Off Topic Thread 4.0

OldRio

swiwi_ wrote: »

Come back to me when Lowry and Healy-Rae have been voted out by an indignant electorate.

So from Bailey to Healy-Rae and Irish mentality. Broad strokes you're painting. Issues?

swiwi_

troyzer wrote: »

Ah settle down, he's not being racist. I think we should be honest with ourselves that our electoral system and parochial nature, in the country anyway, leads to cute hoorism and chancers getting elected.

No I'm not being racist, at least not intentionally.

This sort of carry on by a TD is hardly a one-off occurence or unusual in the Irish political system. But these sort of characters continue to get elected to the Dail. And in some cases, like Lowry and Healy-Rae, they get re-elected repeatedly.

To me, that suggests a certain acceptance by the Irish public that this behaviour can be tolerated, provided the TD is helping out the local community.

Is that racist??

aloooof

swiwi_ wrote: »

No I'm not being racist, at least not intentionally.

This sort of carry on by a TD is hardly a one-off occurence or unusual in the Irish political system. But these sort of characters continue to get elected to the Dail. And in some cases, like Lowry and Healy-Rae, they get re-elected repeatedly.

To me, that suggests a certain acceptance by the Irish public that this behaviour can be tolerated, provided the TD is helping out the local community.

Is that racist??

Is this that different to (m)any other countries in the world?

Podge_irl

I think local government is probably weaker in Ireland (which means TDs are more important for local matters) and the numbers of votes needed to be elected as a TD are surprisingly low.

However it exists everywhere to one degree or another.

swiwi_

aloooof wrote: »

Is this that different to (m)any other countries in the world?

Yes. The Irish system is too dépendant on TDs appeasing their local community in order to remain elected. It needs some TDs who are elected independant of their local constituency in order to make reforms without worrying about losing their seat.

troyzer

swiwi_ wrote: »

aloooof wrote: »

Is this that different to (m)any other countries in the world?

Yes. The Irish system is too dépendant on TDs appeasing their local community in order to remain elected. It needs some TDs who are elected independant of their local constituency in order to make reforms without worrying about losing their seat.

Ireland is possibly the only country in the world which pitches incumbents against each other in a local election.

This is the natural consequence.

Yeah_Right

OldRio wrote: »

So from Bailey to Healy-Rae and Irish mentality. Broad strokes you're painting. Issues?

I get what swiwi is saying. To me (and a lot of my southern hemisphere friends) there does appear to be an acceptance of chancers and getting one over "the man" in Irish society. Its a topic that has been discussed over beers many times and we would all have stories and anecdotes from work, sports clubs and life in general of people basically committing fraud or theft. Yet Irish people viewing it as normal or at least "ah sure, what can you do".

errlloyd

We should create another off topic thread under some code name to talk politics on the rugby board. I like the pace of conversation here. But mods are gonna mod.

irishbucsfan

Yeah_Right wrote: »

I get what swiwi is saying. To me (and a lot of my southern hemisphere friends) there does appear to be an acceptance of chancers and getting one over "the man" in Irish society. Its a topic that has been discussed over beers many times and we would all have stories and anecdotes from work, sports clubs and life in general of people basically committing fraud or theft. Yet Irish people viewing it as normal or at least "ah sure, what can you do".

I was born outside of Ireland and live and worked my entire life outside of Ireland. Anyone who thinks Ireland is unique in having rural areas who return people like this has never lived in Southern or Eastern Europe.

The very worst thing anyone can do is claim this is an Irish thing or even a provincial thing. And then give people an excuse to keep doing it, even with pride. Especially people from out of the area who are self-appointed experts on European subcultures. It’s nothing to do with race or nationality, that’s just a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Podge_irl

irishbucsfan wrote: »

I was born outside of Ireland and live and worked my entire life outside of Ireland.

So essentially just a Leinster glory hunter. Probably used to be a Munster fan :pac:

swiwi_

irishbucsfan wrote: »

I was born outside of Ireland and live and worked my entire life outside of Ireland.

Whereas myself and yeah right have actually lived in Ireland. Myself for about 7 years, yeah right I think for longer and still in Ireland.

I’m only comparing Ireland to NZ and to Switzerland. I’d have absolutely no idea about Eastern Europe etc.

swiwi_

errlloyd

To be fair to Ibf he immediately said Ireland was not unqiue and compared Ireland to Southern Europe.

If you hadn't cut off the screenshot you'd find,

France (21)
Portugal (30)
Spain (41)
Italy (53)
Greece (67)

Mr Tickle

swiwi_ wrote: »

i wonder who the Danes had to pay off to top that list?

OldRio

errlloyd wrote: »

To be fair to Ibf he immediately said Ireland was not unqiue and compared Ireland to Southern Europe.

If you hadn't cut off the screenshot you'd find,

France (21)
Portugal (30)
Spain (41)
Italy (53)
Greece (67)

Screenshot cut off? Surely not.

Bazzo

Yeah_Right wrote: »

I get what swiwi is saying. To me (and a lot of my southern hemisphere friends) there does appear to be an acceptance of chancers and getting one over "the man" in Irish society. Its a topic that has been discussed over beers many times and we would all have stories and anecdotes from work, sports clubs and life in general of people basically committing fraud or theft. Yet Irish people viewing it as normal or at least "ah sure, what can you do".

Sure you Australians have some absolutely disgraceful politicians

Buer

irishbucsfan wrote:

I was born outside of Ireland and live and worked my entire life outside of Ireland.

One of these days, we'll have definitive proof that you are Ewan MacKenna.

thomond2006

I wouldn't think parish pump politics or voting in alleged criminals/fraudsters is anything unique to Ireland.

irishbucsfan

swiwi_ wrote: »

Whereas myself and yeah right have actually lived in Ireland. Myself for about 7 years, yeah right I think for longer and still in Ireland.

I’m only comparing Ireland to NZ and to Switzerland. I’d have absolutely no idea about Eastern Europe etc.

I have lived in Ireland. I worded that badly this morning sorry. Meant that throughout my life I’ve lived and worked outside Ireland. I’ve lived here (and currently do) for about half my life.

Swiszealand is a sh1thole country and we shouldn't let any of them in

errlloyd

errlloyd wrote: »

We should create another off topic thread under some code name to talk politics on the rugby board. I like the pace of conversation here. But mods are gonna mod.

I nominate errlloyd to start a "definitely not politics thread" where all politics related conversation definitely wont happen and if it did definitely wouldn't break the charter.

Thanks errlloyd!

Neil3030

I'm not allowed talk about politics. But having lived in a fair few countries, I have developed some opinions on.... eh.... people buying fruit.

Seems that in Ireland there is a tendency to prioritise fruit that has been grown locally, and on occasion, they buy dodgy, unripe fruit that stokes antipathy toward centralised fruit distributors in Dublin to perhaps mask their shortcomings.

It's completely fine to point out that this is prevalent in Ireland, but it's not necessarily bad fruit buying practice. I would not like to live in a first-piece-of-fruit-past-the-post system like in the UK, where pieces of fruit get tactically assigned to your constituenc... I mean... local shop, and depending on your fruit affiliation, and the area you live, you could spend your entire life never buying the fruit you like (pm me if this metaphor doesn't make sense).

Imagine how dissatisfied you would feel, if you had such little say in your fruit buying. It would likely skew your thinking if you were ever given a say in a major national fruit decision, with far more drastic consequences, like banning European fruit or something.

What I think is most lacking from Irish fruit-sellers is a culture of resigning when appropriate; it's unlikely the lady who fell off the swing would be manning her stall for much longer were she a vendor in a London market.

And I note also that countries with dodgy fruit seem to all have a strong Catholic presence in common, which is probably not a coincidence. You don't need communion bread if you have plenty of fresh fruit available.

In summary, fruit is complicated.

Buer

Jesus.

Neil is really into fruit.

Stheno

The Chernobyl series just gets more depressing

errlloyd

Stheno wrote: »

The Chernobyl series just gets more depressing

I don't even understand how it got worse. But it did. That said

The roof scene is the greatest 90-second shot I've ever seen in my life. Absolute heroes those guys.

Stheno

errlloyd wrote: »

I don't even understand how it got worse. But it did. That said

The roof scene is the greatest 90-second shot I've ever seen in my life. Absolute heroes those guys.

It was the

of shorting the dogs

that got me

stephen_n

Zzippy wrote: »

Sloane Nutritious Ham wrote: »

If it made it to court then the information in court documents is public right?

I saw some tweets from a barrister suggesting her medical info has been leaked ahead of the court documents actually becoming public, which would be illegal and a breach of GDPR and her privacy. As I say, suspicious timing and no one is talking about the investigation into a cartel.

I think if that was the case, she’d have been singing it from the roof tops in her interview. Do you think that spurious/fraudulent claims aren’t driving up costs? Yes there’s a cartel for definite but claim culture in this country most definitely exists and influences the cost.

Despite all that, she attempted to commit fraud and that should be exposed.

stephen_n

Neil3030 wrote: »

I'm not allowed talk about politics. But having lived in a fair few countries, I have developed some opinions on.... eh.... people buying fruit.

Seems that in Ireland there is a tendency to prioritise fruit that has been grown locally, and on occasion, they buy dodgy, unripe fruit that stokes antipathy toward centralised fruit distributors in Dublin to perhaps mask their shortcomings.

It's completely fine to point out that this is prevalent in Ireland, but it's not necessarily bad fruit buying practice. I would not like to live in a first-piece-of-fruit-past-the-post system like in the UK, where pieces of fruit get tactically assigned to your constituenc... I mean... local shop, and depending on your fruit affiliation, and the area you live, you could spend your entire life never buying the fruit you like (pm me if this metaphor doesn't make sense).

Imagine how dissatisfied you would feel, if you had such little say in your fruit buying. It would likely skew your thinking if you were ever given a say in a major national fruit decision, with far more drastic consequences, like banning European fruit or something.

What I think is most lacking from Irish fruit-sellers is a culture of resigning when appropriate; it's unlikely the lady who fell off the swing would be manning her stall for much longer were she a vendor in a London market.

And I note also that countries with dodgy fruit seem to all have a strong Catholic presence in common, which is probably not a coincidence. You don't need communion bread if you have plenty of fresh fruit available.

In summary, fruit is complicated.

So are metaphors, I need to go lie down now.

molloyjh

stephen_n wrote: »

Zzippy wrote: »

Sloane Nutritious Ham wrote: »

If it made it to court then the information in court documents is public right?

I saw some tweets from a barrister suggesting her medical info has been leaked ahead of the court documents actually becoming public, which would be illegal and a breach of GDPR and her privacy. As I say, suspicious timing and no one is talking about the investigation into a cartel.

I think if that was the case, she’d have been singing it from the roof tops in her interview. Do you think that spurious/fraudulent claims aren’t driving up costs? Yes there’s a cartel for definite but claim culture in this country most definitely exists and influences the cost.

Despite all that, she attempted to commit fraud and that should be exposed.

What's truly amazing about it all is how the responsibility gets passed around. The claimants will tell you that they aren't to blame, they're just getting their due. The insurance companies and the solicitors will tell you it isn't their fault, that the courts are to blame and that they are either victims themselves (insurance companies) or just doing their job (solicitors). The courts will tell you that they dont write the law, they just enforce it. So it's down to politicians to change the law, but with relatively little motivation to do so (until recently at least) they haven't focused on it. Why? Because the electorate weren't pushing for it and so other things took precedence. And round and round we go.

Yeah_Right

Stheno wrote: »

The Chernobyl series just gets more depressing

I'm tempted to watch it but I'm trying to hold out till the season is complete so I can truly binge on it. Its a mini-series like Band of Brothers isn't it?

Yeah_Right

Bazzo wrote: »

Sure you Australians have some absolutely disgraceful politicians

I agree. Some really dodgy bastards in Aussie politics. Interestingly, a lot of their Prime Ministers were of Irish descent.
Did you know that about 30% of Aussies claim Irish ancestry? The missus and I went to the EPIC museum last week. It is brilliant. I would highly recommend it to visitors and locals.

errlloyd

Yeah_Right wrote: »

Stheno wrote: »

The Chernobyl series just gets more depressing

I'm tempted to watch it but I'm trying to hold out till the season is complete so I can truly binge on it. Its a mini-series like Band of Brothers isn't it?

It's only five episodes. Will be done next week. I'm not sure I'd binge it. It is so dark that I think you need breaks. Plus unlike following GoT or Westworld where the theories and analysis between episodes are annoying. In chernobyl between episodes there are really interesting deep dives into the history including an accompanying one hour podcast where the show runner talks about what real events they had to edit for TV. Super cool.

It keeps getting harder to watch, but I want to watch it all the same.

Some very difficult themes in last nights episode, it's just grim and harrowing and far too real.

Zzippy

mfceiling wrote: »

Yep...A cordless drill driver. Get to b+q and pick up the dewalt 18v drill. It's about 120 quid and will last forever. Lithium batteries so no memory effect. Great investment for any household... She'll be lashing up curtain poles in no time!!

Thanks for the recommendation. Picked one up this week. Huge improvement on the yoke I had before

awec

Zzippy wrote: »

Thanks for the recommendation. Picked one up this week. Huge improvement on the yoke I had before

Also bought one. Some job!

mfceiling

Zzippy wrote: »

Thanks for the recommendation. Picked one up this week. Huge improvement on the yoke I had before

Killer is that the batteries are compatible with all their other 18v stuff. You'll be buying saws, radios and all manner of tools now!!
www.dewalt.ie

Just saying....

swiwi_

That was a dreadful first half of football

Squidgy Black

swiwi_ wrote: »

That was a dreadful first half of football

Been a dreadful second half as well.

dregin

Football. Still ballox.

mfceiling

Delighted for Liverpool and Klopp.

wp_rathead

was a fun champions league but that final was rubbish
I know its the new rule but the penalty was just dumb

awec

Virgil Van Dijk is the best 75 million ever spent.

Best centre half in the world right now. Better than Varane.

stephen_n

The referee in Katie Taylor’s fight is called Sparkle Lee, seriously

irishbucsfan

Unbelievable fight

stephen_n

Think Taylor definitely lost that fight no matter what the judges said.

ClanofLams

Thought it was really close scoring round by round. Would like to see stats on round by round basis, thought Taylor was landing more in the first five or six rounds and Persoon was being given some of those rounds by analysts because it was closer than expected. If it was being scored overall Persoon would be the victor but could easily see a reasonable case for Taylor having won five or even six rounds.

Taylor needs to be smarter though, she was definitely the better boxer and allowed herself to be dragged into a brawl. Don’t know if it’s wanting to entertain or just feeling need to fight but very costly. Had she been smart and boxed it would have been Persoon out on her feet and clinging on at the end rather than vice versa.

They should do a rematch, sure it’s a risk but not doing so will taint Taylor’s legacy.

ClanofLams

Jaysus. Ruiz knocks down Joshua twice in Round three after being knocked down himself.

stephen_n

ClanofLams wrote: »

Thought it was really close scoring round by round. Would like to see stats on round by round basis, thought Taylor was landing more in the first five or six rounds and Persoon was being given some of those rounds by analysts because it was closer than expected. If it was being scored overall Persoon would be the victor but could easily see a reasonable case for Taylor having won five or even six rounds.

Taylor needs to be smarter though, she was definitely the better boxer and allowed herself to be dragged into a brawl. Don’t know if it’s wanting to entertain or just feeling need to fight but very costly. Had she been smart and boxed it would have been Persoon out on her feet and clinging on at the end rather than vice versa.

They should do a rematch, sure it’s a risk but not doing so will taint Taylor’s legacy.

Yeah I’d agree on all that, especially the legacy bit. Think it was a little bit of arrogance on Katie’s part, wanting to prove she could scrap, rather than just boxing clever. I assume if there is a rematch she will learn from her mistakes. Persoon had every right to be upset, but as you say Katie was certainly landing way more clean shots at the start, so maybe she did get enough rounds to win.

Bazzo

To be honest watching it in the pub with no commentary I was pretty shocked when Taylor won, thought she'd lost for sure.

Ruiz is an absolute legend. Knowing nothing about him I spent the entire day pulling the piss out of him and saying he was going to get his head kicked in. How wrong was I?

Squidgy Black

Bazzo wrote: »

To be honest watching it in the pub with no commentary I was pretty shocked when Taylor won, thought she'd lost for sure.

Ruiz is an absolute legend. Knowing nothing about him I spent the entire day pulling the piss out of him and saying he was going to get his head kicked in. How wrong was I?

I'd said to the lads in work it wasn't even worth staying up to watch the Joshua fight because you knew Joshua was going to have him done in within a couple rounds.

I also said spurs were going to win.

So I'm not going back to the office on Tuesday.