OT. The futures Bright, the Futures Brexit!!!

[MadAmster]

Had my annual MOT at my GPs last month. Apart from being a stone and a half or so overweight I'm doing fine. Yet again, they focused on that one thing. Watch your diet, drink less alcohol, exercise more. I then produced the ammunition. I showed them my alcohol intake from the previous 8 weeks minus the usual Xmas and New Year excesses. Showed food portion sizes reduced from the year before, reduced amounts of carb intake. During the summer between 150 and 200 Km a week cycling. In the winter 2 and occasionally 3 games a month as ref, covering an average of around 10Km per game. I closed that portion of the discussion with..... and I aint cutting down further.

Then I brought the big guns out. 4 of the 9 meds I was on have weight gain as a possible side effect. Result? They have stopped one of the meds and halved the dose of a second one. Upshot of that is half a stone loss in 4 weeks despite a 5 day weekend of celebrating my 66th birthday last weekend. I fully expect the weight loss to continue, especially now the better weather is on the way and I can get back out on the racing bike again.

The point of this? I am getting benefit out of doing my doctor's job for him rather than taking the crap thrown at me each year. Education IS the life blood of society but it isn't just Joe Public that needs educating, by any stretch of the imagination. Once you hit a certain age the doc always says "it's an age thing", no matter what the issue is. Education is a 2 way street. We should not only be educated by the press and the media (and doctors and others) but we also have a duty to educate others in the same wway I have educated my doctor. We are now looking at another one of my meds which has tinnitus as a side effect. Can we safely drop it or is there a good alternative I could try?

The point I think you both want to make is that education should be a daily part of life but that it should, in no way, be condescending.

On the other hand I might have this all wrong

[Geoff Parkstone]

Fair point MA, if we left education to the teachers we'd all be in deep ****!

[MadAmster]

Fair point MA, if we left education to the teachers we'd all be in deep ****!

Careful GP, teaching gave rA, you and I a living for at least part of our working lives. In my case, roughly the last 1/4 of it. I like to think, and consequent chats with former pupils seem to confirm, that they appreciated the extra curricular stuff I threw in such as music. Playig songs for varying reasons such as spotting grammatical errors like the double negative of Floyd's "we don't need no education". Working out what the lyrics actually mean in songs like Al Wilson's "The Snake" and Mr Probs "Waves" amongst others. Taking things like cookery and have them create a menu based stereotypical English standards and then have them actually cook the meals. Explain that GB/UK isn't just England, explain how the 4 countries eventually morphed into one, explain their original languages..... can you say that long station name sir? They were gobsmacked when I said it. Onto the anthems and giving (after apologising for my appalling singing voice) renditions of Flower of Scotland and Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau (lyric crib sheets used for both). I also drifted off into accents and dialects from time to time to emphasise that a) not everybody speaks standard English and b) there are accents/dialects you won't understand. (Scouse/Manc/Brum/Cockney (incl some rhyming slang)/Yarksher/Geordie and. of course South Derbyshire - Enya sane it / sin tin intit? / nah, tin tin tin). I'd write that on the board and they never had a clue what it might mean even when I said it aloud. The point being they knew that BBC English was rarer than the regional accents.....

[Trickytreesreds]

Had my annual MOT at my GPs last month. Apart from being a stone and a half or so overweight I'm doing fine. Yet again, they focused on that one thing. Watch your diet, drink less alcohol, exercise more. I then produced the ammunition. I showed them my alcohol intake from the previous 8 weeks minus the usual Xmas and New Year excesses. Showed food portion sizes reduced from the year before, reduced amounts of carb intake. During the summer between 150 and 200 Km a week cycling. In the winter 2 and occasionally 3 games a month as ref, covering an average of around 10Km per game. I closed that portion of the discussion with..... and I aint cutting down further.

Then I brought the big guns out. 4 of the 9 meds I was on have weight gain as a possible side effect. Result? They have stopped one of the meds and halved the dose of a second one. Upshot of that is half a stone loss in 4 weeks despite a 5 day weekend of celebrating my 66th birthday last weekend. I fully expect the weight loss to continue, especially now the better weather is on the way and I can get back out on the racing bike again.

The point of this? I am getting benefit out of doing my doctor's job for him rather than taking the crap thrown at me each year. Education IS the life blood of society but it isn't just Joe Public that needs educating, by any stretch of the imagination. Once you hit a certain age the doc always says "it's an age thing", no matter what the issue is. Education is a 2 way street. We should not only be educated by the press and the media (and doctors and others) but we also have a duty to educate others in the same wway I have educated my doctor. We are now looking at another one of my meds which has tinnitus as a side effect. Can we safely drop it or is there a good alternative I could try?

The point I think you both want to make is that education should be a daily part of life but that it should, in no way, be condescending.

On the other hand I might have this all wrong

you are absolutely spot on.

I expect medical "experts" to state the obvious to me.
It may be condescending, but if they don't do it. Can anyone actually moan they weren't told?
Not everyone is educated to degree level and understands how Virus germs are transmitted.
In the same way as some kids do not understand the risks of a gruesome death they may endure, by taking up smoking.

No one forces you to listen, but you can't moan if you was told.
I fail to see what RA is trying to get folks to admit. THAT WE ARE/WERE NOT smart enough to have a referendum?
If so, that sounds like Swale through and through.

Considering the amount of lies presented to us, in what way were we not qualified to be entrusted with a decision with what we want?
I made my own mind up thank you very much.
I did so after reading and consuming lots of online stuff. In the same way as this "pandemic" is being portrayed. I'll make my own mind up as to what to do about it.
It actually doesn't scare me, like an Ebola outbreak would and I look forward to going back to far east as soon as is possible.

MY DECISION!!!

[MadAmster]

My GP now understands that "it's an age thing" is no longer acceptable to me and he has to investigate any ailments I may go to him with. I hope he doesn't have to do much investigating on my behalf but no, just because it might be an age thing doesn't mean it is.

[Geoff Parkstone]

GP now understands that "it's an age thing" is no longer acceptable to me and he has to investigate any ailments I may go to him with. I hope he doesn't have to do much investigating on my behalf but no, just because it might be an age thing doesn't mean it is.

? No, I don't

[ramAnag]

you are absolutely spot on.

I expect medical "experts" to state the obvious to me.
It may be condescending, but if they don't do it. Can anyone actually moan they weren't told?
Not everyone is educated to degree level and understands how Virus germs are transmitted.
In the same way as some kids do not understand the risks of a gruesome death they may endure, by taking up smoking.

No one forces you to listen, but you can't moan if you was told.
I fail to see what RA is trying to get folks to admit. THAT WE ARE/WERE NOT smart enough to have a referendum?
If so, that sounds like Swale through and through.

Considering the amount of lies presented to us, in what way were we not qualified to be entrusted with a decision with what we want?
I made my own mind up thank you very much.
I did so after reading and consuming lots of online stuff. In the same way as this "pandemic" is being portrayed. I'll make my own mind up as to what to do about it.
It actually doesn't scare me, like an Ebola outbreak would and I look forward to going back to far east as soon as is possible.

MY DECISION!!!

So you have to be ‘educated to degree level’ to understand the need to wash your hands and bin used tissues? Is that really what you’re suggesting?

You fail to see what ‘RA is trying to get folks to admit’.
Not trying to get anyone to ‘admit’ anything at all Tricky, but seeing as you mention being smart enough to ‘have a referendum’...my point - for the third time - is...how reasonable and realistic is it to offer people a Referendum on a truly complex issue when those same people appear to need advice on washing their hands and disposing of tissues.

The two things don’t stack up, only your stubbornness prevents you from acknowledging that, but it’s just my observation and hopefully something that might be considered the next time we contemplate the use of a referendum to resolve something truly complex.

[Trickytreesreds]

So you have to be ‘educated to degree level’ to understand the need to wash your hands and bin used tissues? Is that really what you’re suggesting?

You fail to see what ‘RA is trying to get folks to admit’.
Not trying to get anyone to ‘admit’ anything at all Tricky, but seeing as you mention being smart enough to ‘have a referendum’...my point - for the third time - is...how reasonable and realistic is it to offer people a Referendum on a truly complex issue when those same people appear to need advice on washing their hands and disposing of tissues.

The two things don’t stack up, only your stubbornness prevents you from acknowledging that, but it’s just my observation and hopefully something that might be considered the next time we contemplate the use of a referendum to resolve something truly complex.

1. ITS A DEMOCRATIC RIGHT
2. ITS UP TO POLITICIANS TO TELL THE TRUTH SO THE NATION CAN DECIDE. THEY DIDNT.
3. ANY DANGER TO PUBLIC LIFE, MEANS SPECIALISTS ARE DUTY BOUND TO TELL YOU HOW TO DEAL WITH SOMETHING

By your logic, do not touch warning signs on electrical panels/ deep hole, do no enter/ poisonous if consumed signs are defunct as anyone with any intelligence "knows" you shouldn't do it.

But that's your point isn't it? Us less educated shouldn't be allowed to decide what we want in life. Only the clever people "know".

Congratulations, you have qualified for the Swale badge of honour, as a nauseating/condescending dickhead.

I salute you

[Geoff Parkstone]

The hand washing and tissue disposal thing is and entiry different thing to a referendum.

The former is UK as a nanny state, telling everyone what to do what 99% of the people know anyway. Same as things like road signs, hazchem warnings etc. It's a load of motherhood statements aimed at an audience that know the information anyway. Don't run in front of cars, don't crap in the wash basin - just reinforcement of common sense.

The latter is making a decision, based on whatever logic the voter cares to apply. It may not be based on good logic, good sense or anything factual. But what it is is people exercising the democratic right to be involved in a decision making.

Afraid you're very much guilty of mixing apples and oranges, RA

[MadAmster]

? No, I don't

nice one GP. Faux pas on my behalf which you spotted.

[ramAnag]

The hand washing and tissue disposal thing is and entiry different thing to a referendum.

The former is UK as a nanny state, telling everyone what to do what 99% of the people know anyway. Same as things like road signs, hazchem warnings etc. It's a load of motherhood statements aimed at an audience that know the information anyway. Don't run in front of cars, don't crap in the wash basin - just reinforcement of common sense.

The latter is making a decision, based on whatever logic the voter cares to apply. It may not be based on good logic, good sense or anything factual. But what it is is people exercising the democratic right to be involved in a decision making.

Afraid you're very much guilty of mixing apples and oranges, RA

No what I’m ‘guilty of’, as you put it, is identifying the incompatibility of empowering the electorate to excercise their democratic right over an incredibly complex issue when they apparently need direction over such basics as hand washing and nose blowing.

Still at least when you disagree you don’t immediately resort to becoming abusive and objectionable like some. Perhaps that ‘badge of honour’ you speak of would find a better home on your own cap, Tricky. You also deserve an award for deliberate misinterpretation...well done.

[Geoff Parkstone]

The comparison you are making is just wrong rA. The two issues are wholly unrelated

[Trickytreesreds]

No what I’m ‘guilty of’, as you put it, is identifying the incompatibility of empowering the electorate to excercise their democratic right over an incredibly complex issue when they apparently need direction over such basics as hand washing and nose blowing.

Still at least when you disagree you don’t immediately resort to becoming abusive and objectionable like some. Perhaps that ‘badge of honour’ you speak of would find a better home on your own cap, Tricky. You also deserve an award for deliberate misinterpretation...well done.

Sorry RA, but I'm not and you have failed to connect the two.

The referendum was a democratic right in a democracy. You may not want to hear it,as it didn't give you the result you wanted, or thought was right. Whether it was right or wrong is irrelevent. We had been denied a say so for 45 years. It was long over due.
Folks like you didn't like that, so after all the bitching. It was left for the population to vote a political party in to carry out a promise.
Whether we are too dumb to understand it doesn't matter. The people are the country.


The patronising you disliked, regarding washing your hands and throwing your snot rags away, were no more than advice. They are not an instruction/demand/rule and won't be implemented on anyone. You simply ignore it if you wish. But it is also the governments responsibility to look after the population and prevention is better than cure.
Sometimes folks need reminding of bad habits. I was busted for the first time ever last year for speeding. Rather than slap my arse, I got to do the speed awareness course for the same money as the fine. Lesson learned.

My previous remark about you letting your personal feelings cloud your judgment still stand.
You resented the Tories/Cameron for offering the vote.
You resent the Tories for carrying it through now. That is why I believe you think, someone telling you to wipe the snot of your hands is just another jibe at a Tory government you don't like.

It's a fair gripe. I actually don't like it either. But it's been better than the **** weasels on offer as an alternative.

Now clean your key board

[ramAnag]

The comparison you are making is just wrong rA. The two issues are wholly unrelated

With respect GP, they’re very much related because we’re talking about exactly the same group of people...the adult electorate.

I can’t say it any other way, and don’t intend to try...I find it fascinating and disturbing in equal measure that the same adult population of this country can be entrusted with a decision of monumental significance and complexity in the weeks before Christmas, a decision which will impact upon the future of this country for years to come...and yet, two months later, they apparently need guidance over matters of personal hygiene which most of us would have mastered well before the end of primary school.

It’s just my observation on the great British public, the appropriateness of using referenda to resolve highly complex issues and the paradox of attaching such importance to the ‘voice of the people’ on one particular issue, while treating them like simpletons - perhaps understandably - over another.

[Trickytreesreds]

https://twitter.com/tomwho4/status/1233094008962002952?s=21&fbclid=IwAR0oJH8c2uNau_QaDEAWmC-ZHSc0CetSn4AH3735fonsx8diI2ZrzXZNTE8

The Europe pined for?