Coronavirus Thread (Off Topic, Politics) (148 Viewers)

[David O'Day]

Seems his timing was impeccable.

Exactly, I called and along he came.

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[skybluetony176]

Wait for it...

Getting the full house here

Socialist. Tick
Lefty rag. Tick
Unbalanced. Tick
Poor man’s Will Self. Tick (although it pains me to admit that’s a fair point)

What I really want to know is which Newspaper tried to pass off a clap for the NHS photo as a clap for Boris photo.

Not sure anyone can say it’s unbalanced either without ignoring the point he makes about the Sun calling NHS staff angels having not that long ago called for junior doctors to be sacked for having the audacity to ask for a pay rise. You want to talk unbalanced look at the behaviour of the Sun newspaper.

 

[TomRad85]

Bit early to start the attention seeking today isn’t it?

You've made his list! Perhaps a blessing in disguise.

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[David O'Day]

Anyway Mark Steel's article was good and god knows what his politics have to do with anything.

It does seem you are not allowed to criticise the government when when they make mistakes.

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[Grendel]

You've made his list! Perhaps a blessing in disguise.

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He hasn’t ignored anyone he’s just playing a game

 

[David O'Day]

Tom still obsessing over me I'm told



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[skybluetony176]

He hasn’t ignored anyone he’s just playing a game

To be fair you would know. It’s your game.

 

[Ring Of Steel]

To be fair the way he wrote the article I knew without even looking him up that he was likely to have a slant to his views (I’d never heard of him before)

The best writers/presenters are usually the ones where you’re not quite sure what their personal beliefs are (very difficult i appreciate)

twitter is similar- nobody seems capable of a balanced view and everyone has an agenda, I would argue that one of the biggest issues facing the U.K. for the next decade is not just the Coronavirus or Brexit, it’s that society is completely broken, nobody trusts anyone, the gap between ‘haves and have nots’ has never been bigger, everyone is angry at one another and there is open hatred all over the place. In a rare foray into politics I would guess that this heaps pressure on Starmer because the need for a coherent, viable opposition has never been greater.

 

[David O'Day]

Grenners claiming I haven't blocked anyone but loo his posts not there



Anyway that's enough of them.

 

[clint van damme]

Once again trying to point score, I think it’s pretty low in all honesty

Michael Gove said on TV the other day that it's right to question the government throughout the crisis.
It's not point scoring at all. Same as it's right to praise then if they get something right.
Every government in the world is being scrutinised by its citizens
Stop being silly Dom

 

[Grendel]

Grenners claiming I haven't blocked anyone but loo his posts not there

View attachment 14812

Anyway that's enough of them.

But you knew I’d said it - David goes mystic meg on us

 

[clint van damme]

It was a unbalanced lazy rant of an article. People knocked Dom for lack of critical thinking, people should ask journalists/those in the media (left and right wing) to show the same.

Of course the government (and their medical advisors/PHE) should be held to account but do it in a constructive, balanced way. This was not

ps I was told as a kid, always check the author of articles as you’ll then know what type of underlying biases/slants they might have - Mark Steel (born 4 July 1960) is an English comedian, broadcaster, newspaper columnist and author.[1] A stand-up comedian known for his left-wing beliefs (he was a long-standing member of the Socialist Workers Party).

That doesn’t necessarily mean ignore it but also that I’m guessing he’s unlikely to ever say anything positive about the government

You do realise he's a comedian who's columns are all a sarcastic piss take whatever the subject matter?
He's not a political journalist though he hits the spot more often than many of them.

 

[TomRad85]

But you knew I’d said it - David goes mystic meg on us

He has a mole apparently. If that's real it must the only human being on earth sadder than David. Although let's just assume thats not possible.

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[Grendel]

You do realise he's a comedian who's columns are all a sarcastic piss take whatever the subject matter?
He's not a political journalist though he hits the spot more often than many of them.

He once got booted out the party for one of his “funny” rants about Blair didn’t he?

 

[David O'Day]

Getting the full house here

Socialist. Tick
Lefty rag. Tick
Unbalanced. Tick
Poor man’s Will Self. Tick (although it pains me to admit that’s a fair point)

What I really want to know is which Newspaper tried to pass off a clap for the NHS photo as a clap for Boris photo.

Not sure anyone can say it’s unbalanced either without ignoring the point he makes about the Sun calling NHS staff angels having not that long ago called for junior doctors to be sacked for having the audacity to ask for a pay rise. You want to talk unbalanced look at the behaviour of the Sun newspaper.

Exactly I do find it hypocritical that the people who in December were calling the very notion of a properly funded NHS dangerous socialist nonsense that would bankrupt the country are now calling for more spending and beatifying the very staff they called to be sacked.

It is not point scoring to say the NHS was put at a disadvantage in the fight against covid-19 because at the start of the pandemic teh current NHS financial settlement did not cover the cost of treating it's bread and butter patients.

 

[CCFCSteve]

twitter is similar- nobody seems capable of a balanced view and everyone has an agenda, I would argue that one of the biggest issues facing the U.K. for the next decade is not just the Coronavirus or Brexit, it’s that society is completely broken, nobody trusts anyone, the gap between ‘haves and have nots’ has never been bigger, everyone is angry at one another and there is open hatred all over the place. In a rare foray into politics I would guess that this heals pressure on Starmer because the need for a coherent, viable opposition has never been greater.

Spot on. I think it’s not just the UK but a lot of the western world, in particular trust/acceptance of others views and opinions. Read a book recently (rare for me - poor attention span !) called Rebel Ideas by Matthew Syed. There’s a chapter about echo chambers (and information bubbles) which is very interesting as a lot of it is about lack of trust in others views and bizarrely how with more information available now than ever before (which should encourage more balanced views) most have become even more polarised

 

[David O'Day]

Michael Gove said on TV the other day that it's right to question the government throughout the crisis.
It's not point scoring at all. Same as it's right to praise then if they get something right.
Every government in the world is being scrutinised by its citizens
Stop being silly Dom

Clint mate as we've established yesterday there are folk on here who will attack you for doing what the government say.

 

[Ring Of Steel]

You do realise he's a comedian who's columns are all a sarcastic piss take whatever the subject matter?
He's not a political journalist though he hits the spot more often than many of them.

This happens every time. Because the U.K. is now turning into USA, if ever someone says anything that has a grain of truth, the opposite side just does everything they can to discredit the writer. Politics here is turning into religion- our chosen side is right no matter what, and if someone says otherwise we’ll do our best to destroy them. Before you know where you are nobody remembers what was said, just that the writer is biased or a prick.

2,000 people died in the last two days and the headline everywhere is that Boris is a fighter, and our prayers have been answered, his strength of character has beaten off COVID19- this is not rational, this is fundamentalism, with Boris as our deity.

Edit based on what Steve said which I agree with, it’s not just ‘the right’- Corbyn became a cult as well. Our society is badly out of shape.

 

[clint van damme]

He once got booted out the party for one of his “funny” rants about Blair didn’t he?

Didn't know that but wouldn't surprise me.

 

[Grendel]

twitter is similar- nobody seems capable of a balanced view and everyone has an agenda, I would argue that one of the biggest issues facing the U.K. for the next decade is not just the Coronavirus or Brexit, it’s that society is completely broken, nobody trusts anyone, the gap between ‘haves and have nots’ has never been bigger, everyone is angry at one another and there is open hatred all over the place. In a rare foray into politics I would guess that this heaps pressure on Starmer because the need for a coherent, viable opposition has never been greater.

Bit like this charmer you mean?

Union boss said he would 'throw a party' if Boris Johnson died | Metro News

 

[David O'Day]

You do realise he's a comedian who's columns are all a sarcastic piss take whatever the subject matter?
He's not a political journalist though he hits the spot more often than many of them.

I once again don't think people have the piece in question.

It's no different to went Frankie Boyle flays everyone to within an inch of their lives or when someone like Geoff Northcot goes on a right wing rant about the left.

 

[Ring Of Steel]

Bit like this charmer you mean?

Union boss said he would 'throw a party' if Boris Johnson died | Metro News

you do realise you’re completely proving my point don’t you? Totally unbalanced everywhere on all sides.

before you attempt to draw me into specific Labour v Tory stuff, that guy is a prick for saying that.

you know- it used to be possible to have an opinion without immediately getting branded a loony, a righty, a c**t and having your personality ripped to shreds before anyone even bothered reading what was being said, and it used to be possible to express an opinion without having to go to the point of wishing people dead or slating millions of people in order to get attention. Whole country is fucked up.

surely you can see that? Surely everyone can see that? I’m English and I’m telling you now- England is messed up at the moment.

 

[Otis]

Bit like this charmer you mean?

Union boss said he would 'throw a party' if Boris Johnson died | Metro News

Hope they had planned to all keep two metres apart.

 

[CCFCSteve]

You do realise he's a comedian who's columns are all a sarcastic piss take whatever the subject matter?
He's not a political journalist though he hits the spot more often than many of them.

I had only looked him up after reading the article and drafting the message.

I’m not sure if the crux of the article was a piss take (or maybe I’m just lacking a sense of humour on the subject). His comments

‘Because we’re set to sail past Spain and Italy’s figures, and current predictions suggest British casualties will end up way higher than anywhere else in Europe’ - this could happen but I’m guessing it’s based on that US model earlier in the week which is already out of date/flawed and quoting Grants Shapps to suggest the government was ignoring medical advice were a couple of the reasons why I thought it came across as a lazy rant

 

[Ian1779]

This happens every time. Because the U.K. is now turning into USA, if ever someone says anything that has a grain of truth, the opposite side just does everything they can to discredit the writer. Politics here is turning into religion- our chosen side is right no matter what, and if someone says otherwise we’ll do our best to destroy them. Before you know where you are nobody remembers what was said, just that the writer is biased or a prick.

2,000 people died in the last two days and the headline everywhere is that Boris is a fighter, and our prayers have been answered, his strength of character has beaten off COVID19- this is not rational, this is fundamentalism, with Boris as our deity.

Edit based on what Steve said which I agree with, it’s not just ‘the right’- Corbyn became a cult as well. Our society is badly out of shape.

Corbyn didn’t become a cult... it was more that someone came along that offered a different way of doing things and lots of people that were disenfranchised, disengaged and left behind finally felt their voices could be heard.

Yes they made lots of mistakes, but it’s quite a sad indictment that the notion of wanting to be part of a better world is deemed ‘cultish’ yet the ideological pursuit of Brexit (which is talked up as some kind of resurrection of the British Empire) is not.

 

[Ring Of Steel]

Spot on. I think it’s not just the UK but a lot of the western world, in particular trust/acceptance of others views and opinions. Read a book recently (rare for me - poor attention span !) called Rebel Ideas by Matthew Syed. There’s a chapter about echo chambers (and information bubbles) which is very interesting as a lot of it is about lack of trust in others views and bizarrely how with more information available now than ever before (which should encourage more balanced views) most have become even more polarised

steve, I’m going to find that book. And before I read it I’m going to deliberately not look into Mr Syed’s affiliations so I can read it with an open mind..

 

[Sick Boy]

Noticed this earlier, sadly it seems to be happening across many countries, depressing to think how high the actual figures could be.

Covid-19: Hundreds of UK care home deaths not added to official toll

 

[Nick]

Im an argumentative prick but some of you are taking it to a next level.

Chill the fuck out and back away from the internet for a couple of days!

 

[skybluetony176]

But you knew I’d said it - David goes mystic meg on us

Again your game.

 

[skybluetony176]

He has a mole apparently. If that's real it must the only human being on earth sadder than David. Although let's just assume thats not possible.

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This again is Grendulls game.

 

[CCFCSteve]

steve, I’m going to find that book. And before I read it I’m going to deliberately not look into Mr Syed’s affiliations so I can read it with an open mind..

Haha, to be fair it’s a non political book (I don’t think there’s any angles to it...or I’ve missed them !!!!)

 

[TomRad85]

Im an argumentative prick but some of you are taking it to a next level.

Chill the fuck out and back away from the internet for a couple of days!

I honestly wasn't going to get drawn into it today but waking up seeing the forums number 1 tosspot lying away like usual set me off.

That said, it was low quality bait and I should probably have just ignored it.

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[Ring Of Steel]

Corbyn didn’t become a cult... it was more that someone came along that offered a different way of doing things and lots of people that were disenfranchised, disengaged and left behind finally felt their voices could be heard.

Yes they made lots of mistakes, but it’s quite a sad indictment that the notion of wanting to be part of a better world is deemed ‘cultish’ yet the ideological pursuit of Brexit (which is talked up as some kind of resurrection of the British Empire) is not.

Just calling it as I saw it as someone reasonably independent watching from the outside in. Would I rather have had Corbyn win or Boris- I think it’s pretty obvious to all who I’d have gone for given that choice. But trust me- with a sensible hat on Corbyn did not present a viable alternative, you only have to look at his brexit stance for that. But like I say, I’m not here for the political specifics. My point is that the mechanics of how people think and evaluate is completely messed up, politics is now religion. It’s one of those rare occasions where grendel isn’t putting up links so I’m pretty sure he sees some validity to this

Edit... and another brave foray into politics.. does all this not suggest that we need proportional representation?

(runs for cover)

 

[Nick]

You are all racist lefty right loving, Corbyn shagging Boris loving pricks.

Go out and sit in the garden.

 

[skybluetony176]

I once again don't think people have the piece in question.

It's no different to went Frankie Boyle flays everyone to within an inch of their lives or when someone like Geoff Northcot goes on a right wing rant about the left.

Geoff Northcot is actually one of my favourite comedians. Strange as I’m apparently a snowflake lefty.