Oxford Union

[Khandro]

This really is worth a half-hour's watch. Four young, articulate men, stating their views on the war in Ukraine, a real credit to the University (& Britain).

[Peter Pedant]

foo !
I think this hearks back to the 1935 motion
this house would not fight for King and Country
which caused a great stir that year

( and MAY have been swallowed by Hitler. They did (fight))

[naomi24]

Excellent Khandro. A breath of fresh air that has gone some way to restoring my faith in the product of our universities in recent years.

PP, I'd hazard a guess you've not watched that.

[Khandro]

Yes naomi, the only young people who seem to get into the news are rappers, drug pushers & rioters.
What did Winston say in a slightly different context? - "makes you feel proud the be an Englishman". (or woman!)

[naomi24]

My impressions aren't gleaned solely from the news, Khandro. Personal experience of speaking to some of the boy/girl wonders leaves me more than bemused at times. Gobsmacked would be a better word.

Interestingly, one of the speakers was rather astute in mentioning the short term impact that news has on the media. One popular tabloid has had the death of Shane Warne as headline news for the past two days, the war in Ukraine now taking second place.

[youngmafbog]

Good at least some are ok then, but it wont detract from the detritus I have had to interview over the past few years. I'm afraid to say it but oversea (particularly Indian) candidates are usually far superior and also willing to learn rather than sit playing with phones thinking they know it all.

[douglas9401]

Were you interviewing for a deputy generaliser-in-chief?

[Gromit]

Deeply depressing.
It wasn’t a discussion or a debate. 4 very similar views not contested by anyone. They are living in the land of wishful thinking, woolly minded, and are a privileged elite. They are in for a big shock when they enter the real world.

[naomi24]

Did anyone actually watch it? There were six of them and each with something thought-provoking to say.

[sp1814]

The clip is described as "thought-provoking" yet there is little evidence of the thoughts being provoked on the subject being discussed.

Instead we get a generalised critique of young people.

[Khandro]

Extraordinary, barely literate responses from Gromit and sp

[naomi24]

SP, //a generalised critique of young people// ….

….. and nothing of any relevance at all from you - just a generalised critique of other posters.

[sp1814]

An observation rather than a critique.

But what are your thoughts on the content? rather than taking 30 minutes out of my day, could you let me know which sections stood out for you and what your opinions are?

That’s be a more efficient use of our time rather than giving up 30 minutes of our day.

[sp1814]

naomi24

Surely you didn't have time to watch the entire video?

I don't think even you would have the time for that.

[naomi24]

Doing the job for you wouldn’t be a more efficient use of my time, sp. I’ve already taken 30 minutes out of my day to watch it.

[naomi24]

Yes, sp, I did watch the whole video.

[sp1814]

naomi24

Okay...I'll give it a watch. I'm fiddling with my iTunes playlists at the moment, so I can multitask. Any parts I should look out for?

[naomi24]

I have no idea which parts may interest you.

[sp1814]

Khando / naomi24 - what is it about the debate you found interesting? The idea that the autocracy argument is false; the idea that the democratic states don’t have a red line? The failure that we don’t have a moral framework?

I agree with the best option for now is an economic war but the second speaker got completely lost at the end. The Ukraine could not join the EU because that would be bringing the EU up to the door of Russia.

Same with Ukraine joining NATO.

[sp1814]

Still watching.

[sp1814]

He went on to say that we cannot send troops to the East as this would provoke Russia into escalating (the nuclear option), but Putin has described ecumenic sanctions as an act of war.

The Taiwan point was very well put.

I totally disagree with the point of the fourth speaker that the news cycle will probably move on. Yes, the stories from last month were about Tory sleaze, but this is considerably bigger. This is more Kosovo than the Crimea.

What were your thoughts on the ideas?

I assume that’s what we’re talking about here - content rather than presentation.

Do you agree with the idea of hurting Russia by building new gas pipelines? From Turkey? Economically - it that practical?

The banning of all cultural activity?

I liked the point of the ‘London laundromat’.

Your thoughts?