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.

Morning all, just checking into the new thread.

Alex Salmond was on Radio 4 talking the same old mince about how Alistair Darling saying Scotland "could use the pound" was the turning point of the campaign

I just can't listen to anymore of him.

Fanny, thank you for being reasoned and diplomatic. I like your approach, and I am a no .

yes Fanny, although having us in amongst the rabble I think means lots more people have found us maybe?

If I heard more rhetoric from the likes of you I wouldn't be so very very worried about a yes.

That was to fanny.

I never saw the interviews but there were loads of comments all over twitter about Dimbleby going easy on Salmond and just accepting his vague non specific answers and not pursuing them, and by contrast giving Gordon Brown a right good grilling?

Reading the comments here there are some who seem to agree and others who are saying the opposite. I clearly depends on your perception and which side of the debate you, personally are on.

Latte thanks - it's an hour long.......... Will try and watch later.

I haven't voted on any these threads before but I'm watching avidly.

I feel anxious and I have no vote, I'm not in Scotland. I just feel passionate about the UK. I'm Welsh, who married an Irish man and we live in England and love it. We got engaged in Edinburgh and spent our honeymoon in Perth. I love Scotland.

No points to argue (all my points have been argued already). I just wanted to say I feel 'sad' either way I think. I passionately don't want Scotland to leave. I'm proud that they are a part of the UK. I just feel sad that so many people vehemently want to, and whatever the outcome half Scotland will be unhappy.

FannyFifer

Fair enough! Just a bit confused as I'm quite likely in your area and was told to be on hand with cards (and smiles!) after a mess-up resulted in me not being a local polling agent as I'd thought I would be. I want to do something before getting out the vote late afternoon.

Re. non-voters: I have thoughts which I will write at a later spare moment!

'Voted' on these threads? I meant posted!

Fontella they are on the BBC Scotland website if you want to watch them.

GTM let us know what you think if you do.

Harry Hi, a lot of us are in rUk and feel sad about it as well.

Hmm... a lot of folk on the last thread thought Gordon Brown did very well. So I imagine it's more a case of neither managed to change the minds of the decided. I'll have to catch up on iplayer, as I was trying to put the 'Amazing Sleep Defying Toddlerwolf' to bed and missed it. I'm a big Gordon Brown fan though and can't stand Alex, so I doubt it'll change my mind either.

About polling stations. I am certain that seasoned political activists and well briefed newbies on both sides will behave appropriately at the stations. What concerns me is the 'enthusiastic' supporters who aren't officially with the campaigns - the sort who have been following 'No' politicians around and shouting them down, or those on either side who have been rude or abusive to activists and defacing posters and graffiting - may not know the rules of engagement on polling day and may not like being told to calm down and take themselves somewhere else.

But hopefully it will go okay. Any misbehaviour can be tackled by presiding officers, backed up by the police if necessary.

Generally speaking on polling day in the UK the 'campaign' as such stops and the effort of activists is generally directed towards reminding people who've indicated they support them to go out and vote.

I don't think there should be leaflets handed out but not sure if its against the rules (DH went to the briefing meeting for out LA, but he's at work at the moment).

Oh I wish I had time to go back and read them all :(

BBC Radio Scotland is interesting.

Quick question - tiny, tiny village. We have a keen and openly "Yes" campaigner as the polling station clerk, accompanied by someone whose allegiance I don't know, but who is probably "Yes". For normal elections, this is not an issue. How are they being monitored, given that it is a tiny village far from anywhere? How is anyone being monitored? Never seen anyone else in the polling station. I am not saying I don't trust them - I do as they are both people of great integrity. However, who checks up on them?

Hello folks, just popping in to say I've been lurking since the start of these threads and have found the discussion and debate both informative and entertaining

I'm an Edinburgh No voter and, like most, would like this all to be over now. Last night I dreamt I didn't make it to the polling station in time and it cost the referendum!

Anyway, thanks again for all of the stats, links etc. As you were.

I wonder how many of the 'non voters' are people who aren't able to make an informed decision? Such as people with some forms of special needs, severe Alzheimer sufferers etc

Then there will be people who are unexpectedly in hospital or those called away unexpectedly (perhaps to an ill parent or child elsewhere, even for work or something).

Good morning.

Yes, thank you very much statisticallychallenged for your patience and hard work on these threads.

Anyone else having the polling card dream where you put a cross in the wrong box? I have spoken to loads of friends and we are all having it.

I'm an Edinburgh No voter and, like most, would like this all to be over now. Last night I dreamt I didn't make it to the polling station in time and it cost the referendum!

Oh my goodness Otters - imagine being 'the one' responsible for the breakup of the UK? You'd be a hero to one side and er ... not quite so popular with the other!

Make sure you leave in plenty of time to cast that vote!!

I keep saying Yes when I mean no and vica versa!

I read on another thread that if the vote goes No, the Yessers will lobby for a vote in 5 years time, and then 5 years later etc.

Can that really happen, or is this really a once in a generation referendum?

OttersPocket Perhaps you should take your sleeping bag down there now!!

(I have seen you on another thread, I mean to say 'I love your user name!')

Some of the non voters might be citizens of other countries who don't want to participate. I didn't vote during the devolution campaign (though I did help count the votes in Edinburgh ) because at the time I was also a US citizen and figured if it went all pear shaped I could easily leave the country- as a non-committed resident at the time I didn't feel I should vote.

Maybe 23% of people won't vote

I know someone who apparently isn't voting, he's the husband of a (radical) Yes voter. She says he feels he doesn't know enough to vote. He probably could be well informed if he wanted to be, his wife is very politically active, but he is a long term non-voter, I don't know why he's not interested in politics or how they resolve that as a couple - both DH and I are passionate about politics, we have great discussions and arguments, I can't imagine marrying someone who wasn't interested. He's a lovely guy otherwise, he just doesn't 'do' politics.

Someone who was asked on tv said he was undecided and might end up not voting. I've also heard people talk about cancelling each other's votes out and both not voting (though I wouldn't do that myself, I'd want to be part of it).

Oh don't you worry Fontella, I'll be at the local primary school at 7am sharp!

(why thank you Latte!)