petemcewan

The above is a complete diversionary tactic. Get back on the topic of junior doctors and their dispute.

Where should I go (nr Sheffield) to get a view ? Thank you.

I like the sensitivity of your post. However, the concept of freedom of speech -and the defense of it , is not simple. It's taxed the minds of some of the greatest thinkers/philosophers that have ever lived. John Locke (letters concerning toleration ) had the following to say, " political discourse can be a political right and the restrictions on blasphemy ,sexual explicitness and personal insults are restrictions on the freedom of speech" (Contemporary Political Philosophy. Radical Studies, Edited by Keith Graham ). Now I'm not advocating the ," Bernard Manning" principles of free speech. And clearly-to me that is- there are circumstances where all the dimensions of free speech are not defensible by just invoking the concept of free speech. But why draw the "line" at religion ? If people so wished ,the "line " could be drawn at political comments and broadcasts.

Probably was . You see my clumsy fingers go all over the place when I'm using a jumpy Android. Don't ever get one. I suggested to Cyclone a better sentence structure to convey his intent; would be to substitute , "Is it irony ", for , "It is ironic" . It fits perfectly with the rest of his sentence. Anyway, as you would know, irony and ironic are probably two of the most abused words in English language We are getting way off topic in a thread dedicated to, Democracy . People are probably tired of this conflab between you and me.

When I'm cycling I carry the brightest strobing lights I can get-especially when i'm cycling on the road that goes from Dore to Hathersage . Now this isn't a joke. If in some way the: lights , luminous intensity of lights and display of lights, carried by cyclists-at night on a public road-could be standardised .Then identification and direction of travel of the cyclist could be made accurately. For instance , ships at night carry standardised navigation lights : fore and aft ,port and starboard . Positioned so the: aspect , direction and size of the vessel can be made -in the most appalling conditions at night. If cyclist carried lights which were of a standard type and displayed in a particular unmistakable pattern. I'm sure identification and avoidance of a collision could be achieved. From personal experience. Driving my car on the road from Dore to Hathersage in poor conditions;the cyclist without ultra luminous intensity lights is extremely difficult to see .

Very interesting piece of journalism.

Good work . I'm glad you spotted the deliberate mistake (chuckle ). I'll rely on you to keep me on my toes. "Big deal " I don't think it is. It's hardly obsessive. It's the first time I've tried to help somebody out by suggesting an alternative sentence structure (smiley tongue in cheek or whatever they are ). Grammar is a nightmare.All those : nouns, pronouns, adjectives,verbs, irregular verbs -and all the rest. It's a wonder anybody can communicate at all. I'll occasionally drop in the deliberate mistake for you two find (another smiley what's it ). Long live Democracy ! So it goes.

Zamo. I agree with your observation of a lurching towards nationalist politics. The haven of nationalism is reserved for political scoundrels . The breaking up of Europe into enclaves of nationalism ,would be like a Balkanisation of Europe.

Titan, It's quite an undertaking to home school your child;and I wish you every success. You mention,"it's not your ideal ". If you could, would you take your child out of the state system -altogether- and home educate until your child is sixteen ? You also mention that you think that a child shouldn't be in school before the age 7. The Steiner (Rudolf ) approach to education specifies an age at which certain aspects of education should take place. Are you a fan of the Steiner approach ? The Steiner Curriculum is very specific about the importance of a child's age in the learning process. I'm not trying to force a category on you. I'm just curious (No opening up of a can of worms intended by me ). Good luck in your endeavours.

This sent from the bar in the Tan Hill Pub. I'm spending a few days in the highest pub in Britain,with friends I've known for 30 yrs. We refer to each other as "colleague". It's an old joke amongst teachers. Now in typical teacher fashion ,we are going mark your work. After passing round the Chrome and reading the last few posts from: you , me and rootbooster we have reached a consensus . If ,"it is ironic", is substituted for ,"Is it irony". Then the sarcasm of your comment is fully conveyed, in a more concise way. Next thing (for Rootbooster). It is not unusual to take a small population and then extrapolate to a larger community. And as teenager constitute quite a large percentage on Facebook.The study of the behaviour of this cohort, can prove insightful. It saves time and effort, that would have to be expended in studying the whole population . Cyclone. It's a poor opinion you have of the younger generation. Seventy seven percent of teenagers on line are on Facebook -at a time presumably, when they are not stoned behind the bike shed or drunk outside the offy (LOL). Rootbooster. As you finished your post with something akin to ,christmas cracker mottos and ancient Yorkshire proverbs. I'll reciprocate . "Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana ". "When truth goes out the door rumour come innuendo " Groucho Marxs. I concede. Your friends on Facebook are real friends. I'm off now to get my "colleagues", to prove that they love me and buy the next round. Down it goes.

You like having a dig don't you matey. For your information. I taught for years using: on -line and e- learning- you know with the aid of computers. Correction, "It's is ironic that someone.....". Get it right. Spending years, watching teenagers :learning and evolving, in a culture drenched in social networking. Puts me in a rather special position for drawing conclusions ,from the endeavours of the young who try to make friends, via social media . Some commentators have proposed, that social media doesn't bring people closer together, but pushes them further apart. It has also been put forward by some educationalists, that the overuse of social media contributes to the user's social ineptitude in real life encounters (mainly observed in young people).

Yes you are right . I need more instruction. I hate this chrome. It has a mind of its own. It jumps all over the place-without even pressing the keys ! Just an anecdote. When I taught electrical engineering in North London. It was a contractual requirement that 50% of lessons be delivered "on-line" . By the time I'd got the teenagers of the porn sites, 20 minutes of the lesson was gone ! The "young en's " were adept at the computer. But they couldn't wire a two-way and intermediate lighting circuit. So if you ever want any assistance with your lighting and power, I'm your man. " It's a laugh innit ". Cheers. ---------- Post added 13-01-2016 at 15:24 ---------- PM Even more scary. I've pressed something and the Chrome is now ,TALKING TO ME !!! And it's a women's voice. What is going on ? It's posting when I don't want it to -and it's talking. I robot -whatever !

.I new you would post that. I'm getting to know your "personality" !! To be honest, after a number of attempts, I can't be ar... In fact, I had a friend (not made through Facebook) visiting from London. I asked him to show me how to post a link and a file -using my Chrome. He gave up and said," Get a bloody better laptop" . He's pretty good with electronic media/communications (LOL ). An interesting point. It's claimed that teenagers are " falling out " with Facebook and moving to other social media-and leaving their friends behind.So it goes.

M. Just a question. I thought Bhutan was a "Constitutional Monarchy " for awhile ?Fred.M. Shelly, in his book "Comparative Government "has it listed in the index as a ,Constitutional Monarchy.

I cannot (along with plethora of social scientists) think of a better cohort than teenagers ,for revealing the social import of social networking. Have a look at, "I'd rather give up my kidney than my phone.Text, text that's all they think about:but all those hours on the phone and Facebook turning teenagers into screen enslaved social inadequates. John Henley.Teenagers and Technology .Teen Issues "(theguardian). Google it-I'm sure you'll find it. Try: "www.acdemia.edu/21940/ The relationship between unwillingness to communicate and student's facebook use". I'm sorry for the inconvenience. But this bloody Chrome Book seems reluctant to let me post the "Link". So you'll have to search.

I'm glad to hear that you had a good time on holiday. It's been an interesting thread for me. What propelled me to contribute to the thread was the following. When I was a teacher on North London,many of my students were teenagers. Quite a few of them went no further with their friendships than posting on Facebook. It's been educative-thanks.

Don't you mean, the concept in the thread is "tosh"-not the post.

In spite of what some people say about detracting. I think you are spot on I agree with you. A multifactorial approach to understanding what ingredient are at play, will be more revealing than seeking a single cause. I think education has a part to play-and the family (amongst others). I was brought up in a solidly working class family in East Manchester. I was taught at home and at school, to respect women. So it goes.

To sgtkate, I'm a bit surprised that throughout the analysis contained in this thread, that there hasn't been any mention of Patriarchal culture; being a factor in socialising some men,into thinking that the rape and molestation of women is acceptable and normal. And such behaviour is a true expression of masculinity. As a FE teacher in North London for 30 yrs. I was horror struck, by the large number of young men who where totally comfortable with referring to women-and their women friends as, "bitches" and "whores".

"ash" "I suppose that would suit you down to the ground". "How did I come to that conclusion " Answer, Argument by extension . Sorry about the sarcasm.

I'm not making it hard. I credit you with enough intelligence to take up a discussion. I'm interested in what people think . I suggest a reference ,such as a book,because a book can take the reader-if they so desire-beyond the limitations place on a topic submitted to this Forum. So it goes. ---------- Post added 07-01-2016 at 00:43 ---------- No it's not. But you made me laugh. They are a group of hackers-out to destroy the church of scientology. Best of luck to them-it's going to be hard.

Valuable point (IMO) .I think your points fit in with the suggestion, that Theocracy will not triumph-but political autocracy will . ---------- Post added 07-01-2016 at 00:09 ---------- It appears to me that people are not making a bad job at comprehending - except you -the original post. It's meant to be a dialogue, not a monologue. A dialogue , where one raises a point and solicits a response . There's no point in me raising a question and the answering it myself. If you like, you could give 5 reasons why you think Western Democracy is safe.

My apologies . It did the same to me. But if you Google www. atlantic books.co.uk I think it will come up. To save you any trouble finding others, who share concern about the fragility of democracy I'd suggest , "Tzvetan Todorov, The Fear of Barbarians.Polity Press.ISBN 13:978-0-7456-4710-4(pb)". It's strong stuff.