2013 I was running the pseudonym ‘Mit Reklaw’ and had about 12 followers; skip forward to 2021 and Tim Walker has over 1000.

Couple of instalments ago I wrote a lengthy piece combining two of my more learned topics – politics and farming in New Zealand.

Compare that to, months prior, I undertook extensive research into the soulless Jehovah’s Witness religious movement then produced a series of articles which, I believed, outlined the deplorable nature of this, supposedly charitable, Christian organisation.

My recent instalment was a change-up, more of a piss-take, looking at the sometimes loveable but usually irritating, well-intentioned but foolishly compassionate, also eco-orientated-to-the-point-of-internal-combustion, Kiwi Eco-warrior; while the aforementioned documentation was written tongue-in-cheek, I do wonder how many tongues were jestingly thrust into cheeks and how many brows were furrowed over eyes in distaste.

The point is I have developed/was born with the ability to write with relative coherency over an eclectic spectrum of topics but, as opposed to 2013 and my 12 followers where I believed I was sufficiently familiar with each of my readers to enable me to tailor my eloquence into what I supposed was relatable wordplay, nowadays, such is the vastness of my demographic, I essentially have no idea what the people want me to write thus, regarding choice of topic, I often find myself floundering (exhibit ‘A’).

Few months back, under subtle encouragement from Facebook, I published a plea ‘Feedback is appreciated…’ and, although I am sure it was viewed by many, there was in fact only one reader who took the time to deliver any of the besought ‘feedback’ (incidentally, this one reader was a constituent of my original 12 so, you know, what is it they say, quality not…), which was awesome, but I feel I was already aware of the bulk of the feedback this reader proffered; it’s the other 987-plus who I don’t know, the preferences of whom I would be interested to know.

Everybody has their own idea of what makes entertaining reading, engaging topics, and captivating candour; a lot like politics, one decision will never please everybody, whatever new initiative Prime Minister Ardern unleashes upon the nation is never going to be embraced by everyone, not unless ‘everyone’ is a single mother living in Auckland.

Oh, I’m sorry, I expected most people would have long given up reading so, you know, the above inflammatory statement wouldn’t have been picked up by anyone who cared enough to formally condemn the point, querying if that kind of slur is covered by the Freedom of Expression clause in New Zealand’s Bill of Rights act, 1990, and all that.

Huh, here is the thing about Freedom of Speech, which modern-day Democracy fights so hard to protect as though those three words still stand for something, you’re still only free to say it providing it doesn’t offend anyone, therefore, given the ease with which modern-day people take offence…

In a statement regarding appearance, intellect, race, religion, creed, gender, sexual orientation, living preferences, most people will take a deliberate moment to consider if what has been said might in some way maybe have the potential to upset them or someone hypothetically related to them; surely though, if it doesn’t cause unavoidable offence, why would anyone take offence?

…It’s really no liberty at all.

We all have our preferences.

Article by Tim Walker

Edited by Prof R Rinse

Photography by Noah Liberty