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Why is his religion so important that it needs to be mentioned on the first line of the article? It looks awkward and out of place. Danceswithzerglings ( talk) 20:44, 5 February 2009 (UTC)
Its worth pointing out that this biography of Johnson reads more like a promotional piece and not like a fair and balanced overview of this extreme right wing (and obscure) author. There should be a section on the article devoted to generally held critiques of his positions. Defending Nixon and loving Thatcher and Reagan are really lame positions, ones not held by many people. Even Hitchens thinks Johnson sucks–and Hitchens is fairly conservative. Like so many Wiki biographies, a little possie of "fans" of the author make sure any valid criticisms of the subject are nowhere to be seen. This is why Wikipedia is such a low quality online encyclopedia. Pathetic, really. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 174.7.19.62 ( talk) 22:11, 28 January 2011 (UTC)
Reply to above– 1988 Hitchens is 23 years ago! Maybe you haven't been paying attention, but Hitchens has since then hugely changed his political perspective swinging way to the right, and even with his becoming a Bush toady he recently roasted Johnson in this article to wit- http://www.salon.com/media/1998/05/28media.html
Further the so-called "neutral point of view" you mention is never adhered to if the biography is of a liberal person, say Noam Chomsky. There is ample criticism of Chomsky on his biography, or other progressive thinkers in Wiki are also vigorously criticised and put down. Why is nobody deleting the section criticising Chomsky on his Wiki article? Why does Chomsky get a critique section on his Wiki bio and not Johnson? This is a fine example of the double standards one finds so often on this rubbish online Wiki encyclopedia, that is of little use beyond getting basic information such as birthdate/death/where born/etc. Right wing trolls cry "foul! this violates NPOV! Delete it at once" if anybody dare criticise their Johnsons, Bushs, Cheney's etc–but they insist on having criticism sections on Chomsky, Zinn, Greenwald, et al. Welcome to Wiki biographies: biased, white-washed biographies that read more like self-promotional advertisements, guarded by on-line armies of trolls with political axes to grind. Meh, Wiki deserves no respect until such glaring failings are fixed. This Johnson biography is written by his admiring minion conservative trolls who will of course refuse to have a section exposing the bigotry, bullying, and hollow self-righteousness of Paul "spanker" Johnson. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 174.7.19.62 ( talk) 22:14, 29 January 2011 (UTC)
From The Weekend Interview with Paul Johnson: Why America Will Stay on Top by Brian Carney ( Wall Street Journal, March 5, 2011): 'Frank judgments like these are a hallmark of Mr. Johnson's work, delivered with almost child-like glee. Of Mahatma Gandhi, he wrote in "Modern Times": "About the Gandhi phenomenon there was always a strong aroma of twentieth-century humbug."
' Socrates is much more to Mr. Johnson's liking. Whereas, in Mr. Johnson's telling, Gandhi led hundreds of thousands to death by stirring up civil unrest in India, all the while maintaining a pretense of nonviolence, Socrates "thought people mattered more than ideas. . . . He loved people, and his ideas came from people, and he thought ideas existed for the benefit of people," not the other way around.
'In the popular imagination, Socrates may be the first deep thinker in Western civilization, but in Mr. Johnson's view he was also an anti-intellectual. Which is what makes him one of the good guys. "One of the categories of people I don't like much are intellectuals," Mr. Johnson says. "People say, 'Oh, you're an intellectual,' and I say, 'No!' What is an intellectual? An intellectual is somebody who thinks ideas are more important than people." ' Asteriks ( talk) 01:52, 7 March 2011 (UTC)
I think it's fascinating that a supposedly "neutral point of view article" has a bigger section on the criticisms of an author than the author himself. How can people seriously say that Wikipedia has a "right-wing bias"- perfect example of Wikipedia's takeover by snotty arrogant lefty college freshmen and amateur "historians". — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2601:58A:8200:89E0:B503:4158:56CC:F6EE ( talk) 02:58, 27 October 2015 (UTC)
User:Leothomasalfred keeps removing this passage, but offers no explanation for doing so. As the majority view is to retain this section (see the first archive page), I have reverted, but added further citations for verification. I removed "alleged" because it seems less risky from a legal point of view. The Independent article, as reproduced on the newspaper's website, begins with a comment fromn the interviewer: "LEGAL NOTE: - Do not repeat un-corroborated allegation that Paul Johnson said Gloria Stewart had told lies. Deborah Ross". Johnson is not quoted as making any such claims in the more recent Telegraph interview cited in this passage, and appears to acknowledge the affair. I would suggest using "alleged" contravenes the spirit of the legal notice. Philip Cross ( talk) 15:55, 20 May 2011 (UTC)
Paul Johnson has never corroborated Stewart's story. Stewart received money for it. I am surprised Philip Cross is so sure she is a reliable source. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Sarcyncha ( talk • contribs) 14:08, 30 September 2011 (UTC)
Not exactly an admission, either. Since neither of us know whether Stewart's story is at all accurate, it seems to me reasonable to change "revealed" to "alleged". — Preceding unsigned comment added by Sarcyncha ( talk • contribs) 09:42, 3 October 2011 (UTC)
I understand the importance of having a "personal life" section on Paul Johnson's page, but really, how important is the bit about him liking "erotic spanking"? I deleted this pointless blurb as it in no way gives readers any important information about the writer and historian (not porn star) Paul Johnson. This article does not need such an insignificant detail. Uriah is Boss ( talk) 01:49, 4 March 2012 (UTC)
The majority opinion is that there is no bias behind writing that Paul Johnson had an affair. I do not see what intimate details of this affair have to do with him as an historian. Like I said before, even if he does like erotic spanking or vanilla ice cream or flossing his teeth or any other insignificant thing, it is a pointless blurb in an article on an important contemporary historian and need not remain. Uriah is Boss ( talk) 23:09, 7 March 2012 (UTC)
I contend that this applies to the detail regarding Johnson's affair. Philip Cross ( talk) 17:49, 12 March 2012 (UTC)"In the case of public figures, there will be a multitude of reliable published sources, and BLPs should simply document what these sources say. If an allegation or incident is notable, relevant, and well-documented, it belongs in the article — even if it is negative and the subject dislikes all mention of it [my emphasis]. If you cannot find multiple reliable third-party sources documenting the allegation or incident, leave it out.)"
WP:BLP says the article "must be written conservatively and with regard for the subject's privacy. Wikipedia is an encyclopaedia, not a tabloid: it is not Wikipedia's job to be sensationalist, or to be the primary vehicle for the spread of titillating claims about people's lives, and the possibility of harm to living subjects must always be considered when exercising editorial judgement." The question here is not bias or the quality of the sources but about "regard for the subject's privacy". What else is the inclusion of a subject's preferences in the bedroom other than titillation? Just because newspapers discuss it doesn't mean we should. We are not a newspaper. Span ( talk) 14:50, 14 March 2012 (UTC)
Again, the question is not whether or not there is significant documentation of Johnson's sexual tastes, the question is whether or not his sexual taste contributes to an understanding of the historian and his body of work. It is a moot personal detail, whether or not it is well documented. If it could somehow be proven that his enjoyment of erotic spanking contributed to his philosophical outlook in his written body of work then it would be significant enough to keep. As it is, I agree with User: Spanglej that the "inclusion of a subject's preferences in the bedroom [are nothing] other than titillation". Uriah is Boss ( talk) 20:04, 16 March 2012 (UTC)
¿Por que no se ocupan de la villa miseria de Fresno? ¿O de las villas de Camdem y Detroit? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 201.255.82.43 ( talk) 04:38, 24 May 2015 (UTC)
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Currently, the following sentence appears in the "Honours" section: "On the BBC programme Desert Island Discs in January 2012, Johnson professed himself unimpressed by Nelson Mandela."
The statement appears (at least at a glance) to be well-sourced, but I fail to see what this tidbit has to do with the subject of "honours," in a section principally describing Johnson receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom and being appointed appointed CBE.
Perhaps it should be moved to either the "Shift rightward" or the "Early life and career" section.