Oor Nicola Sturgeon thread.

[sophia]

2 minutes ago, Bairnardo said:

Its just an awful post mate. You are literally talking about joining a political party purely becasue someone else doesnt like the direction of travel and decided to leave. This isn't the school playground. 

It was a joke mate.

You genuinely think your contributions these days are much above the playground?

I don't.

[Antlion]

13 minutes ago, Scott Steiner said:

I do remember the red rosette on a donkey type of stuff as well as Iain Gray being an awful Labour leader, the type who looked unnatural when he smiled, a bit like Starmer in that respect.

Well, naturally - you’ve been spamming under various guises long enough to recognise this. 

[Granny Danger]

3 minutes ago, Bairnardo said:

Its just an awful post mate. You are literally talking about joining a political party purely becasue someone else doesnt like the direction of travel and decided to leave. This isn't the school playground. 

Given your presence on the Coronavirus thread I’m astounded you’re coming on to this thread to criticise posts and talk about school playgrounds.  You’re keeping company with some of the most bizarre, irrational and childish posters on P&B.

[John Lambies Doos]

To put this in context, I was an active member of the SNP until Tuesday this week.  I think my posting history should back that up, and I don’t think i qualify as a moonhowler. 
However, on Tuesday a bit of me died inside.  I’ve agreed with 90% of what has been done so far, and understood the other 10%.  That has ended, as has my trust in NS.   I will always vote for independence (and that probably means voting SNP as a means to an end) but all motivation is gone and i might even spoil my ballot at the local elections.
“Eyes on the Prize” is just a wee bit harder just now.  

^moonhowler

[Miguel Sanchez]

26 minutes ago, sophia said:

I see @Bairnardo has reacted and that for me is a badge of honour.

As @Granny Danger opined, once reasonable contributors have lost perspective and I actually think that is a shame 

This lack of self-awareness is genuinely impressive. And quite sad.

[Scott Steiner]

16 minutes ago, Granny Danger said:

Given your presence on the Coronavirus thread I’m astounded you’re coming on to this thread to criticise posts and talk about school playgrounds.  You’re keeping company with some of the most bizarre, irrational and childish posters on P&B.

All I'll say is that Bairnardo's place on the EEIL is merited.

The company he keeps doesn't matter to me, but his conduct when I first joined was reprehensible.

However, he might still be let free in the N/Y Amnesty.. if it takes place.

[Granny Danger]

6 minutes ago, Miguel Sanchez said:

This lack of self-awareness is genuinely impressive. And quite sad.

This lack of self-awareness is not in the least bit impressive or surprising.

[sophia]

14 minutes ago, Miguel Sanchez said:

This lack of self-awareness is genuinely impressive. And quite sad.

Oh no, there's another one

[Wee Bully]

1 hour ago, sophia said:

Good for you, you've just given me the impetus I needed to join first thing tomorrow.

I'm sorry but if you agree with 90% and understand the remaining 10% and you are taking that stance, my advice is to avoid gazing at the night sky.

This board has a lot of competition for the look at me prize 

That’s cool - go for it. Although, if you were a fellow traveller, and so on board, I’m surprised you weren’t a member already.

This isn’t a “look at me” moment.  It is just a suggestion that everything isn’t rosy in the garden, and from speaking to a few friends, there has been a real backlash within the party this week.  

The 90% I was referring to was how the pandemic was being handled.  There are other things that i think are a shambles - the ferries is a big one for me, as I spend a lot of time on Arran and Cal Macs service has gone massively downhill over the past few years due to initially lack of investment and then the wrong investment.

 

[D Angelo Barksdale]

The Forum be crazy these days.

[NotThePars]

I am calling for a total shutdown on anyone above 50 attempting to do patter on this site until we figure out what the hell is going on

[Melanius Mullarkey]

Thank god I’m only 49.

Phew!

[Barney Rubble]

Honestly folks, just learn to relax.

[Guest Bob Mahelp]

53 minutes ago, Wee Bully said:

 

This isn’t a “look at me” moment.  It is just a suggestion that everything isn’t rosy in the garden, and from speaking to a few friends, there has been a real backlash within the party this week.  

 

 

Just out of interest - and I'm not saying that I disagree with you - how do you get that from 'speaking to a few friends', there has been a backlash in the SNP this week ? 

By it's very nature, social media exists as an echo chamber. And for every screaming madman on twitter that disagrees with the SNP, there'll be a middle-aged couple somewhere that have nothing to do with social media but agree 100% with Sturgeon's actions. 

Do their opinions, or votes, count less than the screaming madman on Twitter ?

I'm absolutely loving the fact that the puce faced moonhowlers on the covid thread...the ones who post 100 times a day but probably represent around 1% of the P&B board members....actually, seriously,  think they are speaking for the Scottish electorate in general. 

I'm sure there must be a word for it....you know, when social media gives you such a confirmation bias that it's IMPOSSIBLE to believe that you're anything other than correct.....but I don't know what it is. 

Fuckwittery, maybe. 

 

 

Edited December 23, 2021 by Bob Mahelp

[Wee Bully]

21 minutes ago, Bob Mahelp said:

Just out of interest - and I'm not saying that I disagree with you - how do you get that from 'speaking to a few friends', there has been a backlash in the SNP this week ? 

By it's very nature, social media exists as an echo chamber. And for every screaming madman on twitter that disagrees with the SNP, there'll be a middle-aged couple somewhere that have nothing to do with social media but agree 100% with Sturgeon's actions. 

Do their opinions, or votes, count less than the screaming madman on Twitter ?

I'm absolutely loving the fact that the puce faced moonhowlers on the covid thread...the ones who post 100 times a day but probably represent around 1% of the P&B board members....actually, seriously,  think they are speaking for the Scottish electorate in general. 

I'm sure there must be a word for it....you know, when social media gives you such a confirmation bias that it's IMPOSSIBLE to believe that you're anything other than correct.....but I don't know what it is. 

Fuckwittery, maybe. 

 

 

I absolutely get it - I’m talking about SNP members and supporters that I know who in the last week have just said “f**k it”. A bi t like me

In all honesty, it would take very little to get me back, but at the moment I’m in a pretty black place. 

Edited December 23, 2021 by Wee Bully

[carpetmonster]

I get all the bits about Holyrood having jumped the gun. I get all the bits about they think Boris is doing the right thing and cheering him on. I notice all the bits about the NHS needs more investment and better structuring so that crisis management doesn’t have to be so extreme. I’m not sure how they miss that Boris is only doing what they see as the right thing because he’s being held to ransom by the likes of Steve Baker, who’d gleefully dismantle the NHS and sell it to the yanks for thruppence ha’penny. As would Boris, most likely. 
 

ETA - oh wow, @oaksoft seems to have a real hate boner for me recently. Given his porno script attempt, at least I suppose he’s getting one; happy to help Oaky. 

Edited December 24, 2021 by carpetmonster
Typo

[BucksburnDandy]

I've waited a few days to react to the new restrictions as it required some thought, reflection and nuance. This seems the best place for a post of that nature as the Covid thread is a wild place.

My initial view was against the new restrictions and it on balance remains my view. However given a couple of days to reflect, I can see why certain decisions have been taken.

The caveat that I would put in place is the need for boosters. While the ramping up of this has been tremendous, we do need to get a lot more of the population boosted to a point where it is more effective at reducing the effects of infection.

On football, I don't think the decision to restrict numbers at football was driven by the crowds gathering in an outdoor setting. Stadiums themselves are not drivers of infection. What SG are terrified of is the way people get to games. It's full supporters buses and trains. It's folk gathering in indoor pubs, packed in. This is due to the way Omicron is significantly more transmissible. It is a heavy handed restriction but I can understand the wish to avoid the more social side of football.

On hospitality, working alongside Contact Tracers in my role at work, indoor hospitality and events are big drivers of infection (schools being another). Unfortunately there's no denying it as much as pubs, clubs and venues try to claim they're hard done by. I think the restrictions in this area are more fair - there's no need to shut them totally but a return of more distance between groups and the need for table service will restrict numbers to reduce the risk of the spread of Omicron. The big area where hospitality venues are failing on is ensuring people fill in the Contact Tracing details, as seen by the report yesterday citing a large drop since June in folk "checking in".

As mentioned, schools are a large driver as well. However the government have made education their priority to keep open and I think it is more reasonable to prioritise education than pubs, clubs and the football.

If the booster rollout is on or above track by mid January then society should be opened up more again, in my mind some of these measures should be for the 3 weeks only. There will be more protection from hospitalisation built up with the boosters. Some measures may need to remain (a push on venues to be far more stringent in collecting contact tracing details and possibly restricted numbers in indoor venues) however the balance for me would be that we should have reached a good point in our aim of boosting those wanting these.

If it stretches longer than that, people will rightly be a lot more angry with the FM and the SNP. Probably rightly so, we should be allowed back to certain activities.

It's a tough call to make right now. Whilst I understand what has been done, the length of the restrictions will be what people will remember.

The one thing I hope remains is table service in pubs. The Europeans have that part right.

[DublinMagyar]

^^^^^^^^
An actual adult

[KingRocketman II]

11 hours ago, Scott Steiner said:

All I'll say is that Bairnardo's place on the EEIL is merited.

The company he keeps doesn't matter to me, but his conduct when I first joined was reprehensible.

However, he might still be let free in the N/Y Amnesty.. if it takes place.

 

[KingRocketman II]

8 hours ago, BucksburnDandy said:

I've waited a few days to react to the new restrictions as it required some thought, reflection and nuance. This seems the best place for a post of that nature as the Covid thread is a wild place.

My initial view was against the new restrictions and it on balance remains my view. However given a couple of days to reflect, I can see why certain decisions have been taken.

The caveat that I would put in place is the need for boosters. While the ramping up of this has been tremendous, we do need to get a lot more of the population boosted to a point where it is more effective at reducing the effects of infection.

On football, I don't think the decision to restrict numbers at football was driven by the crowds gathering in an outdoor setting. Stadiums themselves are not drivers of infection. What SG are terrified of is the way people get to games. It's full supporters buses and trains. It's folk gathering in indoor pubs, packed in. This is due to the way Omicron is significantly more transmissible. It is a heavy handed restriction but I can understand the wish to avoid the more social side of football.

On hospitality, working alongside Contact Tracers in my role at work, indoor hospitality and events are big drivers of infection (schools being another). Unfortunately there's no denying it as much as pubs, clubs and venues try to claim they're hard done by. I think the restrictions in this area are more fair - there's no need to shut them totally but a return of more distance between groups and the need for table service will restrict numbers to reduce the risk of the spread of Omicron. The big area where hospitality venues are failing on is ensuring people fill in the Contact Tracing details, as seen by the report yesterday citing a large drop since June in folk "checking in".

As mentioned, schools are a large driver as well. However the government have made education their priority to keep open and I think it is more reasonable to prioritise education than pubs, clubs and the football.

If the booster rollout is on or above track by mid January then society should be opened up more again, in my mind some of these measures should be for the 3 weeks only. There will be more protection from hospitalisation built up with the boosters. Some measures may need to remain (a push on venues to be far more stringent in collecting contact tracing details and possibly restricted numbers in indoor venues) however the balance for me would be that we should have reached a good point in our aim of boosting those wanting these.

If it stretches longer than that, people will rightly be a lot more angry with the FM and the SNP. Probably rightly so, we should be allowed back to certain activities.

It's a tough call to make right now. Whilst I understand what has been done, the length of the restrictions will be what people will remember.

The one thing I hope remains is table service in pubs. The Europeans have that part right.

I agree with much of that apart from the last sentence which is abhorrent. You wait for ever to get served/get your bill at the end  and there is always the guessing game of where to order/where to pay etc. 

Re the restrictions, am happy to wear a mask whenever required (come out of shops and 15 mins later sometimes forget I have it on), get vaccinated, get my booster (early Jan inshallah) and if a green pass was required, I have the NHS app on my phone. I recently returned from Italy and the QR code worked fine in getting into restaurants/bars and when asked on trains. I really do think the green/covid pass should be pushed out more here. 

What I am a little uneasy about is the clear data that is emerging to confirm the reduced severity of this latest variant. If hospitalisations were on a par with Delta then I would welcome these measures but at this stage of overall proceedings, I do think there needs to be a better balance between risk and personal choice. Yes on the latter a lot of people remain fuckwits in this country, but I am moving to the stage where people need to start being allowed to make informed choices otherwise shut businesses, hospitality etc is just going to continue on a never ending loop. 

Anyway this is for the Covid thread. I think the SG are being overly cautious in their approach and while some welcome this, I don't think this is the approach they can continue with if we are indeed to live with Covid in a normal way as much as possible. Where others say Westminster have got it right on this occasion, I would say they probably have however that was not down to a pragmatic and clear assessment of the data and situation - that is solely down to a bumbling, inconsistent, covid handshaking PM petrified of losing any last lingering support from a party of zealots.