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.

Now that attitude I find very difficult to get my head around. We're gonna need a bigger ice floe

sorry, that to Latte

Hi, My Qu is similar to Rose's

I live in a small village in a rural area.
The village has been very affected by this mess tbh.
People are 'not speaking' at the school gate, kids are on opposing 'sides' in the playground, local businesses saying they will not work for anyone voting NO (a local tradesman has put up a sign - if you vote NO I wont fix your pipes this winter!), people are commenting on each others windows if they have signs up etc etc.

It feels like everyone is 'watching' each other and it's truly truly horrible.
I don't want to say which way I will vote.
I have felt very torn.
In my heart I would say iScotland but my head says very firmly: not like this - with this crew at the helm.

Can anyone suggest a few comments as to what to say - literally - when asked / challenged at the Polling Station (it has happened before). Will there be Police there? (only helpful if they are not biased themselves, of course). How do we KNOW we will be allowed to vote in peace and privacy and that the votes will be stringently counted?

Oh I've heard the cancelling each other's vote out thing a few times now too . I've explained to these folks that they must cast a vote regardless or whoever the losing side will claim that many did not make their choice known.

If you put your cross in the wrong box, don't put it in the ballot box! Just tell the person in charge of the polling station that you've made a mistake on the ballot and I'm sure you can get a new one (as long as you havent posted it in the sealed box!)

Spiritedwolf

He is living with a radical 'yes' voter and he feels he doesn't know enough to vote? That must frustrate the living hell out of her!

I think the message needs to get out there to the couples who are not voting because they cancel each other out, that especially for this referendum, it would be good to know how many people are engaged enough in the process to make a decision. We all know that +1 vote is all it will take either way, but it would be good to know what percentage of the people are behind that one vote.

Mindreader I would just say that you value the sanctity of the secret ballot and you don't want to say who you voted for.

MindReader that's very difficult. Can you go with someone to the polling station?

And if approached, just say calmly and firmly that you do not want to have a conversation. I can't believe anyone would be crass enough to hassle you after that, but if they do then report them to the polling officer.

WhatWouldFreddieDo Wed 17-Sep-14 09:56:44
Now that attitude I find very difficult to get my head around. We're gonna need a bigger ice floe wink
Add message | Report | Message poster WhatWouldFreddieDo Wed 17-Sep-14 09:57:04
sorry, that to Latte

Sorry Freddie - which of my comments makes you think we will need a bigger ice floe?

mindreader say 'yes' to the yes lot and 'no' to the no lot! Sorry, seriously, it's worrying that things are so awful in your small village How was DS this morning?

The bias on the BBC is disgusting especially after Kevin Bridges has come out saying all his pals on the boat when interviewed said they'll vote NO on his show, when in fact they'll all be voting Yes tomorrow.

Irnbruthenoo - you posted this allegation on another thread, and I replied I watched it the other night and they didn't all say "NO".... as I recall a couple said yes, one no, one dk.

This was at the end of the show when they were all on the boat, right? I am sure it will be on BBC catch-up if you want to check....

Being English, a lot of villagers assume they KNOW what I'm voting anyway.

It would matter what I said if confronted.
People have LONG memories around here.
I might vote NO and say YES.

How sad is that, that I feel that way?

I know a couple who aren't voting because they're on holiday and didn't manage to organise their postal vote in time. I must admit we were all a bit as it's so important and the date has been so widely known!

DH never votes usually but even he is voting tomorrow. He's a 'No' but for some reason keeps calling it a 'Yes' as he is thinking in terms of keeping the UK. I keep reminding him that he has to read the question or he will vote the opposite of what he intends! (I think that's pretty admirable of me since I'm a 'Yes'!)

I'm just going to say my vote is private and march past anyone that challenges me.

MindReader I was brought up in a political family but the mantra to those who don't want to commit publicly was "As you know it is a secret ballot"

I do believe that people involved in politics in this country are very honest. You have heard FannyFifer's comments and that it what I remember. Party activists should be (and in my experience always are) well disciplined. If not complain.

The vote is run by the Scottish Local Authorities who are experienced.

I may be abstaining.

I'm a no voter but my family are upset, angry and bewildered by my choice.

I'm thrashing it out in my head and so far the easiest thing for me to live with is not voting.

so sorry Latte, wrong person I meant that to Spirited Wolf re. someone intending not to vote because they didn't know enough

Need more sleep and more coffee

That's so sad MindReader about the community being divided. If it had been up to me we wouldn't have a poster in our window but DH put a couple up when I was away for a week. Its not that I disagree with how he's voting, but i was worried about vandalism (which hasn't happened so far by anyone who isn't our own toddler :) ) and I didn't want to fall out with people voting differently.

However, now its up, I kind of think it was the right thing to do even though I'm a little uncomfortable about it. If only Yes supporters put up signs then people who are quietly no or undecided leaning no feel that most people are for Yes and feel the odd ones out.

Re the Kevin Bridges issue, he tweeted to say they were all 'Yes' voters but the BBC had told some of them to say 'No' so it seemed more balanced and impartial. tbh they would have been better just not asking the question rather than asking people to lie about their intentions.

BMW but the point was that they weren't a 'Don't Know' and 'No' voters, they are all intending to vote YES from the clip when they were on the boat. That was the point I was making which does make the BBC out to be biased.

there was a lady on R4 vox pop this morning who was voting yes using the analogy that she'd rather live in a mess of her own making than in a mess of someone else's making. question for yes supporters - if it is a yes vote tomorrow, and in 5 years an independent Scotland is in a real state, would you feel like this? Would you feel OK, because the country's a mess, but at least it's our mess? How about if the rest of the UK was doing alright? I'm really interested in how much people would put up with in an independent Scotland.

Morris, that must be so difficult.

It's awful, that it has come to this.

MorrisZapp, please vote.

FFS Morris no freedom for you then - do as we say or else.....

They were told to 'balance' it but in reality all the guys on the boat are planning to vote Yes tomorrow.