"Two things are infinite in the universe - the presence of hydrogen, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the hydrogen"
For an example of why people need to be educated in media manipulation, you just need to read the messageboards of any tabloid website, like in the link someone put in the earlier thread.
( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Thu 18 Jul 2013, 11:39, 1 reply, 12 years ago)

You argue people need to be educated in media manipulation
I think those that are idiotic enough to fall for this shit should be culled.

Admittedly yours is the more implementable solution, but mine has some major merits.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Thu 18 Jul 2013, 11:41, Reply)

at least SOMEONE is debating the serious question
as well as the cock gags

well done boys
( rachelswipe with a fork, Thu 18 Jul 2013, 11:42, Reply)

Well I'm only suggesting it because they wouldn't let me do what you're suggesting.
Something about human rights abuses, or some other politically-correct nonsense.
( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Thu 18 Jul 2013, 11:43, Reply)

bastards.
Edit - although to be serious, do you think there is a large enough fraction of those "in need of media education" that the eduction would benefit? I mean, you only need to look a Daily Fail comments page or HYS to realise that a large proportion of these people are beyond any help that doesn't involve a wall and a firing squad.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Thu 18 Jul 2013, 11:44, Reply)

Well - the disgusting hand-wringing yurt-knitting hippy in me does, yes.
Obviously the sexy funtimes death squad nazi part of me goes for the more entertaining solution, obviously.

I'm a great believer in the power of information and education, and find stupidity and unquestioning following very, very frightening. Religious people, right wing people, people who remain loyal to their political party through a sense of allegiance ...

I mean - the fact that politicians need "Media training" is terrifying - there ARE people out there who will decide on a candidate due to whether or not the candidate has good hair. Or once smoked a spliff. Or is gay.

Like I said - terrifying.
( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Thu 18 Jul 2013, 11:51, Reply)

The 'media training' thing is unfortunately necessary...
..as people DO judge politicians on their looks and media 'presence'. They make this judgement for one very good reason, they are dumbass motherfuckers who should not be allowed to vote or breed.
As a country we have learned nothing at all from our more in-depth reporting of politician's sexual, financial and moral misdeeds - we still keep voting for these cunts. The reporting gets swept under the media carpet of X factor/Britain's got talent/masterchef/reality tv pap that's served to eager morons every day.
The Romans had it down pat, too. Bread and circuses. It's just our circuses come to us through the shit pump in the living room.
(Captain Placid 24/7 ball gags, brownie mix and clown porn, Thu 18 Jul 2013, 12:15, Reply)

Precisely this.
Which tends to lead me towards thinking that there should be some sort of qualification to vote. I would suggest every election voters have to answer a brief questionnaire asking who the main candidates are for the main parties, and what the main policies of those parties are.

If you don't get 70% or over, you don't get a vote.

... and so I step ever-closer to inspiring the invocation of Godwin.
( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Thu 18 Jul 2013, 12:18, Reply)

the problem is (because I tried an online version of this)
that the policies of the major parties are more or less in distinguishable on most issues.
( CQ Knows the truth, all of it., Thu 18 Jul 2013, 12:21, Reply)

Well - that's not a problem of the system we're developing. That's actually a good result - that it's been highlighted.
"My party thinks this!"

"My party also thinks this, but their party is stewpid!"

"My party agrees with the above, but, er ... we're a bit more whiny!"

&c.
( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Thu 18 Jul 2013, 12:22, Reply)

Our 'choice' in the last election?
Between three guys with varying levels of independant wealth, none of whom had ever had a job outside politics.
The only difference was the colour of their ties.
(Captain Placid 24/7 ball gags, brownie mix and clown porn, Thu 18 Jul 2013, 12:25, Reply)

Indeed. We're clearly in quite a pleasant hegemony at the moment.
The past 30 years has been only conservative governments - we've just changed the colour of the backdrop against which they speak a couple of times (well - once).

Public schoolboy career politicians. As much to do with the real world as Justin Beiber does with music.

It also gives rise to the argument that politicians shouldn't earn a wage from it - but the counter to that is it being swamped only by those who can afford the time and the money, ie, the landed gentry.

Oh - wait ...
( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Thu 18 Jul 2013, 12:29, Reply)

I had a very saddening experience at the weekend*
A good mate of mine's son is in Uni studying politics. He's already done unpaid internships, he's networking the shit out of every politico he can find and all he wants to do is politics. It's disheartening to listen to him, the rhetoric, the single-minded approach to getting in parliament at all costs and the cocky belief that, once he's there, the directorships and backhanders will just flow in.
Sadly, the little twat's right.

*other than seeing my own cock in the mirror and crying at the lack of size - again
(Captain Placid 24/7 ball gags, brownie mix and clown porn, Thu 18 Jul 2013, 12:51, Reply)

You could try repeatedly punching him in the face until both of you are crying?

( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Thu 18 Jul 2013, 12:59, Reply)