UK one step closer to Big Brother

[benEzra]

I don't think that we need to discuss too much more about language, or else I shall have to start trying out some old English.

Hwanon ferigeað ge fætte scyldas, græge syrcan ond grimhelmas, heresceafta heap? Ic eom Hroðgares ar ond ombiht. Ne seah ic elþeodige þus manige men modiglicran, wen ic þæt ge for wlenco, nalles for wræcsiðum, ac for higeþrymmum Hroðgar sohton.

Serious note--most non-academics wouldn't even recognize that as English. For non-lit-geeks, it's a line from Beowulf:

"Whence do you carry ornate shields, grey mail-shirts and masked helms, a multitude of spears? I am Hrothgar's herald and officer. I have never seen, of foreigners, so many men, of braver bearing, I know that out of daring, by no means in exile, but for greatness of heart, you have sought Hrothgar."

You can actually recognize some of the words as English--sort of:

scyldas = shields
ond = and
helmas = helms
sohton = sought

but the language has changed a lot since that was written...

 

[carlrodd]

you know, to those of us who are americans, all of this seems SO unacceptable and over the top.....i, myself, sit back and think, where is all the outcry from the british public? the fact is, most british people simply don't give it a second thought. these sorts of intrusions are wholly possible, because the british public stopped fighting big, intrusive government a long time ago. they don't cry out, because their senses are dulled to all this. it's not an outrage that their government keeps heaping on more and more of this totalitarian bs, while the police do virtually nothing to actual criminals that seem to operate with impunity....it's merely irony to laugh at and joke about, like everything else in great britain. sarcasm is the only right the british people have left, and it's only a matter of time before that put a clamp on that as well.

 

[Mk VII]

We don't really do outcry here. Most things don't matter very much, and the rest don't matter at all.

 

[carlrodd]

We don't really do outcry here. Most things don't matter very much, and the rest don't matter at all.

i know they don't, and i feel for you and the rest of your people....truly. my fiancee is from liverpool. we are getting married in june, and she is living here. i know that's her home, but i don't know how anyone sees it as much of a home anymore. i'm always asked why i wouldn't choose to live there. the only thing i can say is that it would be impossible for a truly freedom-loving american to adjust to life in such a place. i mean, my dear god......microphones on the streets???????? cameras that alert authorities to changes in tones of voice?????? and the british media doesn't voice ANY dissent; they simply talk about what it will take to pass the legislation.

 

[coyote_jr]

I'm guessing there are no real men then in the UK?

 

[Phetro]

i know they don't, and i feel for you and the rest of your people....truly. my fiancee is from liverpool. we are getting married in june, and she is living here. i know that's her home, but i don't know how anyone sees it as much of a home anymore. i'm always asked why i wouldn't choose to live there. the only thing i can say is that it would be impossible for a truly freedom-loving american to adjust to life in such a place. i mean, my dear god......microphones on the streets???????? cameras that alert authorities to changes in tones of voice?????? and the british media doesn't voice ANY dissent; they simply talk about what it will take to pass the legislation.

Why would they voice dissent? The media wants it to happen.

Cameras are already on the streets of Chicago...the microphones and "tone of voice recognition" technology are just a matter of time.

 

[Cromlech]

benEzra

 

[carlrodd]

I'm guessing there are no real men then in the UK?

i'm not sure what you mean by that. i'd say your average english male, especially from the midland or northern cities, is markedly tougher than your average american male. many of them like to fight, and frequently look for any reason to do so, especially when out and about at night. the urban 'yobs' are notorious for having a penchant for mischief, and a bit of the old ultra-violence....'happy-slapping' and the like. most american males would be out of their element there. so there ARE real men, as most would define that terminology. the problem seems to be that the society at large is now completely used to the intrusiveness of police and other government, and as long as they are permitted to indulge in whatever material pursuit strikes their fancy, and watch football, things are just fine.

by the way, i am not bad-mouthing the british people. i feel sorry for them. and i feel sorry for us as well, because we're not that far behind. of course, i can't feel THAT sorry for anybody, because whovever finds himself in this situation played/plays some role in letting happen or continue.

 

[Mk VII]

for the great majority of the lumpenproletariat, as long as there's food on the table, beer in the fridge, money in their pockets, tits on Page Three of the Sun and Eastenders on the TV, none of rest matters.

Henry Porter at the Guardian is one journalist who is continually raising awareness about this stuff http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/henry_porter/index.html

 

[sterling180]

I hate to admit it, but I am the kind of person that would be doing the most menial/low paying of jobs in the states, whereas I have benefitted from the liberal employment laws/policies that we have here. If I wasn't such a lazy waste of space, I could try the armed forces, but to be honest, I think that I am too much of a muppet to be any good at that, either.

Never,EVER,assume that you are a muppet,in regards to anything in life; and NEVER EVER,put yourself down,regarding a potential career in the armed forces,or any career in local and central government or in any civil service jobs.You almost sound like my fat,workshy,lazy,slacking friend Kurt,who had great potential to become a computer programmer and decided to trade that in and to instead have crap jobs in warehouses and occasional periods of unemployment,where he recieved dole money and other benefits-that he squandered on beer,fags and even LSD;weed.

There is a whole world waiting for you to explore in the armed forces.You can choose whatever trade that interests you and persue it in a professional and proficient mannor.You get NVQs,Diplomas,Degrees,etc,etc, that are all funded,by whatever service,you decide to join.Think of it like a huge company and think of the jobs that are on offer to you.

If you want to join up,then get fit,so you can pass the entry physical tests and swot up on maths and English,so that you can pass the competancy,academic tests.

Please do not think like the anti sheeps in our country.How do you know what you can achieve,if you haven't tried.Those idiots don't know what they are doing at all and they think that we have a safe society.

 

[Fosbery]

I can heartily reccomend Her Majesty's Armed Forces as an excellent career path. Puts hairs on your chest, keeps you in top physical shape, lets you play with full-auto and things that go BOOM, funds your education, gets the girls, and looks darn good on a CV for future jobs. Go in as a Rupert and you can earn some serious money too.

It is NOT for everyone however. If you're shy or nervous or can't take a joke or are uncomfortable mud wrestling naked with other men when drunk, then don't bother joining If you're outgoing and up for a laugh, step on up

 

[real_name]

i'd say your average english male, especially from the midland or northern cities, is markedly tougher than your average american male. many of them like to fight

One word; football.

Having grown up in Birmingham, England and lived in London I have witnessed first hand the acts of adult males on a Saturday afternoon that were beyond belief.
Here in the USA matches are somewhere to go and watch the actual game, not stab strangers and push people under trains.
I moved to the USA for many reasons, one is that it is mostly safer here. I dread going back for weddings and funerals as it only gets worse there, and I have to leave my guns here.
British thugs are the craziest people you can imagine, really.

 

[Cromlech]

Yeah, I know that it's not the best attitude to have really.

If you're shy or nervous or can't take a joke or are uncomfortable mud wrestling naked with other men when drunk

I doubt that I would be partaking in any drinking sessions, I gave up when I was 16 (You guys are British, you know how early we start ). I'm not the most outgoing while in strange company, so yeah, I would need to work on that.

 

[Fosbery]

You can't not drink in the Army. I'm sure there's a rule somewhere...

 

[real_name]

You can't not drink in Britain. I'm sure there's a rule somewhere...

I fixed that for you.

 

[Molon Labe]

I'm guessing there are no real men then in the UK?

The last ones moved to America in 1620.

 

[real_name]

The last ones moved to America in 1620.

I advise you to go to Newcastle city center on a Friday night and share that opinion with the locals.

 

[Mk VII]

The last ones moved to America in 1620.

That's when we slung the gloomy theological bigots out and dumped them over there.

 

[tellner]

Hmm, right about the time modern science was invented and England started to develop. Sounds about right. Will you take the Puritans and their idiot children back? Please?

 

[carlrodd]

i'm wondering how this has turned into a religion/faith bashing thread. i thought the topic was interesting until it got lost. since i would not be permitted to continue by offering a defense of certain organized religions, could we agree to dispense with the snide comments and get back to the conversation as it started?

 

[coyote_jr]

Better yet let's ignore Britain altogether, or even better yet let's get the THR members all port side and we'll go in there and take the place over? Then we can make our own little magical gun loving country?

 

[bender]

didn't I read a quote from a NY newspaper article someone posted here on THR recently, where Mayor bloomberg was saying that we need to be more like england?

 

[tellner]

It's only "faith bashing" if one considers the Dominionist wing of the far Religious Right to define "faith". Not all do, not even the religious types like yours truly.

It also demonstrates a severe irony deficiency on the part of some. Every possible insult is heaped on entire nations and ethnic and religious groups - the French, the English, Europeans, Mexicans, Muslims - and anyone whose political compass deviates as far as one arc second from due Right. Nobody says 'boo'. But let anything go the other way and you can hear the cries of "bigotry", "Bush bashing" and "Commie" from the next county.

Come on. The ability to dish it out should include a small measure of capacity to take it.

 

[UKTN]

Having originally come from the UK I can tell you we in America are heading down the same road. Our loss of national identity with to many immigrants not integrating into our way of life will result in the US losing it's national pride. There is very little national pride in the UK so why fight for rights? In England people are not as aware of their rights and most would respond "I am not doing anything wrong so why not fingerprint me and watch me on Close Circuit TV if it will make me safer" Sound familiar? just watch and see the subtle changes here in the US. These changes are introduced by the drip, drip method, one small step at a time so they are hardly noticed until its to late.