Dear Brussels...

[Miljah]

Of course I know the EU's equivalent of Whitehall scrutinise what we say and do- possibly even MN!

But if you had their ear, what would you say?

I do understand that there is no complete, overriding consensus within the EU 'Parliament'!

But imagine you are addressing the EU MEPs.

What would you like to feel they should know?

Plenty of us have been suggesting an NI special economic area on here for ages.
DUP might lose some seats in Stormont if they go against what their voters want. Their voters want resolution and peace.

I would like to see NI designated as a special economic zone, rather than having a NI backstop

That would be my choice too. As NI is part of UK any benefit to NI is benefit to UK.

Allow Scotland to have another referendum to avoid any complaints about preferential treatment from Westminster.

Then, @MysteryTripAgain why are you dicking about trying (and failing) to score points all over MN and not lobbying for this.

@bellinisurge

I have been in favour of NI backstop/special zone all the time.

Again, so why all the other crap.

There's an interesting interview here with a paid troll. Although the article focuses on China's 50 cent army, the modus operandi is probably the same worldwide. They say some interesting stuff about deflecting and 'jokes'

To be honest this is how I feel,

Dear Brussels

We're never going to get our act together, we've got parties wanting a different Brexit and many MPs who don't support it, therefore, they won't look favourably at anything. If you've got any sense, you won't agree to an extension and kick us out.

Thanks for being so patient!

@bellinisurge - Stormont isn't sitting.

No, but the DUP might suddenly decide all their issues are no longer issues if the get the option to veto triggering the backstop. That's why I'm in favour of a special economic zone, coupled with all-Ireland cooperation in some additional areas, such as animal health and food safety.

I'm cool with that @whyamidoingthis . Whatever saves GFA.

@bellinisurge - Whatever saves GFA.

Yes. It needs to be carefully considered to ensure there's no wriggle room for the DUP or for Johnson as I could see both trying to pull a fast one. For Johnson, I think it's all a game and so long as he wins, he doesn't care who suffers.

In contrast, the DUP don't care who suffers so long as, in their mind, Ireland or Nationalists don't win.

Wow, twofingers I've just finished reading that....
Some of the opinions expressed (while particular to China) are quite frightening not exaggerating.
The power of propaganda. And, that article was from 2012.

Makes it all the more important to glean information from a variety of sources and to heed how it harmonises with your own personal standards and beliefs.

Several times, on here, I've been conscious of a "twitch" that makes me think posters are posting with an agenda, rather than with their own beliefs. [Hmm]

Jesus, @twofingerstoEverything , I'm in the wrong line of work.

@twofingerstoEverything - a really interesting read. You can see some of the tactics discussed in it being used here.

Scary stuff, really.

Yes, it's interesting how much the distract and deflect technique is utilised by some posters and how subtly they drop their insidious little propoganda bombs into the most inane-sounding post.

I've just started reading Yuval Noah Harari's book, '21 lessons for the 21st century', which has an interesting chapter on disinformation and the human ability to 'create and spread fictions'. I'm not that far into it, but it's a fascinating read.

I've started that one also, twofingers. I'm not reading the chapters in linear order- some jumped out at me and am reading those first.

Filipinos can earn earn almost £2000 per month by posting on social media apparently. Big money compared to local wages and its cash in hand

Let's just leave and then have a transition where civil servants sort out how to do it without causing chaos

Hahahahahahahahahahahaha

Signed

A retired civil servant