esme

I'd never heard of "Sea-Lioning" before, I've seen it used a lot but never knew there was a term for it "Sealioning is a harassment tactic by which a participant in a debate or online discussion pesters the other participant with disingenuous questions under the guise of sincerity, hoping to erode the patience or goodwill of the target to the point where they appear unreasonable." - Miriam-Webster You learn something new every day

For once I actually would like a "Like" button 👍

She liked the Bane character in the Batman movie The Dark Knight Rises & she had cats that she was very fond of, so the avatar was a mash up In case you were wondering where the name Mort comes from, it's short for Morticia from the Addams Family, she always saw herself as tall, thin, elegant & carrying a large axe I miss her terribly

She was one of my best friends, we chatted pretty much every day, I keep expecting her to pop up, it still hasn't sunk in. Rest well honey x

Mod Note Posts have been removed for copyright reasons, if you wish to refer to articles from other sites please provide a link to the site and a short précis of the article Do not copy the entire thing and make a few minor changes to pretend it's all your own work

Mod Note Posts have been removed for publishing personal details, please do not make posts containing names & addresses Posts also removed for discrimination

Mod Note Posts containing derogatory terms have been removed, along with any quotes, please do not repost

Mod Note Any more bickering or personal comments and this thread will be closed permanently and the accounts involved will be suspended The thread will reopen shortly once you've all had chance to read this

Mod Note Posts inciting or suggesting criminal actions have been removed, if these are reposted the person posting them will find their account suspended All responses to these posts have also been removed

Mod Note Just to clarify you can criticise but not insult or direct hatred towards them. And any further queries about moderation can be taken to the Helpdesk. And if people really don't want to discuss the topic subject to these restrictions then we can always close the thread.

Mod Note There have been a number of queries regarding why these threads keep getting removed. This is because they all degenerated into a list of insults & hatred directed at the traveller community. So as the topic seems to be of interest, we're giving you this thread, and only this thread, to post in on the understanding that any insults or hatred directed to the traveller community will be removed and the user who made the offending post will be suspended indefinitely. Any other threads on this topic will be removed on sight. These restrictions are in addition to the normal forum rules.

Mod Note Posts have been removed for alleging illegal behaviour. If you wish to make allegations of illegal behaviour kindly do so on a forum where you alone bear the costs of any legal actions.

Mod Note Kindly keep the discussion civil please, any more name calling and the offending posts will be removed

Mod Note Posts have been removed for insults & bickering. Kindly discuss the issue without attacking the person making the point you wish to disagree with If you really can't do that then don't post as if we have to put any more warnings in this thread then those causing the problem will find their accounts suspended

From one of the links on the page referred to https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/720124/Caincross_call_for_evidence_govuk.pdf Chapter 6 Key words "policy levers", "intervention", "subsidising", "funding support" you really think they haven't got eyes on money from the treasury, you think Lord Rothermere wouldn't be interested in a revenue stream provided by the Government ? The panel is already stuffed with media representatives. Try getting a denial out of a politician, a straight yes or no, personally I trust politicians about as far as I can spit one. If you haven't told them you don't want your taxes to pay for these things then it will be an option, they will assume you are in favour or at least will trust their judgement in the matter, wouldn't you rather express an opinion & try to remove the option. Why is the Government getting involved at all ? These are private enterprises if they cannot adapt to a changing marketplace then they should go under or be sold to someone who can manage the business. If supermarkets were struggling because home delivery services with huge robotic warehouses were taking their custom the Government would shrug & say "market forces", privately owned newspapers are no different. But fine call it fake news, don't express an opinion, wait and see what they do.

It seems to assume that some newpapers pring print high quality news, it doesn't seem to mention which ones they make that assumption about though I may have missed where specific newspapers are mentioned though

This has been kept rather quiet but there is a thing called the Cairncross Review which is "examining the sustainability of high-quality journalism in the UK" What this means is if a "high-quality" newspaper is seen to be failing, i.e. no one is buying it, then the Government is considering subsidising this privately owned company so it can stay in business and it is thinking of doing this using your tax money. Who decides which newspapers print "high-quality" news ? Well it won't be the people buying a copy or paying for it through their taxes The Government will decide which privately owned business is printing "high-quality" news The Government will also decide what constitutes "high-quality" news So of course there will be no possibility of this just being a scheme to funnel tax payer money into the pockets of the Rothermeres (Daily Mail), Reach Plc (Daily Express) or News Corps (The Sun) after all these groups have no influence in the House of commons do they ? And it's possible the Guardian & Independent could be funded this way too, after all who knows which party will form the Government in future So if anyone has feelings either way on the idea that their hard earned tax money should subsidise a private company that produces a newspaper they don't actually read and would like to pass comment on this idea, there is an open consultation and you can find the details here https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/call-for-evidence-on-sustainable-high-quality-journalism-in-the-uk If you choose to respond then, whatever your feelings on this matter, please be polite

Mod Note Posts removed for deliberate misquotes. When quoting other users, you may edit out sections you are not responding to. However you may not change the meaning of the quote from the original post. If you aren't sure or think there might be the slightest danger of changing the meaning from the original then don't edit the quote at all.

Mod Note Despite a moderator warning to stop bickering we're still removing posts that are doing just that Anyone ignoring these warnings from now on will find their account suspended

Mod Note Posts removed for contravening section 7.2.4 & 7.2.6 of the forum rules Please don't repeat this behaviour

12 years for me too

Anyone watching "Preacher" (Amazon prime), weird as a very weird thing but good with it, now on 3rd season Also one that was recommended to me, "Happy" (Netflix), again it's weird as, but well worth a watch imo

Did you pass by many quiet rivers to see if people were having picnics on your journey for comparison ?

Mod Note Please attack the argument and not the person making it. The thread will be reopened shortly when you've all had chance to read this. --EDIT-- Thread reopened

Mod Note Please do not just cut and paste huge chunks of text. If you have an opinion on an issue we expect you to express it not just to cut and paste from elsewhere.