This obviously couldn't happen here

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Forums › Politics › This obviously couldn't happen here

rb99

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#262222 11-Jan-2020 08:41

Like to think it couldn't, but then I used to think it couldn't happen there either -

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/jan/10/xr-extinction-rebellion-listed-extremist-ideology-police-prevent-scheme-guidance

Yes I know, mistakes happen.

“The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness.” -John Kenneth Galbraith

rb99

Rikkitic

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#2389975 11-Jan-2020 09:02

I think it certainly could happen here. Which is not to say it would. Common sense seems to be in short supply in today's world, especially where government bureaucracies are concerned. There is also less and less tolerance for ideas that fall outside the accepted norm. And more and more fear of extremism, which is probably justified.

As long as those in charge of our children think school uniforms and hair styles are more important than what is actually taught, I have little confidence that we are immune from this sort of thing. What I do have is hope.

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rb99

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#2390035 11-Jan-2020 09:55

The answer to everything nowadays seem to be surveillance and control. Cameras everywhere, internet monitoring everywhere, control everywhere. I don't want to get blown up during a quick trip to Countdown, but so much mass trawling going on. Dare I even use the word terror and plot on the internet ? There, I've done it.

So ever expanding monitoring leads to this Extinction Rebellion stuff. Lets add them, cause you know, just in case, crazy environmentalists, some of them must be dangerous as well...

School uniforms, well yes, everything in moderation. There are standards and they should probably be enforced, there's going to be standards later in life so you need to get used to them, but it seems to get so ridiculous in places.

Oh well, shouldn't ramble too much.

“The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness.” -John Kenneth Galbraith

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gzt

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#2390120 11-Jan-2020 10:12

This was produced by a local UK police district, not based on any national guidance they say. The district have stated XR is not an extremist group and is withdrawing the document.

Rikkitic

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#2390126 11-Jan-2020 10:28

Standards are fine. Uncritical assembly-line clones less so.

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rb99

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#2390184 11-Jan-2020 11:10

gzt: This was produced by a local UK police district, not based on any national guidance they say. The district have stated XR is not an extremist group and is withdrawing the document.

True, but it sounded quite like the South East district, which I presume includes London where most of the protests too place, thought they might well be, despite what they've said afterwards. Who knows how long it might have stayed if it hadn't been questioned.

“The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness.” -John Kenneth Galbraith

rb99

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#2390215 11-Jan-2020 12:24

Rikkitic:

I think it certainly could happen here. Which is not to say it would. Common sense seems to be in short supply in today's world, especially where government bureaucracies are concerned. There is also less and less tolerance for ideas that fall outside the accepted norm. And more and more fear of extremism, which is probably justified.

As long as those in charge of our children think school uniforms and hair styles are more important than what is actually taught, I have little confidence that we are immune from this sort of thing. What I do have is hope.

You mentioned something about less and less tolerance -

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/jan/10/college-professor-fired-trump-52-cultural-sites-tweet-joke

(not really an ideas thing but...)

“The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness.” -John Kenneth Galbraith

rb99

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Rikkitic

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#2390239 11-Jan-2020 12:49

Free speech and a sense of humour are indeed casualties of the uniformity/conformity era we have entered. Thank goodness I am an old person. I would not want to be looking ahead to this grey future if I were young.

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SJB

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#2390277 11-Jan-2020 15:59

I've heard the UK has the most surveillance cameras per head of population than any other country.

The police in I think it's 10 areas have been trialing automatic face recognition. The put a van with the kit in it in some heavily populated and normally dubious area and off they go. They also put out a sign saying they are doing it.

I saw a clip of one in London where a guy objected to being monitored so pulled his cap down and pulled his jacket up over his face. He was stopped on the street, had his photo taken manually and, after a few heated exchanges, was given an on the spot fine of 90 pounds for disorderly behaviour. Completely out of order IMO.

The Metropolitan Police is now headed by a certain Cressida Dick who was the person in charge of the operation that murdered that Brazilian guy on the London tube a few years back. So with plenty of arse covering she gets promoted instead of sacked. Not surprising it's becoming a police state with people like her running the show.

And if we are not careful it will happen here. The push towards arming ie militarising the police comes up from time to time and if it happens there is never any going back.

rb99

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#2390299 11-Jan-2020 17:07

Can't even go to a football match without being spied on

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/jan/08/facial-recognition-at-south-wales-derby-a-step-too-far-says-police-chief

But of course all those football fans are all the same, nothing but trouble.

I also find this fairly ridiculous

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/nov/19/police-chief-convicted-for-having-child-sex-abuse-video-on-phone-robyn-williams

though admittedly looking around some of the decisions they come up with in some courts I find plenty that are ridiculous

“The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness.” -John Kenneth Galbraith

rb99