[Archived] Bad News Britain

[thenodrog]

I'd imagine it's just bitterness shining through from his own lack of education. I wouldn't take it too personally...

Snidey and uncalled comments imo. Just who do you think you are?

I don't know what level Blue Phil studied too but one thing I do know and that is that academic qualifications are not an indicator of intelligence and never ever will be. I studied full time until I was 21 but I will never crib people of my generatiuon who did not have that opportunity but were made to get a job or apprenticeship at 15 because that was the accepted norm in the eyes of parents of the 50's and 60's.

Personally speaking after undergoing a grammar school education 30 years ago and witnessing the comprehensive package that my two have just survived I'd have to say that I'd rate passes at modern GSCE O' Levels as virtually worthless and A' levels as O' level equivalent. And before you attempt some sort of counter argument rem I have witnessed both. In fact my daughter has just completed her 2nd year at the City of Manchester Uni is in line for a 2:1 and she is quite literally appalled by the low standards of input / work required.

[Rovermatt]

I'd imagine it's just bitterness shining through from his own lack of education. I wouldn't take it too personally...

A bit unnecessary isn't it?

[tony gale's mic]

A bit unnecessary isn't it?

No more unnecessary than his suggestions that mine (and various other peoples') views were borne out of 'sixth form politics lessons'...

[yoda]

No more unnecessary than his suggestions that mine (and various other peoples') views were borne out of 'sixth form politics lessons'...

my brother is bigger than yours

[tony gale's mic]

Snidey and uncalled comments imo. Just who do you think you are?

I don't know what level Blue Phil studied too but one thing I do know and that is that academic qualifications are not an indicator of intelligence and never ever will be. I studied full time until I was 21 but I will never crib people of my generatiuon who did not have that opportunity but were made to get a job or apprenticeship at 15 because that was the accepted norm in the eyes of parents of the 50's and 60's.

Personally speaking after undergoing a grammar school education 30 years ago and witnessing the comprehensive package that my two have just survived I'd have to say that I'd rate passes at modern GSCE O' Levels as virtually worthless and A' levels as O' level equivalent. And before you attempt some sort of counter argument rem I have witnessed both. In fact my daughter has just completed her 2nd year at the City of Manchester Uni is in line for a 2:1 and she is quite literally appalled by the low standards of input / work required.

Again, if he wasn't so dismissive of our views coming from 'polytechnics and sixth form politics lessons', then I wouldn't be making those remarks. Calm down old chap.

I agree with you to a point, although I think academic qualifications are a fair indicator of intelligence they're nowhere near the be all and end-all. I took a year out of the course I'm studying last year to do a Bachelor's degree at one of the 'red brick' Universities and was surprised by how straightforward it was to get a first. GCSEs and A levels do need to be more difficult.

However, who said I was just talking about an academic education?

[thenodrog]

I took a year out of the course I'm studying last year to do a Bachelor's degree at one of the 'red brick' Universities and was surprised by how straightforward it was to get a first. GCSEs and A levels do need to be more difficult.

We know that.... you know that. So why is there so much denial by education authorities and politicians?

I'm prob just grumpy cos I thought as a young person I'd always imagined that standards (in general) in the country would continue on the upward curve that had begun with the Industrial revolutionhil through my lifetime. Looking back quite the reverse has happened in so many instances.

Maybe my generation and indeed the war babies before us need to look inward and shoulder a heck of a lot of responsibility for the situation that this country is in today rather than continually blaming everyone and everything else? The watershed imo were the liberal attitudes of the 60's and 70's and the kids of today and the future will just have to deal with the consequenes as best they can.

[Billy Castell]

Funny how liberal views are always to blame for everything. I bet those who blame them were he sort who'd be smoking dope and listening to Eric Clapton or Velvet Underground in the 1960's and 1970's. However, I do think that GCSE's and A-levels are too easy, and that you should not be allowed calculators in maths exams at that sort of level. All I know is if I was't allowed to do the exam in a room on my own I'd have failed miserably as I did used to get terrible exam stress. The kind where you'd want to scream and run out the room to commit suicide. I'd have failed the 11+ if it was in place when I was that age without answering a question, and since I'm utter rubbish at making stuff, I'd be in trouble later on.

[SouthAussieRover]

I blame religion.

Those who proffess to adhere to a belief often assume a superior moral/ethical stance.

They then dismiss those who do not adhere to similar beliefs as being liberal/tree huggers or the opposite as being right wing tree choppers etc.

[Billy Castell]

I blame Simon Cowell, the Boo-bahs and the people on the Lloyd Grossman ads. They are all shifty characters who must be up to some sort of evil.

[American]

It is not going down, both properties are still going up in value, so no problem, they will never be worth less than I paid for them, still no mortgage or rent to pay.

Actually Its the 4th asset that is being planned next (2nd business)

I assume you paid cash for the properties? Try adding up all the interest you threw away and it is a good investment, but not as good as you think.

There have been various studies by experts much smarter than yourself or Jim that say there really is no advantage to buying versus renting, assuming that if you rent you invest the money you would pay on upkeep and the down payment.

[yoda]

I assume you paid cash for the properties? Try adding up all the interest you threw away and it is a good investment, but not as good as you think.

There have been various studies by experts much smarter than yourself or Jim that say there really is no advantage to buying versus renting, assuming that if you rent you invest the money you would pay on upkeep and the down payment.

yes but you don't know the purchase price, associated costs of my properties and current value!

Much smarter!, how do you know that?

Just because the housing market in the USA has gone tits up, does not mean it applies to every one.

If one of your experts looked at my property portfolio they would be wetting themselves and asking for advice

[RibbleValleyRover]

Just seen this article this morning and i'm absolutely furious.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10...ops-London.html

The scumbag living in an £800,000 home, 50k a year in benefits.

And people say our country isn't in a complete mess...

[Rovermatt]

You might want to fret over a more trustworthy news source. On the subject of Muslim terror suspects living in Britain, the Mail is going to be less than accurate when it comes to the facts.

[Mr Creosote]

Bare in mind that a healthy dose of cynisism is required when reading The Daily Heil.

[RibbleValleyRover]

You might want to fret over a more trustworthy news source. On the subject of Muslim terror suspects living in Britain, the Mail is going to be less than accurate when it comes to the facts.

But its clearly true that you have a well known terrorist sympathiser and preacher of hate who has influenced home grown radicals in this country and he hasn't been deported.

The governments failure to deport these radicals is an absolute disgrace.

[broadsword]

Just because it's in the Mail doesn't mean it's not true. Equally, just because it's in the Times (formerly the "paper of record", now a grown-up version of the Sun) doesn't mean it's true, either. For instance, knife crime, something the Mail has been reporting -- obviously they're over-exaggerating; but what's this the Independent say it's been grossly under-reported and A&E depts have seen a surge in knife-related admissions.

Going back to teh housing market, there's no point in buying at the top of the market. It's stagnating now because the era of cheap money is over, and now the market needs a correction to bring it more in line with the comparatively slower rate of wage inflation.

All th economic signs are that we're heading for trouble -- so putting money down on a house now would be nuts. Wait for the market to bottom out, then make your move -- ie buy at the bottom.

[Rovermatt]

Just because it's in the Mail doesn't mean it's not true. Equally, just because it's in the Times (formerly the "paper of record", now a grown-up version of the Sun) doesn't mean it's true, either. For instance, knife crime, something the Mail has been reporting -- obviously they're over-exaggerating; but what's this the Independent say it's been grossly under-reported and A&E depts have seen a surge in knife-related admissions.

I wasn't inferring that the story itself wasn't true rather that the details are very much down the list of priorities.

[broadsword]

Most 'papers report stories according to the political slant of the owners, what makes the Mail so different?

I wouldn't pick the Mirror up and expect to see anything pro-Tory. I bet the Mirror gave more emphasis on tory MP's sticking their snouts in the expenses gravy train than Labour ones, yet they both seem as bad to me.

Yet why is the Mail singled out for having an agenda? To listen to people who don't read it you'd think they report on immigrants every single day of the week.

It has a specific readership it aims for (middle-class) and it caters for them perfectly. That's no different to what any other paper tries to do.

[Rovermatt]

I'm pretty sure they do report on immigrants every day of the week.

Most 'papers report stories according to the political slant of the owners, what makes the Mail so different?

It's no different all. However in relation to this particular story, there is more about it than simply reporting the news. Like much of its content, news and opinion pieces are rarely distinct.

In my opinion the Mail is picked out (moreso even than the endlessly more repugnant Express) by so many people (not all of whom are scheming sixth form socialists) because it shamelessly appeals to some very unpleasant corners of the human condition.

[broadsword]

You're pretty sure they report on immigrants every day of the week, how much do you want to bet? I'm just wondering why you're so confident, because I'm pretty sure you don't read it.

I'm not sure about appealing to unpleasant corners of the human condition, mind you that excepting the Littlejohn column. Does the UK have an immigration problem, or is it just the feverish imagination of the Daily Mail's editor?

Agreed about the Express!

[Rovermatt]

I don't read it but my grandparents do. I am sure that if you read through it every day there will be at least one story about immigration. Having said that I must add that immigration is a big deal in this part of the world and the Mail is hardly the sole paper covering it.

[thenodrog]

Doesn't the Queen have the right to hang those who commit treason? OK, the ambassador may not be a British citizen, but for the rest of the treason folk...? I'm off to deface a coin of the realm!

Now I'm not at Uni but I don't think that the term 'ambassador' was intended to be taken literally celaeno.

[thenodrog]

All th economic signs are that we're heading for trouble -- so putting money down on a house now would be nuts. Wait for the market to bottom out, then make your move -- ie buy at the bottom.

And identifying that requires a very wise man.

[thenodrog]

In my opinion the Mail is picked out (moreso even than the endlessly more repugnant Express) by so many people (not all of whom are scheming sixth form socialists) because it shamelessly appeals to some very unpleasant corners of the human condition.

I don't read it but my grandparents do.

I hope they don't read this thread Matt else the family silver might end up elsewhere!

BTW you are another avid reader it seems so how is it that all the younger liberally types are all experts on the Daily Mail...... but of course none of em would ever dream of buying it.

[Bazzanotsogreat]

I hope they don't read this thread Matt else the family silver might end up elsewhere!

BTW you are another avid reader it seems so how is it that all the younger liberally types are all experts on the Daily Mail...... but of course none of em would ever dream of buying it.

What do you expect Theno……. when we have whole generations ( my generation) of people that are drummed with the message that the Guardian is the bible and the Mail is read by the devil.

The indoctrination starts young and when students reach university its is unscrupulously forced onto students by the flower-power academic world.