SeanMacGabhann

who specifically is banging on about "equality"?

Maybe if it was named after Scott it might look like

Are you really saying you can't/won't buy spuds and loo rolls anywhere else?

Both

eric - it has been discussed on here many a time

Leaving aside any party politics for a moment and talking about "social mobility" - is this ever possible? To go back to the binmen/heart surgeon comparison, we need compratively few of the latter and a lot of the former (as time of writing - technology advances may yet see that change) Now, no matter how many schemes you implement to increase social mobility, the bottom line is that MOST people will end up performing what are fairly badly paid jobs at present, surely? Everyone can in theory race for the prize, but only a minority will get it. And that's sort of ok, that's how it works But what would balance that out is a narrowing (not elemiination!) of the gap between the winners and losers - both financially and to rid ourselves of the idea that most people on badly paid jobs somehow deserve that because they weren't ambitious enough or there isn't enough social mobility in the system

any chance of a link to the specifics quids?

Not sure I would agree that Irish stereotypes are played out that much these days. And the difference between poking fun at Aussies, Brummies et al and the sort of jokes at the expense of women/homosexuals/black and asian people is that unlike the latter, Aussies and Brummies aren't REALLY oppressed/regularly beaten up/discriminated against financially in any way are they?

That bogus vendors exist I don't doubt - but that isn't quite what people have been talking about What people on here have been complaining about is how they see vendors spend their time and money But if anyone thinks a vendor is bogus then maybe here is the place to go about it

So people who are NOT in need, actually choose to sit outside somewhere like Somerfields all day long in all kind sof weather, putting up with abuse from people, to rake in enough money for some lagers?? really???

But how is the trust being abused?

I'd agree with almost everything you say there keef, but the question at the end "who cares" would appear to be the people who give the money. Enough of them care to feel they can tell the person they are giving the money to how to spend it. That seems out of order to me

Not a little "self-righteous" yourself there keef So, given people are spouting a lot of prejudice at the start of the thread, how should it be countered so as best to avoid being called self-righteous?

137050 - Q-5 9 in a row get in!

Isn't it the case that sex itself demeans women ? If it's any good... © Armando Iannuci/Steve Coogan Which is of course another flippant joke on the subject. But it does come from an Alan Partridge interview with an "MP" on the subject which lampoons exactly the same attitudes described in Rosie's post - from the early 90s as well which just goes to show how far we (haven't) come In general I'm in total agreement with you Rosie. Apart from the bit where you get home from Lucky 7's and switch on Question Time. That's just asking for trouble

Is it a charitable donation Jeremy? - as has been pointed out you are paying money for a product. Yuo aren't forced to If I ever find myself selling Big Issues on LL, I don't know how to break this to people, but chances are I'll be using some of that money for some alcohol and drugs - it'll make life that bit easier y'see. If you are "giving" money to people, ask yourself what are you doing it for? Is it to salve your own conscience or is it to help the person you are giving it to. Because if it's the latter you are in no position to judge them on what makes their life better The amount of well-to-do people who scream blue murder when petrol-duty is raised, or inheritance tax changes mooted - I'll just tell them if it's going to financially trouble them maybe they should spend their incomes a little more wisely in future

There's not liking someone and being wilfuly nasty - I can't imagine any reason I would want any C list celeb DEAD sheesh

Hottest day of the year, they were in a tent and not too many people knew who they were. But yeah they were lovely

Luckily I managed to catch their last appearance in london last summer - RIP indeed

It does smell a bit of old pants and curly-wurly's doesn't it? Some of the cast-list on here seem fine on other threads but it all gets a bit Just-William (on a good day) and Lord of the Flies (on a bad day) Seems to have quietened down of late tho Anyway - Arsenal for the double

I think if Elms was REALLY perspiring at PR's shop answer, it had more to do with internal BBC guidelines and time of day transmission and what his producer might say post-broadcast

Jeremy - I don't think anyone is arguing for equality of pay

So if everyone puts in the effort they will be rewarded? I don't think so

That's not a silly statement at all. It just isn't quite the same thing you implied in the earlier post. Glad you cleared it up and you aren't accusing them of just making money

You started to make that hypothesis young quids but didn't finish it