I work lust up the road from the Finsbury Square Mob of tossers.
I have a feeling getting back over the river tonight may be interesting.

Bloody students.
( CQ Knows the truth, all of it., Wed 9 Nov 2011, 14:14, 2 replies, latest was 14 years ago)

You should "lust" push them out of the way

( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Wed 9 Nov 2011, 14:15, Reply)

If it was just them I would
it's the police lines that look to be tricky.
( CQ Knows the truth, all of it., Wed 9 Nov 2011, 14:19, Reply)

Bet you wish you didn't look like such a hippy now eh?

(PsychoChomp, Wed 9 Nov 2011, 14:25, Reply)

You've met me.
Even drunk as you were you may have noticed I look more punk than hippy.
( CQ Knows the truth, all of it., Wed 9 Nov 2011, 14:35, Reply)

they all just went right underneath my office window
they all need a bath
( rachelswipe with a fork, Wed 9 Nov 2011, 14:29, Reply)

Come on.
They are non-taxpayers protesting about how little taxpayer money they receive. To get their bullshit degree.

IT'S ONLY RIGHT!
(Set your faces to Stunned Bigly, Wed 9 Nov 2011, 14:32, Reply)

Did you pay for your bullshit education?

( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Wed 9 Nov 2011, 14:35, Reply)

No.
It came with a packet of cornflakes.
(Set your faces to Stunned Bigly, Wed 9 Nov 2011, 14:36, Reply)

it's so straightforward
merit-based, with a weighting for those who went to comps.

get 3 A's and want to be a doctor? here's your fees.

get 3 D's and want to study surfing at the uni of plymouth? er...

i am exaggerating, but there is a very obvious point.
( rachelswipe with a fork, Wed 9 Nov 2011, 14:37, Reply)

^this.
It is not your RIGHT to go to Uni.

So fuck off.
(Set your faces to Stunned Bigly, Wed 9 Nov 2011, 14:39, Reply)

exactly
just because it was free for predecessors does not make it your right.

you want it, you pay for it. can't pay for it? then you simply can't go, until you can pay for it. yes that sucks hard, but that's life. lots of things about it suck.
( rachelswipe with a fork, Wed 9 Nov 2011, 14:42, Reply)

The poor are poor so screw them
They should have had the good sense to be born into a wealthy family.
( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Wed 9 Nov 2011, 14:45, Reply)

Fucking grow up.

(Set your faces to Stunned Bigly, Wed 9 Nov 2011, 14:47, Reply)

He has a point.
Not everyone has the option to afford it.
( CQ Knows the truth, all of it., Wed 9 Nov 2011, 14:51, Reply)

I'm not looking to row about this
But swipe's comment was crass
( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Wed 9 Nov 2011, 14:54, Reply)

Fair enough but I disagree.
It's a harsh assessment of the current options.
(Set your faces to Stunned Bigly, Wed 9 Nov 2011, 14:57, Reply)

i paid for my education with scholarships from 8-21
as it happens. family wealth or lack of had nothing to do with it. brains and hard work definitely did.

but that's not really relevant here. the sad truth is, there are lots of things you can't do if you can't afford them. private healthcare. houses. cars. designer clothes. holidays. now a degree is miles more important than any of these, but unfortunately, when there are as many students in the country as there are, they can't all have it for free. someone has to pay for it, OR difficult choices have to be made about who should get it for free.

yes it fucking sucks giant balls if you want to go and you can't afford it. not denying that. but lots of things in life are really hard and suck. life is fucking hard and it sucks. why does anyone see it as their RIGHT to have their fees paid?
( rachelswipe with a fork, Wed 9 Nov 2011, 14:59, Reply)

Too many points to answer satisfactorily.
I make no comment on your personal circumstances. I don't know you, but as a lawyer you must be clever and you sound as though you have done alright for yourself.

I agree there is too much that people expect for nothing these days, I imagine this is a logical conclusion of a consumerist, capitalist society that keeps the poor poor - eventually they will kick up and demand nice things, even though they haven't worked to achieve them.

And finally, why does anyone see free education as their right?
Because we have a long history of free education.
Because the people who are taking it away had one.
Because their predecessors who began this sorry business claimed a mantra of "Education, education, education"
Because it is well-established that the better your education the better quality of life you can expect to have.
( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Wed 9 Nov 2011, 15:11, Reply)

Apologies - this response could and should be better written
but I am trying to look like I am working at the same time, and having to deal with constant interuptions.
( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Wed 9 Nov 2011, 15:12, Reply)

just because older generations got it for free
is not an argument. there are many more people in the country now, for a start. and the economy simply can't support it: look at the number of graduates who are unemployed.

this goes back to my previous argument: make it merit-based. if you get good grades and you are doing a good subject at a good university, it should be free. otherwise not.
( rachelswipe with a fork, Wed 9 Nov 2011, 15:17, Reply)

Would you say the same for the NHS?
Will your merit based system allow for positive discrimination for those from poorer backgrounds or who go to shit schools, who are less likely to get the good grades than their more affluent counterparts, even if they are brighter?

Also, our education system is broken all the way down to the start - "good" secondary schools nowadays tend to train children to pass the curriculum, rather than give them a grounding in education.
Research shows that the majority of education funding should be put into early years if you are ever going to lift children out of poverty. That was one really good thing that the previous administration were doing, when they weren't out waging wars.
( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Wed 9 Nov 2011, 15:26, Reply)

the problem with funding education in the early years
is if they don't get the support at home, it is wasted energy. somehow the parents need to be made to give more of a fuck.
( rachelswipe with a fork, Wed 9 Nov 2011, 15:30, Reply)

The research shows that if you can do good work with them before the age of five
Then they stand a much better chance, regardless of how shit their parents are.
( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Wed 9 Nov 2011, 15:32, Reply)

All of hers are
she likes to play the corporate bitch, Stunned on the other hand....
( CQ Knows the truth, all of it., Wed 9 Nov 2011, 15:00, Reply)

it's not crass
it's factual. i am not saying wealthy kids deserve an education but screw the rest. i am saying, life is fucking unfair, but if you can't pay for it, you're not entitled to it as of right.
( rachelswipe with a fork, Wed 9 Nov 2011, 15:02, Reply)

Then fucking tough.
Them's the breaks.

And that is bollocks because they will lend you the money. You may owe a fortune when you finish but that, for me, will encourage people out of hotel management degrees.
(Set your faces to Stunned Bigly, Wed 9 Nov 2011, 14:56, Reply)

You'll be on here complaining when you get substandard service in a hotel in a couple of years...

( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Wed 9 Nov 2011, 14:57, Reply)

In all likelihood.
But that is the sort of shit that should be vocational. Taxpayers, in times of austeriity, should not be paying for a Beatles degree from John Moores University.
(Set your faces to Stunned Bigly, Wed 9 Nov 2011, 15:01, Reply)

Citation needed
People on b3ta often rail against the pure nonsense spouted in the Daily Mail, yet people still come out with tosh like this.
Of course tax-payers should not fund filthy scousers doing a Beatles degree at John Moores and thankfully, they don't.
Silly Stunned.
( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Wed 9 Nov 2011, 15:15, Reply)

One of the scouse Uni's does.
www.reuters.com/article/2011/01/27/us-beatles-degree-odd-idUSTRE70Q60920110127

In your face!
(Set your faces to Stunned Bigly, Wed 9 Nov 2011, 15:26, Reply)

I didn't say that there were no Mickey Mouse degree courses in the world.
When you show me evidence of UK tax-payers funding such studies I will (un)happily eat my words and apologise.
( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Wed 9 Nov 2011, 15:31, Reply)

The problem is the only options available for kids now is the dole or higher education.
Even the clever ones aren't going to easily find jobs nowadays.
( girlinthehole, Wed 9 Nov 2011, 14:58, Reply)

this is also very very true
and yet more and more of our logistics and manufacturing goes abroad.
( rachelswipe with a fork, Wed 9 Nov 2011, 15:00, Reply)

Our industry can't find good engineers anymore.
We have a couple of useless nitwits here but we daren't get rid of them in case we can't find replacements.
( girlinthehole, Wed 9 Nov 2011, 15:02, Reply)

I agree with this.
But again, you CAN go to Uni. You will just owe a shitload of money when you are finished.
(Set your faces to Stunned Bigly, Wed 9 Nov 2011, 15:04, Reply)

This is what I mean.
There are kids going in to uni regardless of the debt. And let's face it we never thought that far ahead at that age. These are kids who would rather work or would be more suited to working instead of trying to get a degree they don't really care that much about.
( girlinthehole, Wed 9 Nov 2011, 15:06, Reply)

We need more techinical training
We should be training more plumbers, engineers etc, rather than art historians.
(Reverend Fister "a disciplined fuckwit", Wed 9 Nov 2011, 15:21, Reply)

Too right.
On the guardian website is some beeny hatted student waving a banner about the right to a free education. Silly little girl.

*rages*
(Set your faces to Stunned Bigly, Wed 9 Nov 2011, 14:47, Reply)

Stupid brats
Higher education is a privilege, not a right. Not everyone can expect to go on and do a 'do you want fries with that' degree and expect the taxpayer to pay for it.

Money is tight, and difficult decisions have to be made. I'd rather that schools and hospitals were well equipped rather than loads of middle-class fuckwits learn about the History of Art at my expense.
(Reverend Fister "a disciplined fuckwit", Wed 9 Nov 2011, 15:05, Reply)

I think it doesn't help that so much money was pumped in to the banks.
But there was little choice. It had to be done or the whole infrastructure would collapse.

They have been very short sighted in paying bonuses again so soon.

That said, if you worked for RBS in Dartford, say, you stand a good chance of having been made redundant. Not all banking is investment banking.
(Set your faces to Stunned Bigly, Wed 9 Nov 2011, 15:09, Reply)

Definitely
Investment banking makes up a relatively small percentage of banking staff in the UK, but it's the larger group that have taken the hit in terms of job losses.
(Reverend Fister "a disciplined fuckwit", Wed 9 Nov 2011, 15:11, Reply)

The thing that bugs me most about riots (not just those involving students)
is the mass idiocy behind them. The government makes a decision, you and your mates don't like it, so you organise a march, or to duff up the windows at Footlocker. Presumably the hope is that David Cameron shits himself at this and changes the decision you and your mates don't like. And then what? There are plenty of other governmental decisions being made that people don't like, and if one gets reversed because of rioting, it will only encourage more riots.

I thought university students were meant to be clever?
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Wed 9 Nov 2011, 15:05, Reply)

There speaks a man who doesn't have to interview these cretins.

(Set your faces to Stunned Bigly, Wed 9 Nov 2011, 15:10, Reply)

This precise instance is why I dropped out of my journalism degree

(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Wed 9 Nov 2011, 15:11, Reply)

Because you weren't clever?

(Reverend Fister "a disciplined fuckwit", Wed 9 Nov 2011, 15:12, Reply)

Bitch please
As if I did journalism
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Wed 9 Nov 2011, 15:13, Reply)

I thought you were being harrassed by Mandingo, your lecturer?

(Set your faces to Stunned Bigly, Wed 9 Nov 2011, 15:13, Reply)

I didn't.
Well, I got a fees only grant and some student loans, so not totally free anyway.
( CQ Knows the truth, all of it., Wed 9 Nov 2011, 14:38, Reply)

What areas are they in?
I'm aiming to get from Elephant to Victoria via Parliament Square, then up through Knightsbridge. Will Parliament be icky, do you think?
( Lampito rise with the moon, go to bed with the sun, Wed 9 Nov 2011, 14:32, Reply)

No. They are not going that way. I will gaz you the route.
Alright lovey?
(Set your faces to Stunned Bigly, Wed 9 Nov 2011, 14:34, Reply)

There's and official route?
I'd like to see that so I can go round it.
( CQ Knows the truth, all of it., Wed 9 Nov 2011, 14:36, Reply)

There has to be.
Otherwise it's in breach of legislation.
(Set your faces to Stunned Bigly, Wed 9 Nov 2011, 14:36, Reply)

Do you know where I can find it?

( CQ Knows the truth, all of it., Wed 9 Nov 2011, 14:39, Reply)

oh god
another one who thinks it's ok to hit on students many years younger than he is...
( rachelswipe with a fork, Wed 9 Nov 2011, 14:40, Reply)

Hardly.
Hippies smell.
( CQ Knows the truth, all of it., Wed 9 Nov 2011, 14:41, Reply)

Route or legislation.

(Set your faces to Stunned Bigly, Wed 9 Nov 2011, 14:40, Reply)

The route, I want to be able to go round it so I can get to see my boy tonight after work.

( CQ Knows the truth, all of it., Wed 9 Nov 2011, 14:41, Reply)

The route is on The Guardian website.

( scarpe We Stole Bikes, Wed 9 Nov 2011, 14:41, Reply)

So it is, cheers Scarpey.

( CQ Knows the truth, all of it., Wed 9 Nov 2011, 14:42, Reply)

Oh for fuck's sake, the blocks off all the bridgs I can easily take and culminates in a fucking rally right where it will cause me most grief.
*joins conservative Party*
( CQ Knows the truth, all of it., Wed 9 Nov 2011, 14:44, Reply)

Ta for that. My journey to Liverpool St later will be interesting...
* goes to find large weapon *
( Fucking hell Jeff I am not a robot, Wed 9 Nov 2011, 14:48, Reply)

A protester perhaps?
Be sure to wave £20 notes when you walk past them.
(Set your faces to Stunned Bigly, Wed 9 Nov 2011, 14:53, Reply)

IN YOUR PANTS!!!

( girlinthehole, Wed 9 Nov 2011, 14:53, Reply)

* winks *

( Fucking hell Jeff I am not a robot, Wed 9 Nov 2011, 14:56, Reply)

Thank you v. much.
Kind of fancy going via Camberwell. I've not been back down there since I moved out of my last place in July.
( Lampito rise with the moon, go to bed with the sun, Wed 9 Nov 2011, 14:39, Reply)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/interactive/2011/nov/09/student-protest-tuition-fees-map

(Set your faces to Stunned Bigly, Wed 9 Nov 2011, 14:44, Reply)

Demonstrations in Central London 9th November

The University of London Union and the National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts will hold the National Student Demonstration on Wednesday 9th November 2011. The march will assemble on Malet Street at 12:00 to march to London Wall along the following route from 12:30:

Malet Street, Gower Street, Bloomsbury Street, Shaftesbury Avenue, Charing Cross Road, Duncannon Street, Strand, Fleet Street, Fetter Lane, New Fetter Lane, Holborn Viaduct, Newgate Street, King Edward Street, London Wall.

At London Wall a one hour rally will be held from 15:30 - 16:30. Participants are expected to disperse by 17:30.

The march and rally is expected to attract substantial numbers of people and as such requires a great deal of planning. The Met Police has been working closely with student representatives to plan the policing operation for this event.

Several road closures will be in place on the day. All roads on the route will be closed. Feeder roads and surrounding roads will be closed when necessary to relieve congestion. London, Southwark, Blackfriars and Waterloo Bridges (Northbound) may be closed if required. Closures will begin from 9am and increase throughout the day.

The Met Police will be communicating via Twitter in the run up to and during the march. You can follow this on Twitter @CO11metpolice. You can also text "police" to 83123 to receive all of the latest Met Police updates on the march and rally straight to your phone. You will not be charged for this service. City of London Police will also use the established Imodus Priority Alert system to update the City community.
(Set your faces to Stunned Bigly, Wed 9 Nov 2011, 15:06, Reply)

They are going via Trafalgar Square, but are heading out towards the city I think. Obviously Parliament Squaer could be tricky just because of what it is
but it's not on the 'official' route, I don't think.
( scarpe We Stole Bikes, Wed 9 Nov 2011, 14:34, Reply)

they just went past your library
but some of them are in traf square
( rachelswipe with a fork, Wed 9 Nov 2011, 14:36, Reply)

Time for a good old-fashioned kettling then
See if the police can goad them into smashing something.
( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Wed 9 Nov 2011, 14:38, Reply)

some assclowns are taking pictures of them
it'll be all over the internet already, just look at it online if the live show isn't enough, you idiots.
( rachelswipe with a fork, Wed 9 Nov 2011, 14:38, Reply)

Decided not to go to the library.
Oh lolz would I ever anyway? Bloody dissertation :(
( Lampito rise with the moon, go to bed with the sun, Wed 9 Nov 2011, 14:38, Reply)