Thursday 5 February 2009

You're being watched

Local Blackwood Real Estate Agent, Joanne Lemmer, wiull probably be delighted she is the focus of an article in the press today (here), in which her use of a racially offensive joke about President Obama is critcised. It is an old and pathetic joke! Of the cheap shot variety.
Ms Lemmer is well-known in the local community for her outrageous publicity. You either love it or you hate it! Mostly for me it is the latter.
>[By way of clarification Joanne Lemmer has asked that
reference to her full text be made. This can be accessed at the reference she
has given me here
http://www.hillsandvalley.com.au/uncut/february09.pdf]


But she is the sort of 'Any publicity.....is good publicity' type of person. When you are talking about how stupid it is you at least are possibly reading her ad rather than ignoring it. As she says in one of her documents:

While they're watching us they're watching you?

The particular issue concerns a joke about black people ...I am not going to repeat it, as I think these days it is inappropriate (always was...but hopefully we are not perpetuating the prejudice of the past ). Some of our politicians (mentioned earlier this week) learnt the hard way for example that you don't joke about people who beat up their spouses!
Ms Lemmer's alleged come back to a reporter was to say (when her disingenuous claims to not risk offence were obviously challenged by the reporter) was to say

"Are you black? Well, when you turn black, you ring up and tell me you're offended."
What nonsense! Admittedly she was probably peeved.
Are only men allowed to critique men, or women women. Can only Indonesians write about East Timor?
Come on Joanne, if you are going to stick your neck out these days you have to be prepared to have it cut off. As some of us have learned this week!

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

I wonder how she might feel about fat jokes or bad hair-do jokes, or pointless, under trained, uneducated, waste-of-space paraprofessional real estate agent jokes?

She's got her 15 minutes, let's move on to the people who are trying to make a positive contribution to the world.

Yours truly,
Regular Adelaide Home-buyer.

Anonymous said...

the fact that anonymous home buyer refers to fat and hair jokes says it all. How are they any better than her at the end of the day? Act your age not your shoe size and take the article for the way it was intended. Some just look for evil everywhere...

Anonymous said...

I have just read her article..bad opener admittedly but she seems to be clearly heaping praise. Regardless whether you like her, YOURE talking about her..im sure shes laughing all the way to the bank after all this free publicity.mY mate reckons that page in the Advertiser was worth ten grand. You just cant buy that sort of publicity. Whilst I dont agree with her comments persay they are treating her like a celebrity and judging by her website she'll ride the wave all the way.Toopie will be jealous for sure

lighten up steve not end of world

Anonymous said...

So much for goodwill towards all men, no wonder the churches are empty on sundays, people need to stop being so politically correct and see things for what they are. Im sick of the outrage about everything.Unfortunately I remember the Hanson days and if you recall she gained a huge amount of support. The advertiser does its own racist job talking about the gang of 49 continually. Those that live in glass houses as they say hey steve

Anonymous said...

Well ms JL pulled a clanger but what are you gonna do string her up?On her blogs she apologised and frankly i dont believe she is a racist.Ignorant,Yes,racist No.The germos at the daily rag will say anything.Did you ever consider the possibility it was a beat up.I actually read HER article and it is far from a disgrace.By the way regardless she is top agent.Sold my brothers house for 50K more than anyone else and made the property look great at no added cost.Doesnt seem like that bad a sort really -

regards
brad

Anonymous said...

The truth is she took one for the team. Everyone knows real estate is going down the toilet. She excersised the same excellent manouvre that crinkle face did for the blonde avenger. While all the attention was on her, buyers were distracted by the racial slurs rather than the GFC. Quite clever really.

from another real estate agent

Stephan Clark said...

well it rather says it all
I can't hep but feel that "Anonymous" is the cloak for an orchestrated bash.
Look, my point was she obviously thinks any publicity is good publicity. Good luck to her.
I agree that this has got people talking about someone they would otherwise just ignore. And she must think that's fantastic...don't you Ms Lemmer.
As for whether her comments were racist, thew article points out that the Equal Opportunity Commissioner thinks they were, the chairman of Reconciliation SA think they were; the only folk who don't think they were are hiding behind the cloak of anonymity!!!

As for expecting priests to not speak out about such issues...excuse me, is this or is this not a democratic society.
I was not aware that anyone is allowed freedom of speech in a democracy other than clergy!

Anonymous said...

Hello Steve

I agree in part with comments in your article however do you think that you should be saying that you are more of the latter when it comes to love and hate. My interpretation is that as a priest you are suggesting that you hate Ms Lemmer. Is this the Godly way? In some respects this is a very prejudicial comment especially from the clergy. As a christian I am disturbed that you would make such comments. These are as bad as those that you are condemning. Surely you should be a leading light then maybe people like Ms Lemmer could learn from their mistakes? I am concerned as to the lack of judgement you have excersised on this occassion. Whilst I don't believe she is without fault I do believe that you of all should know better. Maybe you should consider re wording your love hate sentence. Just a thought. I am sure you didn't mean it. Maybe we could get an interpretation of that sentence from the same sources that you quote. I might do that tomorrow and get back to you perhaps.

Regards
CP - Blackwood

Stephan Clark said...

Sorry CP that you are disturbed by my comments.
I most certainly do not hate Ms Lemmer, nor does the article say that I do.
It does say that I think that people either love or hate the style of outrageous publicity that she deliberately chooses to use. This is not the same thing as harbouring hate towards an individual.
Might I say that she knows that she also turns some people like me off by this approach. The last person I would go to when buying or selling a house is one who seems so intent on outrageous personal promotion.
Others obviously think otherwise.

Anonymous said...

Hi there, Stephen. Don't let the orchetrated bash by the turkeys (like you, I suspect it's the same turkey) get you down. You certainly did quite clearly say in your post that you hate the constant *publicity* she seeks & creates. I think most people in Blackwood hold it in contempt. And JL herself is the one who goes in for ad hominems...

With her wannabe celebrity approach at any cost she's an embarrassment to the real estate industry.

Regards JM Blackwood

Anonymous said...

Hello Steve,

you might want to check her blogs out there is an apology on line. I think you are really bashing her badly and without justification. Have you even read the article I actually took it for what it was. Again like all the others on this blog I actually think you almost appear a bit envious of the publicity she gets. Look how many hits you're getting more than ever and it's because of her. A sad day when the church is bagging someone! JESS - ABERFOYLE PARK

Stephan Clark said...

O Pleeeease!!!
Without justification?...she was condemned by the Equal Opportunity Commissioner, and by the chair of Reconciliation SA.
If she has apologised then why would she do that if she was not in the wrong.Or did she only do it to appease critics but didn't really mean it.
I am glad she has admitted that she shouldn't have done it. She shouldn't have!!! Let that be that!

Anonymous said...

Stephen, you are COMPLETELY outrageous and I am appalled at your obvious contempt of Ms Lemmer, you are a man of the cloth and are the most UNFORGIVING Priest I have yet to encounter online or indeed in life. You need to moderate your comments immediately. Who really is the racist?

Anonymous said...

I have been forwarded this link..UNFORTUNATELY = What a sad state of arfairs when a Holy Man takes such an obnosxious attitude.shame on u and and any 1 who pays attention to u>>>>>>>foturnately other blogers see u 4 what u r

Anonymous said...

You have actually managed to make the racist ms lemmer look good. well done old man



regards
formerly of the flock

Anonymous said...

Is this for real? As a local in Coro, I am speechless to what I see in this forum. The local priest taking such a line against a local business owner makes my blood boil. Stephen wake up and smell the roses. Maybe you should take your own hyprocrytical advice. I am nothing short of disgusted.

Darren and family - Coro Valley

Anonymous said...

CONDEMNED who are you? I am in tears at your words you are like others have said supposed to be a person to follow. Your shallowness reveals a person that should not be giving advice on any level. Your attitude leaves me with little hope as to the future of this world. Think again you are offensive and without a conscience; The worst human being of all

Anonymous said...

What a joke you are. I just looked up the title 'while their watching us theyre watching us' and not so surprisingly you are WRONG. The story is actually 'why theyre watching us were watching you' you call yourself a social commentator unfortunately you are so not credible. Get with the programme sunshine..

J P - Lynton

Anonymous said...

above comment meant to be 'while theyre watchng us theyre watching you' made a mistake, i apologise but no doubt you will believe its not genuine..

cheers the church needs more blokes like you some would argue different

J P - Lynton

Anonymous said...

You say you wouldnt use JL to sell. My bet is she wouldnt be interested. Dont make the call and avoid the disappointment. Now that makes perfect sense.
Clearly you dont need the dollars because you have no sense.

On the gas - Craigburn Farm

Anonymous said...

Your blog is yet another example of why so many Anglicans have lost faith in the church; superficial, partisan and, for someone who professes to be a church leader,inappropriate.

Alexander Downer

Whilst I cant stand those libs, never a truer word spoken,,might even vote for you next time

Barry H

Stephan Clark said...

I guess individuals will be able to work out what is going on above, and why my previously ill-noticed blog has suddenly attracted the attention.
You might think it's orchestrated, I have no way of knowing.
I do know we should move on!!