Bazthugwittery Begins Attacks on "Heritologists"

Baz Thugwit has a new 'nick' on Wordpress. Now he's calling himself "John Howland", it seems, and has started under that name a new blog "Detecting and collecting" (motto: 'Detector-averse heritologists talk like idiots and even look like idiots, but don’t be fooled – they really are… idiots')*. Here's the first post (18th December 2017) : 'Trends and traitors'. Does not seem much like detecting and collecting to me. See what you make of it. 

What, actually is a "Heritologist"?  It seems the former bus driver is having a go at Cultural Studies. I wonder what he actually knows about the field. We shall see.

 *don't be fooled? About what? Does not make sense, Baz

Steve Taylor wants a debate (1)

Steve Taylor, pictured here a jobbing gardener from the Gloucestershire region apparently wants to be taken seriously as a knowledgeable local history hunter. He has been involved in collection-driven exploitation of the archaeological record for, he says, 30 years and is still very visible on a number of detecting forums. He also makes a lot of videos of fairly standardised format under the name 'DETECTINGFORGOLD'. The one below published on You Tube on 24th January 2016 ('Metal detecting for hidden history, uncovering a large Saxon/Celtic brooch') is typical of the ilk. Note the comments underneath, Mr Bluejelly remarks:

Just noticed a thumbs down dislike symbol , there are a few sad bastards around who hate anyone else finding nice objects and sharing them on You Tube. Can't understand why anyone would dislike metal detecting videos if they were a true hobbyist. Always a few retards in the hobby ! lol :

The notion never seemed to occur to him that there might be a few heritage conscious individuals looking on who consider that collection driven exploitation of the archaeological record in the manner shown here is damaging to the public interest. Anyhow, Mr Taylor responds thus:

+MrBluejelly I do the video's for free, and you always get the faceless people who criticize you, for whatever reason. They never come out of the woodwork, to have a debate on line.

Here below is the video, and then below it let us see what happens when people using their real name, not some screen pseudonym publish comments critical of the way metal detecting is depleting the archaeological record and the attitudes of metal detector users to comments.

Metal detecting by Steve Taylor.(published on You Tube in the public domain on 24th jan 2017)

 

Detectorist Steve Taylor 'Wants a Debate'? (2)

I thought it would be an enlightening insight into the way some metal detectorists in the UK think and attempt to enter the international debate on the issues surrounding collection-driven exploitation of the archaeological record. These are all real comments sent to me from Mr Steve Taylor for publication on my blog and retrieved from the rejected comments folder of my blog. Note the engaging way he creates an offensive screen name (he uses others, worse) and then the way he twists my surname and the misogynous terminology common among the mostly middle-aged-male detecting community. The first batch are from a post I did about the nasty trend among artefact collectors to use doxing as a weapon against their critics:

Paul Barford and his amazing talking arsehole has left a new comment on your post "Antiquity Collecting, UK Thuggish Louts and Their ...":
Still being a CUNT, Barffart. Thought you may have died by now, but alas you're still here. Soon be time to play a few games with you, like the good old days. lol 

Paul Barford and his amazing talking arsehole has left a new comment on your post "Antiquity Collecting, UK Thuggish Louts and Their ...":
Can't count knobhead !and no warnings lol

Paul Barford and his amazing talking arsehole has left a new comment on your post "Antiquity Collecting, UK Thuggish Louts and Their ...":
Oh by the way that photograph is copyright. Leave it up at your own risk ! You've been warned. 

Paul Barford and his amazing talking arsehole has left a new comment on your post "Antiquity Collecting, UK Thuggish Louts and Their ...":
I would be very careful about accusing people of stalking and posting personal information on line, as I have a whole file on you, which was also recorded on Google at the time. Along with your Steve Taylor scrap metal dealer. Those who live by the sword , die by the sword. 

Then the reaction to the capture on film of some illegal metal detecting going on near his home

Paul Barford and his amazing talking arsehole has left a new comment on your post "Kingscote Illegal Artefact Hunting: Update":
I recognize the one on the left who looks like a Neanderthal, low brow, small brain, works in the dark, lives in Poland, hey that's a photofit of you Paul. Tell everyone how you sent two criminals to Poulton, on Spot the hoard contest you ran ! Happy days 

This then became a xenophobic accusation:

Paul Barford and his amazing talking arsehole has left a new comment on your post "Kingscote Illegal Artefact Hunting: Update":
Not very nice you Poles to fellow men. lol http://www.jewsnews.co.il/2015/09/17/over-30000-furious-poles-chant-fck-islam-on-the-streets-of-poland-as-the-invasion-of-europe-is-growing-more-intense-each-day/

by the way, I am English (one wonders at the press Mr Taylor follows). More on the nighthawking issue

Paul Barford and his amazing talking arsehole has left a new comment on your post ""Detectorists" Responsible detectorists caught "Ni...":
I have an agreement signed on some bog paper Paul, I'll send you a copy. Be careful of the Van Gogh sunflower in the middle. lol Maybe the next series will feature a guy with a giant penis on his head, then we will all know how famous you have become Paul. 

This incomprehensible scatology is followed by an attack on the Portable Antiquities Scheme when I discussed a funding problem:

Paul Barford and his amazing talking arsehole has left a new comment on your post "LAVA-PAS Meltdown Continues":
It would be nice to see all PAS officers back on the dole, where they belong. Especially the one from Gloucestershire, who allegedly is as thick as shit ! 

TAKE A GOOD LOOK at this behaviour, for these are precisely the sort of people the PAS wants to grab more and more millions of public quid to make into the "partners" of the British Museum, archaeological heritage professionals and to whom they want us all to entrust the exploitation of the archaeological record. Take a good look and decide what you think about that as a "policy".