Only in America would a television audience be assessed as being so thick as to potentially link a 21st Century commentator of Asian extraction with a 19th Century Confederate general, whose ilk are currently causing extraordinary displays of back-dated public anger.
We tend to think smaller here. Our most recent eruption of outrage was sparked by wannabe politician Gareth Morgan, who used the expression involving lipstick and pigs to disparage the Labour Party in terms of public adulation of its new leader.
As others before Mr Morgan have found, explaining the context and intent of the comment does not defuse the initial response, although he seems intent on using the fracas to his electoral advantage.
He was, as he has tried to explain, referring to his view that however Labour might have broadened its electoral by electing a young female leader, whose impact on her party's popularity has been phenomenal, it remains the Labour Party, with the same broad leadership, and pretty much the same policies.
"The Northland Age can take some credit for the latest display of wrath, following the publication of a couple of columns by Far North District councillor Dave Hookway. It would be fair to say that Cr Hookway has struck a chord with lamentations regarding how the council functions, or more accurately doesn't function."
The party's electability might have improved beyond recognition, but fundamentally nothing has changed.
Mind you, it's not just the easily offended who refuse to see that. Seven Sharp's Tim Wilson did a pretty good job of refusing to understand it last week too.
Actually this election campaign has provided mana from heaven for the easily offended, albeit leavened with a little humour. There can be no other explanation, surely, for the fact that as of last week former Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei had received more nominations than anyone else for the title of 2018 New Zealander of the Year.
That throws up a couple of options. Perhaps we have such a paucity of leaders in this country that some genuinely can't think of a better candidate than a politician who turned out to have feet of clay.
There are some who genuinely believe that Turei is a fine example of motherhood, who was prepared to do whatever it took to raise her child single-handed - or not; nothing about this tawdry story is clear any more - but the theory that some of her nominators at least have their tongues in their cheeks is supported by the fact that in second place, as of last week, was Australian deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, who has actually renounced his hitherto unknown status as a New Zealand citizen in the hope of keeping his job.
We do outrage pretty well here in the Far North too. Anyone who is remotely familiar with the world of Facebook will be aware of that. And the Northland Age can take some credit for the latest display of wrath, following the publication of a couple of columns by Far North District councillor Dave Hookway.
It would be fair to say that Cr Hookway has struck a chord with lamentations regarding how the council functions, or more accurately doesn't function. His not uninformed views have found a receptive audience, which led to a new cause celebre last week when the council had a quiet word with one of the Facebook pages that was giving people the stage, pointing out that some of the remarks that were being posted were potentially defamatory. At last report the page administrator was taking legal advice.
The Northland Age hasn't seen the comments that prompted the 'warning,' but has no trouble believing that some might well have been defamatory. Potential defamation is a constant source of concern for many Facebook pages. The trick is to discuss issues without resorting to personal abuse or outright lies, a technique that seems to elude some people.
The council's 'warning' has been interpreted by some as trying to shut down the conversation, but that's a bit harsh. It would more reasonably be seen as a friendly gesture that might well save the page administrator a lot of money. Rather than stifling debate, the council seems to have been trying to keep it seemly.
This little furore illustrates a serious problem. It is becoming increasingly difficult to discuss anything of moment in the public domain without letting loose those who see conspiracy behind every desk, who cannot resist descending to personal abuse, and in so doing discourage the public discussion of issues that should be publicly discussed.
This newspaper discovered long ago, as had others before it, that some issues should not go anywhere near Facebook, given the inevitability that they would attract people with scant regard for the niceties of the defamation laws and no particular interest in ticking to the subject.
The fact that social media has given every one of us the ability to contribute to public opinion that was once the preserve of those within the mainstream media is seen by some as a good thing. It might indeed be a good thing if there was some degree of control, which currently there isn't. It really is the Wild West out there.
This is not only a problem for those who do not wish to be sued for defamation. It even tests the police, who in recent times have made good use of social media to communicate with their communities and to solve crimes, and perhaps prevent them.
They have yet to come up with an antidote to the unbridled enthusiasm with which some people chuck unfounded allegations in every direction, however, and it is unlikely that they will.
Chances are that the police and Facebook will eventually prove to be incompatible, which would be a shame. Social media has real potential as a crime-solving and reducing tool, but those who see it as an invitation to run amok are seriously jeopardising that.
Outrage can be a very positive emotion, but it should be indulged in sparingly, although the world we live in these days invites it on a daily basis, even if many of us pick and choose.
As it is, outrage rarely seems to have positive results. It undoubtedly led to the resignation Metiria Turei, whether one regards her exit from politics as her just desserts or a travesty of justice, but so often it is wasted, because it cannot be maintained.
If we really want to change things we need to focus much more sharply.
Bursts of indignation, whose source continually shifts from one issue to another, rarely achieve anything when the target keeps moving. Those who so often inspire outrage know that all they have to do is hunker down for a day or two and wait for someone else to take over. And so people in positions of authority continue to serve us badly.
That really is outrageous.
