Random Irritations

[Hobbit]

This may get deleted as it may be considered to be too political, but here goes.

Why does it seem that being left-leaning, or even just slightly left of centre, is increasingly viewed in a negative light?
In recent years, public discourse has become more polarised, and moderate or progressive views are often met with hostility or suspicion. For example:

• Advocating for climate action or environmental regulations is sometimes dismissed as 'alarmist' or 'anti-business', despite broad scientific consensus.
• Supporting universal healthcare or increased public spending on social services can be labelled as 'socialist', even when these policies are common in many successful democracies.
• Calling for racial or gender equity is occasionally framed as 'woke ideology', rather than a push for fairness and inclusion.
• Backing union rights or fair wages may be portrayed as anti-capitalist, even though they aim to protect workers from exploitation.

This shift in perception raises questions about how (political) narratives are shaped and why centrist or progressive stances are increasingly seen as radical or problematic.

“Whoever controls the media controls the mind.” Jim Morrison(The Doors), 1969.

History surrounding coups show that one of the most important targets is radio & TV organisations.

At a more fundamental level, psychologists have found that if someone is given the same information 7 times they start to question their own perceptions. Sometimes, if an individual doesn’t know the facts about something, they only need to be told once. ITV News this evening had a piece about an event held today. They reported about x,y,z saying that for the first time… they spun it as being something great. Yet the whole truth, going back several years, leads to a very different conclusion. But many people who don’t know the background will believe today’s spin.

The age old mantra of follow the money tells you all you need to know about politics.

 

[Sid Rixon IV]

I flippin’ hate old age. Another good friend with cancer. Lung cancer that isn’t responding to treatment. This is a sh!t year… too many good friends struggling.

One of our group recently called it a day after getting a slight hand tremor and realising 100yds had become a feat.
I messaged him a few weeks back.
He's been "blue lighted" to hospital twice, asked about signing a DNR and eventually got a pacemaker.
A few days after being sent home he fell down the stairs
I'm "a child of the 50's" and swam competetively in my teens, played squash for 30+ years and play golf 3 times a week but..... I won't step over a ditch anymore for a £2 ball and I hate steps/stairs with no support.
It's coming
But I'm hanging in

 

[Billysboots]

How much is the dartford crossing now.

£3.50 for cars, but due an increase I believe.

I never use the M6 Toll, despite regularly travelling between the northwest and central England. It’s a rip off in comparison with toll charges on the continent and I refuse to pay it. It’s not that long ago in the great scheme of things that it was under £8.

 

[Golfmmad]

First time ever on the M6 toll rd and £10.60 for 10 miles of motorway is quite frankly extracting the urine.

The M6 toll motorway is 22 miles long.
Did you only travel part way?
And Dartford toll is £7 now I think.

 

[Golfmmad]

The M6 toll motorway is 22 miles long.
Did you only travel part way?
And Dartford toll is £7 now I think.

Sorry, my bad, it is £3.50. Don't know where I got £7 from!

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

The M6 toll motorway is 22 miles long.
Did you only travel part way?
And Dartford toll is £7 now I think.

Dartford is £3.50 each way.

As for the M6 toll, I drive the M6 to and from work every week and avoid the toll like the plague doesn’t save that much time especially if you travel at the right time.

Edit. Literally posted the same time you did

 

[irip]

Sorry, my bad, it is £3.50. Don't know where I got £7 from!

Did you use it there and back?
That would be £7.00

 

[Tashyboy]

The M6 toll motorway is 22 miles long.
Did you only travel part way?
And Dartford toll is £7 now I think.

We have had a few days around Shrewsbury and went to Ludlow, and a couple of other places, calling at ironbridge on the way back. I had looked at a couple of routes but the non Toll rd was another 30 minutes plus. I didn’t realise it was £10 for the toll rd

 

[upsidedown]

We have had a few days around Shrewsbury and went to Ludlow, and a couple of other places, calling at ironbridge on the way back. I had looked at a couple of routes but the non Toll rd was another 30 minutes plus. I didn’t realise it was £10 for the toll rd

Should have done A5 , then A38

 

[Golfmmad]

Did you use it there and back?
That would be £7.00

Yeah of course it is

 

[Golfmmad]

Dartford is £3.50 each way.

As for the M6 toll, I drive the M6 to and from work every week and avoid the toll like the plague doesn’t save that much time especially if you travel at the right time.

Edit. Literally posted the same time you did

We have family in Manchester so use the toll road every time we visit.
I don't mind paying as a one off.
It's a lovely stretch of motorway and much more relaxing after the grind up from the south coast!

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

We have family in Manchester so use the toll road every time we visit.
I don't mind paying as a one off.
It's a lovely stretch of motorway and much more relaxing after the grind up from the south coast!

I drive Hampshire to Stafford every Sunday night and the return leg every Friday morning. I’d need a 2nd salary just to drive that stretch that often, it is a decent bit of road but at the right time of day it doesn’t save me that much time for the cost.

 

[Robster59]

I'm lucky that at the moment my toll charges are paid for by my company, so I prepay and her the reduced charge but it's still a rip-off

 

[backwoodsman]

Occasionally drive from London to the north-west. Go up the toll road every time - wouldn't dream of going up the non-toll. Admittedly i am generally going at peak traffic times.

Yes, expensive compared to French motorways, but at least you get a choice of going via a non-toll motorway if you want. In France you generally don't.

 

[Slab]

First time ever on the M6 toll rd and £10.60 for 10 miles of motorway is quite frankly extracting the urine.

Jeez it was about 4or5 pound last time i used it, must be at least 15 yrs ago now

 

[Beezerk]

Scrambled egg that’s too scrambled.

 

[PNWokingham]

We have had a few days around Shrewsbury and went to Ludlow, and a couple of other places, calling at ironbridge on the way back. I had looked at a couple of routes but the non Toll rd was another 30 minutes plus. I didn’t realise it was £10 for the toll rd

two of the nicest towns in teh country - and the drive from Shrewsbury to Ludlow via the Shropshire Hills and Church Stretton has some lovely countryside

 

[Tashyboy]

two of the nicest towns in teh country - and the drive from Shrewsbury to Ludlow via the Shropshire Hills and Church Stretton has some lovely countryside

Called into church Stretton yesterday it rained.

 

[cliveb]

Yes, expensive compared to French motorways, but at least you get a choice of going via a non-toll motorway if you want. In France you generally don't.

Most times there are non-toll N roads you can use in France, and that's what most people use for shorter journeys. It's probably why the autoroutes tend to be less congested than British motorways.

I used to regularly do Calais to the Alps, and the toll for the whole trip was about €60 or so, which on a per mile basis is a bargain compared to the UK.

 

[Slab]

Ppl who walk towards you without looking where they're going, constantly staring at ground or their phone