Crosswords0 min ago
Why do 'right whingers' (my official opposite of 'lefty hand-wringers') hate the Olympics so much?
There is a concerted effort by sections of the right whinge press to slate the Olympics at every possible turn.
Sure, it's expensive, and sure traffic in London will be a nightmare for the next few weeks, but it seems odd that's section of our society seem hell-bent on displaying their 'plumage of misery' at every given opportunity.
Personally, I couldn't give a rat's bum about the whole event*, but I appreciate that for many this is the culmination of a lifetime of dreams, training and commitment.
What has happened to us?
Do other counties harbour the same phalanx of right wing miserablists, or is this peculiar to the UK?
Do the whingers actually want the Games to fail (in the same way that they wanted the South African World Cup to be sunk in a mire of violence - which didn't happen)?
(*apart from the magnificent Tom Daley in the diving)
Sure, it's expensive, and sure traffic in London will be a nightmare for the next few weeks, but it seems odd that's section of our society seem hell-bent on displaying their 'plumage of misery' at every given opportunity.
Personally, I couldn't give a rat's bum about the whole event*, but I appreciate that for many this is the culmination of a lifetime of dreams, training and commitment.
What has happened to us?
Do other counties harbour the same phalanx of right wing miserablists, or is this peculiar to the UK?
Do the whingers actually want the Games to fail (in the same way that they wanted the South African World Cup to be sunk in a mire of violence - which didn't happen)?
(*apart from the magnificent Tom Daley in the diving)
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naomi24
I take your point. I should've explained why I came to that conclusion. I've been looking at Olympic stories and the way they are commented on in the Guardian, Observer, Mail and Express, and after a while you see a pattern forming.
Stories in the hand-wringer papers tend towards the positive, with correspondingly positive response, whereas in the right whinger papers, there's been an awful lot of 'Olympic fiasco' stories.
I take your point. I should've explained why I came to that conclusion. I've been looking at Olympic stories and the way they are commented on in the Guardian, Observer, Mail and Express, and after a while you see a pattern forming.
Stories in the hand-wringer papers tend towards the positive, with correspondingly positive response, whereas in the right whinger papers, there's been an awful lot of 'Olympic fiasco' stories.
Mick-Talbot
I am still wondering why you mention the African world cup and not the Poland-Ukraine EUFA Euro Championship .... Which I believe you thought (hoped?) would..........sink in a mire of violence
Eh???
I remember posting a question asking whether black players' families would be in danger, but I certainly wasn't keeping my fingers crossed that there WOULD be any violence against them.
Or did I?
I can't remember.
Nah...doesn't sound like me.
I am still wondering why you mention the African world cup and not the Poland-Ukraine EUFA Euro Championship .... Which I believe you thought (hoped?) would..........sink in a mire of violence
Eh???
I remember posting a question asking whether black players' families would be in danger, but I certainly wasn't keeping my fingers crossed that there WOULD be any violence against them.
Or did I?
I can't remember.
Nah...doesn't sound like me.
Very dodgy situation.
It's like - if minority fans stay away, the racists have won, and if they DO turn up, they're putting themselves in mortal danger.
I think watching the games with your mates and denying the Ukranian economy with our hard earned cash is perhaps the best option.
16:14 Tue 29th May 2012
It's like - if minority fans stay away, the racists have won, and if they DO turn up, they're putting themselves in mortal danger.
I think watching the games with your mates and denying the Ukranian economy with our hard earned cash is perhaps the best option.
16:14 Tue 29th May 2012
// I've been looking at Olympic stories and the way they are commented on in the Guardian, Observer, Mail and Express, and after a while you see a pattern forming. //
The pattern's nothing to do with the political leanings of the paper SP, it's to do with the fact that the first two in that list are respected broadsheets, whereas the second two are tabloid muckraking rags.
Papers like that will always go for the sensationalist 'fiasco' story, and invent one if it doesn't actually exist.
At least half of the whingiest anti-olympic whingers I know are firmly located on the left. (see Quizmonster's earlier post for evidence).
The pattern's nothing to do with the political leanings of the paper SP, it's to do with the fact that the first two in that list are respected broadsheets, whereas the second two are tabloid muckraking rags.
Papers like that will always go for the sensationalist 'fiasco' story, and invent one if it doesn't actually exist.
At least half of the whingiest anti-olympic whingers I know are firmly located on the left. (see Quizmonster's earlier post for evidence).
I believe I'm generally one of the lefty hand-wringers and I'm not, and have never been, supportive of having the olympics here. I actually quite like several of the events but I have never thought that we could afford it, (you don't throw a massive party when you're broke, you especially don't spend a lot of money on fireworks), and, given that I travel from south east london to central london Mon - Fri, I can unfortunately testify that I do not believe we have a transport system to support it.
I would like it to go well, the country needs a boost, maybe this will provide that for a lot of people. But like with the jubilee and the royal wedding, the games will not change my life (except thus far for the worse in terms of my commute and indeed having a ban on annual leave... I'm admin not clinical For Funks Sake!) And I don't think it's fair to call me miserable just because I believe the reality of the games will not live up to the hype, since I sincerely hope that the games do go well.
I would like it to go well, the country needs a boost, maybe this will provide that for a lot of people. But like with the jubilee and the royal wedding, the games will not change my life (except thus far for the worse in terms of my commute and indeed having a ban on annual leave... I'm admin not clinical For Funks Sake!) And I don't think it's fair to call me miserable just because I believe the reality of the games will not live up to the hype, since I sincerely hope that the games do go well.
The Gaurdian a respected Braod sheet?
Hahahahahahahaha
hahahahahaha
hahahahahaha
BTW I believe the term is usually liberal hand wringers, not lefty. It is the so called 'liberal elite / chattering classes' that most have a problem with, they a
re a minority and seem tothink they can tell all of us what to do.
There is not a problem with your good old fashioned lefty. At least you know where you are with them.
I'm really not sure it is a political thing though. Personally i couldnt give a damn but plenty seem to be enjoying it so it has to be ok.
I just made sure I got a contract away from London over the summer !
Hahahahahahahaha
hahahahahaha
hahahahahaha
BTW I believe the term is usually liberal hand wringers, not lefty. It is the so called 'liberal elite / chattering classes' that most have a problem with, they a
re a minority and seem tothink they can tell all of us what to do.
There is not a problem with your good old fashioned lefty. At least you know where you are with them.
I'm really not sure it is a political thing though. Personally i couldnt give a damn but plenty seem to be enjoying it so it has to be ok.
I just made sure I got a contract away from London over the summer !
Ludwig, are you suggesting that, because I am totally apathetic about watching people running around in circles (most athletics), jumping over things (hurdles, high jump, triple jump, pole vault) and throwing things (hammers, javelins, discuses)...in other words, virtually everything that takes place in the actual stadium...I must be a whinger?
There is not a single whinge in what I wrote; I just cannot be ar$ed with any of it. I feel the same way about multitudes of other activities which excite other people and good luck to 'em!
Saying that one "doesn't give a good goldarn" is a simple statement and cannot conceivably be construed as a whinge. If you told me you felt utterly apathetic about literature or malt whisky, I might think you a bit of a plonker, but I wouldn't accuse you of whingeing.
There is not a single whinge in what I wrote; I just cannot be ar$ed with any of it. I feel the same way about multitudes of other activities which excite other people and good luck to 'em!
Saying that one "doesn't give a good goldarn" is a simple statement and cannot conceivably be construed as a whinge. If you told me you felt utterly apathetic about literature or malt whisky, I might think you a bit of a plonker, but I wouldn't accuse you of whingeing.
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