to feel happy and excited about voting YES!

[area52]

I am just back from the polling booth and can say that I have never felt so positive about voting. The feeling that my vote is actually counting, rather than being swalowed up as is the case with Westminster voting, is also fantastic.

IMO a yes vote will reinvigorate the whole of Britain and, amongst other things, allow Scotland and England build better relations as equal but interdependent neighbours and allies.

19lottie82 Indeed. Some of us may remember a pre 2008 SNP saying "We can be just like Iceland, Iceland have it all sorted!".

I think this referendum is a colossal waste of time and money and the flights of fantasy and nonsensical fudge from the Yes campaign is an embarrassment. I am stunned that anyone believes it.

My sister was at a conference in Edinburgh recently. She's a scientist and says that the Scottish research scientists are in despair - those blithely voting Yes have no idea how much funding Scottish research gets from Britain, which is likely to be hugely affected by independence.

Agreed. My brother is a scientist in an English university. They respect their Scottish colleagues and don't want them to lose research grants, not least because this will potentially harm vulnerable people in Scotland, particularly children. However, they are consoling themselves with the thought of the research moneys which would flow out of Scotland to them if a Yes vote happens.

I can't believe how petty some posters are. Going in a huff is so unbecoming.

Can I ask an honest to God question from an Informed Scor Voting Yes?? What happens with passports?? If independent, will everyone have to apply for a new one? What about those born in Scotland but living in England? Dual passport? Two passports? Will they have to be paid for? Will you have to show a passport at the border? How will Scottish people travel abroad until the passport is changed?? I'm honestly just wondering logistically what will happen?

I meant Scot not Scor

DH is not happy about the lack of Tunnocks Caramel Wafers in our cupboards if there's a yes vote. Hadn't thought of that I'd better rush out and cause a run on Tunnocks teacakes just in case. One of the Tesco's round here has a 'Scottish' section, so maybe I'll be OK.

If we leave, and I hope we do, we don't want or need help from people like you

How interesting. You would not want to trade with what would be your biggest trading partner because you perceive it as help!

Increasingly irrational responses from Yes voters as time goes by.

I know area 52, KidLorneRoll is being petty.

Agreed. My brother is a scientist in an English university. They respect their Scottish colleagues and don't want them to lose research grants, not least because this will potentially harm vulnerable people in Scotland, particularly children. However, they are consoling themselves with the thought of the research moneys which would flow out of Scotland to them if a Yes vote happens

I too know of many of my ex-academic colleagues who discuss with interest what will happen to what in theory should be increased funding to rUK universities in the event of independence.

either result will be dignified and we will look to the future with optimism knowing that Scotland has conducted itself so well during his campaign despite a barrage of sneering and criticism from many quarters.

Really? My heart said yes when all this started, but my head said no - and then my heart caught up with my head and said no, too, because of the vile way this campaign has been run.

Just this morning I have seen a barrage of tweets saying "come on Scotland, let's get rid of these parasites" and suchlike. People in England are parasites, really? And people in England are apparently a homogenous group who are all grasping Tory toffs who grind the heels of their jackboots on good socialist Scottish folk. I look at my family (I'm an immigrant) and I look at my neighbours, and I don't recognise the Evil English that are being portrayed like this at all. It's nasty, xenophobic nonsense.

And this "team Scotland" stuff. The friends I have in Scotland who are voting no are really distressed at being cast as anti-Scottish, when they ARE Scottish.

And I've especially hated the spectacle of aggressive men casting themselves as the victims in an "abusive relationship" with England. I hate all that "relationship breakdown as metaphor for indyref" stuff - as someone who has lived through DV, I find it really upsetting being cast as one of the "abusers" by these aggressive men. (And I'm not alone in this, I've seen other women talk about it on twitter.)

So don't tell me this has been a dignified or well-conducted campaign. It's been vile.

Whether I think Scottish independence is a good idea or not I can appreciate how it must feel to be able to vote on such a major issue that will determine the future of your country.

Oooh the negativity. I'm English, living in England and I think this referendum is bloody exciting. Something like 97% of Scottish residents have registered to vote. Whatever the outcome, this is democracy in action. If I lived in Scotland, I would vote Yes.

If that's your basis for voting yes' then I think those Scots on the 'no' side will be hugely relieved that you don't live in Scotland and you don't have a vote. I'm sure they will be delighted to hear you find it 'hugely exciting' as they await the outcome, anxious and fearful of what is to come.

What you call 'negativity is pragmatism and realism. But it seems you prefer fairy tales, utopian fantasies and rainbows with pots of gold at the end of them.

Democracy in action - when 2 million people can determine the fate of 63 million? Not my kind of democracy I'm afraid. I'm starting to see what the EU means when it warns of the dangers of xenophobia, nationalism and populism.

If the Yes voters win, I will forever be grateful to my parents and grandparents for getting out of Scotland in time and before the immigration barriers go up. My father's incredibly worried and upset about the long-term implications of a Yes vote, but I figure my family voted with their feet a while back.

As for boycotting Scottish products, I think that to do so deliberately and consciously would be rather petty, but like others I do deliberately and consciously buy British and will choose e.g. Strawberries with a Union flag on them over Spanish ones. I've never made any distinction between raspberries from Kent and raspberries from Scotland, but I would if buying Scottish would no longer be supporting the national economy. It's common sense really, if farmers/businesses within my economy fail, then it'll be my taxes supporting them. I don't want to pay twice if I can help it. So - in the event of Yes, I wouldn't negatively discriminate against Scottish products, but will continue to positively discriminate in favour of products from my economy, whatever that may be. If they're not available, then the decision-making process is based on quality and price. That'll be Alaskan salmon rather than Scottish then. I'd be sad about it, but I'm not going to dip into my own pocket to fund somebody else's 'independence'.

I don't suppose that my personal buying decisions will have much impact on the Scottish economy though and clearly those voting Yes have thought about it, done the sums and think they'll be better off overall without the purchasing power of the rest of the UK. That's the thing about choice, you make the choice that you believe is best for you personally. You just have to pray that you were given the correct information and that you made the correct calculations before making your decision.

Lolling my head off at all the frankly pathetic 'I'm never drinking whisky again' shite. Brilliant, keep it coming.

This is fuck all to do with hating England, Jesus wept. You all need to dry your eyes and get over that idea. Talk about making it alllll about the English. Oh the irony.

"Fine, go then."

I think that attitude comes from not having a say in the referendum. The referendum will affect rUK, but only the Scots get to decide. I am not saying it should be different, but expect resentment.

This is fuck all to do with hating England, Jesus wept.

Then why have i seen so much talk of how hateful and evil the English are?

shockers, livingzuid thank you
tilliebob
mrsgruffallo I agree. The backlash of the whole "patriotism" vote is going to be harsh.

I've managed to stay out of all threads on independence until today. I felt a pit of anger when I voted. Angry at the idea of our beautiful country being spit in two. Or should that be three? Scotland in two and Scotland and England separate. I love the culture the length and breadth of our shores. Change comes from within, not by cutting off.

I love the people, the accents, the food and most of all the ability to roam it all. There is a now a giant rift where once there was friendship. It's not a happy day, it's a sad day, whatever the outcome because of the amount of vitriol coming from all the anti Scottish/English sentiment. We need to look at what this has done, and all the vote has created is a huge divide between the Scottish people (each other) and our very lovely neighbours.

Nationalism pisses me right off. English people with St George flags on their Facebook profile pics, all this Britain First xenophobic shite. Scotland exhibiting it too. On one of the live debate things, the Yes voters were told to raise a hand if they considered themselves a nationalist. Uncomfortably they shifted in their seats and glanced sideways, and no one raised a hand. Utter Bollocks I thought to myself.

Where?

DamnBamboo etc - indeed. I work in a well known English research intensive University and we are all wondering what is going to happen to our colleagues in Scotland if they can't apply for RCUK funding. Well it will be RCrUK then I suppose.

All over twitter. Team Scotland, Scotland for the Scottish. Blah blah.

All over twitter. English are parasites. Fuck the English. We can't wait to get rid of those English bastards. Fuck em tae hell.

On and on and on.

Oh, twitter.

I'm Irish and very excited for the Scots today. Really hoping you win the Yes Vote. Having been to Scotland, Wales and England I really felt the Scots were different from the English and Welsh and will do very well on their own.

Really corkgirl?? What English people did you meet on your travels?