Indyref 13 - the one where people are nice to each other

[StatisticallyChallenged]

This is continuation of the previous threads. I'm hoping this can be a thread for civilised debate and discussion from people on both sides of the voting line, and where undecided voters can come and chat and get opinions.

Some of the previous threads have gone downhill. So for the sake of a good discussion can everyone please try to avoid nasty comments about the other side? References to Nazis, people being selfish, stupid, thick etc don't help anyone. This vote will be over and the votes counted in about 48 hours. After that we have to pull together whatever the outcome.

Well said.

Dies anyone have a time machine so we can just fast forward the next 48 hours!?

*does not dies!

If FannyFifer is reading, thanks for the info on polling stations.

*What I keep coming back to now is how partisan and divisive the campaign has turned out to be. Of course it's both sides job to win their argument, but if it's as close as the polls predict, it seems a bit of a pyrrhic victory - as good as half the population utterly depressed and angry. Who is going to be able to persuade us all into some sort of consensus?

I agree and there will be some work needs doing.

Thanks for that post Fanny. I really don't like confrontation and find it intimidating (especualky as I am in a wheelchair.

Hear hear. It will be interesting to see what happens today.

People at work are starting to talk about it and there's a mixture of yes and no. A couple of undecided.

One of my no colleagues is so worked they can't bear to watch the news.

*worried

FannyFifer

R.e. polling stations - we were told that campaigners could (indeed, should) stand outside the grounds of the polling station and hand out small cards (the final itemnof campaigning material!) - is this not correct?

Can anyone think of a neutral, respected leader in Scotland who could form a reconciliation forum - I can't think of anyone off the top of my head who would be acceptable?

Just checking in Can't believe how fast these threads are going!

Recovering from last night's Facebook debate which invoked the following:

Culloden
Poll Tax
Thatcher
Hitler

And this was all from the group of very intelligent Yes voters I was debating with. The language being used was extraordinary - evil, cruel, despots, disenfranchised.

It felt like trying to argue with a group of cult followers. Not all Yes voters are like this (and some No are too) but I found it wearying and pointless but, somehow, couldn't stop.

Someone will emerge as they usually do I hope. I'm hesitant to talk about any of the current crop of politicians because whatever the result this will be a new political landscape and I'm not sure the old-style polticians would be able to cope with it.

Perhaps this is a time anyway for more grassroots work so that input is bottom up rather than the current top down.

More thought is needed on this one.

Many countries have an election silence, a period before the poll where advertising/campaigning etc is banned. They have this in Australia, where I lived for quite some time. I think it's a very good idea. even a 24 hour period would stop heated debates down to the wire, perhaps give voters a breathing space to get their thoughts in order. If campaigners approach voters at the polling stations it gives voters no opportunity to research any 'facts' provided.

I'm starting to think social media has played the biggest part in the campaign. Information, good or bad, gets out within seconds and can reach thousands of people very quickly. If that information is untrue/inaccurate, it is very difficult to repudiate, and becomes 'the truth'.

oh Rose, stay away from Facebook! It just seems to bring out the worst in both sides at the moment.

Whatwouldfreddie do - how about Carol Craig? I think her very measured, reasoned article is one of the best opinion pieces I've read during the whole debate. Maybe we should be focussing on people who are not career politicians.

Based on the premise that the people you choose should be the ones who don't aspire to the job grandtheftmanual? There's some truth in that.

Yes, not a career politician. Traditionally it would be a church leader I guess, but of course that's not really neutral for many people!

Carol Craig, though, has come out as No, so presumably wouldn't be acceptable to many Yessers ...

Wondering how busy the polls will be tomorrow morning. I'll be out voting early as I've got a blood test at 8am.

I think they'll be busy early and late - and probably in the middle too

God it's tomorrow!

Gordon Brown was a complete embarrassment last night on the Dimbleby show. He kept talking a lot about 'pensions' and I kept thinking yes you're the one that f*cked up most of the final salary pensions so please don't lecture about pensions. He has ruined a lot of peoples' pensions when he was in power.

People who are open to differing opinions. Most Politicians appear incapable of changing tack even if all the evidence points to their policy being downright wrong. This appears to be a very 'male' thing, and why, with very few exceptions (Caroline Lucas springs to mind) women in politics almost take on a male persona. We need more women in politics who obviously need to be strong, but who are prepared to listen to differing POV without dismissing them out of hand.

I think Gordon Brown was really good last night.

He alone did not fuck anything up. They handed him the smoking gun.

Pat Kane said last night on Sky News, when asked last night about the behaviour of some 'Yes' campaigners, that this independence referendum was a comparatively peaceful one because "not a shot had been fired". Seriously! That is the standard against we should measure ourselves?!

irn I'm going straight after the school run tomorrow. I'll be there before 8.30. I don't mind queuing.

Hmm, spose it is a bit rich coming from him.

Wondering how busy the polls will be tomorrow morning. I'll be out voting early as I've got a blood test at 8am.

I have hospital appointments too so we were going to go on the way as DP is working late so can't go in the evening.