The Off Topic Topic

[Sheilbh]

Amazing that Piers Morgan story is being spin by some as an attack on free speech.

Amazing and yet inevitable. At least I don't think he will run for London Mayor with Laurence Fox and the other 5 anti-woke/political correctness gone mad candidates

I'm no expert on broadcast rules but I feel like they're very strict around suicide and you can't just say you don't believe someone like that. You know, normally if a program includes any discussion of suicide they provide the contact details for the Samaritans at the end - it's not a topic where people can just take opinions or have a light breakfast discussion from what I understand.

[Josquius]

Amazing that Piers Morgan story is being spin by some as an attack on free speech.

Its a far right code word (well, its two words but...you know what I mean). It means something very different to them to its actual meaning.
See also: corruption, gravy train, socialist, anarchist, patriot, BLM, feminist, transgender, etc...

[garbon]

Amazing that Piers Morgan story is being spin by some as an attack on free speech.

Its a far right code word (well, its two words but...you know what I mean). It means something very different to them to its actual meaning.
See also: corruption, gravy train, socialist, anarchist, patriot, BLM, feminist, transgender, etc...

ITV trotted Owen Jones and then someone I don't know who was black, with the latter a Conservative. It was 'interesting' to hear the Conservative justify that we should have freedom of speech on all topics but then some topics like 'no irish, no blacks' don't need to be discussed as we were able in the past to have the debate and realize those things should not be said.

I also find it interesting how there's little recognition that what can be said in media has always been controlled and the main thing that has been changing as concerns of 'cancelling' broadcasters arise, are who has a voice in such decisions.

Notably was also the first time I can remember watching Owen Jones speak without feeling a bit sick.

[Sheilbh]

I also find it interesting how there's little recognition that what can be said in media has always been controlled and the main thing that has been changing as concerns of 'cancelling' broadcasters arise, are who has a voice in such decisions.

Calvin Robinson I think was the black guy - he's a conservative think-tanker who does the rounds on identity politics and "cancel culture".

You're right though and this is particularly the case in broadcast media where there are a lot of regulations.

Notably was also the first time I can remember watching Owen Jones speak without feeling a bit sick.

I don't know if this is positive personal growth or something much worse

And I have a slight issue with him talking about this sort of topic given his fairly mixed record at confronting institutional anti-semitism in his part of politics and his own inability to confront the role that a beloved, elderly figurehead may play in that.

[Sheilbh]

Re the recent public school chat - just seen this on Twitter. The 1943 exam for an Eton scholarship which would be taken by 13 year olds:

[HVC]

for question 1 surprised Mohamad is there. also, comparing gandhi and lenin is a very 40's British question lol

[Josquius]

Nice dual-purpose exam. Makes sure the kids are intelligent and able to form coherent arguments AND they're suitably Conservative.

[Sheilbh]

Nice dual-purpose exam. Makes sure the kids are intelligent and able to form coherent arguments AND they're suitably Conservative.

Also very British/Oxbridge/Economist - the main thing being measured is that they can take a position and make an argument

I'm mildly obsessed with the Joan of Arc-Garibaldi compare and contrast.

Also the George III question seems like a challenge, but also one of those questions that are so vague you can basically make up your own question and answer it

[celedhring]

Compared with the odd specifity of Part I, the science part reads a bit as an afterthought   

[HVC]

the instructions are unclear. do you do the extra question from just part 1 or part 2, or can you pick from both?

[Maladict]

Also the George III question seems like a challenge, but also one of those questions that are so vague you can basically make up your own question and answer it

A number of them are quite badly phrased. Part I question 5 is impossible to get wrong, as long as you mention a number.

Also, describe any of these complex processes or.... write something about bees. 

[Maladict]

the instructions are unclear. do you do the extra question from just part 1 or part 2, or can you pick from both?

You pick one from each, then 2 to 4 from either. Not sure why you would pick 3 or 4, though.

[Sheilbh]

A number of them are quite badly phrased. Part I question 5 is impossible to get wrong, as long as you mention a number.

I mean that's a standard humanities approach though - they're impossible to get wrong the test is whether you can construct a coherent, credible argument and make it well

Also, describe any of these complex processes or.... write something about bees. 

I know - or describe your birdwatching diary (presumably twitchers weren't restricted back then ).

[Razgovory]

I think I could have done the science ones at age 13 and some of the history ones.  The question about why a pond appears shallower than it really is is sort of a weird question.  I didn't know there was a rule that ponds must look less deep than they are.  I know what they are getting at, but that is lousy way to describe it.

[The Brain]

Pretty cool questions.