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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think some people aren't fully aware of what they are petitioning for?

128 replies

Crunchymum · 30/01/2017 15:00

Yes another Trump thread!!

I have seen Sky and BBC news both reporting that "More than a million people have signed a petition urging the government to call off President Donald Trump's state visit to the UK" - this quote is directly from BBC website

Yet that is not what the petition is for? or am I missing something?

AIBU to think some people are signing up because they want his visit scrapped completely? Which is incorrect

The petition is actually for:

Donald Trump should be allowed to enter the UK in his capacity as head of the US Government, but he should not be invited to make an official State Visit because it would cause embarrassment to Her Majesty the Queen

OP posts:
harderandharder2breathe · 30/01/2017 15:01

I'm fully aware what I signed thank you.

While I would prefer he didn't visit at all, the government is even less likely to agree to banning him altogether

Original poster
Crunchymum · 30/01/2017 15:02

I realise the BBC quote could be construed either way

but the Sky quote earlier was completely incorrect

Direct quote from them @ 13:53

"The Prime Minister's spokesman said she was looking forward to "hosting the President later this year" despite more than one million people signing an online petition calling for his visit to be scrapped."

GMB were also incorrectly reporting this morning that the petition is to cancel the visit!!

OP posts:
averylongtimeago · 30/01/2017 15:02

I have signed the petition and yes, I did read it and yes I know what it said.
I normally do read things before I sign them, don't you?

PuntCuffin · 30/01/2017 15:03

I know exactly what I signed for, as per the writing of the petition. He can visit, but should not be accorded the status of a formal state visit.

It is the BBC misreporting here.

JennyOnAPlate · 30/01/2017 15:03

I'm fully aware of what I signed too.

MilkTwoSugarsThanks · 30/01/2017 15:03

I don't think anyone does about anything tbh. It's all "I don't agree with this!!! Sign this petition now!!!" without really understanding what they're doing, why they're doing it, what the process actually is and that it's highly unlikely to make any difference.

Original poster
Crunchymum · 30/01/2017 15:04

Surely if Sky and BBC and GMB are misreporting then some people are signing this petition thinking its for a complete ban?

OP posts:
FinallyHere · 30/01/2017 15:04

Like PP , I read it before I signed, so was aware of the substance. Why The BBC journalists/editors cannot do the same, is beyond my understanding. Up until this year, my 57th, I've generally felt that the world was getting better: dentists not hurting, cures for some cancers. But now...

CockacidalManiac · 30/01/2017 15:04

I don't think anyone does about anything tbh. It's all "I don't agree with this!!! Sign this petition now!!!" without really understanding what they're doing, why they're doing it, what the process actually is and that it's highly unlikely to make any difference.

Speak for yourself. If you do t read what you're signing, that's up to you. Most of us do, however.

specialsubject · 30/01/2017 15:05

These petitions do get debated, although I dont know if any actually have changed anything.

The wording is quite clear - not to stop a visit but to prevent it being a state visit.

Semi conscious journos often get it wrong or make it up.

Servicesupportforall · 30/01/2017 15:07

Do you realise how patronising your post is op?

I read anything I sign and I guess 99% of other people do too. Don't you?

VivienneWestwoodsKnickers · 30/01/2017 15:08

I read it, agreed with the principle (albeit not the embarrassing Her Maj part), and signed it.

We should not be forking out for fancy dinners etc.

Original poster
Crunchymum · 30/01/2017 15:12

"Do you realise how patronising your post is op?"

It's not meant to be patronising.

With all news channels misreporting what the petition is actually for I am merely asking if some people are being mislead?

"Prevent Donald Trump from making a State Visit to the United Kingdom" is actually pretty ambiguous is it not? (this is the title of the petition by the way)

It could be read as:

  1. Prevent Donald Trump from making a State Visit to the United Kingdom = he gets none of the state treatment

  2. Prevent Donald Trump from making a State Visit to the United Kingdom = prevent him making a visit

OP posts:
Devilishpyjamas · 30/01/2017 15:12

I signed it not thinking for one moment that the State visit will be scrapped, but because it does send a message to Theresa May that her cozying up to Trump in desperation for a trade deal please save us from shite American food importsis unpalatable.

If there'd been a petition to stop her holding his hand or stop sucking up to her then I would happily sign that.

It's a way of indicating that the UK giving him the honour of a state visit is not supported by many in the country. (And yes I am sure it will go ahead - I need to knit a pussy hat)

Servicesupportforall · 30/01/2017 15:18

State visits mean meeting the queen etc. I honestly don't think it's ambiguous really.

Anyway it's a waste of time as no way will May piss off Trump without getting a trade deal and we are out of the protection of the EU.

She's got to be pragmatic as she's got bloody Brexit on her back.

Interestingly on radio 5 today a journalist who knows Trump speculated that by the end of the year he might get bored with the politics and resign.

Here's hoping.

Katy07 · 30/01/2017 15:18

I'd assumed from the media coverage (which I've not read in any detail, just glanced at headlines) that it was to ban Trump entirely. I've not been tempted to sign it or presumably I'd have been enlightened at that point, but the media coverage has definitely been misleading (but what's new)

Topseyt · 30/01/2017 15:19

I don't think it is incorrect at all. It wouldn't just cause embarrassment to the Queen, I think it would be a national embarrassment. A State Visit validates what he stands for, and to be honest, he is so dreadful that it should be cancelled.

I think Theresa May was far to hasty issuing the invitation for a State Visit. There is little appetite for it from anyone else except her and her cronies, and no cross-party support. Public opinion is generally opposed too.

Remember, it wasn't much more than a year ago that a ban on allowing Trump to enter the UK was being considered, although it wasn't followed through. As Home Secretary at the time, TM would have been in on that, surely. Now she is PM and he is US President (and no less objectionable for it) and all of a sudden she was virtually tripping over herself to offer him a State Visit, pushed into it no doubt by the ridiculous decision to Brexit.

I am absolutely clear what I wanted when I signed the petition. I want this stupid State Visit cancelled.

MadHattersWineParty · 30/01/2017 15:22

I knew exactly what I signed for, I just read it beforehand Confused

I realise as head of state he'll most likely visit, but he certainly should not have the honour of a state visit bestowed on him. Whatever goes ahead, I'm hoping it's sending some kind of message.

Topseyt · 30/01/2017 15:24

far too hasty

harderandharder2breathe · 30/01/2017 15:24

The petition isn't at all ambiguous, it states that he should be allowed to come and conduct visits for political business but not be given the honour of a state visit.

Topseyt · 30/01/2017 15:26

Oh, and I am realistic. I realise cancellation is unlikely as TM would then have considerable egg on her face.

We can try to send a message though, and this is one way.

Original poster
Crunchymum · 30/01/2017 15:26

I want this stupid State Visit cancelled.

So do you want the whole visit cancelled or just the "state" part of it?

OP posts:
SukeyTakeItOffAgain · 30/01/2017 15:27

The solicitor who created the petition was very clear what he meant, and has also been quoted as saying the emphasis was on "State".

I am fully aware of what I signed thank you.

Naicehamshop · 30/01/2017 15:28

I also read it without struggling to understand what it meant, thanks anyway.

SukeyTakeItOffAgain · 30/01/2017 15:29

And I find it very interesting that May has dismissed the petition as "populist" when in fact the only reason she finds herself as prime minister is because of populism, and the only reason she is pushing ahead with hard Brexit is because of populism. She is the ultimate in a populist politician and also a disgusting hypocrite.