OK, this isn't funny any more. Where's the army?

[Orangejuicemarathoner]

One quarter of staff and students late to school this morning, and 10% didn't get there at all. It has been announced that, excepting physical disability, any student within 4 miles or adult within 6 miles will be expected to walk in, but Its expected to be worse tomorrow with a good chance we will be closed by Wednesday.

AA reporting over 100 "incidents" on the road within a 10 mile radius of the school - mostly roads blocked, and mostly by queues outside petrol stations.

I struggled to get home by bike, because of the chaos on the roads - I got off my bike and walked several miles of it.

I called in at a supermarket on the way home. The shelves were more than three quarters empty. No bread or milk. So I'm sitting here drinking black tea planning rice for dinner instead of cheese on toast.

I know its not a catastrophe that I spent an extra hour getting home, and dont have milk in my tea, but what is that saying about the state we are in?

AIBU to say the army should be called in. What have we got an army for? Surely, an organisation of thousands of fit, capable, organised individuals, with vehicles and capacity and skills in logistics is exactly what we need to be utilised in this situation right here right now.

PS, is it ok to feed dog food to cats? does anyone know?

[Orangejuicemarathoner]

well, the army are here now - I just wish it had been a week earlier. maybe there i a chance of my bus running to work this morning

[Tealightsandd]

That's why the robots need to take over. They'll do a better job than humans.

I think they're friendlier than zombies? At least, they won't eat us anyway.

[RedToothBrush]

@Tealightsandd

I don't want to further detail this thread. Nor do I wish to engage with you. I don't know what your agenda is but it seems to me to be unpleasant. You can browse through MN (try searching for 'flooding' + 'Londoners') or check out media from recent years.

Maybe gentrification is a problem.

Maybe we should acknowledge this and the social change it brings and what the pros and cons (and for who).

Rather than this hero v villian thing.

I am well aware of the phenomenon and can definitely see the argument for and against and sympathetise with people on both sides. DH and I buck the trend and are somewhat unusual - but this makes us feel very much stuck in the middle.

We know locals 'driven out' and we know southerner who look down on those 'yokels' left who don't share the same values.

Its a fundamental inability to understand each other and even though they live in the same area they don't talk to each other or socialise with each other. They are from completely different worlds.

But thats just it. There is a breakdown in social cohesion and local community because things that brought people together don't exist like they did (particularly in places with high levels of communiting). People go to work, come home and close the door. They don't talk to neighbours. They don't get involved in community events (ironically a lot of people in these areas talk about these community events with particular fondness either because they represent tradition or because that attracts them to an area but then lament their decline when they haven't been bothered to get up off their backsides to help run them - and both sides are guilty of this).

At the heart of this is the fact that people cannot do things because lifestyle or finances often make it more prohibitive to meet others. Combined with slavery to the Internet or TV.

But its easier to just either say 'flooded' or to whinge at people saying 'flooded' (or whatever the culture war buzz word and its sanctimonious comeback twin is) rather than have a proper in depth conversation about a subject.

No one is very good at talking any more.

[RedToothBrush]

Hmmm. Ive not got a plan for the Robo-Apocalypse. Just the Zombie one.

I need to give this some serious consideration.

[Tealightsandd]

The robots will take over soon. Probably for the best. I don't think humans have done so well.

[Tealightsandd]

Oh well. Odd but that's humans for you.

[Tealightsandd]

Oh stop it. You're going way beyond wilful misinterpretation now. What do you get out of it?

[Shirazboobaloo]

Maybe start with you @Tealightsandd

You used that term not me and you have now said it's not on!

Agreed. Perhaps people (and the media) will stop using it when writing about priced out Londoners and southerners moving elsewhere?


Christ what do you stand up for and believe in?

You use phrase to others not in London/SE but then want a free card - fuck that!

[Tealightsandd]

Ok.

[Shirazboobaloo]

@Tealightsandd

Eh???

Methinks you do protest too much!

[Tealightsandd]

I resent use of word "flooding" as it panders to the lowest common denominator (look it up it is Neo Nazi/Right Wing rhetoric) and those want to stoke a race war or blame immigrants for situation we are

Agreed. Perhaps people (and the media) will stop using it when writing about priced out Londoners and southerners moving elsewhere?

[Tealightsandd]

*derail

[Tealightsandd]

And yes I know it's continuing the detail but the thread is page 40 and about to come to an end.

[Tealightsandd]

Yeah keep on trying to accuse me of doing what I was condemning...

What motivates you (and others) who do that?

[Shirazboobaloo]

@Tealightsandd

I don't want to further detail this thread. Nor do I wish to engage with you. I don't know what your agenda is but it seems to me to be unpleasant. You can browse through MN (try searching for 'flooding' + 'Londoners') or check out media from recent years.

You seem to me to be also unpleasant and have an agenda that is London/SE centric whilst slowly pitting off everyone else who disagrees with you

I am for acknowledging that we ALL have issues and until you do the same then you will always be disappointed in those who engage with you and your agenda.

That said I wish you well - I know it's not easy being in London or SE but please try NOT to drive division between those who also live North of London and SE

By the way there are other areas aside from London who have had a mad influx of people too - look at Manchester?/Cornwall/South West/Birmingham etc

I resent use of word "flooding" as it panders to the lowest common denominator (look it up it is Neo Nazi/Right Wing rhetoric) and those want to stoke a race war or blame immigrants for situation we are in

[Lightisnotwhite]

Marguerite2000 where in the SE ( generally ie which but if whuch county) has fuel. I’ll travel.

[Shirazboobaloo]

@Tealightsandd

Do tell? Are they Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, Belfast, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Coventry, York, Newcastle...?

[Tealightsandd]

I don't want to further detail this thread. Nor do I wish to engage with you. I don't know what your agenda is but it seems to me to be unpleasant. You can browse through MN (try searching for 'flooding' + 'Londoners') or check out media from recent years.

[Shirazboobaloo]

Oh you have shown yourself here @Tealightsandd

Where would those more insular parts be?

Are you assuming where I live? Why is London less insular? Please tell??

[Tealightsandd]

My issue is with hypocrisy, double standards, and bigoted insularity.

[Tealightsandd]

You can try all you like, but it's there for all to see. Just on MN alone. Go back over just the last 18 months. Check out the threads. Floods of threads complaining about people from London and the south east 'flooding' other 'local' areas. Then there's the media articles that did the same.

Don't try to make me out to be someone I'm not. I've posted exactly my point many times on MN. As I've said before, I'm glad that London is more welcoming and tolerant than some other more insular parts.

[Shirazboobaloo]

Flooded" - I would revisit the language you are using here, seriously

Read my other posts. 'Flooded' was me paraphrasing the, well, flood, of comments online and media reports on the 'London exodus' aka priced out Londoners.

I was making a point about other people's bigoted language and attitude, by using their own wording. Clearly gone over some people's heads.

It's not half the UK, but the official figures (census, etc) show that a significant proportion of the population is concentrated in London and the south east.

It has been mentioned in recent reporting on the fuel crisis as one of the reasons why the south east has been hit particularly hard.

Nah I see you for what you are - no need for me elaborate. Not gone over my head or others I would imagine

[Tealightsandd]

Flooded" - I would revisit the language you are using here, seriously

Read my other posts. 'Flooded' was me paraphrasing the, well, flood, of comments online and media reports on the 'London exodus' aka priced out Londoners.

I was making a point about other people's bigoted language and attitude, by using their own wording. Clearly gone over some people's heads.

It's not half the UK, but the official figures (census, etc) show that a significant proportion of the population is concentrated in London and the south east.

It has been mentioned in recent reporting on the fuel crisis as one of the reasons why the south east has been hit particularly hard.

[Shirazboobaloo]

@Tealightsandd

You lot did the cramming - with your negative "oop North" comments and electoral voting patterns and still you selfishly think the world resolves around you.

Pot kettle. The negative comments aren't coming from Londoners or southerners. Except for a very recent small amount of tackling ignorant bigotry of the likes of your comments.

London and the south east get a double whammy. To paraphrase reporting on the 'London exodus', the south east has been for years 'flooded' with people from the rest of the UK, pricing out locals. Hence the (provable) highest amount of homelessness in the country (by far). London is the capital of homelessness, with 165,000 homeless people. More than the entire population of many UK towns.

Empathy from the rest of the UK? Oh no! They actually resent and envy such life destroying consequences of the 'investment'.

Then when the news reports accurately on further negative consequences of the 'investment, people elsewhere resent that too. I mean, talk about bitter bigotry. Apparently bearing the brunt of a fuel crisis and shortage of essentials is 'thinking the world revolves around them'. Oh dear.

Empathy?? You don't know the meaning of the word!

I am neither bigoted or ignorant but your post - "half the population of the UK" is not crammed into the South East

Look that up - it is simply not true

You referred to the North/South divide - not me

You implied that only the South East has problems

Have you now changed those from SE to refer to all "southerners" - you are changing your argument and parameters

You have ignored those who are saying it is not a problem where they live (SE/London/SW/Midland etc..)

"Flooded" - I would revisit the language you are using here, seriously

So I'm a bigot?

Do explain more...

[Tealightsandd]

@Peaseblossum22

That poor man.

The government is getting the army in to help from Monday, I think? I hope that getting essential supplies and support to the vulnerable (wherever they are in the country) is prioritised. The elderly, disabled, carers, people needing to get to hospital.