UK The Queen

[Gethelred]

This thread is actively moderated, let's behave like adults, shall we?

For conversation on an Australian Republic:

Who wants a Republic?

I am just curious in the figure as it has been over 10 years since we had a referendum for it. Personally, I think we should become a Republic.

www.bigfooty.com

 

[The Passenger]

They think they want to do it.

I have no doubt people want to be there and pay their respects.

But there are plenty of ways to have done so over the past week and indeed tomorrow. Standing in a queue for over half a day, and in many cases up towards a full day... In some pretty nippy nighttime weather... Just to stare and do an awkward little bow towards a coffin... That's pretty weird behaviour.

 

[SBD Gonzalez]

I have no doubt people want to be there and pay their respects.

But there are plenty of ways to have done so over the past week and indeed tomorrow. Standing in a queue for over half a day, and in many cases up towards a full day... In some pretty nippy nighttime weather... Just to stare and do an awkward little bow towards a coffin... That's pretty weird behaviour.

Positively North Korean.

 

[tandino]

Perhaps, behind the crown lies nothing at all

We lie to ourselves when we indulge in a mass hysteria proclaiming that at the centre there is something greater than ourselves. But perhaps a mass hysteria is exactly what is needed to make us continue to believe that eternal lie.

www.smh.com.au

It has the meaning that people give it, including people like him that took himself off to meet the Queen. There's no great revelation there is there?

The monarchy didn't just fall from space, it's a continuation of how society has been organised over millennia. Communities have always had their structures and their mythology and their leaders, and it will go on. Cultures live and cultures adapt and cultures die and something will take it's place and life will go on.

I don't see much change, even if the monarchy goes we will never run out of people to elevate above ourselves in this country. Politicians, sports stars, artists, celebrity. All worthless without the people to give it worth. If the monarchy goes and something takes its place, it will be meaningless until people give it meaning.

 

[Gough]

Positively North Korean.

Since Diana the English have turned mourning people they don't know into a competitive sport where they try to outdo each other in displays of sorrow.

 

[SBD Gonzalez]

Since Diana the English have turned mourning people they don't know into a competitive sport where they try to outdo each other in displays of sorrow.

Performative grieving.

 

[Gough]

Performative grieving.

On the up side, standing round in the cold like this will give them good this will give them practise for when they can't pay their power bills this winter.

 

[SBD Gonzalez]

On the up side, standing round in the cold like this will give them good this will give them practise for when they can't pay their power bills this winter.

It’s probably warmer outside in the queue than back home in their houses.

 

[spinynorman]

Good to see such an impressive list of fake dignitaries, I would've hated to see the Prince of Venice miss out.

 

[SBD Gonzalez]

It has the meaning that people give it, including people like him that took himself off to meet the Queen. There's no great revelation there is there?

The monarchy didn't just fall from space, it's a continuation of how society has been organised over millennia. Communities have always had their structures and their mythology and their leaders, and it will go on. Cultures live and cultures adapt and cultures die and something will take it's place and life will go on.

I don't see much change, even if the monarchy goes we will never run out of people to elevate above ourselves in this country. Politicians, sports stars, artists, celebrity. All worthless without the people to give it worth. If the monarchy goes and something takes its place, it will be meaningless until people give it meaning.

Sure, don't disagree; plenty could say that a lot of footy barrackers are no different.

But for me the takeaway was the disconnect between the UK and here; the suggestion that a lot of people here aren't nearly as interested in the whole saga as the official organs would have us believe - and yet all the powers that be looking very dimly on anyone here toeing anything other than the official line and gnashing their teeth and renting their garments over the passing of our beloved queen.

The ABC has been just beyond belief. Unlistenable (there is one theory that it has been a pre-emptive tactic, to head off the expected howls of "unpatriotic!" from the Murdoch press. If so, I think it's very sad we've gotten to such a state in Australia that the public broadcaster would feel it has to spend so much money and human resources on simply preventing an assault on its integrity by a private media company.) I will be watching with interest when some of the ratings come out. I suspect in a few months' time this saga will all feel very distant and strange.

 

[SBD Gonzalez]

Too many sports were deferential after the Queen’s death. They must learn from this | Sean Ingle

In trying to get it right after the death of Queen Elizabeth II football, cycling and boxing were among those to get it wrong

www.theguardian.com

 

[MrBarry]

It would be less psychotic if they were forced.

Billions of people go to church or mosques every week to pray to a fairy in the sky, doesn't really bother me.

Same as this, if it gives people hope in this otherwise shitty world - why do you care if it's not harming you?

 

[Festerz]

Billions of people go to church or mosques every week to pray to a fairy in the sky, doesn't really bother me.

Same as this, if it gives people hope in this otherwise shitty world - why do you care if it's not harming you?

Maybe because someone expressing an opinion on changes to how real power and wealth is distributed to make this place a less 'shitty world' makes a heck of a lot more sense than praying to a 'fairy in the sky' or pledging allegiance to the 'protector of the faith' because it's the done thing?

 

[Nuggs Bunny]

Billions of people go to church or mosques every week to pray to a fairy in the sky, doesn't really bother me.

Same as this, if it gives people hope in this otherwise shitty world - why do you care if it's not harming you?

Yeah, the culture mockery is getting pretty cringe. Just because something doesn't fall under the umbrella of racism or one of the other -isms doesn't mean you're not a jerk for opening your mouth about something you don't need to open your mouth about.

 

[MrBarry]

Maybe because someone expressing an opinion on changes to how real power and wealth is distributed to make this place a less 'shitty world' makes a heck of a lot more sense than praying to a 'fairy in the sky' or pledging allegiance to the 'protector of the faith' because it's the done thing?

If your going for low hanging fruit with regards to redistributed wealth, at least start with people like Bezos and Musk.

 

[The Passenger]

Yeah, the culture mockery is getting pretty cringe. Just because something doesn't fall under the umbrella of racism or one of the other -isms doesn't mean you're not a jerk for opening your mouth about something you don't need to open your mouth about.

The entire British comedic culture is built on mockery, both of self and external.

 

[Festerz]

If your going for low hanging fruit with regards to redistributed wealth, at least start with people like Bezos and Musk.

The British Royal Family is 'low hanging fruit'?

A billionaire fiefdom established over centuries of domination and theft? Creating its own religious denomination to suit the whims of its philandering murderous forebears?

Could you tug that forelock any harder, loyal humble servant?

 

[10571z]

I can’t believe anyone worships someone in power who did nothing more than be born into the right family.

Laughable in 2022

 

[eddiesmith]

I can’t believe anyone worships someone in power who did nothing more than be born into the right family.

Laughable in 2022

Yet there are people who worship politicians

There are probably plenty of people who can’t understand Australians who worship a bloke because he can spin a cricket ball…

 

[footyfan1978]

I can’t believe anyone worships someone in power who did nothing more than be born into the right family.

Laughable in 2022

True but not sure they really in power. They are almost prisoner to what they born into. It is life of obligation and probably told, what to say, how to say it etc etc. It would be mundanely boring. Anyone with real power would kill of all these obligations and make it more fun and interesting for themselves.

 

[JennyTaylor]

Almost all of the heavy hitters have arrived at the ceremony now. Just the Minogues to come.

 

[footyfan1978]

Yet there are people who worship politicians

Plenty on this website from what I've noticed in the time I been here. It just weird.

 

[footyfan1978]

Almost all of the heavy hitters have arrived at the ceremony now. Just the Minogues to come.

What ceremony is on now? Is it anything interesting to watch?

 

[carltonchelsea]

Drop it

 

[MrBarry]

I can’t believe anyone worships someone in power who did nothing more than be born into the right family.

Laughable in 2022

And yet there are people who worship Trump like a demigod and celebrities?

This makes more sense to me tbh, at least she was an actual Queen.

 

[MrBarry]

You'd have to be a stone not to be moved by this.