#talktojoan is trending in Ireland... but not in a good way

Poor Joan.

EARLIER TODAY, JOAN Burton launched a new Labour party initiative aimed at generating debate about policy ahead of the next general election.

As part of this she also unveiled the #talktojoan hashtag, encouraging people to get in touch with positive ideas.

Labour Party leader launches talk to Jo Leah Farrell / Photocall Ireland Leah Farrell / Photocall Ireland / Photocall Ireland

She wasn’t much interested in the “keyboard warriors” and what they had to say:

I’m really concentrating on people with positive ideas,” the Tanaiste and Labour insisted.

Unfortunately for Labour it appears the keyboard warriors have been out in force today.

The hashtag has trended in Ireland and generated plenty of conversation but the majority of it is negative towards her and the party:

When @joanburton has refused to talk to #BallyheaSaysNo for the last 222 weeks, why should we now #TalktoJoan?@fb_fitz @GTCost @lukeming
— Diarmuid O'Flynn (@ballyhea14) June 3, 2015

Diarmuid O'Flynn / Twitter

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#TalkToJoan #WhereIsEnda #siteserv WHERE'S THE FENNELLY REPORT?
— vaRATcher (@Rats4NeoLeo) June 3, 2015

endakenny / Twitter

#TalkToJoan ...no thanks #JoanMustGo time is up
— #jft96#Laura Inglis (@LaraBobs) June 3, 2015

#jft96#Laura Inglis / Twitter

Opposition politicians are also getting in on the act and they’re not exactly bursting with the positive ideas that Burton was looking for:

Man made homeless in Lucan today because rents office wouldn't pay rent supplement above cap despite DSP info note 201418. #talktojoan
— Eoin Ó Broin (@EOBroin) June 3, 2015

Eoin O Broin / Twitter

Ireland, one of the many nodes in the network of international tax avoidance that maintains & worsens inequality. True or false? #TalkToJoan
— Joan Collins Community Activist (@JoanCollinsTD) June 3, 2015

Joan Collins T.D. / Twitter

Will Joan Burton reverse the cuts to payments to lone parent families she brought in this Summer? #TalkToJoan #dubw
— Joe Higgins (@JoeHigginsSP) June 3, 2015

Joe Higgins TD / Twitter

Others have been asking the more pressing questions:

Tánaiste can the Government settle this one please? Who'd win in a fight, Green or White Power Ranger? #TalkToJoan pic.twitter.com/HqfCx5IA44
— MrVestek (he/him) (@mrvestek) June 3, 2015

Steven Kavanagh / Twitter

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There has been some positive input although from what we could see a lot of this was coming from Labour party members:

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We need to invest more funding in our third level education sector, both public and private. #TalkToJoan
— David Whelan🇮🇪🇺🇦 (@dulchiewhelan) June 3, 2015

david whelan / Twitter

While those working in the party’s press office have sought to defend the initiative:

A positive engagement with voters on twitter far more preferable than pics of Adams and his teddy bear #TalkToJoan
— Ronan Farren (@rnfarren) June 3, 2015

Ronan Farren / Twitter

I think some online engagement by a party leader with the public is actually pretty ballsy in this day and age #talktojoan @labour
— Amy Rose Harte (@amyroseharte) June 3, 2015

Amy Rose Harte / Twitter

Let me get this straight. Now it's a BAD thing to use social media to engage with members of the public? #TalkToJoan
— Dermot O’Gara (@dermotog) June 3, 2015

Dermot O'Gara / Twitter

#talktojoan is trending in Ireland... but not in a good way

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Earlier: Labour’s latest social media campaign isn’t going well