Marriage Equality Referendum

feardeas

MarriedButBi wrote: »

We don't really know what his views are, or reasons are, if he didn't give them. Without knowing his reasons its hard to say its down to closed mindedness or anything else in particular.

True enough. Some people hold views and articulate them with all the certainty of a evangelical preacher.

Father Rabulah Conundrum wrote: »

I'm finding this referendum is a good barometer of assholery. You get a real sense of what people are really like, and who sits where on your naughty and nice list.

Sometimes it just confirms what one knew. Sometimes people can pleasantly surprise you.

wakka12

Know of one person who said she's voting no. She's extremely religious, and a good friend so I didn't have it out with her about it, Im fine with her views. But I asked her to please just not vote at all instead of voting no, just because she feels against it doesn't meant she has to deny other peoples rights.

I also asked her her reasons why she was against it and she said ' i think its unfair that a child can be deprived of either a mother or a father '... I told her that gay people can already adopt and this is an entirely unrelated matter. But anyway she wasn't having any of it..looks like the No sides dirty 'think of the children tactics may have worked :rolleyes:

alaimacerc

wakka12 wrote: »

I also asked her her reasons why she was against it and she said ' i think its unfair that a child can be deprived of either a mother or a father '... I told her that gay people can already adopt and this is an entirely unrelated matter. But anyway she wasn't having any of it..looks like the No sides dirty 'think of the children tactics may have worked :rolleyes:

I think they'll catch on to the extent that they'll give people already predisposed to vote 'no' language to articulate it. To themselves, if no-one else. I'm not particularly worried at the idea of them actually changing anyone's mind. Mainly about whether people bother their arse to vote at all if they're a "soft yes". Or a "meh".

Aard

Yeah the "won't you please think of the children" campaign really just serves to justify the position of people who would have voted no anyway, but weren't able to say *why* they were voting no. Now there's a reason to vote "no" that you shouldn't feel ashamed about. Because you're protecting children. Or something.

pl4ichjgy17zwd

Is anyone else starting to feel the emotional toll of all the lies and bull****? I try to rise above it but this isn't some political to and fro, this is my actual life and other people's lives being debated. I feel like locking myself in a dark room until the 22nd.

Aurongroove

It's pretty stressful, but on the bright side compared to "civil movements" of the past at least it's opinions that's opposed.

I've heard some nasty **** from people over the last few weeks, but in years gone by this is exactly the kind of thing that people would have been physically assaulted and killed over.

For those areas internationally where the "backwards" thinkers are winning, think about the amount of places that are becoming accepting. Pretty soon there is going to be more places that accept gay people as equal human beings then not, better opportunities and places to ****ing escape too, for refugees of homophobia.


I just hope Ireland proves to be on the right side of the line, in a sense, I kind of trust it to be, but it'll be nice once that trust is expressed, rather then a.... yeah......sure it'll pass....(nervous laugh)

alaimacerc

Aurongroove wrote: »

I've heard some nasty **** from people over the last few weeks, but in years gone by this is exactly the kind of thing that people would have been physically assaulted and killed over.

Points. Pass on a softer hit, I suppose.

I just hope Ireland proves to be on the right side of the line, in a sense, I kind of trust it to be, but it'll be nice once that trust is expressed, rather then a.... yeah......sure it'll pass....(nervous laugh)

I'm not at all confident. I suppose if I were, I wouldn't be involved at all, because I'm a lazy arse myself.

But I do think the exercise ultimately serves the cause, whichever outcome we wake up to on the 23rd. If it passes, yay. If it doesn't... I think it will, in the medium term, serve as a wake-up call. The proverbial bucket of cold water over the head of a drunk. It's silence and smug hypocrisy that would be the worst outcome. "Ah sure, we're grand as we are." Forcing it to the decision rules that option out.

wakka12

Aurongroove wrote: »

It's pretty stressful, but on the bright side compared to "civil movements" of the past at least it's opinions that's opposed.

I've heard some nasty **** from people over the last few weeks, but in years gone by this is exactly the kind of thing that people would have been physically assaulted and killed over.

For those areas internationally where the "backwards" thinkers are winning, think about the amount of places that are becoming accepting. Pretty soon there is going to be more places that accept gay people as equal human beings then not, better opportunities and places to ****ing escape too, for refugees of homophobia.


I just hope Ireland proves to be on the right side of the line, in a sense, I kind of trust it to be, but it'll be nice once that trust is expressed, rather then a.... yeah......sure it'll pass....(nervous laugh)

I just visited madrid and was happily surprised by just how accepting the city is! Stayed 3 nights and saw at least 8 different gay couples walking the streets holding hands and looking happy and comfortable, nobody even took a second glance at them.Saw another gay couple kissing in a restaurant, nobody took any notice except one old lady who patted one of the guys on the back lol. And saw another couple kissing and hugging on the metro, nobody was staring there either except me! It seemed so natural, like they were so comfortable with each other.
It was pretty wonderful to see, homosexual couples seem to be accepted like hetero couples in madrid, well in the city centre at least.

helimachoptor

At 33 this will be my first time voting for anything..

Expect it to pass,but small enough margin

jamie124

So I am 17 and underage to vote , But if i could i would give it a BIG FAT YES!!!
I have nothing against gay marriage and I am also gay myself so... Hope it gets a YES and goes ahead successfully!

feardeas

Not a big fan of Noel Whelan but this podcast is good. He is discussing the issue with Breda O Brien. Now Breda is Breda but he is very good. Great points made and very clear. He made one point that worried me and that was turnout of below 35%. HE talks about the shape of turn out being more important than the figure. Now have to say if 9 o clock news were reporting that low a turn out on the 22nd I'd loose all reason altogether and maybe do Kenya on it and not bother counting the bloody things!!

I'd imagine turnout would be higher. There appears to be engagement by people I know and an intention to vote, mostly Yes but maybe I'm in a bubble. I wonder if polling\focus groups are hinting that along with a soft yes there may be a soft no. You know people that are uncomfortable and conflicted and because they dont want to cause offence not vote at all. His comments on mens' attitude is interesting although I have to say that there are a good number of young men voting yes.

On another issue it might be nearly time to put a few posters up around the country. Also I've been wondering if anyone could do an Eoghan Harris [General Election 07] on it on the inevitable discussion on the Late Late. Having listened to Whelan he might be a good bet if people could forget his FF past.

Anyway here's the link if people want to have a listen.
https://soundcloud.com/irishtimes-politics/inside-politics

fin12

Im voting yes and voting no for lower the age of president candidates.

Annasopra

Hope you have all thought about a donation


https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/yes-equality-campaign-for-civil-marriage-equality#pledges

MarriedButBi

Aard wrote: »

Yeah that's literally not what I said.

It kind of is, exactly. This is what you said.

The realisation that one holds a minority view could be enough to turn somebody's vote. Or indeed, encourage them not to vote at all.

LadyAthame

I find if you stick the legal reasons it's easier and exposes how much people voting no don't understand why we should focus the debate on the constitution ...because we are voting on the constitution. There is nothing in the constitution about gay adoption. So they just legislated for it through statutory law. It seems to go over the no sides heads.

I would LOVE to see a real legal debate about this on Radio or T.V ..just once ..just for the craic!

Vojera

Posters are going up around my area. I actually stopped in my tracks when I saw my first No poster. I had seen them all online but I'm surprised at how much it hurt me to see them in person.

pl4ichjgy17zwd

Vojera wrote: »

Posters are going up around my area. I actually stopped in my tracks when I saw my first No poster. I had seen them all online but I'm surprised at how much it hurt me to see them in person.

Same. I was just shy of breaking down, to be honest. I've been avoiding any and all media since (and this is the only boards thread about it I'm clicking into anymore). I feel so awful for any vulnerable teens (or adults!) who are really taking it to heart. I'm not too far off it myself.

gazzer

Noor Chilly Newspaper wrote: »

Same. I was just shy of breaking down, to be honest. I've been avoiding any and all media since (and this is the only boards thread about it I'm clicking into anymore). I feel so awful for any vulnerable teens (or adults!) who are really taking it to heart. I'm not too far off it myself.

Are there any YES posters around in your area. Where I am there are absolutely zero but there are tons of NO posters

gravehold

gazzer wrote: »

Are there any YES posters around in your area. Where I am there are absolutely zero but there are tons of NO posters

Why not get involved and put up some yes posters and canvas your area?

Strong Life in Dublin

Do I have to be an Irish citizen to vote in this>??

gravehold

Strong Life in Dublin wrote: »

Do I have to be an Irish citizen to vote in this>??

Yes thankfully

L.Jenkins

http://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/fintan-o-toole-hello-same-sex-marriage-bye-bye-mammy-could-be-no-campaign-message-1.2114313

Good article by Fintan outlining the way in which the No side is conducting their Campaign with comparisons to the Divorce Referendum back in the early 90s.

opus

I was at a residents association meeting this evening & it heartened me no end go see one of the older ladies wearing one of these badges.

Blogatron52

gravehold wrote: »

Why not get involved and put up some yes posters and canvas your area?

Can anyone put up posters?! If so, do you know where to get them? Or how to get involved in canvassing?! I never know how people go about getting involved in these kinds of things!!

Thanks

wakka12

Blogatron52 wrote: »

Can anyone put up posters?! If so, do you know where to get them? Or how to get involved in canvassing?! I never know how people go about getting involved in these kinds of things!!

Thanks

I think they have some kind of big canvassing events on every so often that you can join and they give out posters at those or something

gravehold

Blogatron52 wrote: »

Can anyone put up posters?! If so, do you know where to get them? Or how to get involved in canvassing?! I never know how people go about getting involved in these kinds of things!!

Thanks

Talk to the council for the rules on where to place them, money is you main thing. You can get them printed at any print shop.

Blogatron52

wakka12 wrote: »

I think they have some kind of big canvassing events on every so often that you can join and they give out posters at those or something

Thanks, sounds cool! I must look in to it! I sound like I live under a rock, I know! :-O

pl4ichjgy17zwd

For canvassing

Annasopra

Blogatron52 wrote: »

Can anyone put up posters?! If so, do you know where to get them? Or how to get involved in canvassing?! I never know how people go about getting involved in these kinds of things!!

Thanks

Posters No

Canvassing Yes

http://www.yesequality.ie/canvass/

L.Jenkins

Don't know if I'm being hyper sensitive at the moment, but a radio station seems to be taking the píss by planning a Wedding Ceremony in June and advertising it now, under the guise of a 'social experiment'. Their intent is to see if they can hook two people up on personality alone as opposed to looks.

http://threestrangers.com/ Seems a bit too much of a gimmick to me with the Referendum this month and convenient, being one of the busiest times of the year for Wedding Planning and all.

If I'm overly thinking this, let me know.

wakka12

Itzy wrote: »

Don't know if I'm being hyper sensitive at the moment, but a radio station seems to be taking the píss by planning a Wedding Ceremony in June and advertising it now, under the guise of a 'social experiment'. Their intent is to see if they can hook two people up on personality alone as opposed to looks.

http://threestrangers.com/ Seems a bit too much of a gimmick to me with the Referendum this month and convenient, being one of the busiest times of the year for Wedding Planning and all.

If I'm overly thinking this, let me know.

I don't really understand the premise

L1011

I'm not sure its actually legal either. Its a very standard "wacky" competition premise from abroad, where rules are a lot more lax about notification rules and so on.

Vojera

L1011 wrote: »

I'm not sure its actually legal either. Its a very standard "wacky" competition premise from abroad, where rules are a lot more lax about notification rules and so on.

Not legal - the couple getting married would have had to present at a registry office (no priest would marry two strangers) at least a month ago. It's not like Vegas where you can rock up and get a license straight away.

The fact that they also have a prominent section dedicated to lodging complaints would also indicate that it's a pisstake - but I don't think it's anything to do with the referendum; it's just a stupid radio competition for publicity and facebook likes. I doubt the referendum even crossed their minds.

gazzer

gravehold wrote: »

Why not get involved and put up some yes posters and canvas your area?

Because as a Civil Servant I have advised I cannot get involved in Canvassing so what I have been doing is asking my friends and family how they are voting. Luckilly they are all voting Yes. I have yet to talk to anybody who is voting No. Then again maybe they are afraid to say to my face that they will be voting No

Vojera

gazzer wrote: »

Because as a Civil Servant I have advised I cannot get involved in Canvassing

Seriously? I never would have thought of that. Can they really impose that on you provided you're not using your job as a platform?

gazzer

Vojera wrote: »

Seriously? I never would have thought of that. Can they really impose that on you provided you're not using your job as a platform?

If you are above the grade of CO in the civil service you cannot be actively involved in promoting any side in Elections, Referendums etc.

Vojera

gazzer wrote: »

If you are above the grade of CO in the civil service you cannot be actively involved in promoting any side in Elections, Referendums etc.

Wow, you learn something new every day!

Ozymandius2011

opus wrote: »

I was at a residents association meeting this evening & it heartened me no end go see one of the older ladies wearing one of these badges.

Was this in provincial Ireland or the big cities?

Vojera

Ozymandius2011 wrote: »

Was this in provincial Ireland or the big cities?

One of my friends told me that her fiancé asked his 89 year old granny (born and bred in rural Galway) how she was going to vote and she said "Sure why wouldn't I vote yes? There were gay people in my day too, you know."

I know that my own granny (in Donegal) probably would have been voting No if I hadn't come out. Letting people know "by the way, you know a gay person and he/she is totally normal" is really helpful.

alaimacerc

Ozymandius2011 wrote: »

Was this in provincial Ireland or the big cities?

For reference, how much of the Provinces are "provincial", and how many of the cities are "big"?

Aard

The more globalised a town, the more likely a Yes vote I would say. A smaller town like Maynooth would likely show a higher Yes rate than larger Tralee.

Annasopra

I am really not convinced this will pass. I did a canvass tonight and it was 50/50.

There is also way too much complacency from yes voters who are convinced it will pass by a landslide and think their vote isn't needed.

Annasopra

Once more I would urge everyone to help out the Yes Equality campaign.

You can find out how at

www.yesequality.ie/canvass

Doing my best - but nothing compared to what a lot of others are doing!

I notice one of the guys going around with the yes bus is an English Guy going out with an Irish Guy. He can not vote but he is so invested in a yes result he is going around with the bus and helping out loads. Lovely guy too - and actually works in publishing as a publicist. So just the kinda guy you want on the team.

Apparently there is a load of buses put on for people who are eligible to vote to come home on a day trip from London. That was a nice move - and included in the price of the bus ticket was a formal debate between a yes voter and a no voter I heard. (Was not there myself - one of the users of boards.ie spoke for the yes side). Think its 3 or 4 buses, anyone heard more about this?

A few of us spent some free time just sitting around with some visible "yes" memorabilia and logos and things and simply having a good time in the parks and stuff around Dublin. Had loads of people come up and just ask questions. Kind of reverse canvassing I guess you could call it. Lots of nice responses - and I think some of the angrier "no" people who came up with the usual narrative about us being bullies and calling everyone bigots and homophobes was nicely challenged when they managed to get nothing but friendly answers and conversation out of us.

Having big house party after the vote - loads of people coming to it - we are all going to visibly go vote yes en masse together and try and drum up some people on the day to come along.

All getting quite exciting now.

Aard

Is there such a thing as referendum fatigue? You can't turn and not hear about #marref and I'm sure a lot of people are just sick of hearing about it -- yes and no sides alike.... Could have an impact on turnout?

Vojera

Joeytheparrot wrote: »

I am really not convinced this will pass. I did a canvass tonight and it was 50/50.

There is also way too much complacency from yes voters who are convinced it will pass by a landslide and think their vote isn't needed.

Hi Joey.

I just wanted to say thanks for canvassing. I know it's something I should really get out and do myself but I'm a cryer and standing blubbing on someone's doorstep isn't going to help anyone. I've heard from the pop-up shop in Stephen's Green that they're hearing it's very very tight as well.

Pai Mei

Aard wrote: »

Is there such a thing as referendum fatigue? You can't turn and not hear about #marref and I'm sure a lot of people are just sick of hearing about it -- yes and no sides alike.... Could have an impact on turnout?

There must be such a thing cause I genuinely can't wait until it's over. Another week and a half of it and then hopefully we get the result we want and the country can finally stop talking about gay people and their influence on children and how we are ruining marriage for others. I really feel bad for those who are still in the closet and are having to listen to this sort of nonsense and just try to grin and bare it.

J_E

Aard wrote: »

Is there such a thing as referendum fatigue? You can't turn and not hear about #marref and I'm sure a lot of people are just sick of hearing about it -- yes and no sides alike.... Could have an impact on turnout?

This is exactly why I think high-profile campaigning and door-to-door canvassing at this stage after over a year of it being covered is going to turn off people more than it will interest them, and I really feel in ways it is only appealing to those who were Yes-leaning in the first place. I'm all for this referendum but even I as a gay man am tired of it and won't discuss it most of the time. My Twitter feed for the last 4-5 months has just become oversaturated with talk of it, and it's mostly people aggressively targeting No voters and the usual 'mammy and daddy' crew. It's unnecessary and I wish people would stop doing that because the average voter sees these campaigners as overly aggressive and it makes them feel uneasy. I have actually been 'told off' by straight Yes voters when I have placed concerns regarding the above or issues surrounding the referendum, which has infuriated me. I don't need to be explained to...I'm on your side, god damn it. There are also the people who seem to think spending all day playing opinion ping-pong with obvious troll accounts is somehow convincing people to vote Yes.

Ash885

J_E wrote: »

My Twitter feed for the last 4-5 months has just become oversaturated with talk of it, and it's mostly people aggressively targeting No voters and the usual 'mammy and daddy' crew. It's unnecessary and I wish people would stop doing that because the average voter sees these campaigners as overly aggressive and it makes them feel uneasy.

This and so much more. I've since deleted my social media apps till May 23rd as my timelines across all boards has been inundated with people retweeting/quoting/messaging accounts with 3 followers and giving them much more publicity as a result. As Twain said, never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.

That's not to knock those who are promoting a positive message online. It's fantastic to see messages of support and rallying resources together.

Aard

I hear what you say J_E. I do wonder whether the door-to-door campaigning in much of Dublin serves much purpose. Surely it is the more rural and older folks who need to be swayed. I really wonder if this whole "soft yes vote" crowd really exist, or whether it's just Irish people doing the whole Irish nice thing and saying the right thing just to avoid an argument. Obviously we won't be able to tell until the 23rd whether those "soft yes" votes actually have been converted.