Sampson

Related to the different viewpoints of France, UK and Germany. I reckon this poll would’ve looked radically different even 4 years ago where I think “very unlikely” would be by far the highest answer and now is less than 10%. https://yougov.co.uk/international/articles/52113-many-europeans-and-americans-think-world-war-3-is-imminent

I’m not a fan of the Mail but if it was just a factual article saying “there’s been a strike” I don’t see a problem. I assume there’s not a ban on links so I imagine there’s some keyword filter in there

According to BBC now Isreal accuses Iran of breaking cease fire and vows to “respond forcefully” This cease fire lasted long…

On the bbc it says Isreal has detected an Iranian missile just now so not sure the cease fire is holding. I tried to post the part from bbc, but for some reason it got hidden and deleted by a moderator so assumed there was some key word in it that the mods have banned.

Wordle 1 466 5/6 ⬜⬜⬜⬜🟩 ⬜🟨🟩🟨🟩 ⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩 ⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

I think it’s obvious Starmer is on Macron’s side but is motivated so much about not upsetting Farage and being seen to be siding against Farage tbh. Almost everything Starmer seems to do these days seems to be in fear of Farage.

Russia and Iran *are* allies. Russia is just too occupied that I don’t think anyone expects them to help them right now, as was the case in Syria (also Russia’s ally).

I can’t see it quite yet. I don’t think Russia or Saudi will aid Iran and therefore this won’t quite be the straw that breaks the camel back and starts World War 3. But there’s so many crisis happening these days and in the age of populism there’s many world leaders who need this ever increasing and ratcheting up of chaos to thrive, that one of these crisis may eventually be the Gavrillo Princep moment.

While I agree there are cultural differences, the ideas will be the same, just dressed up in a way that’s more palatable for British people. But the same fundamental ideas of taking on the checks and balances that hold up democracy- the education system, the courts, the law, the HoL, random performative cruelty against immigrants, shutting down any protests with force, the peddling of conspiracy theories, anti-science, claiming to be the party of free speech while fundamentally shutting down anything “woke” or anything that opposes them, fundamentally telling people to ignore their eyes and ears and declaring any objection to be fake news, crisis actors etc. will be there.

Why in b4 the lock? This has been a perfectly civil discussion

Where are people being blase? Most polls predicted Remain to win and it was a surprise that Leave won, however most polls predict Reform to win and have them comfortably ahead in the opinion polls. I think most people would absolutely expect Farage to be our next PM if there was a GE tomorrow, all the polls show that. People are just saying that 4 years is a hell of a long time in politics these days, and the world could be a very different place then (which may even benefit Reform but also may not).

I do think Farage becoming PM and a party basically full of all but about 4 MPs with zero experience in politics or understanding how the systems works just hoisted in from nowhere does feel a bit inevitable at this point in time. Having that said, a year or so into the last government, Tories were still way ahead in the polls and Rishi Sunak was still public darling #1 for eat out to help out and furlough. The world seems to be a reality tv show nowadays that goes at breakneck speed bouncing from one crisis to another, so who knows what world we’ll be in in 4 years time? I never remember the world changing so much (/spiring out of control depending on your viewpoint) anywhere near as quickly as it does now. I think the world feels radically different today than it did 4 years ago, I think it will feel even more different in 4 years.

According to the new update on Grok AI it’s because “the great 00s fashion guru Gok Wan once declared “the most handsome and fashionable man alive” to be Emperor Elon Musk the great. And added “And he definitely has never had a hair transplant or plastic surgery”.

“Kin-Noah” yeah. Glad I’ve never ordered it at a restaurant and made myself look an idiot.

Does anyone remember that joke I told about the chiropractor? It was about a week back.

The glue is indeed where everyone gets stuck.

Huh? Why not?

What's the difference between a piano, a tuna, and a pot of glue? You can tuna piano but you can't piano a tuna!

After the above discussions I googled commonly mispronounced words. Quinoa is actually pronounced Keen-Waa?! What the ****?!

never mind

I’m walking on egg shells and trying not to get banned so I’ll just say… Isn’t the stopping displaying certain political symbols and setting up rules about what flags you can fly in 21st century Britain more than a bit snowflakey and cancel culturey? And basically everything they say they hate?

This is a good video on the matter

Exactly. All these leaders just look at what happened to Ghaddaffi after he took back his nuclear programme and was shortly after deposed and killed. Compare that to Kim Jon Un who Trump kept threatening but who called Trump’s bluff and is now untouchable. All the West have shown to dictators in recent years is getting nukes helps you to survive.

I’m not really sure we’re there yet. I think many European leaders are probably hoping the US returns to normalcy again after the next election but the way the institutions and checks and balances are creeking I can’t see it. The midterms will be a big thing too. But even so 3.5 years is a hell of a long time to wait these days with the breakneck speed the world jerks from one crisis to another right now. Personally I think the old world order is gone and the US no longer cares about the UK and EU as allies anymore and in fact is probably more likely to side with Russia behind the scenes, but I’m not 100% convinced on it yet. I’m also obviously a bit worried the UK wants to follow the same path after the next election.

Yeah especially as most locations get you going from Gatwick or Heathrow which involves faffing around on the Underground with suitcases as well which isn’t fun. It feels like it takes longer to get to from Gatwick to St Pancras on London’s public transport to get the train homethan it does to get actual train home from St Pancras to Leicester as well. Then there’s still the taxi from the train station too. Not only longer but often getting to and from the airport is more expensive than the flights themselves too. Much prefer to just get the Eurostar from St Pancras into France.