Off Topic Politics Thread

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Type 2 diabetes

"Diane Abbott reveals illness and hits out at 'vicious' Tory campaign"

In the past few years, the connection between the two diseases has grown stronger with each relevant study. People who develop type 2 diabetes often experience a sharp decline in cognitive function and almost 70% of them ultimately develop Alzheimer’s.

http://www.alzheimers.net/2015-10-14...pe-2-diabetes/

Looks like Puck was right. Feel sorry for Abbott
Yes, and whilst people were taking the piss, she was just trying to control her illness. A salutary lesson to everyone not to judge or condemn before all the possible data is in.
 
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I'm a bit confused by all this right wing, left wing nonsense to be honest. If someone voted labour why should they be considered to be left wing? Accepted that labour has a socialist idealism. However most people do not vote based on "left wing" or "Right wing policy's" surely they vote on what they deem is best for the country on the day. The next time there is an election they are just as likely to vote a different way as they will have been persuaded by a different parties argument on the days leading to the election.
In my view it was a mistake for the Tories to call an election, it was clearly a mistake to under estimate Corbyn.
I also accept there is a core of people around that will vote in for their favourite party no matter what they are offering.
However I am more convinced the majority of voters are, to use the modern term for them "floating voters"............Not particularly left or right wing.

Because parties like SNP, Lib Dems and Labour make sure that they always paint Conservatives as right wing. Their whole premise is "nasty night wing."

I agree most people don;t vote "because" of left wing or right wing and vote (other than the tribal vote) on what they think is right or wrong.
 
I think the point is Imps, that when someone - anyone - uses the expression "snowflake" in order to belittle the opinions of another, then at the very least that person's thinking has probably been polluted by exposure to some pretty messed up company. It's not a word in common parlance. It's use appears to be pretty exclusive to angry right wingers posting bile on the internet.

It's a giveaway, in other words - like MSM is a giveaway. A code by which facists and conspiracy theorists both recognise each other, and label their targets.

MSM came around way before the "fascists." "left" people were using it way before when they were calling out the press.
 
Going to have to disagree their Imp.

I think intent is a very big part of what makes something offensive and inoffensive and whilst i agree that your dad meant nothing of it, there are standards to be applied especially in public.

You guys might not have been offended and that is fine as i believe their needs to be common sense but if i was to go out onto a street and start shouting WHATS UP MY NIGGAZ and NEGROS, even if i didn't mean anything by it, i would expect that this is not the normal behaviour and would expect that i have offended people.

There needs to be a rule in place so that people can't use certain words to be racially offensive and whilst i appreciate you may get away with it in a private space as you will be familiar with the people you are speaking to and can apply common sense to whether someone was being offensive or not, there needs to be a law in place because it is far easier to police rather than having to apply common sense to something that cannot be interpreted without being there and knowing the context

I agree with you. I am just saying intent HAS to be assessed. Why would anyone go out and say "What's up Niggaz and Negros" if they didn't intend to offend? The older generation saying "darkie" or "coloured" aren't doing it to offend. I would guess in reality "darkie" was a softer term than was being used to offend and "back in the day" it was considered to be the "inoffensive" descriptor.

Like I say when my dad said it I cringed and my eyebrows raised. I could pick him up on it I suppose but then should I be educating the older generation on everything when they aren't trying to be offensive? Would be a long day doing that.
 
I so agree about using certain words in public............One of my life long friends is of African persuasion with a coloured skin to match. However our banter between ourselves could easily be mis-construed by others listening in. Him calling me a white Honky or me calling him a black twat could lead us both to the courts for racialism. Although we have probably been saying that or similar to each other like that for ever. No offence was ever meant or taken.......
However that is not what we would say to others, or at least I wouldn't.
However my mate was picked up the other day for calling what turned out to be his son, a black Twat I gather. Shall we say a heated discussion took place between my friend and this person who I gather was also of African persuasion. Despite my friends son explaining that it was just harmless banter between father and son.
The guy said he was insulted just to hear it and was going to report them to the authorities..............I'm not sure the authorities will have much of an interest on this occasion but it does make you think as to the slogan of free speech in public if this is likely to be the future of PC. So now you can not talk or joke with your own family and friends in public?? For fear of offending someone else who might be listening to your conversation? Interesting thought......possibly..........

The latter is stupid. My wife and her family are always calling each other "Preto (or Preta) estupido" which of course translates as stupid black.

My wife is always calling me "stupid English." I don;t see the problem here.
 
Type 2 diabetes

"Diane Abbott reveals illness and hits out at 'vicious' Tory campaign"

In the past few years, the connection between the two diseases has grown stronger with each relevant study. People who develop type 2 diabetes often experience a sharp decline in cognitive function and almost 70% of them ultimately develop Alzheimer’s.

http://www.alzheimers.net/2015-10-14...pe-2-diabetes/

Looks like Puck was right. Feel sorry for Abbott

Feel sorry for her r.e. her illness but she seems well enough to continue to put politics into things. The Conservatives attacked her for constantly car crashing in interviews. If it had been someone else then they would have got it. Maybe I didn't notice but they seemed to stop once it was known she might be ill and they then went after McDonnell much more.
 
Going back to the early 60s an Indian mate of mine was getting married to a Swedish girl. His brother could not attend as was hoped, as he was stuck at sea and could not get to the wedding on time. So I stepped in as best man for him. After the wedding I stood up to make a speech. Wishing the happy couple all the best etc........during my speech I made a couple of references about different cultures and the problems they would face. Mentioning the word swede. Afterwords most people told me how they enjoyed my humour. All multi nationals and in particularly about my use of comical words without being offensive.
However a few weeks later, my mate returned from honeymoon and was told by his mum that she felt I was insulting his bride by using the word Swede.
The point I'm making I guess is out of probably 120 people there and despite most actually seeing the funny side of things there is always one that is most likely to see or hear something which to them has a different meaning.
Mind you the names my mate and I called each other in private would have sent his mother into a loony bin is all I can say!!

Imagine my wedding speech. I married a woman with Irish maternal grandparents and Chinese Jamaican paternal grand parents. Added to this my wonderful mother decided when I was born to give me a then stereotypical Jamaican sounding middle name.

A good part of my speech was about my mother knowing best because she gave me a Jamaican middle name, knowing 30 years later I'd end up marrying one!
 
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I agree with you. I am just saying intent HAS to be assessed. Why would anyone go out and say "What's up Niggaz and Negros" if they didn't intend to offend? The older generation saying "darkie" or "coloured" aren't doing it to offend. I would guess in reality "darkie" was a softer term than was being used to offend and "back in the day" it was considered to be the "inoffensive" descriptor.

Like I say when my dad said it I cringed and my eyebrows raised. I could pick him up on it I suppose but then should I be educating the older generation on everything when they aren't trying to be offensive? Would be a long day doing that.

If i said it loudly as a joke but not too offend it would still be stupid of me to do it.

As for picking it up on your daf yes you should educate him. Obviously not lecture but what is acceptable or not in public. Maybe its a bit hypocritical if me as i think its fine in private because he has no intent on being racist but for me its not because I'm being racist in public but its about neing considerate to people in public with a known unacceptable word.

As for abbott, obviously shes got type 2 diabetes but come on its something 5 million people live with in the uk and is not as inhibitive as people make out.

Obviously you need to watch what you eat and eat your meds and make sure you have steady meal times but shes an adult with loads of support around her. She should have known to eat regularly. For me its a copout.
 
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If i said it loudly as a joke but not too offend it would still be stupid of me to do it.

As for picking it up on your daf yes you should educate him. Obviously not lecture but what is acceptable or not in public. Maybe its a bit hypocritical if me as i think its fine in private because he has no intent on being racist but for me its not because I'm being racist in public but its about neing considerate to people in public with a known unacceptable word.

As for abbott, obviously shes got type 2 diabetes but come on its something 5 million people live with in the uk and is not as inhibitive as people make out.

Obviously you need to watch what you eat and eat your meds and make sure you have steady meal times but shes an adult with loads of support around her. She should have known to eat regularly. For me its a copout.

Hasn't Theresa May got diabetes?

On the "darkie" comment. I would assume he doesn't say it in public. When you are in the company of people you are used to you subconsciously change the language you use without having to think "must not say that." It just happens.

Like in the company of my friends I will swear like a trooper. The moment I am in the company of my parents it just automatically switches off. If I am talking to someone I don't know I automatically don't swear and dependent on whether they swear or not I might then start to as well. I don't consciously think "I can swear" or " I can't swear" just as I don't think I can call my wife or her brothers and sisters "Preto/a estupido" but not anyone else. I just happens subconciously.

I bet many people use all sorts of terms in relaxed company they know that they don't with strangers or in public. They don't think constantly about it. It just happens without thinking.

He obviously feels comfortable in my wife's company.

The only time I have picked someone up in my close family was one of my uncles going on about how can the England football team call themselves England when more than half the team are (were at the time) black. He then went on about the Wallaces shouldn't be playing for England. He was an Saints fan and is now 79. He has met my wife several times and not said anything. I suppose me turning up with a black wife put him straight in itself.

Difference is that he is racist and holding his tongue. My Dad isn't. I say all sorts in friendly company that I wouldn't on other company or in public. I don;t walk around all day turning a though switch on and off or thinking "ahh must not say that in this environment."
 
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Only thing I change is swear less. Educating older people isn't a bad thing, times have changed
 
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Only thing I change is swear less. Educating older people isn't a bad thing, times have changed
I have one older brother who tells me that I only swear because I don't have the vocabulary to explain. I then usually give him the most wordy answer I can manage, which usually gets him to admit that maybe my vocabulary is in reasonable health, before telling him to f*** off if he doesn't like it.

OK, I don't do the last bit. I tell him that, in my opinion, swearing is about passion and adding power to your words in an appropriate way. Then I tell him to f*** off. [OK, I don't do that last bit, even then]. :)
 
These last few pages are a joke, right?

It's not that hard to adjust your speech. Sure, if you're of an older generation the wrong word might slip out now and again. Reasonable people will understand. If you've made no such effort to even try to change, that's on you. Does it make you racist? Probably. But I don't care. It makes you an asshole, for sure. And that's on you.

If you think that the MSM/left wing/whatever is picking on you, that's on you as well. "The left wing" to the extent that it even exists does not even know who you or your relatives even are.
 
These last few pages are a joke, right?

It's not that hard to adjust your speech. Sure, if you're of an older generation the wrong word might slip out now and again. Reasonable people will understand. If you've made no such effort to even try to change, that's on you. Does it make you racist? Probably. But I don't care. It makes you an asshole, for sure. And that's on you.

If you think that the MSM/left wing/whatever is picking on you, that's on you as well. "The left wing" to the extent that it even exists does not even know who you or your relatives even are.

Covers just about how I feel on the subject.
 
Tories getting **** on for Grenfell.

They sat on a report saying high rises were vulnerable. They closed 3 fire stations near Grenfell. While Boris was Mayor they nuked a bunch of stations and jobs in the fire department. And a Tory MP filibustered a debate on the safety of highrises.

The owner and people that fitted the place recently need locking up.
 
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Tories getting **** on for Grenfell.

They sat on a report saying high rises were vulnerable. They closed 3 fire stations near Grenfell. While Boris was Mayor they nuked a bunch of stations and jobs in the fire department. And a Tory MP filibustered a debate on the safety of highrises.
Now why doesn't that surprise me in the slightest, Beefy.?
 
The #3 Republican in the House of Representatives has been shot, along with a couple others, at a Congressional baseball practice. Thankfully, looks like everyone will survive.

****ing lunatics.
 
The #3 Republican in the House of Representatives has been shot, along with a couple others, at a Congressional baseball practice. Thankfully, looks like everyone will survive.

****ing lunatics.
Here's a crazy idea. How about amending the 2nd Amendment so that American citizens do NOT have the right to bear firearms.? I know. It'll never catch on.
 
Tim Farron has resigned as leader of the Liberal Democrats. Didn't see that one coming, I wonder what prompted that?