Page 39 | Do you feel sorry for Boris?

User133847 · 2021-01-27T12:56:45+00:00

Seeing the headlines in the papers today and there seems a lot of sympathy for him. The front pages see him looking really forlorn and sorrow regarding the death toll. When you think a year ago he was planning on ushering in what he deemed as a golden age of Britain. Now 12 months later it's in tatters. I can understand the sympathy, but wonder whether a Labour PM would be offered the same.

poppyzbrite4 · 31/01/2021 12:41

Is the fact that Johnson is a racist being disputed? I thought it was well documented. He's made anti muslim, anti women and anti people of colour comments throughout his time as a 'columnist'. He also played the racist dog whistle when campaigning for Brexit - tooted like the pied piper. It's well known he's a repulsive individual. Innit.

Arobase · 31/01/2021 12:47

No, @poppyzbrite4, what is being disputed is @trulydelicious's statement that people on this thread are being racist about Johnson. A claim that she has totally failed to substantiate.

poppyzbrite4 · 31/01/2021 12:50

@Arobase

No, *@poppyzbrite4, what is being disputed is @trulydelicious*'s statement that people on this thread are being racist about Johnson. A claim that she has totally failed to substantiate.

That's because no one has been racist about Johnson, ridiculous assertion used to try to get the thread deleted.

ShanghaiDiva · 31/01/2021 12:52

[quote endlesscraziness]@ShanghaiDiva 20000 was best case, 500,000 was worst case without restrictions [/quote]
My error, apologies.
I wonder what they thought the worst case scenario would be with restrictions.

GetOffYourHighHorse · 31/01/2021 12:53

'Oh fine. People who object to racism need to toughen up'

Which is not what I said . What I did say was 'Tbh racist accusations are chucked about frequently on mn anyway, you really need to toughen up'.

Did you miss the 'racism accusations' bit?

'how do you square this with believing him fit for office?'

This thread is about the pandemic. I haven't at any point defended or supported all of his comments going back 20 years. What I have said repeatedly is Government acted on the scientific evidence and advice available. The death rate and infection rates are the same in all 4 nations and many European countries. Which points to culture, obesity, density, compliance etc etc all been the relevant factors. Whoever was PM would have had the same grim stats.

poppyzbrite4 · 31/01/2021 12:54

It's not your error. Under 20,000 was best case scenario in early April 2020. Worst case was 50,000, not 500,000.

GetOffYourHighHorse · 31/01/2021 12:57

'Under 20,000 was best case scenario in early April 2020. Worst case was 50,000, not 500,000.'

www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/coronavirus-could-kill-500000-infect-21578658

ShanghaiDiva · 31/01/2021 13:00

[quote GetOffYourHighHorse]'Under 20,000 was best case scenario in early April 2020. Worst case was 50,000, not 500,000.'

www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/coronavirus-could-kill-500000-infect-21578658[/quote]
This article is from Feb, prior to lockdown and therefore without restrictions. This was prior to lockdown being implemented.
My question was worst case WITH restrictions.

NoWordForFluffy · 31/01/2021 13:00

No, the thread is about whether people feel sorry for BoZo. What he's like as a person in general influences whether others (not you, as you don't look at him in the round, it appears) have sympathy for him. The fact that he's an abhorrent character means that some people don't feel any sympathy, even if they would have done for another, less-abhorrent, leader in the same position.

The fact he is also proven not to have followed the scientists' advice, is also relevant. No matter how many times you tell us he did follow advice, he absolutely did not. He also didn't follow Priti Patel's advice to close the borders. I wonder why that was? 🤔

poppyzbrite4 · 31/01/2021 13:03

[quote GetOffYourHighHorse]'Under 20,000 was best case scenario in early April 2020. Worst case was 50,000, not 500,000.'

www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/coronavirus-could-kill-500000-infect-21578658[/quote]
www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-britain-scenario-e/exclusive-uks-worst-case-coronavirus-toll-is-50000-dead-but-uk-is-not-on-course-for-that-source-idUKKBN21K2GW

UK's worst case coronavirus toll is 50,000 dead but UK is not on course for that

5128gap · 31/01/2021 13:04

@GetOffYourHighHorse

'Oh fine. People who object to racism need to toughen up'

Which is not what I said . What I did say was 'Tbh racist accusations are chucked about frequently on mn anyway, you really need to toughen up'.

Did you miss the 'racism accusations' bit?

'how do you square this with believing him fit for office?'

This thread is about the pandemic. I haven't at any point defended or supported all of his comments going back 20 years. What I have said repeatedly is Government acted on the scientific evidence and advice available. The death rate and infection rates are the same in all 4 nations and many European countries. Which points to culture, obesity, density, compliance etc etc all been the relevant factors. Whoever was PM would have had the same grim stats.

So you don't support his more abhorrent comments. But do you think it is possible to be a good prime minister while holding such views about women?

ancientgran · 31/01/2021 13:19

[quote GetOffYourHighHorse]'Under 20,000 was best case scenario in early April 2020. Worst case was 50,000, not 500,000.'

www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/coronavirus-could-kill-500000-infect-21578658[/quote]
Wasn't Neil Ferguson ridiculed for saying there could be 100,000 deaths?

ancientgran · 31/01/2021 13:20

I'm not sorry for him, if he doesn't like his job he can do what any of us can do, resign. No one's holding a gun to his head that I know of.

poppyzbrite4 · 31/01/2021 13:22

Lifting lockdown could cost 100,000 lives, says Neil Ferguson of Imperial
www.thetimes.co.uk/article/lifting-lockdown-could-cost-100000-lives-by-end-of-year-says-leading-epidemiologist-neil-ferguson-tv72gjld9

trulydelicious · 31/01/2021 16:47

@GrumblyMumblyisnotJumbly

It is not prejudiced to point out that his background has been advantageous for him - or do you really think this didn’t affect his life chances

It is very prejudiced to say something like this, yes. Why do you think it isn't?

NoWordForFluffy · 31/01/2021 16:48

It is very prejudiced to say something like this, yes. Why do you think it isn't?

No, it really isn't. Yet again, you've proven you don't understand the words you're using.

VinylDetective · 31/01/2021 16:50

Of course it’s not prejudiced. It’s a simple statement of fact. Any evidence of the alleged racism yet?

LolaSmiles · 31/01/2021 16:50

I don't feel sorry for him at all and am fed up of hearing people defend him.

Credit to his PR team for the lovable bafoon image because he's got people falling for his spin. He isn't an idiot though. He is prime minister, with a cabinet and access to all the experts he needs.

Being caught off guard, it being a new virus etc worked for the first couple of months, but he prioritised his cronies making money over listening to the WHO.

trulydelicious · 31/01/2021 16:58

@GrumblyMumblyisnotJumbly

his background has been advantageous for him

Of course it's prejudiced. You have a preconceived opinion that the reason he is PM is due to his background. You are weaponising his background to discredit him and belittle his intelligence, effort, etc.

Or are you trying to 'redefine' the word 'prejudice'?

VinylDetective · 31/01/2021 17:02

Or are you trying to 'redefine' the word 'prejudice'?

I think it’s you who’s trying to do that. Johnson is Eton and Oxford educated and was a member of the Bullingdon Club. Do you seriously think if he’d gone to Nowheresville Comp and Leicester University from a council estate he’d ever have become prime minister?

ancientgran · 31/01/2021 17:06

[quote poppyzbrite4]Lifting lockdown could cost 100,000 lives, says Neil Ferguson of Imperial
www.thetimes.co.uk/article/lifting-lockdown-could-cost-100000-lives-by-end-of-year-says-leading-epidemiologist-neil-ferguson-tv72gjld9[/quote]
Thank you, sometimes I wonder if my memory is going but you have reassured me.

5128gap · 31/01/2021 17:08

[quote trulydelicious]@GrumblyMumblyisnotJumbly

his background has been advantageous for him

Of course it's prejudiced. You have a preconceived opinion that the reason he is PM is due to his background. You are weaponising his background to discredit him and belittle his intelligence, effort, etc.

Or are you trying to 'redefine' the word 'prejudice'?[/quote]
I think its extremely disingenuous to suggest that a wealthy white man does not typically enjoy advantage and privilege.
To acknowledge this is not to belittle or discredit the prime minister. There are multiple examples of his behaviour with which to do this.

NoWordForFluffy · 31/01/2021 17:12

Or are you trying to 'redefine' the word 'prejudice'?

🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂

Seemingly said without a trace of self-awareness or irony!

GetOffYourHighHorse · 31/01/2021 17:16

'Credit to his PR team for the lovable bafoon image because he's got people falling for his spin. He isn't an idiot though'

No, he's sharp and very clever but yes, some people do hear the umms and aahs and think he's a buffoon. Look at Brexit though, everyone though he'd cock that up and he didn't.

'Do you seriously think if he’d gone to Nowheresville Comp and Leicester University from a council estate he’d ever have become prime minister?'

Well Blair was PM and he's hardly posh, also have you heard of someone called Thatcher, she went to grammar school. Not exactly Eton/Bullingdom club status is it.

VinylDetective · 31/01/2021 17:18

Blair went to Fettes - the Scottish equivalent of Eton - and Oxford. Thatcher also went to Oxford and was then bankrolled by a wealthy husband. Next?