Sub-reddit /r/newzealand headed for far-left extremism?

In the same way that far right extremism (actually any sort of extremism) is undesired and troublesome, the “/r/newzealand” subreddit on Reddit I would say is fast approaching an example of far-left extremism cultivating very divisive pile-on attitudes by way of epic group think and will admit, I’ve started to be become troubled by some of the views expressed in that forum recently.

It’s been a while since I last visited, but I think I will continue staying away (just as I stay away from far right extremist sites). New Zealand society I feel can ill afford to tolerate groups that seek to cultivate an “us versus them” and “all or nothing” mentality. The Echo chamber effect I feel is accelerating.

An example of this (out of several) is the unrestrained carte blanche hatred for anyone who so much as declares as being an owner of even a single investment property. Further more, I’ve noticed many members are taking the most extreme example of poor landlord conduct and using that to tar all investors with the same brush. I can assure you landlords most certainly are not all like this, far from it and would urge people not to let the conduct of a minority colour us all.

I will caution that the /r/newzealand subreddit I feel is getting less and less representative of the views held by mainstream New Zealanders in general and would further plead that people please engage their brains before being swept up by the mob mentality and jumping on the bandwagon.

Some balance, please, people. Surely we are not savages and should not aspire to become such. We’re better than this.

 

Sub-reddit /r/newzealand headed for far-left extremism?

Hidden (Undisclosed) Fees in Hire car company agreements – Not a myth unfortunately

Update 7th December 2021: NRMA’s master license for Thrifty expired earlier this year and they have now changed their branding over to be SIXT Australia which includes Lawrence Vic Pty Ltd’s network of outlets throughout Suburban Victoria.

In short, less than upfront (“shady”) behaviour from rental car companies does exist. This is in spite of people, particularly on various online travel forums who are often quick to come to the defence of car hire companies through pointing out that the hirer raising a complaint is the one in the wrong and who simply didn’t read and understand the agreement and/or contracts. From personal experience, this is certainly not always the case.

Ending up deciding to send Lawrence Vic Pty Ltd Originally trading as Thrifty Car and Truck Rental Victoria (since changed over to be SIXT Car Rental Victoria as of 2021) a fairly stern and direct Email over the weekend firmly stating that due to their lack of disclosure, they are not entitled to retain the 3.5% Administration fee that they had applied to my account (over the top of the damage/repair charge from a small roo jumping into the side of the vehicle) back in 2018 and if they did not refund that portion of the administrative fee by the “close of business 5pm AEDT, Friday 19th March 2021”, I would be instituting further recovery proceedings under Victorian State and Australian Consumer Law in order to have the amount in question returned back to me. To recap, in 2018… Continue reading “Hidden (Undisclosed) Fees in Hire car company agreements – Not a myth unfortunately”

Hidden (Undisclosed) Fees in Hire car company agreements – Not a myth unfortunately

Stream of Consciousness Week 15th March 2021

Stream of consciousness and other personal thoughts garnered throughout the week and which will be added to as the week rolls on. These thoughts are unrefined, unquantified, unverified, and raw. Any of these may be either be edited, deleted or otherwise spawn out into its own separate post…

  • Lawrence Vic Pty Ltd T/A Thrifty Car and Truck Rental Victoria have agreed to refund the undisclosed portion of the Administration fees without question. Certainly a different and more pleasant exchange than the immediately hostile one I had with the old accounts team back in 2018 when I originally tried to bring it up. Demonstrates that it’s not always about hirers failing to read the agreement. In my case, the clause was no where to be found.

Older Stream of Consciousness thoughts can be found here.

Stream of Consciousness Week 15th March 2021

Stream of Consciousness Week 8th March 2021

Stream of consciousness and other personal thoughts garnered throughout the week and which will be added to as the week rolls on. These thoughts are unrefined, unquantified, unverified, and raw. Any of these may be either be edited, deleted or otherwise spawn out into its own separate post…

  • Easy walk / explore around the back of Te Kowhai, exploring the Te Otamanui Walkway. A very short 2km (one way) walk along side a marshy lagoon. There were plans to extend it all the way to Waipa River, but looks like this may have since stalled due to COVID-19
  • Review platforms are heavily Astroturfed. Read “Which?” Article. In other news, water is wet. Review platforms such as Google Reviews have done a useless job at policing them, in fact, I’m now of the opinion that Google should kill their Review platform.
  • Following on from that theme, All online reviews of any given business are now checked for the presence of widespread false reviews prior to me rendering the services of that business. It is in my experience that businesses engaging in the practice of wide scale astroturfing will most certainly be up to other shady antics in the background. Thrifty Car Rental Dandenong  I’m looking at you.
  • The above reopened a bit of an old wound. Went to review the whole interaction with Lawrence Vic Pty Ltd T/A Thrifty Car Rental Dandenong and feel considerably more angry about the experience now than I did back in 2018. (It categorically remains my single most disappointing consumer experience I had with any business either side of the Tasman). Screw it, I will be taking further action.

Older Stream of Consciousness thoughts can be found here.

Stream of Consciousness Week 8th March 2021