by an awful lot of Irish people, myself included. It is painfully ironic, and pretty funny imo, that the one time I'd agree with his comments, he ends up getting cancelled for it.
Interesting to note, although he has stepped down as CEO, he's still the owner of the company itself. Let's see if they can bounce back from this, I'd doubt it though or at the very least, it'll not be the same for a long time.
Off the top of my head: Moved the Web Summit from Dublin to Lisbon, Portugal, because the government wouldn't adhere to ridiculous demands he was making i.e., wanting the city to come to a...
Off the top of my head:
Moved the Web Summit from Dublin to Lisbon, Portugal, because the government wouldn't adhere to ridiculous demands he was making i.e., wanting the city to come to a complete standstill/redirecting traffic on the day and providing Garda (police) escorts free of charge for guests.
Frequently criticised the Irish tax system whilst simultaneously being a tax exile/benefit of tax sheltering.
At the beginning of the pandemic, was guilty of scaremongering and tweeted claiming four nurses died from Covid. Health Service rightfully called him out on it, he apologises but later goes on the radio and is adamant he was correct re the original claim.
The above is just the stuff I think Irish people take particular issue with on a local level. There's plenty more on his Wiki page / controversy section if you are interested.
In a more general sense, in my opinion, he's perceived to be a bit of an obnoxious arsehole and his social media history, especially Twitter, backs this up.
He's got a huge head thanks to his success with the Web Summit and thinks he's the smartest person in the room, which frequently results in him putting his foot in his mouth. I guess that applies...
He's got a huge head thanks to his success with the Web Summit and thinks he's the smartest person in the room, which frequently results in him putting his foot in his mouth. I guess that applies here as well but I'm as surprised as anyone that it's happened while he was making a good point?
direct links to the controversial tweets: Oct 13 (this is the one linked in the NYT article): Oct 15 Oct 16 Oct 16 and his apology, posted on Oct 17th.
direct links to the controversial tweets:
Oct 13 (this is the one linked in the NYT article):
I’m shocked at the rhetoric and actions of so many Western leaders & governments, with the exception in particular of Ireland’s government, who for once are doing the right thing. War crimes are war crimes even when committed by allies, and should be called out for what they are.
First, what Hamas did is outrageous and disgusting. It is by every measure an act of monstrous evil. Israel has a right to defend itself, but it does not, as I have already stated, have a right to break international law.
Second, here’s the host of the most watched chat show in Ireland speaking on Friday night. His father was murdered by the Ulster Freedom Fighters in 1988, a loyalist terror gang. I shared that video yesterday, and again today, because it speaks to my sentiments about the utter tragedy of war and in particular what happened in Israel a week ago, and since.
Third, the path to peace in Ireland required two sides, who had perpetrated every unimaginable act of inhumanity against each other, to finally sit down. Peace seemed impossible, hate and division ran incomprehensibly deep, but a miracle eventually broke out. That miracle was peace. To paraphrase Patrick Kielty: For all those in Israel and Palestine, it might not seem like it but there is always hope, and I hope that your miracle comes soon
We are devastated to see the terrible killings and the level of innocent civilian casualties in Israel and Gaza. We condemn the attacks by Hamas and extend our deepest sympathies to everyone who has lost loved ones. We hope for peaceful reconciliation.
Cancel culture is going to be working in overdrive while this war drags on. Sadly, whether one agrees with one side or the other, BOTH sides are going to experience chilling of their speech, which...
Cancel culture is going to be working in overdrive while this war drags on. Sadly, whether one agrees with one side or the other, BOTH sides are going to experience chilling of their speech, which isn't good.
It’s also neatly dividing us into opposing camps, just like nearly everything else in the modern world. In the 80s my high school girlfriend was an Egyptian Muslim. I took a Zionist girl to my...
It’s also neatly dividing us into opposing camps, just like nearly everything else in the modern world.
In the 80s my high school girlfriend was an Egyptian Muslim. I took a Zionist girl to my first prom. Hearing from both about their passion for the homeland made me study it assiduously. I developed nuanced positions on everyone from Yitzhak Rabin to Hanan Ahsrawi, from Ben Gurion and Gilda Maier to Arafat. But guess what—-
It didn’t matter. I’m not from there. It doesn’t matter how much I’ve studied the context and the history, I don’t have the identity, the emotional and cultural context, and (most importantly) the faith.
But this conflict is SO charged, I could have a doctorate in the geopolitics of Jewish/Muslim relations and they would still dismiss me out of hand. None of them want you and me and the watching world to learn or be educated. They want us to fall in line with either of their extremist positions and send nothing but attention, cash, and votes their way.
So… a pox on both their houses. Both little girls have cried wolf too often. The tragedy is that my new apathy plays into the hands of yet other malignant global forces such as Putin and his corporate allies.
Not gonna lie, that to me seems like a needlessly callous response, especially coming from someone who studied the issue already. It’s not like people should be obligated to publicly state their...
Not gonna lie, that to me seems like a needlessly callous response, especially coming from someone who studied the issue already. It’s not like people should be obligated to publicly state their opinion on every geopolitical issue with a stack of citations in hand, but at the same time, emotion-fueled online discourse doesn’t change the truth of the situation. You don’t have to be in a position to actively speak on an issue to have a well-researched position on it.
What I find depressing is that I remember doing a school project on the Arab-Israeli conflict in Gr. 6. I'm old and that was 50 years ago. And not much has changed. This is not a conflict that is...
What I find depressing is that I remember doing a school project on the Arab-Israeli conflict in Gr. 6. I'm old and that was 50 years ago. And not much has changed. This is not a conflict that is going to go away no matter what happens.
I find it unironically amusing how the same leaders who were part of the anti-cancel-cohort culture, are using cancel culture their own way. This is just testament to the belief that everyone has...
I find it unironically amusing how the same leaders who were part of the anti-cancel-cohort culture, are using cancel culture their own way. This is just testament to the belief that everyone has a "cancel culture" (Bud light anyone?) and it's just that what's being cancelled is their own extreme far-right views, which they don't want canceled because they want their views to be the standard.
I still remember The Chicks getting "cancelled" for saying they were ashamed that GWB was from Texas, and speaking out against the invasion of Iraq. American Conservatives weaponized...
I still remember The Dixie Chicks getting "cancelled" for saying they were ashamed that GWB was from Texas, and speaking out against the invasion of Iraq. American Conservatives weaponized politics-based cancel culture decades ago, but now that it's being used against them too, suddenly they think it's a major cultural problem and "the left" are solely to blame for it. Pot, meet kettle.
people need to stop giving opinions unless required. why does anyone care what his opinion on that situation is? can he make any impact on it? does his opinion in anyway affect his ability to do...
people need to stop giving opinions unless required. why does anyone care what his opinion on that situation is? can he make any impact on it? does his opinion in anyway affect his ability to do his day to day work? if no then don't ask... your only asking to try and trap someone. and if you're asked simply say no comment and move on
uhh...what? when is an opinion ever required? and by whom? who is in charge of deciding when someone is "required" to give their opinion about a topic? also, isn't "people need to stop giving...
people need to stop giving opinions unless required.
uhh...what?
when is an opinion ever required? and by whom? who is in charge of deciding when someone is "required" to give their opinion about a topic?
also, isn't "people need to stop giving opinions unless required"...itself an opinion? is it a required opinion? what makes your opinion exempt from the "don't give opinions unless required" rule?
this is just telling people to shut up with some sugar-coating.
Because if you have no comment forever (which is what corporations and the powers that be want), then you're forever just a tool or mouthpiece for opinions others want you to say. Sometimes, it's...
Because if you have no comment forever (which is what corporations and the powers that be want), then you're forever just a tool or mouthpiece for opinions others want you to say. Sometimes, it's worth it to lose, to stick it up to the man.
Cosgrave is, by and large, a complete wanker and rightfully disliked by an awful lot of Irish people, myself included. It is painfully ironic, and pretty funny imo, that the one time I'd agree with his comments, he ends up getting cancelled for it.
Interesting to note, although he has stepped down as CEO, he's still the owner of the company itself. Let's see if they can bounce back from this, I'd doubt it though or at the very least, it'll not be the same for a long time.
I would be curious to know why is he disliked by a lot of Irish people?
Off the top of my head:
Moved the Web Summit from Dublin to Lisbon, Portugal, because the government wouldn't adhere to ridiculous demands he was making i.e., wanting the city to come to a complete standstill/redirecting traffic on the day and providing Garda (police) escorts free of charge for guests.
Frequently criticised the Irish tax system whilst simultaneously being a tax exile/benefit of tax sheltering.
At the beginning of the pandemic, was guilty of scaremongering and tweeted claiming four nurses died from Covid. Health Service rightfully called him out on it, he apologises but later goes on the radio and is adamant he was correct re the original claim.
The above is just the stuff I think Irish people take particular issue with on a local level. There's plenty more on his Wiki page / controversy section if you are interested.
In a more general sense, in my opinion, he's perceived to be a bit of an obnoxious arsehole and his social media history, especially Twitter, backs this up.
He's got a huge head thanks to his success with the Web Summit and thinks he's the smartest person in the room, which frequently results in him putting his foot in his mouth. I guess that applies here as well but I'm as surprised as anyone that it's happened while he was making a good point?
Mirror, for those hit by the paywall:
https://archive.ph/X3TOi
direct links to the controversial tweets:
Oct 13 (this is the one linked in the NYT article):
Oct 15
Oct 16
Oct 16
and his apology, posted on Oct 17th.
Cancel culture is going to be working in overdrive while this war drags on. Sadly, whether one agrees with one side or the other, BOTH sides are going to experience chilling of their speech, which isn't good.
It’s also neatly dividing us into opposing camps, just like nearly everything else in the modern world.
In the 80s my high school girlfriend was an Egyptian Muslim. I took a Zionist girl to my first prom. Hearing from both about their passion for the homeland made me study it assiduously. I developed nuanced positions on everyone from Yitzhak Rabin to Hanan Ahsrawi, from Ben Gurion and Gilda Maier to Arafat. But guess what—-
It didn’t matter. I’m not from there. It doesn’t matter how much I’ve studied the context and the history, I don’t have the identity, the emotional and cultural context, and (most importantly) the faith.
But this conflict is SO charged, I could have a doctorate in the geopolitics of Jewish/Muslim relations and they would still dismiss me out of hand. None of them want you and me and the watching world to learn or be educated. They want us to fall in line with either of their extremist positions and send nothing but attention, cash, and votes their way.
So… a pox on both their houses. Both little girls have cried wolf too often. The tragedy is that my new apathy plays into the hands of yet other malignant global forces such as Putin and his corporate allies.
Not gonna lie, that to me seems like a needlessly callous response, especially coming from someone who studied the issue already. It’s not like people should be obligated to publicly state their opinion on every geopolitical issue with a stack of citations in hand, but at the same time, emotion-fueled online discourse doesn’t change the truth of the situation. You don’t have to be in a position to actively speak on an issue to have a well-researched position on it.
What I find depressing is that I remember doing a school project on the Arab-Israeli conflict in Gr. 6. I'm old and that was 50 years ago. And not much has changed. This is not a conflict that is going to go away no matter what happens.
I find it unironically amusing how the same leaders who were part of the anti-cancel-cohort culture, are using cancel culture their own way. This is just testament to the belief that everyone has a "cancel culture" (Bud light anyone?) and it's just that what's being cancelled is their own extreme far-right views, which they don't want canceled because they want their views to be the standard.
I still remember The
DixieChicks getting "cancelled" for saying they were ashamed that GWB was from Texas, and speaking out against the invasion of Iraq. American Conservatives weaponized politics-based cancel culture decades ago, but now that it's being used against them too, suddenly they think it's a major cultural problem and "the left" are solely to blame for it. Pot, meet kettle.people need to stop giving opinions unless required. why does anyone care what his opinion on that situation is? can he make any impact on it? does his opinion in anyway affect his ability to do his day to day work? if no then don't ask... your only asking to try and trap someone. and if you're asked simply say no comment and move on
uhh...what?
when is an opinion ever required? and by whom? who is in charge of deciding when someone is "required" to give their opinion about a topic?
also, isn't "people need to stop giving opinions unless required"...itself an opinion? is it a required opinion? what makes your opinion exempt from the "don't give opinions unless required" rule?
this is just telling people to shut up with some sugar-coating.
Because if you have no comment forever (which is what corporations and the powers that be want), then you're forever just a tool or mouthpiece for opinions others want you to say. Sometimes, it's worth it to lose, to stick it up to the man.