BS: Politics and Depression

Subject: Politics and Depression
From: Elmore
Date: 12 Mar 15 - 08:53 PM

Okay, I'm a liberal Democrat. I've followed politics closely for decades. April 2 will be my 74th birthday. In the (anti) social media people are ridiculing one another like kids in a school yard. Worst of all, politicians, voters, non-voters, and a host of ill-informed sheep take every opportunity to insult the President, his family, and his ancestors. I've never seen anything like it. Gives me the blues. Any Hope?

Subject: RE: Politics and Depression
From: Elmore
Date: 12 Mar 15 - 09:22 PM

Sorry. Should've posted this in the b.s. section.

Subject: RE: Politics and Depression
From: Ebbie
Date: 12 Mar 15 - 09:25 PM

I've decided there are a lot more nasty people in the world than I ever thought. It is almost unbelievable. The antidote? I have no idea.

Subject: RE: Politics and Depression
From: Elmore
Date: 12 Mar 15 - 10:22 PM

Re-read my post. I guess there are worse things in the world than respect for one's fellow man. Still, it might be in the top 10.

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: Musket
Date: 13 Mar 15 - 03:35 AM

I don't think there are any more nasty people around, in fact I see less prejudice and bigotry as time passes.

But I am aware that communications and media has transformed causes and opinion making in a big big way. So nasty people getting the oxygen of publicity? More oxygen and more publicity. Oh and in this soundbite age, quicker delivery from mouth to unsuspecting public.

The influence of malign intent is deeper but I remain convinced that people are seeing through it more at the same time. Over here in The UK, it will be once again impossible for a party to form a majority government at this year's election because people are less inclined to be taken in by empty promises and the art of slagging off the other lot is increasingly back firing.

Interesting times...

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Mar 15 - 07:49 AM

Manners are different on the internet, just as they are on the tar-and-concrete superhighway.

People who are normally polite and considerate turn into violent psychopaths behind the wheel of a car moving at 70 miles per hour. At least that's true in the East coast of the US; though apparently not, or at least less so, in some places I've been, such as Seattle.

Similarly, people will say things online that they would never say in person, if only because they don't want to risk being punched, stabbed, or shot in response. I don't know if this case has regional variations.

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Mar 15 - 08:24 AM

Over here in The UK, it will be once again impossible for a party to form a majority government at this year's election because people are less inclined to be taken in by empty promises ... Interesting times...

Quite so, as far as interesting times is concerned. I'm not *quite* so sure about the empty promises bit: I'm certain people have always been suspicious of that. I think what has happened is that while we have been a two and a bit party system for a long time, with tribal loyalty a big player, the big three from last time have all grown so similar and are held in such low regard that we are now entering a seven-or-so party system, and no-one has any idea how that will play out. In particular, the 'vote-for-who-you-dislike-least' group has probably almost disappeared, changing into a vote for one of the other parties.

My guess? There is a fair chance that no two parties will be big enough to form a majority [unless we had a Lab-Cons pact], and that it will take three or more to do it. However, to treat my guess with the contempt it deserves, I had expected there to be a substantial swing to LibDem last time, whereas it was near enough unchanged from the previous election.

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: Stanron
Date: 13 Mar 15 - 08:32 AM

I don't get it. What is there about politics that could possibly make anyone depressed?

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: DMcG
Date: 13 Mar 15 - 08:52 AM

Oddly enough, we seem to have got to close where the AV voting system would have taken us according to its detractors, but with just its problems not its advantages.

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 13 Mar 15 - 09:15 AM

If you were to print a thousand copies of a screed and spend the day passing them out on street corners, 995 of them would wind up in waste bins unread. If you were to publish that same screed on a blog, a thousand people would read it and 995 of them would agree with you.

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: GUEST,#
Date: 13 Mar 15 - 09:18 AM

The AV voting system would likely fail in North America. First, I doubt there is even five percent of the population that digs deep enough to know the candidates. Second, it would require computers to do the tabulations, and there--there be dragons. Third, we need parties that aren't foisting shit on the electorate.

I've reached the conclusion that the only fair way to decide on a ruler is by a duel to the death with axes between the contenders only, no proxies. It would be a nice followup to the law and economic degrees.

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: GUEST,HiLo
Date: 13 Mar 15 - 09:51 AM

There is more than one country in "North America", and they have quite different systems of government. It is confusing to lump all of these countries together as North America as if they were all the same.

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: Greg F.
Date: 13 Mar 15 - 09:59 AM

In the U.S, the Reublican cuts to education funding of the last 30 years are bearing fruit. We've now raised up several generations of uneducated, ignorant idiots.

Suggest y'all read: Idiot America: How Stupidity Became a Virtue in the Land of the Free by Charles P. Pierce.

Then too, there's the "Citizens United" decision......

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: GUEST,#
Date: 13 Mar 15 - 10:07 AM

At present I see little difference between the US and Canada. Mexico has been a drug deal gone bad for decades. Electorates are not as aware as they used to be, or at least it doesn't seem so.

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: GUEST,HiLo
Date: 13 Mar 15 - 10:15 AM

Canada has a Parliamentary system which differs greatly from the two party system in the us.

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and ian and well aware Depression
From: GUEST,#
Date: 13 Mar 15 - 10:21 AM

I'm Canadian and well aware of what constitutes our government. However, recent challenges to both our Charter and Constitution indicate that there is at present a one-party system in control of things, the Libs, NDs and Greens notwithstanding. YMMV.

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: GUEST,HiLo
Date: 13 Mar 15 - 12:24 PM

I was simply trying to point out that A Parliamentary system differs greatly from the system currently used in the US.

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: GUEST,#
Date: 13 Mar 15 - 12:28 PM

That's true :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 13 Mar 15 - 01:43 PM

Politicians get negative and nasty with each other because that's what gets votes. Carefully explaining economic policy does not. Most people are extremely ignorant about politics, yet they possess all the voting power, and politicians know it. Simplistic sloganising gets votes, especially if it contains criticism of foreigners who take our jobs and houses or of people unable to work through ill-health living the benefit lifestyle. Stuff like that goes down amazingly well. Patient exposition of what the country really needs in order to move forward is useless. But political education in schools is a non-starter. There would be a terrible fault line in an education system that refuses to allow children to critically question the existence of God yet which persuades them to take nothing that politicians say without a healthy dose of scepticism. It just doesn't happen. Huge numbers of people vote for parties on bogus single issues because they are ignorant. Ban the scroungers. Ban abortion. Send the foreigners home (especially if they're a funny colour). Bring back hanging. We'll cut your taxes. Ban strikes and unions. Let's bomb the Argies. Rule Britannia!

You're an educated person, right? So watch Nigel Farage on telly for a couple of minutes then explain to me why any sane, balanced person would vote for his party.

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Mar 15 - 04:00 PM

Ireland's newest political party Renua Ireland was launched today. One of its TDs , Terence Flanagan, had a "mental blank" when being questioned on air about the party's policies earlier this evening. Commentators are describing it as "the worst interview ever".

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/renua-ireland-s-terence-flanagan-has-mental-blank-on-radio-1.2139165

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: Greg F.
Date: 13 Mar 15 - 04:39 PM

Commentators are describing it as "the worst interview ever".

Really? Guess those commentators have never watched Fux "News"[sic].

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 13 Mar 15 - 04:48 PM

Do you mean Fux "News" [sick], Greg?

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 13 Mar 15 - 05:08 PM

An important New York Times/CBS News survey finds that six years after the terror attacks of 9/11, "33 percent of all Americans, including 40 percent of Republicans and 27 percent of Democrats, say Saddam Hussein was personally involved" [PR Watch]

Sorry if that looks like a bleed from another thread, but it illustrates perfectly what I was saying about ignorance of politics. Those 33% are still qualified to vote in elections for the most powerful person on the bloody planet. Wow.

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: Elmore
Date: 13 Mar 15 - 05:35 PM

My wife watches Faux News occasionally, just to keep up with the manure they are spreading. My wife is much stronger than I am.

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: Rapparee
Date: 13 Mar 15 - 05:47 PM

Celexa, Prozac, all sorts of things can help depression.

Politics, on the other hand, doesn't do anything but make the depression worse.

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 13 Mar 15 - 06:12 PM

But someone has to run our countries.

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: Greg F.
Date: 13 Mar 15 - 08:04 PM

Politics, on the other hand, doesn't do anything but make the depression worse.

The current STATE of politics, perhaps, but not politics itself, unless one wants to do without government.

On the other hand, someone once said that people by & large get the government they deserve. Considering the 33% referenced above, this should not come as a surprise. Especially if the other 66% do nothing & let them get away with it.

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: Joe_F
Date: 13 Mar 15 - 08:27 PM

I dare say every president has a consoling pocket anthology of insults that have been hurled at sitting presidents over the years -- especially at the ones who were getting things done.

It also seems to me that noisy malice is often a sign of demoralization and the important changes in public opinion may be happening more quietly and deserve more attention.

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: GUEST,#
Date: 13 Mar 15 - 11:15 PM

I certainly hope you're right about that, Joe.

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: Amos
Date: 14 Mar 15 - 12:52 AM

LAst week an interviewer wandered around a U of T campus in AUstin, Texas asking certain historical questions of the students. One out of ten knew who won the Civil War, and another one of ten knew who the Veep was. The rest had no clue, They couldn't say who it was America gained her independence from. But every one of them knew who Brad Pitt was married to and what regular TV show she was on.

We have therefore a two-edged sort. Media bloat is making people stupid about reality. And high-speed wide-spread technology is making it easier and faster for stupid rearms to be fired off. Before the Internet it was considered wise to keep your mouth shut rather than make yourself look bad by saying stupid things. Now, the opposite seems to be the general practice.

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: akenaton
Date: 14 Mar 15 - 03:42 AM

I agree 100% Amos.....the media determines what sort of country we live in. Which Party is actually incumbent has little real meaning, the same ends are always pursued.....the survival of the capitalist system.

To talk about the obvious truths concerning capitalism is like talking about death, no one wants to here it.
Today all the people care about is self. If they are told that to survive in a genuinely fair society, or living standards must fall, we must eradicate wasteful practices, everyone must contribute and pay a part of our earnings towards the upkeep of public services.....they presume you are a madman.

They have been well schooled in "doublethink"

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: Musket
Date: 14 Mar 15 - 03:51 AM

Yeah. If only everybody treated everyone else as equals and respected their situation, and didn't prejudge based on irrational hatred of differences, the world would be a better place.

I'd possibly miss irony though.

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: GUEST,Cynical
Date: 14 Mar 15 - 11:58 AM

Akenaton: Good point about doublethink. The constant barrage of ridiculous lies is tolerated because people think "they're not lying to us, they're lying for us." So we should believe them.

I remember when the first George Bush invaded Kuwait and kept saying adamantly, "This is not about oil!" Everyone knew he was lying, but most people thought he meant, "Yes, of course, it's about oil, and keeping the price of gasoline down so we can keep driving our gas guzzlers to Disney World, but we don't want to say that out loud because it would make us look bad to the rest of the world and would make us feel guilty if we admitted it to ourselves."

Later, after he was out of office, he said on a Sunday morning talking-head show, "If I had waited for the Congress to act, Saddam would be in Riyadh and oil would be thirty dollars a barrel." That was a lie, too, but a lot of people thought it was true, that a super-rich guy like Bush, who makes himself richer off the profits from oil sales, acted to keep the price of oil down.

And I remember when a Ronald Reagan supporter confided in me during the election, to try to convince me to vote for him. He said that you have to read between the lines, that Reagan says the outrageous things he does so that stupid people will vote for him. "He means that there are too many people that are too well off, so the system can't function. And he's going to fix that; but guys like you and me will be o.k. We'll still be doing fine." Another Reagan supporter at about the same time, apparently one of the "stupid people" that the first guy was referring to, assured me that what Reagan really means is that he's going to "give it" to the African-Americans (except that he used a different term for the latter).

Every time I've listened to a US politician speak since then, I've paid attention to how his supporters could interpret his lies to mean that he's looking out for them but trying to put one over on the stupid people of the other party or in other countries. It's not just Reagan; it's almost everyone in US politics.

I often wonder whether that's true in other countries. Lately I've been watching Putin speak on YouTube. He sits at a table with a bunch of journalists (including a table full of journalists from Time magazine in one case) and answers their questions for a long time, but he looks and sounds like a real person, not a talking doll. And, as far as I can tell, he's telling the truth the whole time. Maybe it's just that I don't know that culture. But it's really pleasant to watch, and in any case it could explain why he still has approval ratings in the 80's after 15 years in office.

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: akenaton
Date: 14 Mar 15 - 12:58 PM

Well said guest.

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: Ebbie
Date: 14 Mar 15 - 06:11 PM

Oh, I'm certain that Putin wouldn't lie to his people or to us. A right good guy, he is.

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Mar 15 - 06:37 PM

No one can say Putin tells lies.



Not if he wants to live to see his kids graduate.

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: Ed T
Date: 14 Mar 15 - 06:58 PM

Who controls politics, and most politicians?
Simple, follow the money.

As to politics and the traditional media - it's mostly a symbiotic relationship.

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: akenaton
Date: 15 Mar 15 - 04:23 AM

The most depressing thing about politics is the way it divides people into "left" and "right" without actually addressing what is good for the country or the people who live in it.

For example if you have a faith in god, you are automatically tarred as a "right wing nutter"

If you challenge the system in any way, for example, why the bosses of the failed financial services sector are not in prison, you are deemed a "mad left wing radical."

Steve posts a typical example above....."Huge numbers of people vote for parties on bogus single issues because they are ignorant. Ban the scroungers. Ban abortion. Send the foreigners home (especially if they're a funny colour). Bring back hanging. We'll cut your taxes. Ban strikes and unions. Let's bomb the Argies. Rule Britannia!

You're an educated person, right? So watch Nigel Farage on telly for a couple of minutes then explain to me why any sane, balanced person would vote for his party. ...."

In reality Mr Farage's Party stand for removing the UK from the EEU. Under present EU regulations, unrestricted movement of labour across all member countries is mandatory and with the acceptance of many Eastern European countries (where wage rates and living standards are very low) into the EU, there is naturally a huge flood of mainly unskilled migrants; this puts great strain on the UK infrastructure, housing, health provision, social services and most importantly the necessity of industry to pay decent wages and provide adequate training for a whole generation of young people.
I spoke to a very nice young Polish chap lately who has been working in the UK for the last few years, he receives under the minimum wage, but as his living expenses are shared with two other workers from abroad, he told me that he had sent home enough to build a house for him , his wife, and their two children in Poland.
He said to me that he was amazed that the jobs had not been taken by UK young people, what he did not know was that the jobs had not even been advertised in the UK, but were given out through an agency specialising in immigrant workers.
I also explained that a young person in the UK with a wife and two children living on the minimum wage, had not a snowballs chance in hell of ever getting a home of their own. The playing field is tilted hugely in favour of the system and against the interests of our own young people.
Mr Farage, when he first mooted the idea of putting a cap on immigration was demonised, called all sorts on names commonly used by a handful of people here, and roundly condemned by all major UK Parties as a "racist".   Amazingly, all UK parties now agree with Mr Farage that there should be a cap on immigration, but he is still viewed by most of the left as a "racist", because he has brought into question one of their great "shibboleths"
Very few of the EU immigrants are "black" or "brown", the huge majority are "white"

Personally, I am a socialist and disagree with a lot of what UKIP say regarding the economy and other political matters, but that does not stop me from recognising that one of their policies, the main plank of the Party is obviously correct and in the interests of future generations of UK young people.....it is simply being opposed for ideological reasons, which have no reasonable validity.

Time we started looking beyond the political ideology...it's all lies; and start thinking on how we move forward into a better future where we can see some REAL equality through the clouds of smoke.

Mr Farage says that Britain is now "colour blind" and I agree with that. Multiculturalism on the other hand, (different cultures living separately, without integration, in one country, is another matter altogether.

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: akenaton
Date: 15 Mar 15 - 04:31 AM

Sorry about the long post, but I thought the issue worth addressing. the last sentence should have been added to the paragraph concerning immigration....don't know how that happened....Ake.

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: Musket
Date: 15 Mar 15 - 04:36 AM

Real equality eh?

Fascinating.

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: akenaton
Date: 15 Mar 15 - 05:12 AM

Real equality in the context of this thread, would involve the playing field being adjusted to something resembling a level surface for millions of young people.

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: DMcG
Date: 15 Mar 15 - 05:30 AM

It doesn't take much to realise that taking £60,000,000 off the top earners and giving £1 each to the entire population isn't going to help anyone very much. So when I think of real equality/inequality I think of people like a senior government official I met a week or so ago who is claiming housing expenses of around half a day of a minimum wages income while actually staying with a relative "because the rules say he can". And his main role is ensuring low paid people don't make unauthorised claims.

One rule for the rich springs to mind...

Though be honest I am convinced he knows it is not authorised because I doubt very much he would put "... while staying with relatives" on the expense form, and he should have no qualms about that if he genuinely believed it was ok.

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 15 Mar 15 - 06:18 AM

"Colour blind" is a complete copout. It's hardly surprising that a throwback like Farage continues to use a thoroughly discredited phrase that most of us stopped embracing decades ago. He's got you fooled, hasn't he? His party is a ragbag of frustrated ex-Tories and Britain-for-the-British backwoodsmen (with apologies to Backwoodsman) and they depend entirely for their support on a simplistic and populist keep-out-the-foreigners platform. You're no socialist, are you. Real socialists have a healthy dash of internationalism in their veins. You are just a xenophobe.

Yes, some of those young Polish chaps CAN be very nice. Cor, fancy that...

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: GUEST,Allan Conn
Date: 15 Mar 15 - 06:48 AM

Farage must think we are all daft. Of course there is still a problem with discrimination in the UK. Did anyone see the TV prog "The Ukippers" the other week. Fly on the wall stuff was very revealing! The local party big wigs were trying to convince their people not to say anything controversial. It was very much "don't let anything slip which can be used against us" rather than "look we don't want racists etc in our party so if you are that way inclined there is no place for you". Then one candidate openly speaking to a party worker said "I have a real problem with anyone with negros.I don't know why?...I just do.....even if it is just someone with negro looking features" The party worker kind of half challenged her and phoned her superiors once she'd left and the candidate was immediately expelled. It does make you wonder though would she have been expelled had the camera not been there? Even giving them the benefit of the doubt after that happening how could Farage claim several weeks later that there is no colour problem and all discrimination laws should be abolished"

The thing that really got me though was the expelled candidate's attitude afterwards. She was just in denial. She claimed so have been expelled because she had used the word 'negro' and that it was political correctness gone mad! "People use much worse terms all the time" she said! She must have no conception that most people feel it totally unacceptable that you should dislike someone solely because they are of a different race.

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: GUEST,Allan Conn
Date: 15 Mar 15 - 06:50 AM

"""I have a real problem with anyone with negros.I don't know why?.""

Sorry that should have been she said "I have a real problem with negros"

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: Musket
Date: 15 Mar 15 - 07:46 AM

Dunno. Values are relative. someone on this thread keeps calling for equality whilst saying gay people are perverts who spread disease.

The UKIP woman displays the same ignorance and bigotry towards people who look different. The world is full of those who encourage people to look down on others. Normally, they are the sort who look for someone to blame for their own failures or lack of humanity.

Living in Scotland, I suppose we are lucky because whilst I don't support the independence aims of SNP, Sturgeon makes it clear that there is no place in Scottish society for homophobia to be embraced. Her embracing of diversity is a joy to behold. I could certainly support their "prosperity begins with equality" stance.

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: GUEST,Cynical
Date: 15 Mar 15 - 08:31 AM

"It doesn't take much to realise that taking £60,000,000 off the top earners and giving £1 each to the entire population isn't going to help anyone very much."

It takes a little more to realize that it wouldn't hurt anyone very much either, even if you took 60,000,000 from each of the top looters (in this context the use of the word "earn" is an absurd piece of subliminal propaganda). The loss of that amount would only be noticed by their accountants. You'd have to take billions from each of them to have any effect at all.

The ratio between someone who has billions in assets, and tens or hundreds of millions in income from it, to someone who works and has an income of tens of thousands can't possibly bear any resemblance to the ratio in what they contribute to the community. That level of wealth can only come from exploiting a corrupt system, "because the rules say he can."

But it's not necessary to divy it up into however many tens of thousands could thus be given to each poor person per each billionaire thus deprived. The good would come from eliminating a class of people whose wealth places them outside the moral community, with no concerns other than, as Ayn Rand pointed out so romantically, their whores and their "whip over the world."

Akenaton: Your long post is exactly right. As Pound said, the technique of infamy is to create two lies and then get people fighting over which one is true. The dividing points that incense the masses are all artificially created in order to divide and conquer. That's a military tactic, which is just as valid in class warfare as in any other. We usually don't hear about that ongoing class war unless someone suggests policies that could be interpreted as mounting a defense; until then it's really just one-sided massacre.

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: akenaton
Date: 15 Mar 15 - 09:32 AM

Allan, I'm a bit disappointed that you see any importance in the statement made by the daft UKIP woman.

"I have a real problem with negro features"

I have heard similar from people who voted Labour all their lives, in the past
Of course it is wrong, but all Partys have their daft people, they are a fact of life.....there is no valid reason why anyone should feel a problem with the appearance of black people other than personal dislike......and who can do anything about that, till the remarks have been made.
Mr Farage immediately removed the lady's Party membership.

All Party's have scandals of all kinds , remember Liberal Jeremy Thorp who allegedly tried to bump off his homosexual lover...the paedophile scandal in the highest echelons of the Tory party which was allegedly covered up....the expenses scandal amongst Labour MP's and Lords?

The point does not concern black immigrants from ex colonial countries, their numbers are already capped by law.
Highlighting these cases are simply a way of demonising a whole movement for the stupidity of a few.

Time to face the fact that as long as a capitalist economic system is in operation there will be no meaningful equality, as capitalism and equality are deadly enemies.....Capitalism demands aspiration and promotion of self over society.....Mrs Thatcher famously and rightly said that under capitalism there is "no such thing as society"

In that context, do you really think it is so important that one silly old woman just doesn't like the look of black people?

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 15 Mar 15 - 10:16 AM

One silly old woman? This country is heaving with people who don't like the look of black people. You have so many prejudices yourself that they seem to be making it difficult for you to detect another one even when it jumps up and bites your bum. And I won't even dwell on the sexist overtones of "silly old woman".

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: akenaton
Date: 15 Mar 15 - 10:29 AM

Well it could just as easily have been a silly old man, or a silly middle aged man. In this instance it was a silly old woman, and I believe in calling a spade a spade.

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: akenaton
Date: 15 Mar 15 - 10:33 AM

In fact Steve, that remark about the "sexist overtones" illustrates perfectly the idiocy of the "liberal" ideology.

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: Musket
Date: 15 Mar 15 - 10:41 AM

Why don't you tell her to get back to her knitting like you say to Mudcat members you disagree with?

Anyway, if you think bigots can be dismissed and marginalised, why do you call respectable people who point out your hatred "a liberal plot"?

Seems the kettle is pointing out the pot has ethnic minority status.

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 15 Mar 15 - 10:51 AM

Ms Duncan is 68, a member of Thanet District Council and has been in Mensa. Silly old woman is inappropriate, I'd contend. I can think of far better things to call her. Racist, bigot, nasty piece of work, perhaps. Odd that you wouldn't point to those kinds of attributes. And I'm not making a big thing of Mensa. Just saying.

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: Ed T
Date: 15 Mar 15 - 12:59 PM

"calling a spade a spade."

An odd term, given the discussion?

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: GUEST,Dave the Gnome
Date: 15 Mar 15 - 02:08 PM

Anyone notice how the thread was quite sensible until a certain arsehole posted his prejudiced right wing drivel?

Wonder how long it will be until it is either closed or deleted?

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: Musket
Date: 15 Mar 15 - 02:39 PM

It or he?

Not fussy either way now there is a stain on the page.

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: Jim McLean
Date: 15 Mar 15 - 02:40 PM

I can think of nothing decent or positive in any of UKIP's policies.

"Scotland's only Ukip politician, David Coburn, was last night urged to resign after it was reported that he had compared SNP minister Humza Yousaf to the convicted terrorist Abu Hamza."

Will he resign or be ticked off by Farage? Dream on.

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: Greg F.
Date: 15 Mar 15 - 05:14 PM

<>"calling a spade a spade." An odd term, given the discussion?

Unfortunately and unambiguously, that's just classic Ake.

He just beat PeeDee and Geist to it & they're probably chagrinned.

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: akenaton
Date: 15 Mar 15 - 05:48 PM

Come on Greg....you know me better than that.
Calling "a spade a spade" is a well known expression in these parts, it has no other connotations here, other than in referring to straight talk. It refers to an agricultural implement.....silly boys!

Oh my god!! I've just noticed I said "STRAIGHT TALK"!!!   :00

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: Ed T
Date: 15 Mar 15 - 06:01 PM

In a recent discussion at a local event, someone said, "there's more than one way to skin a cat". Annother person quickly replied, "time to refresh your expressions, as those related to cruelty to animals are no longer broadly acceptable".

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: akenaton
Date: 15 Mar 15 - 06:20 PM

I understand the point about animal cruelty and how it may be vaguely relevant, but what's the harm in calling a spade, a spade?

A spade and a shovel are two separate entities?

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: Greg F.
Date: 15 Mar 15 - 07:05 PM

Nor are those which demean persons of color, Ed.

Ya see, that there's the problem, Ake - if you'd bothered to think for a nanosecond, you might not have used that particular analogy in the context in whicgh you did. But you didn't stop to think. Yet again.

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: Musket
Date: 16 Mar 15 - 03:17 AM

Had he thought, it still fits his personality disorder. Leopards and spots.

He reckons "get back to your knitting" is a general expression where he and I live. Presumably "pervert" is too. But you never actually hear it... You do hear "here he comes" and "there he goes" though.....

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: Ed T
Date: 16 Mar 15 - 06:11 AM

The article linked speculates that the current viewpoint by some that the term "call a spade a spade" is derogatory could be based on a John Trapp source (the article dismisses that intent by Trapp as unlikely) :

John Trapp's Mellificium theologicum, or the marrow of many good authors, 1647:

"Gods people shall not spare to call a spade a spade, a niggard a niggard."

the phrase finder 

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: Musket
Date: 16 Mar 15 - 06:21 AM

The problem with most terms of reference that can be misconstrued is misconstruing them..

For instance, where Akenaton calls gay people perverts, that is less offensive than his "I feel sorry for them.". Yet only the former has a word in it that is in itself offensive.

Or where his soul mate Nigel Farage says his recent comments are about nationality not race, it merely means he has gone from overt racism to promoting institutional racism.

The feeling of despair inflicted on their victims remains the same in all the above scenarios.

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: Ed T
Date: 16 Mar 15 - 06:44 AM

My intent, in drawing attention to the "spade" term, was not to attach blame for the use of a term that some may (rightly or not) see as a racial slur. It was merely to note that using such terms in a race related discussion by a broad-based (geographic and cultural) community could lead to potentially unintended interpretation. I did use the term "odd" - nothing more.

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: pdq
Date: 16 Mar 15 - 09:45 AM

"to call a spade a spade"
    (Phrase Origins)


    ...is NOT an ethnic slur.
       It derives from an ancient Greek expression: _ta syka syka, te:n
    skaphe:n de skaphe:n onomasein_ = "to call a fig a fig, a trough a
    trough". This is first recorded in Aristophanes' play _The Clouds_
    (423 B.C.), was used by Menander and Plutarch, and is still current
    in modern Greek. There has been a slight shift in meaning: in
    ancient times the phrase was often used pejoratively, to denote a
    rude person who spoke his mind tactlessly; but it now, like the
    English phrase, has an exclusively positive connotation. It is
    possible that both the fig and the trough were originally sexual
    symbols.
       In the Renaissance, Erasmus confused Plutarch's "trough"
    (_skaphe:_) with the Greek word for "digging tool" (_skapheion_;
    the two words are etymologically connected, a trough being
    something that is hollowed out) and rendered it in Latin as _ligo_.
    Thence it was translated into English in 1542 by Nicholas Udall in
    his translation of Erasmus's version as "to call a spade [...] a
    spade". (_Bartlett's Familiar Quotations_ perpetuates Erasmus'
    error by mistranslating _skaphe:_ as "spade" three times under
    Menander.)
       "To call a spade a bloody shovel" is not recorded until 1919.
    "Spade" in the sense of "Negro" is not recorded until 1928. (It
    comes from the colour of the playing card symbol, via the phrase
    "black as the ace of spades".)
   
This, of course, does *not* necessarily render the modern use of
    "to call a spade a spade" "politically correct". Rosalie Maggio, in
    _The Bias-Free Word-Finder_, writes: "The expression is associated
    with a racial slur and is to be avoided", and recommends using "to
    speak plainly" or other alternatives instead. In another entry, she
    writes: "Although by definition and derivation 'niggardly' and
    'nigger' are completely unrelated, 'niggardly' is too close for
    comfort to a word with profoundly negative associations. Use
    instead one of the many available alternatives: stingy, miserly,
    parsimonious..." Beard and Cerf, in _The Official Politically
    Correct Handbook_, p. 123, report that an administrator at the
    University of California at Santa Cruz campaigned for the banning
    of such phrases as "a chink in his armor" and "a nip in the air",
    because "chink" and "nip" are also derogatory terms for "Chinese
    person" and "Japanese person" respectively. In the late 1970s in
    the U.S., a boycott of the (now defunct) Sambo's restaurant chain
    was organized, even though the name "Sambo's" was a combination of
    the names of its two founders and did not come from the offensive
    word for dark-skinned person.



    Source: [Mark Israel, 'Phrase Origins: "to call a spade a spade"', The alt.usage.english FAQ file,(line 4562), (29 Sept 1997)]

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: Greg F.
Date: 16 Mar 15 - 10:26 AM

..is NOT an ethnic slur. It derives from an ancient Greek expression

OH, please, PeeDee- I can see where certain of our friends in the British Isles might POSSIBLY not be aware of the long-standing meaning and useage of U.S. slang "spade" as a derogotory one for persons of color.

Now you, on the other hand, are just being an asshole.

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: DMcG
Date: 16 Mar 15 - 10:55 AM

To say the same as the above in a less inflammatory way: words and phrases are all about communication which means they are normally about how they are understood now. Whether that bears any relationship to what they meant 10, 100, or 1000 years ago is interesting but only important ultimately if you are trying to read documents of that age

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: Ed T
Date: 16 Mar 15 - 11:06 AM

The link lists some current slurs by group catagory to avoid - some are likely to be considered more significant, some less so. Spade is included.

interesting list of potential slurs 

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: pdq
Date: 16 Mar 15 - 11:35 AM

The Bias-Free Word Finder: A Dictionary of Nondiscriminatory Language.

Okay, so I've committed a few false generics in my time. I'll even admit to linguistic perjoration. And, yes, I've dabbled in sexual asymmetry, though I never developed a taste for exonyming. Still, I always thought I could get along quite well without a dictionary of nondiscriminatory language. But Rosalie Maggio, author of The Bias-Free Word Finder, has shown me the prejudice of my ways (not to mention expanded my use of academic jargon). Having now carefully examined some 5,000 words, phrases, or expressions that reportedly oppress, exclude, or offend, as well as 15,000 alternatives, I've never felt more semantically challenged. Apparently I've been committing a whole host of socially unattractive sins, including adultism and--this one really hurts--orgasm-as-norm thinking.

Maggio considers words like nubile, petite, brazen, curmudgeon, and bruiser as "sexist." Bombshell has to go because it's also "militaristic and violent," as do Renaissance man, dirty old man ("conveys very little real information"), Big Brother, Caesar's wife, and deus ex machina (deus is in the masculine gender). Instead of milquetoast, Maggio suggests "someone with cold feet." She would replace raise Cain with "lecture," "make mischief," or simply "carry on." Chuck Achilles' heel for "where the shoe pinches." "Made of money" is deemed a perfect substitute for rich as Croesus. Hunk for men is verboten; use "centerfold" instead.

Can you imagine having dinner with this woman?

Like many p.c. reformers, Maggio has erred on the side of self-parody. Certainly it's hard to argue with her basic contention that language influences culture as much as culture influences language. And some of what she proposes is perfectly reasonable: parallel treatment for the sexes (husband and wife, for example, not man and wife); people first (a person with a disability, not a disabled person); and an "insider/outsider" rule (derogatory words should be used only by groups to describe themselves).

But the problem is that Maggio goes well beyond banishing words that offend or exclude people. She believes we must rid the language of all words and phrases that are gender- or race-specific, no matter how inoffensive and regardless of the spirit in which they are uttered. Maggio would like to castrate (sorry: "draw the teeth of," "spike the guns of") the language, to make it into a prosaic eunuch "pushover," "doormat"). She sees this as not only making the world a better place, but as making writers better at their craft. "By replacing fuzzy, overgeneralized, cliche-ridden words with explicit, active words and by giving concrete examples and anecdotes instead of one-word-fits-all descriptions you can express yourself more dynamically, convincingly, and memorably."

But many of Maggio's linguistic tinkerings seem random. For instance, we are allowed to retain sexist names for nonhumans, such as alewife, timothy grass, daddy longlegs, sweet william, and myrtle. The alternatives for a word like ditz don't seem all that friendly: "missing some marbles," "mind like a sieve," "not all there." Beach bunny and bosom buddy are not heavily discouraged. For all of you who've taken to replacing -man with -person, be advised that this "weak, awkward, and annoying suffix ... is not generally recommended."

And then there's the condescending tone that turns up throughout the book: "Readers may choose words at their own levels of understanding and commitment"; writers using biased words like right-hand man "leave their readers as uninspired as they are." Under "Amazon/amazon": "Use the term only if you understand its history and multiple connotations." And my favorite: "If you must think in halves. . . ."

Although the book is intended as a dictionary, you have to read it through first to get your money's worth. Otherwise, you're bound to miss the numerous mini-essays that appear throughout, offering insights on such issues as body image, aggression, and homophobia. You also miss lots of factoids of questionable significance. For instance: 36 percent of embezzlers and less than 1 percent of U.S. auto mechanics are women.

Defending herself against presumably numerous critics who have mocked her zealotry, Maggio writes: "But then ridicule, it is said, is the first and last argument of fools." Well, call me a fool, I guess, because I found this word finder a lot more silly than useful. You don't need a lexicologist to tell you that the attitude behind the usage of many words is more important than the words themselves. But a dictionary of this type makes no such distinctions, in the same way that books decrying women's use of make-up or plastic surgery condemn the product or service rather than the questionable motivating factors. Continuing to expand a list of un-p.c. no-nos will do little to create a more egalitarian society or raise anyone's self-esteem--though it's a perfect way to avoid focusing on underlying causes and serious solutions.

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: Ed T
Date: 16 Mar 15 - 11:59 AM

""You don't need a lexicologist to tell you that the attitude behind the usage of many words is more important than the words themselves.""

Exactly my initial point, when I observed that the use of the "spade" term was "An odd term, given the discussion" (one of which at that time, was "negros").

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: akenaton
Date: 16 Mar 15 - 12:20 PM

I'm confused now. What am I supposed to call my spade?
Don't tell any one, but I also have a hoe! :0o

and you just wouldn't believe the number of filthy and non PC stonemasons tools I have in my "brattie"

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: akenaton
Date: 16 Mar 15 - 12:28 PM

I have never heard the term "spade" used to describe a black person, nor have I ever used such a term in that context.

All this is simply another illustration of "liberal" ideological idiocy.

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: Ed T
Date: 16 Mar 15 - 12:50 PM

Anyone ever hear of the story of a boy who constantly cried "Liberal" for every situation he was frusterated by and was ignored when a real liberal situation emerged;)

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: Ed T
Date: 16 Mar 15 - 12:53 PM

Oops, frustrated :(

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: akenaton
Date: 16 Mar 15 - 01:12 PM

Ed, the point we were discussing at the time, was the silly woman from UKIP, who was white, not black.
I was taken to task for misogyny by calling her a "silly old woman", a description I defended by saying that I like straight talking..."calling a spade a spade" semmples.   nuthin to get hung about?

The connotations of your protestations are worrying....:0)

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: GUEST,Allan Conn
Date: 16 Mar 15 - 01:19 PM

The term "to call a spade a spade" is itself completely neutral and has nothing to do with ethnicity. However as the discussion was about black people, and spade is also a common derogatory term for black people, then it was lets say not the best choice of words to use as it could be easily misconstrued even if it was meant innocently enough.

I was sitting in a cafe in Edinburgh next to a table of middle eastern looking guys when my mate who was checking the scores on his phone shouted out "the Arabs are getting stuffed" which brought some real bemused and rather uncomfortable looks from the next table. The Arabs is the nickname for Dundee Utd fans. He immediately realised what he's said and looked more than a bit sheepish. It was innocent enough but in the context was inappropriate. Sometimes you just have to think before you speak!

As to the idea that I condemn UKIP because of one woman. That is nonsense. That was just the example I gave

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: Ed T
Date: 16 Mar 15 - 01:30 PM

Maybe so, Ake-but there was also a discussion going on at the same time related to immigration, black people and prejudice

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: Ed T
Date: 16 Mar 15 - 01:38 PM

It seems to me Ake, it would have been "straighter talk" by making your intentended meaning clear early, (that you were refering to a silly old woman, not the other issue blacks) versus denying the other potential (aka, slur) meaning for the term you used (and refering to liberals, yada yada).

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity
Date: 16 Mar 15 - 01:53 PM

Akenaton: "I was taken to task for misogyny by calling her a "silly old woman", a description I defended by saying that I like straight talking..."calling a spade a spade" semmples.   nuthin to get hung about?
The connotations of your protestations are worrying....:0)"

You just got to overlook the poor idiot-logues, who only see things through their prism of political talking points, and cannot reason anything beyond them, nor can they fathom having anything to do with a wider view. Limiting one's scope of reality to political talking points has done more to damage intelligent dialogue, than even the piss-poor 'education'(read propagandizing), system.

That being said, there IS a cure..... Realize that the political system has crashed, is not honest, and walk away!!!
Use the passion, to your advantage, in playing your instrument.....
....at least the sound isn't lying to you...it just is what it is!!

GfS

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: akenaton
Date: 16 Mar 15 - 02:16 PM

No, you are wrong Ed and Allan, the discussion concerner "white" immigration from within the EU.

The race or colour card is just the easy way out, on this point Mr Farage is correct......nothing to do with colour prejudice.

BTW Allan I don't agree with much of UKIP economic policy, but I repeat, on this particular point, an important point for party and country, they are quite correct.

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: akenaton
Date: 16 Mar 15 - 02:19 PM

Sorry Sanity, missed your post there, thanks for your support....Ake

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: Ed T
Date: 16 Mar 15 - 02:46 PM

I rarely jump to say someone is "wrong", but the record of posts show you are not accurate,, gfs. Regardless of the variety of topics, black immigration was clearly one of them in a number of posts. It still stands that ake could have easily made it clear what topic he refered to versus denying the multi meaning of spade-where he was also incorrect.

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: Greg F.
Date: 16 Mar 15 - 02:47 PM

No, you are wrong Ed and Allan, the discussion concerner "white" immigration from within the EU. The race or colour card is just the easy way out

Jesus wept.

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: Ed T
Date: 16 Mar 15 - 02:49 PM

Note the reference to one such post relating to black people, by Steve-as an example:

""One silly old woman? This country is heaving with people who don't like the look of black people. You have so many prejudices yourself that they seem to be making it difficult for you to detect another one even when it jumps up and bites your bum. And I won't even dwell on the sexist overtones of "silly old woman".

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: Ed T
Date: 16 Mar 15 - 02:53 PM

"The race or colour card is just the easy way out"

"Doublespeak", as is the bastardization of "liberal" by some.

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: Elmore
Date: 16 Mar 15 - 03:40 PM

My thread has taken a strange turn, but that's okay, it's a free country.(sort of)

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: Musket
Date: 16 Mar 15 - 05:48 PM

UKIP use the usual techniques of wannabe despots and fascist scum by creating scapegoats. So not surprised to read support for their awful immigration stance by someone desperate to blame others for everything.

Anyone got a bucket?

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity
Date: 16 Mar 15 - 07:59 PM

Ed T. "I rarely jump to say someone is "wrong", but the record of posts show you are not accurate,, gfs. Regardless of the variety of topics, black immigration was clearly one of them in a number of posts."

That almost makes sense, except, I don't believe I've ever posted a post in regards to 'black immigration'.

Oh well, when 'talking points' fail, just make something up~!

GfS

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: GUEST,Allan Conn
Date: 17 Mar 15 - 03:10 AM

"Mr Farage says that Britain is now "colour blind" and I agree with that."

Ake I am happy to discuss anything and of course different people have different views but I find it a waste of time when people deny what was being talked about when it is there in black and white. The post I replied to was in response to your post above where you agreed with Farage and said that Britain is now colour blind. In other words you were saying racism based on colour is no longer a problem in Britain. Or that at least is how it reads even if that wasn't meant. If someone disagrees with your statement or challenges it you can't then just say "Oh we weren't discussing non whites so don't bring that up!" I

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity
Date: 17 Mar 15 - 03:56 AM

Allan Conn: "The post I replied to was in response to your post above where you agreed with Farage and said that Britain is now colour blind. In other words you were saying racism based on colour is no longer a problem in Britain."

...'colour blind'? ........... 'racism based on colour'?


I'm clear.

GfS

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: GUEST,Some bloke in Scotland
Date: 17 Mar 15 - 04:05 AM

You may well ask him if we are blind in other categories of equality?

I find it odd that someone can come out in support of UKIP, see me and my husband as second-class citizens and oppose women getting high promotion in the armed forces, then expect to get an easy ride on Mudcat where decent people post.

I know you can't change mindsets overnight and I know that in his case, you are never going to reform his outlook on life so don't bother. But it's a bit like the man canvassing for SNP here in Inveraray last year. I asked what their take was on equality and got a reasonable answer. The man pointed out that this does not mean requiring people to change views but to ensure the argument for decency wins out. He pointed out that he was ashamed of his father, who he said held views that most people would find awful but seeing him as a lost cause, accepts that some things never alter. Just don't let them influence society.

I agreed with that. But it doesn't make it any easier to read on Mudcat of all places someone twisting false health statistics to demonise me and my husband.

I don't know how black or Asian people feel about the disgusting stance of Farage but as a gay person in The UK, I certainly get the drift.

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: akenaton
Date: 17 Mar 15 - 04:15 AM

Allan, the original point I was making concerned unregulated immigration from the EU, which all Parties now agree is wrong.

Someone else tried to divert the discussion on to colour prejudice by questioning my use of the phrase "call a spade a spade".
This terminology is widely used round here and has nothing at all to do with colour.
"Britain is colour blind" I think that is clear, colour prejudice is clearly seen to be wrong, there are many more coloured faces in society, it is no longer unusual to see a coloured person and employers look for the best and cheapest applicant rather than discriminate on colour.....this is a fact of economics.
The colour of a persons skin has no bearing on how they behave, do their job, or on wider society.

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: GUEST,Some bloke in Scotland
Date: 17 Mar 15 - 04:25 AM

But would you round them up for HIV screening on account of being black? After all, being of African descent is, according to the statistics you love to quote, a problem "we" need to deal with. There are more Heterosexual people than gay people living with HIV, and of those, the majority are black people of African origin.

Does your plans for HIV (round up those deemed at risk and carry out invasive medical testing by force if necessary) extend to those most at risk?

Isn't that a teeny bit racist?

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity
Date: 17 Mar 15 - 05:02 AM

Some Blow in Scotland: "There are more Heterosexual people than gay people living with HIV, and of those, the majority are black people of African origin."

Next thing you'll be saying, is that it's all genetic.....

Oh, I thought you meant the virus....


GfS

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: Greg F.
Date: 17 Mar 15 - 09:39 AM

Say g'night, Geist.

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity
Date: 18 Mar 15 - 12:55 PM

..and good night to you, too...get plenty of rest, you might need to think, tomorrow.

GfS

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity
Date: 18 Mar 15 - 10:34 PM

Politics and Depression ...like 'Hope and No Change'??

Same ol' shit, different flies!

GfS

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: DMcG
Date: 19 Mar 15 - 08:12 AM

As much as anything it is that arguments are made that don't bear the slightest scrutiny. For example yesterday a spokesmen said the government departments could cope with cuts at the same rate because they had coped so far. Now, they may be able to cope but that they have before is no indication at all, any more than the fact you've poured six glasses of wine from a bottle guarantees you can pour another.

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: Musket
Date: 19 Mar 15 - 08:36 AM

Your glasses are too small. I get four

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: GUEST,#
Date: 19 Mar 15 - 10:09 AM

I thought only the French used glasses for wine. Something wrong with the bottles over there?

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: akenaton
Date: 19 Mar 15 - 12:16 PM

:0)....nice one #

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity
Date: 20 Mar 15 - 12:14 AM

#: "Something wrong with the bottles over there?"

Only when you can't find them in your brown bag...only to find that you can't reach the bag either...it rolled too far under the dumpster, and having to crawl across the ally, on your hands and knees, makes one too dizzy!

GfS

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: GUEST,Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve
Date: 20 Mar 15 - 01:34 AM

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: GUEST,Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve
Date: 20 Mar 15 - 01:41 AM

Obviously the voice of long experience....

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: Musket
Date: 20 Mar 15 - 02:45 AM

I suppose we can accept that as your mitigating circumstance Goofus.

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity
Date: 20 Mar 15 - 02:56 AM

Well, at least I'm consistent...and call it before it's so obvious..... sometimes before it happens, too....

GfS

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: akenaton
Date: 20 Mar 15 - 03:57 AM

Silly boy, I was ridiculed for even mentioning piss taker Clarkson and creepy Fry in the same post.

It's clear that as Mr Galloway famously said. "They're two cheeks of the one arse" :0)

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: Musket
Date: 20 Mar 15 - 04:14 AM

Creepy?

This gets better. Keep your son locked up when he's around eh?

Sick puppy

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: akenaton
Date: 20 Mar 15 - 05:00 AM

Sorry wrong thread.

BTW    Fry would be "creepy" no matter what his sexual preferences were. :0(.....in the same manner as Clarkson is creepy.

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: DMcG
Date: 20 Mar 15 - 01:47 PM

Galloway say that about Fry and Clarkson? I know he did about The Labour and Conservative parties. It rather spoils a joke of you over-use it, but perhaps you are giving a misleading impression that he uses it more widely than I know

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: akenaton
Date: 20 Mar 15 - 02:15 PM

Hi Dmg, Yes, Mr Galloway was referring to the two main political parties, but I thought it was also apt to repeat his observation in this context.

I don't think Mr Galloway was joking.

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: Musket
Date: 20 Mar 15 - 03:55 PM

Always said a certain someone has an arse fixation, judging by his unfortunate fascination with them in most of his posts.