London turning into a communist society?

[Undesired Walrus]

There are often quotes dotted around the Tube, but I noticed this one the other day. This was published by London Underground itself!

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p297/ldl21/IMG01062-20091217-1017.jpg

Glenn Beck would have a field day with this. His paranoia would reach Warped factor 9.

[JihadJane]

"You can't beat the system".

[Francesca R]

The idea also seems to be to have train operators (people that used to be called "drivers") spout various quotes from a booklet (http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/corporate/projectsandschemes/artmusicdesign/pfa/artists/jeremy-deller-tubeart.asp) in place of "Mind the doors". Don't think it's politics though (Did Boris have a hand in it? Sounds doubtful)

[Praktik]

I was about to correct you on your star trek reference...but then I saw what you did there!! ;)

Was just reading about lend-lease and the pro-russian rallies in England during WWII.... apparently commie party membership rose by 25 000 in two months in 1942...

Methinks that was probably a time when commies had more influence than they do now.

[Mojo]

There are often quotes dotted around the Tube, but I noticed this one the other day. This was published by London Underground itself!

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p297/ldl21/IMG01062-20091217-1017.jpg

Glenn Beck would have a field day with this. His paranoia would reach Warped factor 9.


At least they've removed the poster I used to see each morning quoting Gandhi: "there is more to life than increasing its speed". When I'd just got off a train that had once more been repeatedly "regulated" (i.e. deliberately delayed) it was just adding insult to injury.

[Hlafordlaes]

Since I do not reside in London and don't know whether there are other examples that might reinforce your point, I only have the case you cite to decide on the merits of your post title.

That quote in itself espouses no particular political philosophy, and is more or less equivalent to the common idiom, "actions speak louder than words." Or to take a similar quote from an avowed practitioner of self-reliance:

Well done is better than well said. ~Benjamin Franklin

What is disturbing about your post & title in my view is that it implies that any and all statements must be swept aside or accepted depending on the general views of the speaker. What that leads to is a deaf shouting match from pedestal to pedestal, since nothing is evaluated when coming from an opposing camp.

If Glenn Beck were to tell me it's raining when it was indeed raining at the time and place referenced, I would feel obliged to agree. Certainly that would have no bearing on my agreement or non-agreement with his other views on matters, but I would concede his point as quite well taken.

[Fiona]

Since I do not reside in London and don't know whether there are other examples that might reinforce your point, I only have the case you cite to decide on the merits of your post title.

That quote in itself espouses no particular political philosophy, and is more or less equivalent to the common idiom, "actions speak louder than words." Or to take a similar quote from an avowed practitioner of self-reliance:



What is disturbing about your post & title in my view is that it implies that any and all statements must be swept aside or accepted depending on the general views of the speaker. What that leads to is a deaf shouting match from pedestal to pedestal, since nothing is evaluated when coming from an opposing camp.

If Glenn Beck were to tell me it's raining when it was indeed raining at the time and place referenced, I would feel obliged to agree. Certainly that would have no bearing on my agreement or non-agreement with his other views on matters, but I would concede his point as quite well taken.

Wimp!! :D

[JoeTheJuggler]

Next thing you know they'll be quoting the Bible:

34Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,

35And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

[Undesired Walrus]

Since I do not reside in London and don't know whether there are other examples that might reinforce your point, I only have the case you cite to decide on the merits of your post title.

That quote in itself espouses no particular political philosophy, and is more or less equivalent to the common idiom, "actions speak louder than words." Or to take a similar quote from an avowed practitioner of self-reliance:



What is disturbing about your post & title in my view is that it implies that any and all statements must be swept aside or accepted depending on the general views of the speaker. What that leads to is a deaf shouting match from pedestal to pedestal, since nothing is evaluated when coming from an opposing camp.

If Glenn Beck were to tell me it's raining when it was indeed raining at the time and place referenced, I would feel obliged to agree. Certainly that would have no bearing on my agreement or non-agreement with his other views on matters, but I would concede his point as quite well taken.

The OP was a joke.

[Slayhamlet]

Since I do not reside in London and don't know whether there are other examples that might reinforce your point, I only have the case you cite to decide on the merits of your post title.

That quote in itself espouses no particular political philosophy, and is more or less equivalent to the common idiom, "actions speak louder than words." Or to take a similar quote from an avowed practitioner of self-reliance:



What is disturbing about your post & title in my view is that it implies that any and all statements must be swept aside or accepted depending on the general views of the speaker. What that leads to is a deaf shouting match from pedestal to pedestal, since nothing is evaluated when coming from an opposing camp.

If Glenn Beck were to tell me it's raining when it was indeed raining at the time and place referenced, I would feel obliged to agree. Certainly that would have no bearing on my agreement or non-agreement with his other views on matters, but I would concede his point as quite well taken.

But if a relatively innocuous quotation culled from, say, Mein Kampf (assuming such could be found) was prominently displayed in the London Underground, and correctly attributed, are you so sure you would you say the same thing? The little name below the quotation does matter to people, after all, even if logically it should have no bearing on the veracity of the quote itself. In fact, just putting a famous name with a quote often gives it a certain weight in public opinion that many times isn't warranted, which is probably why it's there in the first place. We're all familiar with the conspiracy theorist's penchant for taking nonsense conspiracy dribble and misattributing it to well-respected historical figures.

I also think you're misreading the intent of the OP. It seems to me that Undesired Walrus is merely highlighting the exceptional absurdity, relative to the rest of the world, of that segment of the American population which has apparently had it's psyche caught in a sort of time-warp that mysteriously never progresses beyond the 1950's Red Scare era.

[Giz]

There are often quotes dotted around the Tube, but I noticed this one the other day. This was published by London Underground itself!

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p297/ldl21/IMG01062-20091217-1017.jpg

Glenn Beck would have a field day with this. His paranoia would reach Warped factor 9.

Well, I'd already figured they couldn't be fascist (the trains don't run on time)

[commandlinegamer]

Was just reading about lend-lease and the pro-russian rallies in England during WWII.... apparently commie party membership rose by 25 000 in two months in 1942...

Maybe it was just the enemy of my enemy syndrome.

[Praktik]

I think it was more than that. I think that was it for the large majority of British - but people don't join political parties based on the "enemy of my enemy" calculation - they might vote for parties they otherwise wouldn't on this basis, but actually joining is a different thing altogether.

I got this from Absolute War: Soviet Russia in the Second World War by Chris Bellamy - I don't mind transcriping the paragraph where this is mentioned over the weekend if you are interested. He's got a very interesting and thorough chapter on the whole lend-lease program, and especially on how that affected British-Russian relations and the image of Russia in Britain.

[Moss]

But if a relatively innocuous quotation culled from, say, Mein Kampf (assuming such could be found) was prominently displayed in the London Underground, and correctly attributed, are you so sure you would you say the same thing? The little name below the quotation does matter to people, after all, even if logically it should have no bearing on the veracity of the quote itself.

Hitler - godwining reality since 1889.
;)

[Hlafordlaes]

The OP was a joke.

Sorry! I am still suffering from newness here and as yet unfamiliar with posters. Given what I am used to elsewhere, I mistook you.

My apologies.

[INRM]

That's not the guy I would quote... (Engels)

[Hlafordlaes]

Wimp!! :D

Gee whiz!

[Mojo]

Well, I'd already figured they couldn't be fascist (the trains don't run on time)


I once saw the platform indicator at East Finchley displaying the quotation "it is better to travel hopefully than to arrive". :mad:

[Architect]

I was about to correct you on your star trek reference...but then I saw what you did there!! ;)

Was just reading about lend-lease and the pro-russian rallies in England during WWII.... apparently commie party membership rose by 25 000 in two months in 1942...

Methinks that was probably a time when commies had more influence than they do now.

I think it was more than that. I think that was it for the large majority of British - but people don't join political parties based on the "enemy of my enemy" calculation - they might vote for parties they otherwise wouldn't on this basis, but actually joining is a different thing altogether.

I got this from Absolute War: Soviet Russia in the Second World War by Chris Bellamy - I don't mind transcriping the paragraph where this is mentioned over the weekend if you are interested. He's got a very interesting and thorough chapter on the whole lend-lease program, and especially on how that affected British-Russian relations and the image of Russia in Britain.

You know that there is a difference, and that in the case of left wing political views in early 20th century Britain it's quite important, don't you?

[Praktik]

ya you'll have to re-educate me on that one.

im always confused as to which one to say. ;)

[r0ast_p0tat0es]

The man did have some good things to say. Does quoting Jesus make you Christian? Does quoting Abraham Lincoln make you American? :p

[Undesired Walrus]

ya you'll have to re-educate me on that one.

im always confused as to which one to say. ;)

If you're English, it's British. If you're Scottish, it's English.

'England' is a mythical, made-up place for most English people.

[Raconteur]

'Britain' includes England, Scotland and Wales. 'UK' includes England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

[Praktik]

Ok!

Thanks for indulging me. ;)

I hereby swear, by the Queen under which we are all subjects, by the Crown that graces both our currencies, and by the sacred bonds of the Commonwealth that I shall commit this error no longer.

[Hlafordlaes]

Ok!

Thanks for indulging me. ;)

I hereby swear, by the Queen under which we are all subjects, by the Crown that graces both our currencies, and by the sacred bonds of the Commonwealth that I shall commit this error no longer.

Unabashed Monarchism in the 21st century! Now that's scary!:eek:

[Undesired Walrus]

Someone should start a thread about whether to abolish the monarchy or not. I'm too shy to start it.

[JihadJane]

'Britain' includes England, Scotland and Wales. 'UK' includes England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.


What's 'The British Isles'?

Does it include the Falklands?

[Camillus]

The British Isles is a geographical description for a group of over six thousand islands that lie off the North-West coast of Europe. It includes about 136 permanently inhabited isles, the most prominent of which are Great Britain and Ireland with other large ones found in the Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland to the North, Anglesey and the Isle of Man between Great Britain and Ireland, and the Channel Islands near the coast of France.

The Falkland Islands are a self-governing Overseas Territory and not part of the British Isles.

[Mojo]

Someone should start a thread about whether to abolish the monarchy or not. I'm too shy to start it.


See the Treason Felony Act 1848.

[Rolfe]

The British Isles is a geographical description for a group of over six thousand islands that lie off the North-West coast of Europe. It includes about 136 permanently inhabited isles, the most prominent of which are Great Britain and Ireland with other large ones found in the Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland to the North, Anglesey and the Isle of Man between Great Britain and Ireland, and the Channel Islands near the coast of France.

The Falkland Islands are a self-governing Overseas Territory and not part of the British Isles.


My father was born on one of the smaller bits of terra firma. There is a story that a minister on the island on one occasion prayed for God to ".... bless the islands of Greater and Lesser Cumbrae, and Lord in thy mercy forget not also the adjacent islands of Great Britain and Ireland."

Kind of puts it all into perspective.

Rolfe.