Top Trump: A Poem

[Gary A]

I’ve never really agreed with this “left and right” thing. I’ve got a whole host of views that people would consider right wing, namely of the Muslim faith and hating the PC brigade, but on the flip side I have a lot of so called left wing views as well, like global warming or marijuana legalisation.

Why must people pick a side and stick to it? Surely your mind should be made up on the strength of an argument or of the evidence for or against it?

[Noivous]

I take your point, Gary. Like when it comes to gun ownership I'm very liberal.

---------- Post added at 21:21 ---------- Previous post was at 21:11 ----------

Hi Noivous - How about "DemonRat", "you feigned naivete", "lefty", "comrade", all in the space of two lines?

In other posts you have addressed me as "pal", "my friend", "professor", but with a scornful tone that makes them negative and veiled aggressive forms of address. You may not be aware of this aggression, but it is apparent in your language.

Btw Hanshan I give it to Republicans every chance I get also. I'm actually neither. As someone once said there's not a dimes worth of difference between em. For many of them that's true.

[MyNameIsTerry]

I’ve never really agreed with this “left and right” thing. I’ve got a whole host of views that people would consider right wing, namely of the Muslim faith and hating the PC brigade, but on the flip side I have a lot of so called left wing views as well, like global warming or marijuana legalisation.

Why must people pick a side and stick to it? Surely your mind should be made up on the strength of an argument or of the evidence for or against it?

Agreed. It can't be easy to have all your beliefs in the same bucket.

On the NHS & disability I would swing to the left but on crime I would swing to the right. I also can't abide the PC brigade.

Wouldn't you swing to the left on religion too, Gary?

It's interesting that the current political climate feels more like we have gone backwards in time to when it was more "evil Tories" and "Labour and any protest". Things feel more polarised at the moment and it feels mostly due to 2 events: 1) Brexit and 2) The Labour swing to the left. The Tories have also swung further to the right.

Brexit is always a bit of an anomaly where it becomes less about left or right. Those to the far left & right unite over wanting out and the rest are a mix of in/out. Many of those claiming to liberal believe the EU is a force for good (workers rights, freedom of movement, etc) yet old fashioned liberals argue it's a right wing association that only has FOM for the purposes of cheap labour so it was for the fat cats and we just benefit as a result.

Like always, there's a hypocrite living in us all so anyone who claims to be solely to one end is likely to have flaws in their argument. It's easy nearer the centre since the shift may put you to the left or right anyway as things move but you tend not to care about the labels which are more for the true believers on either side who can't abide seeing themselves not in their little group.

N, wouldn't the UK be seen as more liberal than the US but on gun control we would be much less so?

Who sets this left & right? Which country is it modelled on?

[hanshan]

Unfortunately, I am very sensitive to words. They have been my life and livelihood, and now that I am retired I continue with study of words and language.

Words are how we interact on this forum. They take the place of physical interaction. When I see phrases like "I give it to them with both barrels every chance I get", it translates back into the physical reality for me: that you see yourself as going around shooting Democrats with a double-barreled shotgun every chance you get. You may shrug it off by saying it is just figurative, but the pain of the language remains.

"And I do think you feign ignorance...maybe you're not feigning." Translation: "maybe you really are ignorant".

"You are a lefty aren't you?" - Analyse that for veiled aggression.

"And comrade is just highlighting your socialistic leanings." Which doesn't justify using a derogatory name.

I think your explanations are still denying the emotional content of the words you use for hurtful purposes.

[Noivous]

But there's a big difference between feigned naivete' and sarcasm...which is what I often use...and is actually a tool of Journalism as you well know I suspect.

---------- Post added at 02:39 ---------- Previous post was at 02:35 ----------

I don't believe calling a lefty a lefty is aggression. And I don't believe in dog whistles or micro aggressions either... two of the latest charges en vogue from the left.

---------- Post added at 02:41 ---------- Previous post was at 02:39 ----------

Comrade is not a derogatory term.

---------- Post added at 02:48 ---------- Previous post was at 02:41 ----------

Btw the word ignorant is not pejorative. It simply means one doesn't know.

[hanshan]

I believe "lefty" is derogatory, mildly pejorative, certainly not the worst I've been called in my life, but I'm saying stop it now, okay?

Similarly, words like "comrade", "pal", "professor", can be neutral, friendly, or an insult - in this case, it is not the word but how you use it.

I suffered years of verbal abuse in my childhood, insults far, far worse than any of the above, and it's still something that hurts me decades later, and can still bring me to tears if I dwell on it, which I don't very often. I'm trying gently to ask you to consider the effects of your words.

[Hollow]

Saudi Arabia to spend billions on expanding entertainment sector

https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...ainment-sector

The kingdom has withdrawn about $250bn from its financial reserves in the past four years. Authorities have also increased fuel prices, introduced a value-added tax and cut subsidies in an effort to reduce costs and boost non-oil revenues. The shift has been a painful one for many Saudis accustomed to a generous welfare system.


The new Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Salman Bin Saud has made a deal with the devil and opened up Saudi society to mass social engineering. Under the guise of "human rights" he has unleashed forces which will eventually destroy his country. The plan is to get young Saudi men hooked on cheap "entertainment" and porn in order to distract them from the financial looting taking place in their country. At the same time, Feminism is being pushed on to young Saudi women in an attempt to destroy their social and moral values. It's the same old trick which has been repeated so many times.

Will we see a backslash from the religious establishment in Saudi Arabia? Or are they too busy spreading Wahabism in other countries.

[MyNameIsTerry]

Saudi Arabia to spend billions on expanding entertainment sector

https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...ainment-sector

The kingdom has withdrawn about $250bn from its financial reserves in the past four years. Authorities have also increased fuel prices, introduced a value-added tax and cut subsidies in an effort to reduce costs and boost non-oil revenues. The shift has been a painful one for many Saudis accustomed to a generous welfare system.


The new Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Salman Bin Saud has made a deal with the devil and opened up Saudi society to mass social engineering. Under the guise of "human rights" he has unleashed forces which will eventually destroy his country. The plan is to get young Saudi men hooked on cheap "entertainment" and porn in order to distract them from the financial looting taking place in their country. At the same time, Feminism is being pushed on to young Saudi women in an attempt to destroy their social and moral values. It's the same old trick which has been repeated so many times.

Will we see a backslash from the religious establishment in Saudi Arabia? Or are they too busy spreading Wahabism in other countries.

Fancy allowing women to drive? Still, at least he's kept some tradition in place by ensuring they still have to ask permission to get in the car.

[mezzaninedoor]

Are we saying the Saudi stuff is social engineering because it is diametrically opposed to the cultural values up until now?

[Noivous]

I believe "lefty" is derogatory, mildly pejorative, certainly not the worst I've been called in my life, but I'm saying stop it now, okay?

Similarly, words like "comrade", "pal", "professor", can be neutral, friendly, or an insult - in this case, it is not the word but how you use it.

I suffered years of verbal abuse in my childhood, insults far, far worse than any of the above, and it's still something that hurts me decades later, and can still bring me to tears if I dwell on it, which I don't very often. I'm trying gently to ask you to consider the effects of your words.

Fair enough...believe it or not Hanshan if you and I were to sit down and break bread together I sincerely believe we'd get on quite well.

N.

---------- Post added at 14:12 ---------- Previous post was at 14:00 ----------

Fancy allowing women to drive? Still, at least he's kept some tradition in place by ensuring they still have to ask permission to get in the car.

Lol...my dad (God bless him) always said of course women should be allowed to drive...but only from two to three in the morning. The guy does have a great sense of humor.