NPR

This'll piss off Jenrick and Braverman no end. Standby for op-eds in the Mail and Telegraph.

There is no evidence of widespread abuse of the UK’s graduate visa route, the government’s immigration advisers have concluded, despite repeated claims from senior Conservatives that it is being exploited to enter the jobs market.
The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) said the graduate visa entitlement – allowing international students to work for two or three years after graduating – should remain in place. Members said the risks of abuse were relatively low and “not undermining” the integrity and quality of the higher education system.

https://www.theguardian.com/education ... -review

David in Gwent wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 10:07 am

Slick wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 10:04 am

David in Gwent wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 9:59 am

Not a scooby. - but just about every war fought in the last half century that involved the West was either built on lies or involved a regime change or both - constant war.... I think you'd have to be willfully stupid/ignorant not to think that someone is pulling the strings of how the world works.

Without a doubt the next step will be a digital currency and once that happens, we're all basically slaves to whomever runs the DC, there is no debating that.

Well, there is probably a bit of debate to be had. But not from me, this is lunacy.

I wondered what the various digital currency references you have put on threads have been about, should have known.

In what way is it Lunacy?

Do you trust your Government?

Really? You are saying we are wilfully stupid and ignorant, as well as there is no debate, for not believing in something, but you can't tell us what or who. That's a bit mad.

Biffer wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 10:03 am

David in Gwent wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 9:59 am

Slick wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 9:37 am

Come on, you must have an idea?

Not a scooby. - but just about every war fought in the last half century that involved the West was either built on lies or involved a regime change or both - constant war.... I think you'd have to be willfully stupid/ignorant not to think that someone is pulling the strings of how the world works.

Without a doubt the next step will be a digital currency and once that happens, we're all basically slaves to whomever runs the DC, there is no debating that.

If you scrape away at any conspiracy theory, or someone who proposes them, eventually you get to the answer - 'IT'S THE JEWS'. Either you know this but don't want to say it out loud, or you don't know it and you've been duped.

All conspiracy theories are anti-Semitic at their heart.

Even the one where Guy Smiley said the Jews let Hamas attack them?

Joking aside, after 20 years posting on both forums I'm quite confident I have never once "blamed the Jews" for anything

I think you use it as a fallacy to dismiss any CT.

David in Gwent wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 10:16 am

Biffer wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 10:03 am

David in Gwent wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 9:59 am

Not a scooby. - but just about every war fought in the last half century that involved the West was either built on lies or involved a regime change or both - constant war.... I think you'd have to be willfully stupid/ignorant not to think that someone is pulling the strings of how the world works.

Without a doubt the next step will be a digital currency and once that happens, we're all basically slaves to whomever runs the DC, there is no debating that.

If you scrape away at any conspiracy theory, or someone who proposes them, eventually you get to the answer - 'IT'S THE JEWS'. Either you know this but don't want to say it out loud, or you don't know it and you've been duped.

All conspiracy theories are anti-Semitic at their heart.

Even the one where Guy Smiley said the Jews let Hamas attack them?

Joking aside, after 20 years posting on both forums I'm quite confident I have never once "blamed the Jews" for anything

I think you use it as a fallacy to dismiss any CT.

So it's not the Jews? Or you just don't know if it's the Jews?

David in Gwent wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 10:16 am

Biffer wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 10:03 am

David in Gwent wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 9:59 am

Not a scooby. - but just about every war fought in the last half century that involved the West was either built on lies or involved a regime change or both - constant war.... I think you'd have to be willfully stupid/ignorant not to think that someone is pulling the strings of how the world works.

Without a doubt the next step will be a digital currency and once that happens, we're all basically slaves to whomever runs the DC, there is no debating that.

If you scrape away at any conspiracy theory, or someone who proposes them, eventually you get to the answer - 'IT'S THE JEWS'. Either you know this but don't want to say it out loud, or you don't know it and you've been duped.

All conspiracy theories are anti-Semitic at their heart.

Even the one where Guy Smiley said the Jews let Hamas attack them?

Joking aside, after 20 years posting on both forums I'm quite confident I have never once "blamed the Jews" for anything

I think you use it as a fallacy to dismiss any CT.

Every single conspiracy theory has a 'them' who's controlling things. Scrape away and it always goes -> money -> bankers -> zionists -> Jews. The only time it doesn't is when people say it's space lizards. Which is usually a metaphor for Jews.

Slick wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 10:16 am

David in Gwent wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 10:07 am

Slick wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 10:04 am

Well, there is probably a bit of debate to be had. But not from me, this is lunacy.

I wondered what the various digital currency references you have put on threads have been about, should have known.

In what way is it Lunacy?

Do you trust your Government?

Really? You are saying we are wilfully stupid and ignorant, as well as there is no debate, for not believing in something, but you can't tell us what or who. That's a bit mad.

Do you trust your Government?

It's not a bit mad, I can't give you names and places because I just don't have them but I struggle to understand people who think all these things happen independently.

The Iraqi war (the second one) fundamentally made the world a more dangerous, darker place and destabilised everything - and you know the excuses for going to war were all built on lies, right?

Lunacy, right?

There's a difference between not trusting your government and thinking there's some well-coordinated plot by a mysterious cabal to control the entire country by propelling particular people into power.

Biffer wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 10:21 am

David in Gwent wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 10:16 am

Biffer wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 10:03 am

If you scrape away at any conspiracy theory, or someone who proposes them, eventually you get to the answer - 'IT'S THE JEWS'. Either you know this but don't want to say it out loud, or you don't know it and you've been duped.

All conspiracy theories are anti-Semitic at their heart.

Even the one where Guy Smiley said the Jews let Hamas attack them?

Joking aside, after 20 years posting on both forums I'm quite confident I have never once "blamed the Jews" for anything

I think you use it as a fallacy to dismiss any CT.

Every single conspiracy theory has a 'them' who's controlling things. Scrape away and it always goes -> money -> bankers -> zionists -> Jews. The only time it doesn't is when people say it's space lizards. Which is usually a metaphor for Jews.

Just to be clear - you don't think anyone is controlling anything and each Government acts independently and with a sovereign will?

Biffer wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 10:25 am There's a difference between not trusting your government and thinking there's some well-coordinated plot by a mysterious cabal to control the entire country by propelling particular people into power.

Do you trust your government - "no of course not"

Do you trust them to introduce a Digital Currency - "yes"

I'm the lunatic, right?

Tuesday 14 May 2024:

David in Gwent wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 10:23 am
It's not a bit mad, I can't give you names and places because I just don't have them but I struggle to understand people who think all these things happen independently.

Saturday 4 May 2024:

David in Gwent wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 10:23 am I wonder, based on zero fucking evidence, whether the theatrics we've seen with Tory officials not having photo ID is to rub it in that Khan's vote has severely declined due to his supporters not having the appropriate ID.

Lack of evidence in your theories seems to be a common trait recently....

SaintK wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 10:10 am This'll piss off Jenrick and Braverman no end. Standby for op-eds in the Mail and Telegraph.

There is no evidence of widespread abuse of the UK’s graduate visa route, the government’s immigration advisers have concluded, despite repeated claims from senior Conservatives that it is being exploited to enter the jobs market.
The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) said the graduate visa entitlement – allowing international students to work for two or three years after graduating – should remain in place. Members said the risks of abuse were relatively low and “not undermining” the integrity and quality of the higher education system.

https://www.theguardian.com/education ... -review

Feckin experts spouting detailed analysis and facts! Must be some of those leftie, avocado eating, hammas supporting, latte drinking, North London commies? Where is their love for Rule Britannia and hatred of Jonny foreigner and folk who are off white!

SaintK wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 9:43 am Not sure why any fair minded MP would vote against this anyway.

To play devil's advocate, I suppose some might object on the basis of an arrest alone being insufficient for a ban. Perhaps they'd be amenable if it were changed to a conviction.

I don't see an issue with banning them tbh. The record for dealing with such behaviour on the parliamentary campus is awful and an over-correction could well be what's required to start getting a grip on it. There's only fairly recently been an internal reporting and investigating process and there've been eye-opening stories lately about how long it takes to actually get a conclusion through that process, plus completely inadequate sanctions even if someone is found to have acted improperly. It might have been a BBC doc on it, but two of the interviewed victims of sexual assault wished they'd never bothered reporting it because the process drug on for so long and negatively impacted their careers.

David in Gwent wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 10:26 am

Biffer wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 10:21 am

David in Gwent wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 10:16 am

Even the one where Guy Smiley said the Jews let Hamas attack them?

Joking aside, after 20 years posting on both forums I'm quite confident I have never once "blamed the Jews" for anything

I think you use it as a fallacy to dismiss any CT.

Every single conspiracy theory has a 'them' who's controlling things. Scrape away and it always goes -> money -> bankers -> zionists -> Jews. The only time it doesn't is when people say it's space lizards. Which is usually a metaphor for Jews.

Just to be clear - you don't think anyone is controlling anything and each Government acts independently and with a sovereign will?

Is there some shadowy group that's instructing and controlling them? No.

Are there all sorts of people trying to influence them, some more publicly than others? Yes.

Do you think every action of the government is dictated by some unknown organisation?

David in Gwent wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 10:27 am

Biffer wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 10:25 am There's a difference between not trusting your government and thinking there's some well-coordinated plot by a mysterious cabal to control the entire country by propelling particular people into power.

Do you trust your government - "no of course not"

Do you trust them to introduce a Digital Currency - "yes"

I'm the lunatic, right?

Yes, you are.

As is fairly obvious.

David in Gwent wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 10:23 am

Slick wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 10:16 am

David in Gwent wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 10:07 am

In what way is it Lunacy?

Do you trust your Government?

Really? You are saying we are wilfully stupid and ignorant, as well as there is no debate, for not believing in something, but you can't tell us what or who. That's a bit mad.

Do you trust your Government?

It's not a bit mad, I can't give you names and places because I just don't have them but I struggle to understand people who think all these things happen independently.

The Iraqi war (the second one) fundamentally made the world a more dangerous, darker place and destabilised everything - and you know the excuses for going to war were all built on lies, right?

Lunacy, right?

Yes, that's well known and been reported on endlessly, what's your point?

DAC, out of interest, do you believe in God?

Anyone who believes that conspiracies like this could happen with everyone involved working to the same goal has never been a Project Manager.

Biffer wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 10:40 am

David in Gwent wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 10:27 am

Biffer wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 10:25 am There's a difference between not trusting your government and thinking there's some well-coordinated plot by a mysterious cabal to control the entire country by propelling particular people into power.

Do you trust your government - "no of course not"

Do you trust them to introduce a Digital Currency - "yes"

I'm the lunatic, right?

Yes, you are.

As is fairly obvious.

so the Iraq war and it's consequences was just bad luck, right?

Slick wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 10:41 am

David in Gwent wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 10:23 am

Slick wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 10:16 am

Really? You are saying we are wilfully stupid and ignorant, as well as there is no debate, for not believing in something, but you can't tell us what or who. That's a bit mad.

Do you trust your Government?

It's not a bit mad, I can't give you names and places because I just don't have them but I struggle to understand people who think all these things happen independently.

The Iraqi war (the second one) fundamentally made the world a more dangerous, darker place and destabilised everything - and you know the excuses for going to war were all built on lies, right?

Lunacy, right?

Yes, that's well known and been reported on endlessly, what's your point?

My point is that it was instigated on purpose and the destabiliation was calculated.

Slick wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 10:42 am DAC, out of interest, do you believe in God?

Relevance?

Biffer wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 10:42 am Anyone who believes that conspiracies like this could happen with everyone involved working to the same goal has never been a Project Manager.

Ha ha ha - We used to have fights between team mates during a game in my footie team!

Biffer wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 10:42 am Anyone who believes that conspiracies like this could happen with everyone involved working to the same goal has never been a Project Manager.

Quite. It's usually the first question I ask these loons, "so roughly how many people are involved in this?"

Biffer wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 10:21 am

David in Gwent wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 10:16 am

Biffer wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 10:03 am

If you scrape away at any conspiracy theory, or someone who proposes them, eventually you get to the answer - 'IT'S THE JEWS'. Either you know this but don't want to say it out loud, or you don't know it and you've been duped.

All conspiracy theories are anti-Semitic at their heart.

Even the one where Guy Smiley said the Jews let Hamas attack them?

Joking aside, after 20 years posting on both forums I'm quite confident I have never once "blamed the Jews" for anything

I think you use it as a fallacy to dismiss any CT.

Every single conspiracy theory has a 'them' who's controlling things. Scrape away and it always goes -> money -> bankers -> zionists -> Jews. The only time it doesn't is when people say it's space lizards. Which is usually a metaphor for Jews.

It's either Jews or Hillary Clinton.

Biffer wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 10:42 am Anyone who believes that conspiracies like this could happen with everyone involved working to the same goal has never been a Project Manager.

I've been a PM. People who don't do what they are told to do are gotten rid of and people are added who will follow orders. No room for any passengers.

David in Gwent wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 10:45 am

Slick wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 10:42 am DAC, out of interest, do you believe in God?

Relevance?

Dunno, haven't thought too deeply about it, but maybe a figure who controls everything but we can't prove exists.

Slick wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 10:47 am

Biffer wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 10:42 am Anyone who believes that conspiracies like this could happen with everyone involved working to the same goal has never been a Project Manager.

Quite. It's usually the first question I ask these loons, "so roughly how many people are involved in this?"

How many people do you think it required to get the USA and the UK to invade Iraq?

I'm not talking about Epstein's Island or the moon landings.

Slick wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 10:48 am

David in Gwent wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 10:45 am

Slick wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 10:42 am DAC, out of interest, do you believe in God?

Relevance?

Dunno, haven't thought too deeply about it, but maybe a figure who controls everything but we can't prove exists.

If that's your train of thought then I'm pretty sure God doesn't control everything and made a point of saying he gave everyone free will.

David in Gwent wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 10:49 am

Slick wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 10:47 am

Biffer wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 10:42 am Anyone who believes that conspiracies like this could happen with everyone involved working to the same goal has never been a Project Manager.

Quite. It's usually the first question I ask these loons, "so roughly how many people are involved in this?"

How many people do you think it required to get the USA and the UK to invade Iraq?

I'm not talking about Epstein's Island or the moon landings.

Ultimately, two. Dubya and Blair.

inactionman wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 10:55 am

David in Gwent wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 10:49 am

Slick wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 10:47 am

Quite. It's usually the first question I ask these loons, "so roughly how many people are involved in this?"

How many people do you think it required to get the USA and the UK to invade Iraq?

I'm not talking about Epstein's Island or the moon landings.

Ultimately, two. Dubya and Blair.

...and those two went on to destabilise the world and are responsible for millions of people dead - and they did that based on zero evidence.

Just a cock-up, right? A Boo-boo.

David in Gwent wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 10:44 am

Biffer wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 10:40 am

David in Gwent wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 10:27 am

Do you trust your government - "no of course not"

Do you trust them to introduce a Digital Currency - "yes"

I'm the lunatic, right?

Yes, you are.

As is fairly obvious.

so the Iraq war and it's consequences was just bad luck, right?

No, it was badly planned, badly thought out idea executed by people who believed things that weren't true and were subject to massive doses of confirmation bias. That doesn't mean there was a plan behind it that's all super secret.

All it means is that you're desperate for there to be a reason behind it, otherwise the world is just chaos, with no meaning and no purpose. Conspiracy theories are a result of the human condition, which means we long for there to be a reason for shit things happening, for there to be someone in control. That's where religion comes from in part as well. It's also a result of us being pattern completers and looking for things that aren't actually there to explain things and put structure round the world.

David in Gwent wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 10:58 am

inactionman wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 10:55 am

David in Gwent wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 10:49 am

How many people do you think it required to get the USA and the UK to invade Iraq?

I'm not talking about Epstein's Island or the moon landings.

Ultimately, two. Dubya and Blair.

...and those two went on to destabilise the world and are responsible for millions of people dead - and they did that based on zero evidence.

Just a cock-up, right? A Boo-boo.

Yep, a cock-up, good and proper. It was hardly a resounding success, even if it was militarily highly effective.

David in Gwent wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 10:48 am

Biffer wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 10:42 am Anyone who believes that conspiracies like this could happen with everyone involved working to the same goal has never been a Project Manager.

I've been a PM. People who don't do what they are told to do are gotten rid of and people are added who will follow orders. No room for any passengers.

Follow orders? All a bit militant.

Biffer wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 10:59 am

David in Gwent wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 10:44 am

Biffer wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 10:40 am

Yes, you are.

As is fairly obvious.

so the Iraq war and it's consequences was just bad luck, right?

No, it was badly planned, badly thought out idea executed by people who believed things that weren't true and were subject to massive doses of confirmation bias. That doesn't mean there was a plan behind it that's all super secret.

All it means is that you're desperate for there to be a reason behind it, otherwise the world is just chaos, with no meaning and no purpose. Conspiracy theories are a result of the human condition, which means we long for there to be a reason for shit things happening, for there to be someone in control. That's where religion comes from in part as well. It's also a result of us being pattern completers and looking for things that aren't actually there to explain things and put structure round the world.

The Iraq war was a catalyst and is by no means the only example.

The World was destabilied on purpose but you just don't have the guts to admit it as otherwise the world is just chaos with no meaning or purpose that you recognise.

inactionman wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 11:01 am

David in Gwent wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 10:58 am

inactionman wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 10:55 am

Ultimately, two. Dubya and Blair.

...and those two went on to destabilise the world and are responsible for millions of people dead - and they did that based on zero evidence.

Just a cock-up, right? A Boo-boo.

Yep, a cock-up, good and proper. It was hardly a resounding success, even if it was militarily highly effective.

It was always going to militarily highly effective given the contestants.

Humour me:

If a small group of people could get very, very rich from the war and ensuing global chaos following the Iraq war - don't you think that if they had the power too, they would encourage that war?

David in Gwent wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 11:11 am

inactionman wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 11:01 am

David in Gwent wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 10:58 am

...and those two went on to destabilise the world and are responsible for millions of people dead - and they did that based on zero evidence.

Just a cock-up, right? A Boo-boo.

Yep, a cock-up, good and proper. It was hardly a resounding success, even if it was militarily highly effective.

It was always going to militarily highly effective given the contestants.

Humour me:

If a small group of people could get very, very rich from the war and ensuing global chaos following the Iraq war - don't you think that if they had the power too, they would encourage that war?

I'm sure people lobby for all sorts of things. It's not the same as controlling - at least not in the same way that Putin has pisstapes of Trump and has him bent over.

inactionman wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 11:13 am

David in Gwent wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 11:11 am

inactionman wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 11:01 am

Yep, a cock-up, good and proper. It was hardly a resounding success, even if it was militarily highly effective.

It was always going to militarily highly effective given the contestants.

Humour me:

If a small group of people could get very, very rich from the war and ensuing global chaos following the Iraq war - don't you think that if they had the power too, they would encourage that war?

I'm sure people lobby for all sorts of things. It's not the same as controlling - at least not in the same way that Putin has pisstapes of Trump and has him bent over.

I'm not talking about lobbying.

A small group of people have gotten incredibly rich from the chaos whilst normal people have had their freedoms eroded - and it's all just a result of a "cock up" and definitely not on purpose, right?

David in Gwent wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 11:08 am

Biffer wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 10:59 am

David in Gwent wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 10:44 am

so the Iraq war and it's consequences was just bad luck, right?

No, it was badly planned, badly thought out idea executed by people who believed things that weren't true and were subject to massive doses of confirmation bias. That doesn't mean there was a plan behind it that's all super secret.

All it means is that you're desperate for there to be a reason behind it, otherwise the world is just chaos, with no meaning and no purpose. Conspiracy theories are a result of the human condition, which means we long for there to be a reason for shit things happening, for there to be someone in control. That's where religion comes from in part as well. It's also a result of us being pattern completers and looking for things that aren't actually there to explain things and put structure round the world.

The Iraq war was a catalyst and is by no means the only example.

The World was destabilied on purpose but you just don't have the guts to admit it as otherwise the world is just chaos with no meaning or purpose that you recognise.

The world has no meaning or purpose, other than that which we make for ourselves. That last statement of yours confirms what I said - you're so desperate for there to be a purpose you'll believe any old horseshit conspiracy theory. Thanks for confirming that's what you think.

David in Gwent wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 11:18 am

inactionman wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 11:13 am

David in Gwent wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 11:11 am

It was always going to militarily highly effective given the contestants.

Humour me:

If a small group of people could get very, very rich from the war and ensuing global chaos following the Iraq war - don't you think that if they had the power too, they would encourage that war?

I'm sure people lobby for all sorts of things. It's not the same as controlling - at least not in the same way that Putin has pisstapes of Trump and has him bent over.

I'm not talking about lobbying.

A small group of people have gotten incredibly rich from the chaos whilst normal people have had their freedoms eroded - and it's all just a result of a "cock up" and definitely not on purpose, right?

Then what are you talking about? Someone had a gun to Dubya's head? Someone pretended to be Dubya and made the decision to venture into Iraq? Someone other than Dubya sent the US into Iraq?

This reminds me of the Robbie Coltrane character Mason Boyne. His wife says that she thinks the Pope is a very nice man, Boyne says, "Pope is just an anagram of the word Epop, I'll give you another four letter word beginning with E - Evil."
"I rest my case"

Biffer wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 11:19 am

David in Gwent wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 11:08 am

Biffer wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 10:59 am

No, it was badly planned, badly thought out idea executed by people who believed things that weren't true and were subject to massive doses of confirmation bias. That doesn't mean there was a plan behind it that's all super secret.

All it means is that you're desperate for there to be a reason behind it, otherwise the world is just chaos, with no meaning and no purpose. Conspiracy theories are a result of the human condition, which means we long for there to be a reason for shit things happening, for there to be someone in control. That's where religion comes from in part as well. It's also a result of us being pattern completers and looking for things that aren't actually there to explain things and put structure round the world.

The Iraq war was a catalyst and is by no means the only example.

The World was destabilied on purpose but you just don't have the guts to admit it as otherwise the world is just chaos with no meaning or purpose that you recognise.

The world has no meaning or purpose, other than that which we make for ourselves. That last statement of yours confirms what I said - you're so desperate for there to be a purpose you'll believe any old horseshit conspiracy theory. Thanks for confirming that's what you think.

Equally, you're so desperate for order that you can't even allow yourself to think any non-authoritarian thoughts.