Brexit is Boring!
I wondered how long it would take the British people to become bored with Brexit. I'm calling it today, January 15th 2017. Even the broadsheet press is struggling to find anything of interest.
Here's my take on it: a transition deal will appear about 3 months after article 50 is in play, allowing this 2 year narrative to be kicked into the long grass, till Brexit is no longer perceived an existential threat.
We mostly forget about it, very slow incremental changes happen, so slowly we hardly notice the compromises and in maybe 6-8 years time it's all done and dusted and everyone forgotten what all the fuss was about. Nobody complains how little has changed.
Anyone who thinks a hard Brexit will be achieved. in two years and Britain coming out on top smelling of roses is absolutely barking.
It's all bluff and posturing. Don't believe the hype, we're on a long, long road. Probably to nowhere.
Search found 643 matches
- 15 Jan 2017, 10:20am
- Forum: The Tea Shop
- Topic: ** The Brexit Thread ** - 'Brexit Means Brexit'
- Replies: 21765
- Views: 848491
- 14 Jan 2017, 9:11am
- Forum: The Tea Shop
- Topic: What is your soln to the Southern Rail dispute?
- Replies: 112
- Views: 4956
Re: What is your soln to the Southern Rail dispute?
The issue is quite straightforward: (though largely misunderstood by the public) it's train guards vs either ticket collectors or more likely no on train staff at all.
Guards do 18 months training in all aspects of train safety and health and safety, as well as recusitation techniques and medical emergency. These are the people who get you safely off the train when there's a fire in carriage A, or use the defibrillator when you've had a heart attack. They also look after your daughter when shes the recipient of unwanted attention from yobs.
It's specialist, invaluable training and private train operators don't want to pay for it and would rather do away with it. The unions are rightly incensed by this.
Hence the completely justified strike action.
Guards do 18 months training in all aspects of train safety and health and safety, as well as recusitation techniques and medical emergency. These are the people who get you safely off the train when there's a fire in carriage A, or use the defibrillator when you've had a heart attack. They also look after your daughter when shes the recipient of unwanted attention from yobs.
It's specialist, invaluable training and private train operators don't want to pay for it and would rather do away with it. The unions are rightly incensed by this.
Hence the completely justified strike action.
- 13 Jan 2017, 6:33am
- Forum: The Tea Shop
- Topic: Hand Bags At Dawn
- Replies: 17
- Views: 2169
Re: Hand Bags At Dawn
Mini pumps at dawn? That way the petty point scoring and keyboard warfare could be circumvented and we could all have a laugh.
Think of all those embarrassing spelling and grammatical mistakes that could be avoided. This idea has legs!
You could charge an entrance fee
Think of all those embarrassing spelling and grammatical mistakes that could be avoided. This idea has legs!
You could charge an entrance fee
- 12 Jan 2017, 8:36am
- Forum: Does anyone know … ?
- Topic: Do You Think I have a Case...
- Replies: 46
- Views: 3911
Re: Do You Think I have a Case...
We had the same trouble with an online purchase from Halfords. Basically the wheels were gash, imo worth about £20 the pair. As it was a work colleague I said I'd go with him into the store.
'Sorry, don't warranty wheels.'
’I have the original online warranty here: components 1 year warranty'
'Have you had the bike serviced here?'
'No, we bought it online'
'Sorry can't warranty wheels that haven't been regularly serviced'.
It went on like this for 5 months. Countless emails and calls. Eventually they replaced the rear wheel with the same very low quality wheel.
I don't think you have a case with this one. Motto of the story is, buy your bike from a reputable local bike shop. If you buy online and anything goes wrong, they'll have a get out clause (as Halfords did 'regular servicing') and you're on your own.
'Sorry, don't warranty wheels.'
’I have the original online warranty here: components 1 year warranty'
'Have you had the bike serviced here?'
'No, we bought it online'
'Sorry can't warranty wheels that haven't been regularly serviced'.
It went on like this for 5 months. Countless emails and calls. Eventually they replaced the rear wheel with the same very low quality wheel.
I don't think you have a case with this one. Motto of the story is, buy your bike from a reputable local bike shop. If you buy online and anything goes wrong, they'll have a get out clause (as Halfords did 'regular servicing') and you're on your own.
- 11 Jan 2017, 9:48am
- Forum: The Tea Shop
- Topic: Trump's response to Meryl Streep's speech....
- Replies: 312
- Views: 13960
Re: Trump's response to Meryl Streep's speech....
[XAP]Bob wrote:Trump is generally unable to complete a thought.
Great excerpt of his speech in Sun City 205 (relatively early in this campaign) and he manages about 5 minutes without completing a sentence or a thought.
One thing he isn't is eloquent, and he is rarely composed.
All we really know about Trump is through the lens of an elite owned US print and broadcast media. Who are openly antipathetic towards him, and he them.
It is worth bearing this in mind when reading any anti Trump rhetoric in the press or online. When he's in office, feel free to critique his actions. But not before.
- 14 Dec 2016, 9:03pm
- Forum: Using the Forum - request help : report difficulties
- Topic: Moderation on this Forum Much Too Much?
- Replies: 51
- Views: 27371
Re: Moderation on this Forum Much Too Much?
Graham wrote:NATURAL ANKLING wrote:Hi,
My advise, keep your head down
Could we have a poll on that ?
"Right to free speech" !! What's all that about then ??
This forum is paid for by Cycling UK.
And who pays for Cycling UK? We do, the members, the users. WE pay for the upkeep of the forum, therefore we the members have a say in how it's run, AND how it's moderated. I'm sorry but your sanctimonious attitude absolutely stinks.
People power said 6/0 to no political threads over the festivities, but because that goes against YOUR sensibilities you casually delete the entire thread.
Explain yourself please?
- 14 Dec 2016, 8:38pm
- Forum: Using the Forum - request help : report difficulties
- Topic: Moderation on this Forum Much Too Much?
- Replies: 51
- Views: 27371
Re: Moderation on this Forum Much Too Much?
mercalia wrote:5 complete threads? on what? I havent noticed
You wouldn't, you're too busy ignoring the elephant in the room.
Seriously, multiple thread deletion. It's a bridge too far. For me at any rate.
- 14 Dec 2016, 8:34pm
- Forum: Using the Forum - request help : report difficulties
- Topic: Moderation on this Forum Much Too Much?
- Replies: 51
- Views: 27371
Re: Moderation on this Forum Much Too Much?
[XAP]Bob wrote:I suspect that those five threads all deserved deletion. It's not a common occurrence. The mods here are patient and hNds off the vast majority of the time....
Either that or they abhor 'the will of the people'
Sounds familiar?
- 14 Dec 2016, 8:28pm
- Forum: Using the Forum - request help : report difficulties
- Topic: Moderation on this Forum Much Too Much?
- Replies: 51
- Views: 27371
Moderation on this Forum Much Too Much?
Okay, to my knowledge five entire threads deleted outright in as many days.
I've never experienced such censorious and knee jerk moderation in all my days. What the hell is going on? Never...
Ban any moderation till January 1st 2020?
Yes please, society is much better organised and productive when it organises itself.
Too much already! I feel my airways tightening with the oppression from above.
The vote for no Politics over the festivities was 6-0 in favour of a 'time out'. It seems some people feel ill at ease with the democratic process.
I've never experienced such censorious and knee jerk moderation in all my days. What the hell is going on? Never...
Ban any moderation till January 1st 2020?
Yes please, society is much better organised and productive when it organises itself.
Too much already! I feel my airways tightening with the oppression from above.
The vote for no Politics over the festivities was 6-0 in favour of a 'time out'. It seems some people feel ill at ease with the democratic process.
- 10 Dec 2016, 11:25am
- Forum: The Tea Shop
- Topic: Ban Politics from the forum
- Replies: 221
- Views: 13167
Re: Ban Politics from the forum
Edwards wrote:How many people take part in the political threads?
Via a rough count of the 70 page Brexit thread, probably about 30 regular contributors, at least 10% of whom have expressed a wish to vote 'no thanks' to politics but haven't been able to do do on account of Tapatalk limitations.
The mere fact that people are afraid to contribute on posts, for fear of vilification or harassment, well any mod worth their salt would know what to do. Family friendly (as many have clearly stated) the Tearoom is not. The response of those defending it says all we need to know.
There are many references (and direct comparisons) with television throughout this thread. If racist and xenophobic material was published (as posters publish here) on national TV, that channel would be instantly censured by the Ombudsman, fined, and likely a police investigation. The offending presenter and programme would likely be taken off the air. Think 'Top Gear' for example.
I can't understand when people try to differentiate between TV and the internet. They are both broadcast mediums, both highly visible, both fundamentally 'free to air', only one is regulated, the other is not. This is no defence to the allegations brought in this thread.
No one should be afraid to contribute, on grounds of opprobrium and oppression faced because of their ethnicity, colour or gender.
I think the demographic stated previously is apt. How many women contribute to the politics forum? That would be an interesting statistic. Not many I'd very venture.
- 8 Dec 2016, 11:44pm
- Forum: The Tea Shop
- Topic: Ban Politics from the forum
- Replies: 221
- Views: 13167
Re: Ban Politics from the forum
meic wrote:We like it, it works.Perhaps you can conscisely explain what is good about it?
Sorry, I should have made reference to this fabulous piece of self referencing prose!
The royal 'we'? It's hard to tell isn't it...
- 8 Dec 2016, 11:27pm
- Forum: The Tea Shop
- Topic: Ban Politics from the forum
- Replies: 221
- Views: 13167
Re: Ban Politics from the forum
Psamathe wrote:landsurfer wrote:Look at the poll.
14 responses from the whole of the Cyclist"s Touring Club Ltd. membership ....
How pointless is all of this ....
....
The trouble with this poll is that it is a flawed self proving poll - answering either way implies you agree there is a problem, something we don't all agree with. Bit like asking ?a. Do you think I'm handsome or b. Do you think I'm clever?", no third option asking if I'm daft, etc. So some have abstained.
The only way of answering this poll is to support the point the original poster is trying to make, which isn't really a poll. When taking a poll, if you only offer the options you like then the outcome must be an answer you like !!
Ian
Conversely if you support the status quo (as someone with a vested interest in perpetuating your collective 'We') and fail to recognise that something is wrong (in the face of many complaints to the contrary) then ANY poll result, or poll format will be the wrong poll for you.
Many respondents wish to see politics off the menu. That much is clear. You don't like that. That much is doubly clear. But if you adhere to your own principles of democracy then if a majority says 'no thanks' to political threads, you must respect that decision.
- 8 Dec 2016, 7:33pm
- Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
- Topic: TRP Spyre/Spyre SLC
- Replies: 80
- Views: 8405
Re: TRP Spyre/Spyre SLC
I've been thinking a lot about Spyres recently but the cost has put me off and the price of BB7 of very competitive right now.
Is there THAT much difference, for the extra dosh ?
Is there THAT much difference, for the extra dosh ?
- 8 Dec 2016, 4:43pm
- Forum: The Tea Shop
- Topic: Ban Politics from the forum
- Replies: 221
- Views: 13167
Re: Ban Politics from the forum
Psamathe wrote:Flinders wrote:Two bad options. I'm not voting for either.
A separate section, maybe.
Likewise. It is designed as a self proving survey because it is based on the (in my view) incorrect assumption that there is a problem. If there is a problem it's with people continually starting threads like this (and duplicate discussions in different threads - like this).
Ian
You can choose to abstain. You have that luxury in a democracy when given a binary choice.
Unfortunately other forum members can't choose not to see extreme and bigoted views portrayed on this forum. Like the other day, when members we defending the use of the word 'Paki'. Extreme, violent and pornographic depictions are not allowed on television because they offend people .
The 'don't watch if you don't want to be offended' trope cuts no ice there either. It shouldn't do here. Many people have already said they are offended by such topics. The worst if all is that these extreme views can't even be challenged because of the abuse of the Report system and knee jerk moderation.
- 8 Dec 2016, 10:03am
- Forum: The Tea Shop
- Topic: Ban Politics from the forum
- Replies: 221
- Views: 13167
Re: Ban Politics from the forum
661-Pete wrote:This thread has been initiated as a cynical 'spoiler' intended to divert attention from (a) the sensible debate about political discussion which we've already been having, and (b) the poll which - admittedly with some reluctance - I added to a thread which I'd already started.
The only two options offered in the above poll are not likely to be acceptable to the majority of forummers. Nor, I suspect, to the thread initiator.
No offence Pete but your poll was all over the place (you said so yourself). I think a binary choice is much more appropriate to the concerns raised elsewhere.