'Levelling Up'

[itsnotmeitsu]

This trite quote gets my hackles up. What does it even mean? Level is level - it's linear. You can't 'level up' and no Government or political party would state that they want to 'level down'. If we already have a party which supposedly practises 'one-nation' conservatism, why would we need to 'level up'? But hey-ho, slogans matter and they win elections.

[SoupDragon]

You can't 'level up'

Yes you can. You go up to the next level.

[Aisforharlot]

it's video game speak

[Blacktothepink]

It’s bollocks!

[honeylulu]

It brings into mind an image that the ground is no longer level but features peaks and troughs. Levelling up suggests that the low points are filled/raised to make a standard, smooth level; a way of equalising if you prefer.

[itsnotmeitsu]

@SoupDragon > Sorry, I'm a pedantic, so shoot me. Obviously you can move from one level to another, but 'levelling up' is a meaningless catchphrase, which doesn't make sense. @Aisforharlot, I don't play video games, so I didn't know that. Thanks for explanation; it helps.

[VillanellesOrangeCoat]

You’re a pedant. Or pedantic. Not a pedantic

[DrSbaitso]

Sorry, I'm a pedantic

Are you?

As people have said, it's video game slang. Language evolves. "Level" becomes a verb in that circle, it has a specific meaning. The point of language is to communicate, not to be a pedantic.

[ManxRhyme]

It's from gaming. It used to be when you moved from one level to the next some games would do a big blinking "Level Up!"

We are talking about vintage old school 1990s gaming here.

[Duplobuplo]

Yes video games. Boris needs to Donna false moustache and shout "it's-a-me-a-Mario!"

[Duplobuplo]

Don not Donna

[NiceGerbil]

I could never get past Eugene's lair in manic miner

Yes it's from gaming. In world of Warcraft and I'm sure many others you get a sort of golden glow when you level up and randoms say 'gratz' at you. Or at least they used to, no time for that now!

You're right OP it doesn't make sense in that context but bojo and co love a snappy nonsensical soundbite.

[Sparklingbrook]

Reminds me of this. I have watched too many IG reels lately. Haven't listened to the lyrics bit not political presumably.

[AFS1]

It’s a totally meaningless slogan (like all the Tory “policies” now are). It also seems to me to be an admission that the last 11 years of Tory rule has been a total failure, if it’s only now, over a decade in, that they’re talking about trying to improve people’s lives.

[Averyyounggrandmaofsix]

Ooh am I going to level up to designer wallpaper and a free holiday to Mustique? How exciting!

[SoupDragon]

@SoupDragon > Sorry, I'm a pedantic, so shoot me. Obviously you can move from one level to another, but 'levelling up' is a meaningless catchphrase, which doesn't make sense.

Except it does make sense. It has nothing to do with being "a pendantic" (sic)

I'm not saying it isn't total bollocks but 99% of political speeches are.

[SoupDragon]

(I am wondering whether shooting you will earn me enough XP to level up though 🤔)

[YellowPenPinkPen]

I completely get this.

It means focusing on areas where there are the most stark inequalities and 'bringing them up' to the level of other areas that are doing better in terms of health outcomes, education and opportunities, housing etc.?

I thought it was pretty clear? Nothing at all to do with commputer games? A bit like a rising tide raises all ships... But actually focusing on areas where help is most needed?

[Herja]

Ooh! I'd not reconsidered it as gaming speak! I just heard my grandad saying "now, let's level this up" while stood with a saw in hand, before trying to do some kind of DIY.

I don't believe this policy will achieve this aims. I doubt the Tories even want it to particularly. I am confident that Tory councils will end up more 'level' than labour ones. I have definitely heard 'level up' for a long time though - mostly in the context of carpentry.

[LakieLady]

I'm with you on this, @Herja. It's a meaningless soundbite and if this government actually achieves significant progress in reducing inequality I'll be delighted to eat my words.

If they get as far as putting things back to where they were before their own austerity measures that'd be something, but I can't even see them going that far, tbh.

[araiwa]

I sympathize. I often get my hackles up about a phrase I don't understand but is fairly common parlance

[noblegiraffe]

How he can talk about levelling up when he has just cut free school meals funding by millions is beyond me.

I expect he means levelling up all his mates to new riches as he had done throughout this pandemic.

[BarbaraofSeville]

It makes perfect sense to me.

I'm assuming you're talking about reducing inequalities across the country and providing 'the north' with the same advantages that London/SE has had for years, like decent jobs and a functioning affordable public transport system.

Because Londoners might moan about the tube and think it's not fit for purpose, but from the point of view of a resident of the largest city in Western Europe with no mass transit system, believe me, it's a lot better than many parts of the country.

[WhoNeedsaManOfTheWorld]

An MP was quoted yesterday as saying they had come up with the slogan and are now trying to find policies to fit the slogan
The government is based on meaningless slogans but people seem to like it
I hate the road map, it's a time table
Uptick is widely used when it means an increase

[ItsAlwaysAFriendNeverMe]

Oops, have heard "level up" in different circles. Didn't realise this would be a politics thread. Thought you were about to bash some Youtubers.

[Branleuse]

youre really not down with the kids are you.
Its from videogames. I quite like it, i think its funny when used in other contexts