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AIBU?

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to be seriously concerned about the illegal surveillance cameras and flags on lamp posts?

276 replies

Kije · 10/06/2026 16:29

That's it, really. I live in a semi-rural area. No racial tensions locally, that I'm aware of, at all. The local small market town and surrounding roads are covered, and I do mean covered, in illegally posted flags, all over lamp posts - sometimes three deep. They come down (the local council sometimes stirs themselves to take them down) and are replaced within a few hours. It's been like this since late last summer.

And now the same charming people who are trying to intimidate what they like to call 'pathetic lefties' have put up dozens of surveillance cameras on the same lamp posts, aimed in all directions in a clear attempt to intimidate local people who'd like to take the flags down. The mob who do the flags have said on their own FB site, it's to 'protect their property' (eg the flags they've illegally stuck up lamp posts, it's essentially littering). The obvious take-home is, they think this is their town and they aim to create a chilling effect for anyone who dares to discuss this on local social media, or take the flags down again.

The flags are illegal: the cameras doubly so, I'd have thought, given privacy laws?? Or at least, I'm assuming surveillance cameras mounted on public property and aimed at pedestrians and drivers have to be done by a legitimate authority.

I look at what was happening in Belfast (and elsewhere) last night and honestly, I'm terrified for our country. We seem to be sliding into lawlessness and vigilantism, and blatant intimidation of anyone who speaks out against it.

OP posts:
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Bananatr33 · 13/06/2026 07:30

The loser marching alone the motorway bridge with one on a pole was made a laughing stock.The farmer whose land it crosses manages to remove them efficiently so I’d love to know why the council aren’t removing them from the very busy entry road further down.

Walkyrie · 13/06/2026 07:34

Bananatr33 · 13/06/2026 07:27

Ours did at a cost of several thousands of pounds that could have been spent on must needed other resources, the selfish individuals then put them back up as they were replacing them.

I think you just need to accept taking down flags from lampposts isn’t as urgent a priority for others as it is for you. Your disgust/outrage doesn’t necessarily translate into the action that should be taken. All that happens if you take them down is more go up, the offence is fine only so they’re not going to care. I think they’re being sensible in letting flag fever burn itself out and not overreacting.

Bananatr33 · 13/06/2026 07:39

Walkyrie · 13/06/2026 07:34

I think you just need to accept taking down flags from lampposts isn’t as urgent a priority for others as it is for you. Your disgust/outrage doesn’t necessarily translate into the action that should be taken. All that happens if you take them down is more go up, the offence is fine only so they’re not going to care. I think they’re being sensible in letting flag fever burn itself out and not overreacting.

Oh it is a priority for many however why should we have funds we are paying diverted from elsewhere? Those of us with a brain who are a tad less selfish and childish don’t retaliate by putting up alternative flags on the same lampposts even though we could. Think the sad individuals doing it would combust if Pride flags were hitched up alongside.

Walkyrie · 13/06/2026 07:42

Bananatr33 · 13/06/2026 07:39

Oh it is a priority for many however why should we have funds we are paying diverted from elsewhere? Those of us with a brain who are a tad less selfish and childish don’t retaliate by putting up alternative flags on the same lampposts even though we could. Think the sad individuals doing it would combust if Pride flags were hitched up alongside.

Who? Because every time somebody posts about them on Facebook a ton of other people rock up to say they love the flags and not to touch them. They seem (for reasons unknown to me) popular outside of this website and some more gentrified areas.

Pride flags were put up here, some people didn’t like it, they were told to suck it up and they did. No one person gets to control everything.

Bananatr33 · 13/06/2026 07:45

Walkyrie · 13/06/2026 07:42

Who? Because every time somebody posts about them on Facebook a ton of other people rock up to say they love the flags and not to touch them. They seem (for reasons unknown to me) popular outside of this website and some more gentrified areas.

Pride flags were put up here, some people didn’t like it, they were told to suck it up and they did. No one person gets to control everything.

Many many people don’t waste time on Facebook let alone local page groups.

“No one person gets to control everything.” but these people are.

ThatFairy · 13/06/2026 07:48

Walkyrie · 13/06/2026 07:34

I think you just need to accept taking down flags from lampposts isn’t as urgent a priority for others as it is for you. Your disgust/outrage doesn’t necessarily translate into the action that should be taken. All that happens if you take them down is more go up, the offence is fine only so they’re not going to care. I think they’re being sensible in letting flag fever burn itself out and not overreacting.

😂

Walkyrie · 13/06/2026 07:59

ThatFairy · 13/06/2026 07:48

😂

Am I wrong though? Because the action taken seems to reflect this position.

HangingInJustAbout · 13/06/2026 08:01

Walkyrie · 13/06/2026 06:51

So you agree intimidatory flags should be removed - so also the Palestine flags too, which have been put up in Jewish areas and used to intimidate?

Those flags aren’t the topic of this thread and I’m not going to get drawn into that rabbit hole.

Walkyrie · 13/06/2026 08:03

HangingInJustAbout · 13/06/2026 08:01

Those flags aren’t the topic of this thread and I’m not going to get drawn into that rabbit hole.

How convenient!

CaptainMyCaptain · 13/06/2026 08:04

ThatFairy · 13/06/2026 07:00

Your country's flag is illegal ?

Don't be stupid.

CaptainMyCaptain · 13/06/2026 08:07

Walkyrie · 13/06/2026 07:02

I don’t disagree but to apply an anti flag rule fairly you would have to agree the Palestine flags should also be taken down?

I have not seen anti-Palestine flags or any other kind except England and Union flags on lampposts.

Ereshkigalangcleg · 13/06/2026 08:07

Walkyrie · 12/06/2026 08:00

The only group they’re legislating on is transgender people, and yet everyone here seems perfectly comfortable with that?

In what sense are they “legislating on transgender people”? Do you mean this Labour government?

They’re responding to the 2025 Supreme Court judgment clarifying the meaning of biological sex in the Equality Act, by approving a change in the guidance for service providers to clarify that women’s single sex spaces are for women and girls only, not men however they identify.

ThatFairy · 13/06/2026 08:07

Walkyrie · 13/06/2026 07:59

Am I wrong though? Because the action taken seems to reflect this position.

You're not wrong no.

ThatFairy · 13/06/2026 08:09

CaptainMyCaptain · 13/06/2026 08:04

Don't be stupid.

It wasn't me that said it

Bananatr33 · 13/06/2026 08:10

CaptainMyCaptain · 13/06/2026 08:07

I have not seen anti-Palestine flags or any other kind except England and Union flags on lampposts.

Neither have I. Maybe Pride, Free Palestine and all sorts of alternative flags should be attached to even things up a bit if it’s ok to attach tatty flags on any lamppost people choose to.

CaptainMyCaptain · 13/06/2026 08:12

ThatFairy · 13/06/2026 08:09

It wasn't me that said it

Ok. Apologies. It didn’t look like a quote though.

Ereshkigalangcleg · 13/06/2026 08:12

HangingInJustAbout · 13/06/2026 08:01

Those flags aren’t the topic of this thread and I’m not going to get drawn into that rabbit hole.

That’s a tad hypocritical don’t you think? I am quite happy to agree that all the flags on lampposts should either be taken down or left up, I personally think it’s counterproductive rushing to remove them because then it becomes a war with the people putting them up and it’s better to leave them up for the weather to do its worst. But you can’t have one rule for one divisive flag and not for others IMO.

Bananatr33 · 13/06/2026 08:16

Ereshkigalangcleg · 13/06/2026 08:12

That’s a tad hypocritical don’t you think? I am quite happy to agree that all the flags on lampposts should either be taken down or left up, I personally think it’s counterproductive rushing to remove them because then it becomes a war with the people putting them up and it’s better to leave them up for the weather to do its worst. But you can’t have one rule for one divisive flag and not for others IMO.

All the time they’re up it’s divisive and one rule for one. If anything FreePalestine, Pride and any others should be flown alongside to even things up a bit.

Sad, limp, faded, tatty flags are an eyesore and potentially a driving hazard if they’re left to just fall off.

Ereshkigalangcleg · 13/06/2026 08:24

I would rather they all come down but as I said, activists will put them back up again. Including activists for Palestine Action, trans rights etc.

Walkyrie · 13/06/2026 08:59

Bananatr33 · 13/06/2026 08:16

All the time they’re up it’s divisive and one rule for one. If anything FreePalestine, Pride and any others should be flown alongside to even things up a bit.

Sad, limp, faded, tatty flags are an eyesore and potentially a driving hazard if they’re left to just fall off.

Edited

Nobody is stopping you putting up a pride flag? And given the most popular party among LGBT people is Reform, I don’t see why you thing a Pride flag would neutralise the Union Jack?

IStoleTheBandwagon · 13/06/2026 09:44

The black boxes on the lampposts around the little, rural, market town beginning with W appear to have disappeared. The manky flags remain.

Ereshkigalangcleg · 13/06/2026 09:46

Does that not just reflect its general popularity as a party currently?

Walkyrie · 13/06/2026 10:04

Ereshkigalangcleg · 13/06/2026 09:46

Does that not just reflect its general popularity as a party currently?

Yes I would imagine so.

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