The content on this webpage contains paid/affiliate links. When you click on any of our affiliate link, we/I may get a small compensation at no cost to you. See our affiliate disclosure for more info -----------------------
Last updated on July 2nd, 2017 at 08:41 am
Via reader Yarran (among several others), Dick Smith spokesmuppet Andrew Craig responds to concerns over Smith’s raging gullibility:
Dear Yarran
We will forward your correspondence onto Dick.
However, you might like to think about a few things:
So might Dick.
Dick does not have anything to gain by suggesting that David Hicks should have had a fair trial.
Who said anything about his trial? At issue is whether Hicks was a supporter of terrorism.
He is only reporting the results of a meeting that he had with David Hicks (one of the first people to have had a discussion with him) and how it affected him.
No, he’s claiming Hicks is a “decent Australian” who was only “trying to help independence movements”.
Not buying Dick Smith Foods products (he sold Dick Smith Electronics to Woolworths 26 years ago and has nothing whatsoever to do with them) will not hurt Dick at all.
Forgive us; we’d make more of an effort to hurt Dick, but there are limits to our militancy. We aren’t the Taliban, you know.
It was set up to help provide jobs for your fellow Australians, by using Australian owned companies to produce foods using Australian sourced and grown ingredients. This kept the taxes that these companies paid here, as well as the profits, rather than allowing the multinational companies to repatriate their profits and to import their products and utilise transfer pricing mechanisms to avoid paying taxes.
How does Dick feel about someone leaving Australia to join a multinational terrorist organisation?
Any profits from Dick Smith Foods have been used to further Dick Smith’s philanthropic pursuits, such as providing wheel chairs for the disabled, donations to the Salvation Army etc.
I donate to charities directly, thus avoiding any Dick-related shenanigans. Readers of this site, a generous and charity-inclined group, likely do the same.
Ultimately the hundreds of people who are involved with the production and sales of Dick Smith Foods products will thank you for choosing not to buy them as they contemplate their futures. Those charities and disabled people will also be forever grateful to you as well, as their supply of funds diminishes.
Oh, nice! Here’s another way of looking at things: Dick Smith himself has caused problems for his employees and chosen charities by expressing views repugnant to many Australians. If he’s going to use his high profile to promote food sales, he should take care that his profile not be repellent.
But, Dick Smith, the real target of your proposed action will be totally unaffected, apart for feeling sorry that he can no longer help as many Australians as he has in the past.
If Mr Smith wishes to suggest a more direct means by which we can affect him, he’s welcome to get in touch.
Kind regards
Andrew Craig
Dick Smith Foods – As Australian as you can get!
UPDATE. Steve T. emails:
For years, people in the professional aviation community have been trying to tell everyone else that perhaps Dick is not the little Aussie battler, all-round good guy, and president-in-waiting that the public seems to think he is. Rather, he is an attenion-seeking menace with too much wealth and influence for his own good, and a pathological inability to accept any viewpoint other than his own.
I’m sure he genuinely means well, but can only wish he’d just find some way to quietly spend his money instead of trying to remold Australia’s airspace to suit himself, and supporting halfwit helpers of ‘independence movements’ (FFS!!).
Dick Smith & David Hicks: “…trying to help independence movements.”
- First if they remove all references to his Dickness in any of these enterprises.
Second in which enterprises does his Dickness invest?
Third we can then Dickcott them.Posted by stackja1945 on 2008 02 04 at 11:09 PM • permalink
Dick’s certainly left a sour taste in my mouth.
Posted by Infidel Tiger on 2008 02 04 at 11:11 PM • permalink
“Forgive us; we’d make more of an effort to hurt Dick, but there are limits to our militancy. We aren’t the Taliban, you know.”
Yeah your right Tim, I dont think we need to kill or mutilate Dick. At the moment I’d just settle for belting him in the mouth.
Maybe Dick and Dave can get in Dicks chopper and piss off to a country more supportive of “independence movements”.
Posted by The_Wizard_of_WOZ on 2008 02 04 at 11:13 PM • permalink
- Posted by The_Wizard_of_WOZ on 2008 02 04 at 11:14 PM • permalink
#6 That’s nice to know Infidel Tiger.
Perhaps Dick Smith’s gargle rinse would help, if he sells such a product?
Posted by The Best Infidel on 2008 02 04 at 11:14 PM • permalink
It was set up to help provide jobs for your fellow Australians, by using Australian owned companies to produce foods using Australian sourced and grown ingredients.
I like the pickled koala snoots garnished with quandong berries! Washed down with burdekin plum brandy, and followed with a plate full of chocolate-covered bandicoot balls – mmmmmm-mm!
“Afghan refugees eating grass, freezing temperature kills many children.”
Hey Dick, further your “philanthropic pursuits” by sending them some Bonza Aussie Grass.
Part of Dick’s problem is that he seems to be finding it increasingly difficult to dream up new stunts to maintain the “high profile” to which he is so clearly addicted.To be controversial is a method which he’s employed for some time when posting on a UK based aviation forum.Just say something stupid and then get shot down by people who actually know something about the topic, no worries, so long as people are talking about him or his ratty ideas.Hence,support our genuine home grown terrorist and that’ll get him some of that lovely media attention.
Dick Smith sold Dick Smith Foods to Sanitarium in 2002. Sanitarium is 100% owned by the Seventh Day Adventist Church, a tax-exempt multinational religion.
Don’t boycott DSF because of David Hicks. Boycott DSF in favour of companies which pay Australian taxes.
What percentage of the (now) tax-exempt profits of Dick Smith Foods is sent overseas every year by its multinational owner? Who knows – there is no public reporting!
Posted by The Leadster on 2008 02 04 at 11:41 PM • permalink
Dick Smith has had a stink about him since he sold Australian Geographic magazine. A lot of subscribers thought it was a society and that such decisions would be made by the “members”. But alas, it was all Dick’s when the fine print was read to them.
Dick is well up on my list of Australia’s ten most annoying people, right in front of Thomas Keneally.
Ultimately the hundreds of people who are involved with the production and sales of Dick Smith Foods products will thank you for choosing not to buy them as they contemplate their futures. Those charities and disabled people will also be forever grateful to you as well, as their supply of funds diminishes.
Mr. Craig of DSF is trying to make Yarran feel guilty about boycotting Dick Smith!
What, won’t Dick pay their wages and make donations out of his personal funds? Or is his “charity” limited to tax deductions?
Posted by The_Real_JeffS on 2008 02 05 at 12:03 AM • permalink
#14, CL, As best I can tell someone is already importing the grass for them to eat, the only green thing in those photos are the peoples clothes.
Its such a pity the Afghans cant eat opium poppies, ive heard they might have a few of those around…
Posted by The_Wizard_of_WOZ on 2008 02 05 at 12:04 AM • permalink
Regarding your defense of the “Dick Smith” foods brand.
As a historical point of interest it may be said that the branding of “Fascism” type politics was extremely successful throughout the 1930s. However the activities of one of the brands leading spokesmen, and possibly the chap most associated with it around 1939 saw its market share slump dramatically.
Some aggressive takeovers were attempted in an attempt to maintain the brands market share, but little could help it once it began its downward slide, as its spokesman’s rash actions damaged the brand fatally.
Posted by thefrollickingmole on 2008 02 05 at 12:19 AM • permalink
…the hundreds of people who are involved with the production and sales of Dick Smith Foods products will thank you for choosing not to buy them as they contemplate their futures.
Is this childish sarcasm? Or, perhaps Mr Craig really believes that those hundreds of people are sick of working for a dickhead and will thank us for getting them out of their misery into worthwhile jobs.
It’s like having your very own Aussie Ted Turner at twenty-five cents on the dollar.
Posted by richard mcenroe on 2008 02 05 at 01:40 AM • permalink
Re #32, well, peter, I am impressed! Why, it was only last week that I questioned his ability to read such a large document in a timely manner. But he finished it over the weekend.
Must be one helluva speed reader, is all I can say.
Posted by The_Real_JeffS on 2008 02 05 at 02:25 AM • permalink
Re #25, the dude is hereby qualified to run for mayor of DC, C.L.!
Posted by The_Real_JeffS on 2008 02 05 at 02:26 AM • permalink
#17 – Dick Smith has had a stink about him since he sold Australian Geographic magazine.
Exactly—it was AG that first tipped me off that Dick has doubtful ethics. AG was advertised as having a limited mumber of subscriptions available and you were privilged if you were invited to subscribe. I might have been a green in those days but my BS meter went off the scale. Who in hell starts an expensive glossy magazine (and a quite a good one, I have to say) then limits the number of subscribers? Answer: No one, not even Dick Smith. This was pure marketing bullshit.
Ever since then when ever Dick says something I ask, “Is he lying again?”. When he started Dick Smith Foods my immediate reaction was, “This is more Dick Smith marketing crap” and never went near it.
#25—You’ve been reading BOTW too! My reaction was, “Plumber’s?”
Posted by walterplinge on 2008 02 05 at 02:26 AM • permalink
But, Dick Smith, the real target of your proposed action will be totally unaffected, apart for feeling sorry that he can no longer help as many Australians as he has in the past.
Boo fucking hoo.
From Mad Dick to Sad Dick. Who cares, now fuck off you PR pansy.
Posted by Abu Chowdah on 2008 02 05 at 02:49 AM • permalink
Scene: Dick Smith Food boardroom
CEO: Ok, look he’s coming in in a minute, so lets be nice eh?
Sonia: he gives me the creeps
CEO: yeah well Dick has spoken and you know powerful Dick can be.
CEO: umm, here he is, welcome David, welcome, come in
Hicks: Er, thanks, I’m keen to get started
CEO: Ok, that’s great David, really, really great. We were just discussing some advertising ideas for our product line, any thoughts?
Hicks: yeah, the extra virgin oil turns me right on you know. Can I ask where you get ya virgins from?
CEO: (stares at Hicks and then group) Its not that sort of virgin oil David, maybe we should move along
Hicks: Get rid of the muesli bars
CEO: what?
Hicks: Get rid of them, they’re made by unbelievers and are full of pig fat trying to convert the faithful
CEO: David, they’re made in Warragul
Hicks: Yes, a hotbed of lust and vice that must be punished
CEO: erm, we were discussing the campaign for our new peanut butter, Sonia?
Sonia: yes, our demographic research shows that mothers like our product more so than our rivals
Hicks: Big tits
All: What?
Hicks: Yeah, mothers with big tits, smothered with peanut butter.
CEO: I think its time you met our janitorial staff David.
That was brilliant. I seriously laughed very hard. Thanks mate.
Posted by The Best Infidel on 2008 02 05 at 03:05 AM • permalink
- cohenite
Phillip Adams is definitely on my most annoying list but Robyn Williams isn’t. He simply does not register with me at all, like he’s not there.But John Singleton is there. Can’t stand him mumbling like a homeless alcoholic derro. Geoffrey Rush. Jack Thompson. They all drive me to change channels or turn off the TV and radio.
Is it really worth all this? Couldn’t you just disagree with him without calling him repellent and wishing him harm?
Posted by Jefferson Skates on 2008 02 05 at 04:18 AM • permalink
Is it JIHAD really worth all this? Couldn’t you just disagree with him WORSHIP YOUR GOD without calling him KAFFIRS and JEWS repellent and wishing him THEM harm
When Hicks spouts something like this he may be worth salvaging. At the moment a man who trained and attempted to fight with a brutal theocracy is still playing the put-upon-tourist game.
Hes a dog until he says “I fucked up, I apologise unreservedly ands will spend the next decade or 2 living the life of a good man to make up for it. PS: Heres the names and numbers of every jihadi I have ever met”.
Until then hes a rather odious thing which no decent person should have anything to do with.
Posted by thefrollickingmole on 2008 02 05 at 04:59 AM • permalink
#43, Yes we certainly could. I personally choose not to.
#44, Nicely said Frollick
Posted by The_Wizard_of_WOZ on 2008 02 05 at 05:03 AM • permalink
For what it’s worth… a brief description of the short Dick spoof satire I mentioned somewhere.
Posted by SwinishCapitalist on 2008 02 05 at 05:27 AM • permalink
48 – Pog, I only wish I could find the damn movie itself.
Posted by SwinishCapitalist on 2008 02 05 at 06:29 AM • permalink
Take Hicks up in a plane over Canberra.
Dawood: “Can I fly this thing?”
Dick: “Sure, you’re a trustworthy fellow.”
Dawood: “Say, is that Parliament House down there?”
cue soundtrack from Tora Tora Tora
Posted by mr creosote on 2008 02 05 at 07:34 AM • permalink
So what are Dick’s associations with the church, and if he sold the company, why will not buying from them affect his ability to be charitable/”philanthropic”?
And why does he suggest that not supporting the church by buying from them will somehow diminish overall goodwill. Seems awefully arogant for a religious man.
Assuming that the charitible actions of the church produce more goodwill than actually maximizing long term profit for a company, regardless of whether its investors give charitably and are philanthropic, is damn arogant.
I’m guessing 1. He still owns part, and 2. The arrangement is mostly a mutally beneficial tax shelter and that he and his family recieve lavish treatment by the church and exert much influence.
“You ignorant twit, Dick doesn’t own the company, his Cult owns it. You should be ashamed not to support Dick’s cult. They’re Australian and all.” WTF
I was actually wondering why you’re all getting so worked up about Dick. So he doesn’t hate Dave as much as you do, so what? What’s the big deal?
Posted by Jefferson Skates on 2008 02 05 at 08:22 AM • permalink
No big deal for me. I just regard people who go sucking up to terrorist skanks as being one step below cockroach on the evolutionary ladder.
You don’t get all worked up about cockroaches, you just step on them if they happen to get in your way.
Posted by Dave Surls on 2008 02 05 at 08:32 AM • permalink
And we wouldn’t have discovered that the company is run by a cult now. Way more interesting than simply mischaracterising a terrorist’s past and suggesting he should profit from it. Peace cult supports terror cult.
You’re right it makes more sense to ignore them both. Sadly, depressed people are the most rational thinkers. Ironic a bit too.
Dick certainly leaves a sore feeling.
Posted by Hank Reardon on 2008 02 05 at 09:01 AM • permalink
#60, I wouldn’t go so far as to say that I hate david hicks, I just think it would be better for Australia, for him and for the whole of human kind if he were still in gitmo.
Preferably for the remainder of his life.
Posted by The_Wizard_of_WOZ on 2008 02 05 at 08:58 PM • permalink
“Dick Smith Foods – As Australian as you can get!”
Even if it means expressing support for Islamic terrorists! Whoopee!