'Brexit means Brexit' - a political statement devoid of meaning

[xmasadsboohiss]

I'm not here to rehash the rights and wrongs of the Brexit vote - I was all for remaining but that's by the by. But TM's incessant repetition of 'Brexit means Brexit' is surely an insult to everyone's intelligence. No one knows what Brexit means that's the whole fecking point! I understand that she's trying to say there will be no second referendum (short sighted anyway precisely because no one knows what the negotiations will throw up) but Nigel Farage's idea of Brexit is I'm sure different from say a more moderate Tory's (?). You may as well try nailing jelly to the wall as define what it really means at this stage.

I don't think TM can possibly accommodate the Scots, N Irish, and Gibraltans with a 'hard Brexit' option, however much her right wingers are desperate for it. Brexit lite - she might just get away with it.

Fortunately, she's got the grammar school issue now to deflect people's interest in Brexit.

I agree Xmas, it'll be Brexit Lite, the Free Movement Edition™ - All the cheap labour, none of the employment protection.

Nothing like raking up old class divides to side step an important issue!

I know it doesn't occupy minds much in England but the real real danger with the whole Brexit process lies in Northern Ireland. It's all so delicately balanced.

The serious problem with Brexit - and what Brexiters want - can actually be illustrated with that other hot-Mumnset topic Facebook, and how people who think they aren't "on Facebook" actually are.

at your trademarking Kittens

You sure you're not one of those pesky EU pen pushers?

Fortunately, she's created the grammar school issue now to deflect people's interest in Brexit?

Unfortunately not Xmas. I just found it on the emoji keyboard a while back and have been itching to use it in connection with our illustrious leader!

This phrase is really annoying me know. I think we've all gathered we are leaving the EU by now! What we want to know is what form it will take. I know this will take some time but I really don't want to hear this phrase repeatedly.

people who think they aren't "on Facebook" actually are.

What do you mean by that?

And how does it relate to Brexit?

Although tbf, I think Brexit Lite - the Free Movement Edition™, is what the stories have been after for a long time. That's why they dispatched their outriding UKIP minions to do the dirty work they didn't want to sully their hands with.

They've always been good at deploying outriders to ratchet the debate right.

Stories? Tories!

Although a lot of fairy stories were deployed to great effect.

Goldilocks and the Great NHS Cash Injection. It's too hot, it's too cold, it's not there?

Hansel and Gretel Get A Council House. After all the immigrants leave.

Cinderella Won't Have A Zero Hours Contract on Minimum Wage If the EUgly Sisters Bugger Off.

That kind of thing.

Yes, Kittens, you are right.

They want to benefit from xenoracist sentiment whilst keeping their illegal employees under the minimum wage.

In a nutshell DoinItFine

people who think they aren't "on Facebook" actually are.

What do you mean by that?

Exactly that. Even if you yourself decide not to have a Facebook account (which may be a perfectly valid decision) please don't delude yourself you have "opted out" of Facebook. Unless you really do live an off-grid life (which, btw posting here clearly demonstrates is not the case).

Because even if you don't sign up, one or more of your friends, probably has. And, unless they are very atypical, they will have let Facebook upload their address book. Which has your email address in it.

So straightaway Facebook knows that you exist. It also knows who one of your friends is.

If you reapply that over 5, 10 of your friends, then even though you have never ever logged into Facebook, its algorithms are going to be able to make a pretty good guess at:

1. your age
2. your sex
3. your geographic location - probably to city
4. your rough interests (from your friends interests)
5. your social status/income

all of which Facebook will use in it's marketing operations.

not bad, since you aren't on Facebook.

If you take that the EU is Facebook, and the UK is "not on Facebook", great. But everyone else is, in the sense they are dealing with the EU, even if the UK isn't.

Ah yes, that is a good analogy. Thanks.

Someone told me on here a few months ago in relation to FB that "there is no algorithm"

What if only person who is on Facebook has my email address?

I would like to keep my tinfoil hat.

Someone told me on here a few months ago in relation to FB that "there is no algorithm"

That's for suggesting "friends". I am talking about what Facebook pull out the backend. Reams of data on their users for marketing purposes. Which is then available to all the Facebook companies and their offers. You don't think the "like us on Facebook" button is just to give people a warm glow ?

What if only person who is on Facebook has my email address?

Do you mean only one person ?

How would you know ?

I know who has my email address?

I.e. Only one person has my email address.

I used to work in marketing, so have avoided Facebook like the plague.

Kittens - what about recipients of emails from you. Presumably they have your email address?

I know who has my email address?

How did you sign up for Mumsnet ? Have you subscribed to anything online ? Have any of your friends had their email address book hacked ?

Anyway, returning to my - admittedly imperfect - analogy, the UK is hardly off grid, despite some peoples wishes. To quote Snatch "we're hardly a set of fucking car keys".

I used to work in marketing, so have avoided Facebook like the plague.

And Facebook knows ...

That's for suggesting "friends".

No, it's not. That's only one of them.

FB has lots of algorithms that control how it works on the front end.

My amusement was at the idea that there was "no algorithm". How would you even run a service like FB with no algorithms?