Scottish Referendum debate - watch with Mumsnet

[KatieMumsnet]

So tonight sees the first TV debate of the Scottish Referendum with First Minister and key advocate of the pro- yes campaign, Alex Salmond and Alistair Darling, leader of the pro-UK Better Together campaign coming together for a head to head debate for the first time.

You can watch live from 8pm on STV and if you're south of the border can tune in via the STV player.

Fancy watching along with us? What are you hoping to see from tonight's debate? What are your thoughts on the campaigns so far?

If you've decided which way to vote, why? And if not, what will help you decide?

Do feel free to share these, and any more thoughts you have

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

I just ignore it. You see the worst of both sides on FB - so much more civilised on here And Statistically no-one can accuse you of not knowing your stuff, you're wrong, but you do know your stuff

[OOAOML]

We could be all Basil Fawlty and "don't mention the referendum"

As light relief, can I offer mibbes.com/ for anyone who wants to vote on vital Scottish non-referendum issues? Edinburgh Trams are in there if you hang in long enough.

[OOAOML]

Statistically is so far from wrong she would be my new girl crush if I hadn't already admitted to being virtually middle aged.

[FannyFifer]

Here's a great site up help you decide how to vote.
www.thefuckingreferendum.com/

[StatisticallyChallenged]

that made me laugh! Virtually middle aged indeed!

Thanks for making me smile!

[squoosh]

I'm avoiding speaking to anyone in real life in any depth about the referendum. Speaking to a particularly fervent Yes or No supporter is like being stuck in a lift with a Mormon.

I really feel for people who find themselves on at loggerheads with their partner. I bet more than one couple will split over the referendum.

[StatisticallyChallenged]

Yeah, I reckon so too squoosh. It's just sometimes difficult when people are offensive about the other side - I try really, really hard to be respectful. Might not always manage, but getting so fed up of the "NOs are just scared, NOs are just voting for the default, NOs haven't researched, NOs don't want the best for Scotland, NOs don't care about our children's future, NOs are only worried about their own jobs" type stuff that I've been seeing recently (I know there is equivalent anti - YES crap too)

[squoosh]

I agree. The use of the phrase 'project fear' in relation to the NOs is a bit rich. I see scaremongering from both sides. And if someone has done their research and reached the conclusion that NO is where they're at then yes, it's tooth itchingly irritating to be patronisingly told that you're just uninformed.

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

The use of the phrase 'project fear' in relation to the NOs is a bit rich

To be fair, BT coined that phrase themselves...

“One of the charges against Better Together is that it is unremittingly negative, preferring to pose endless questions of the Yes side, rather than sell the benefits of the UK.

Privately, some inside Better Together even refer to the organisation as Project Fear. McDougall is unrepentant about the tactics.”

(Interview in Herald)

I have no problem with people like Statistically who have done all the research, weighed up the pros and cons, and decided No is the best outcome for them.

I get unbelievably exasperated about folks who's research involves reading the Daily Mail, or haven't even really thought about it yet. This is incredibly important, and is likely to be close, so every vote really does count. No matter the outcome there are no second chances. Do research, proper research. This means tracking things back to original source, and then reading with a critical mind.

[SantanaLopez]

Stats I am sure it will all blow over, it's a Friday night, no doubt people have had a drink etc

[OOAOML]

I don't read the Daily Mail (very rarely the Herald, as I don't read print newspapers and don't subscribe online, so can only click on a few articles a month) but totally agree with you about those who haven't thought. I don't expect everyone to do reams and reams of research, but it scares me when people haven't thought at all.

[StatisticallyChallenged]

I think one of the big problems with this referendum is that the reporting, commentary etc from both sides and from the press has been very poor. Our politicians are doing us no favours either. Both sides are scaremongering, both are making utterly stupid statements, twisting facts, reporting very selectively...it's very hard for people to know what is true.

Like quite a few people here I do track stuff right back to source and look at the numbers (knowing even then that there will have been decisions made in the derivation of them), but the reality is that not everyone has the ability to do that - I don't mean that to sound rude or patronising, but some of it's quite complex and a lot of people would be instantly turned off by a GERS report, or a document the size of the White Paper, or a treasury report, or reading EU regs. For those people I fear that they'll be making a decision on poor information - whichever way they vote. There's so much propaganda that it's like wading through treacle to find a hint of the truth.

Fingers crossed Santana - I'd hate to lose a friend over this.

[voluptuagoodshag]

I would add that don't feel you have to be an in depth reader to make sense of it all. I have a lot of experience of politicians, statistics and government figures. Believe me, things can be manipulated in any way to say what you want people to hear. Don't read to much of the papers, most are politically inclined one way or another. The news on TV can too.
I don't mean to belittle the situation because it is as important as they come but think of both sides as squabbling children. Listen to what one says and how the other reacts to it. Ask yourselves what they sound like, why are they saying such things. People, and politicians especially, will say anything to gain/remain in power. Don't vote with your head or your heart but with your gut instinct as to feels like the right thing.

[StatisticallyChallenged]

I think that's fair- the politics of this has been really poor I think. I suppose I feel like what should have been both sides presenting facts and letting people choose has descended in to a rowdy slanging match.

[voluptuagoodshag]

Politics is just that - a rowdy slanging match. I get so mad watching the grey honourable (?) suits in the House of Commons basically blaming all the ills of the nation on the opposing party. It's pathetic. Once one of them actually stands up to say I'm not going to point score off you, let's get on with running the country sensibly then they will gain more respect.

[FannyFifer]

What shite is that you've posted.