Richard Dawkins take on brexit

[Kizzy]

I have to say I agree with his take here, brexit does make us appear insular and rather hypocritical as we oppose those who would rather go it alone too.


'Prominent atheist and scientist Richard Dawkins has said England is becoming a “nasty little backwater,” as the government prepares begin the process of leaving the European Union.

The day before the UK government planned to trigger Article 50 and formally begin Brexit, the Scottish Parliament voted in favour of a second independence referendum.

Mr Dawkins has spoken out against Brexit since last summer’s referendum and once branded voters, including himself, “ignoramuses”.'


http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/richard-dawkings-england-nasty-little-backwater-brexit-uk-britain-scientists-racism-a7655136.html

[the truth]

up yours dawkins

[Brillopad]

I have to say I agree with his take here, brexit does make us appear insular and rather hypocritical as we oppose those who would rather go it alone too.


'Prominent atheist and scientist Richard Dawkins has said England is becoming a “nasty little backwater,” as the government prepares begin the process of leaving the European Union.

The day before the UK government planned to trigger Article 50 and formally begin Brexit, the Scottish Parliament voted in favour of a second independence referendum.

Mr Dawkins has spoken out against Brexit since last summer’s referendum and once branded voters, including himself, “ignoramuses”.'


http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/richard-dawkings-england-nasty-little-backwater-brexit-uk-britain-scientists-racism-a7655136.html

That he is! A real ignoramus.

As for opposing those that would rather go it alone too - isn't that exactly what Scotland has done. Maybe Ireland too.

[jaxie]

Dawkins is an interesting man and I agree with much of what he says about religion. Like most humans he doesn't always get it right and in this case he is glaringly wrong. Those who wish to remain in the EU simply don't get the position of those who want to leave and fail to understand the issues.

The EU's petty behaviour towards Gibraltar is just another reason to be glad to see the back of them.

The Union and EU are very different entities and keep being made a comparison as if leaving one is the same as leaving the other. It is a completely different thing. The EU has never been one nation. However no one has ever opposed those who wished to leave the union. You will remember that in 2014 Scotland had a referendum on that very issue and chose to remain within the union. The nationalists didn't like the answer so they want to do it all over again and they will get their way once Brexit is sorted. Those who wanted to leave the EU had to wait 40 years.

[Northern Monkey]

This is one time i disagree with him.Still it's his opinion and he's entitled to it.

[Livia]

Who cares what he thinks? Just another opinion... his is no more valuable than anyone else's.

[Kizzy]

I know, I just thought it interesting that someone so clever would be one of the first to admit they were duped.

[jaxie]

I know, I just thought it interesting that someone so clever would be one of the first to admit they were duped.

Why is it so hard to understand that most of knew exactly what we were voting for and weren't duped in any way. :shrug:

[Kizzy]

Why is it so hard to understand that most of knew exactly what we were voting for and weren't duped in any way. :shrug:

Have you spoke to everyone?... I've read there are many feeling more than a little remorseful

[AProducer'sWetDream]

Why is it so hard to understand that most of knew exactly what we were voting for and weren't duped in any way. :shrug:

In your previous post you said that most remain voters " fail to understand the issues". So its fine for you to say that those on the other side of the argument didn't understand what they were voting for, but you don't seem to like it when the shoe is on the other foot :nono:

[Kizzy]

In your previous post you said that most remain voters " fail to understand the issues". So its fine for you to say that those on the other side of the argument didn't understand what they were voting for, but you don't seem to like it when the shoe is on the other foot :nono:

Good point.

[Brillopad]

Have you spoke to everyone?... I've read there are many feeling more than a little remorseful

That depends on what paper you read it seems - get your info from the Independent or the Canary you will hear what you want to hear.

[jaxie]

In your previous post you said that most remain voters " fail to understand the issues". So its fine for you to say that those on the other side of the argument didn't understand what they were voting for, but you don't seem to like it when the shoe is on the other foot :nono:

It's actually the same issue and the same comment. :shrug:

I have never said remain voters failed to understand why they voted remain. I said they fail to understand why others didn't. I don't think some want to.

[jaxie]

Have you spoke to everyone?... I've read there are many feeling more than a little remorseful

I haven't spoken to everyone, neither have you.

[Brillopad]

In your previous post you said that most remain voters " fail to understand the issues". So its fine for you to say that those on the other side of the argument didn't understand what they were voting for, but you don't seem to like it when the shoe is on the other foot :nono:

Believe me that works both ways. Remoaners exist for a reason. Many have suggested 17.4 million were duped and would not have voted for Brexit if they had 'understood' the outcome - the implications of such comments obvious.

That's just pie in the sky right now because it is still all supposition and no one knows for sure what the final outcome will be - for God's sake negotiations haven't even started.

Rather than remainers being the politically and economically clued-up experts they would have people believe, it's much more likely that many were simply fearful of change.

[AProducer'sWetDream]

Believe me that works both ways. Remoaners exist for a reason. Many have suggested 17.4 million were duped and would not have voted for Brexit if they had 'understood' the outcome - the implications of such comments obvious.

That's just pie in the sky right now because it is still all supposition and no one knows for sure what the final outcome will be - for God's sake negotiations haven't even started.

Rather than remainers being the politically and economically clued-up experts they would have people believe, it's much more likely that many were simply fearful of change.

The hypocrisy in your position is unbelievable. So it's fine to make sweeping generalisations about people who voted remain but to suggest that some leavers didn't know what they were voting for is not?

For the record, I voted remain to protect my right to work, study and travel in other European countries, which I plan/hope to do in the future.

[Kizzy]

I haven't spoken to everyone, neither have you.

I haven't professed to.

[Kizzy]

That depends on what paper you read it seems - get your info from the Independent or the Canary you will hear what you want to hear.


Look at this odd interpretation of a yougov poll, it shows that 44% of those who support Britain leaving the EU (brexiters) agree that Britain should leave the EU . Next to that is the 25% figure of those who did not support Britain leaving (remainers) but who have accepted that it is happening.

For this to be shown as 69% in favour is very misleading.

http://uk.businessinsider.com/yougov-brexit-public-opinion-ahead-of-article-50-trigger-2017-3
http://static2.uk.businessinsider.com/image/58db79edd397ca1d008b45b7-1000/screen%20shot%202017-03-29%20at%20100601.png

[Brillopad]

Look at this odd interpretation of a yougov poll, it shows that 44% of those who support Britain leaving the EU (brexiters) agree that Britain should leave the EU . Next to that is the 25% figure of those who did not support Britain leaving (remainers) but who have accepted that it is happening.

For this to be shown as 69% in favour is very misleading.

http://uk.businessinsider.com/yougov-brexit-public-opinion-ahead-of-article-50-trigger-2017-3
http://static2.uk.businessinsider.com/image/58db79edd397ca1d008b45b7-1000/screen%20shot%202017-03-29%20at%20100601.png

Not really as they are accepting the result of the referendum and a public vote even though it was not what they wanted. I admire that. That is how we make democratic votes - the majority gets it - the percentage is irrelevant.

As for those that believe a public vote should be ignored because it wasn't what they wanted, I'm pretty speechless really.

[Kizzy]

Not really as they are accepting the result of the referendum and a public vote even though it was not what they wanted. I admire that. That is how we make democratic votes - the majority gets it - the percentage is irrelevant.

As for those that believe a public vote should be ignored because it wasn't what they wanted, I'm pretty speechless really.

Yes a quarter who voted remain are resigned to it, that is not my issue...The telling portion of these stats are the 44% who did want out but who now appear to be of a different opinion.

[Brillopad]

Yes a quarter who voted remain are resigned to it, that is not my issue...The telling portion of these stats are the 44% who did want out but who now appear to be of a different opinion.

I don't believe that as I have read different things in different places which is why I said it depends on what you read.

But even if that were the case, the vote was made. Politics is always misleading, it's the nature of the beast. Both sides made misleading statements so for one side to attempt to use such allegations as ammunition for a second vote is devious and desperate in my opinion.

It's an uncertain time for all of us but the best way of making a success of it is if we all work together.

[Tom4784]

It's ignorant to think that most voters knew what they were voting for but I do think a higher percentage of Remainers knew what they were voting for given that the two cornerstones of the Leave campaign were the '£350 million for the NHS' lie and immigration which won't likely be affected by Brexit in any meaningful way.

The fact that 'Leaver's Remorse' is a thing only reaffirms it.

[Kizzy]

I don't believe that as I have read different things in different places which is why I said it depends on what you read.

But even if that were the case, the vote was made. Politics is always misleading, it's the nature of the beast. Both sides made misleading statements so for one side to attempt to use such allegations as ammunition for a second vote is devious and desperate in my opinion.

It's an uncertain time for all of us but the best way of making a success of it is if we all work together.

But these are yougov stats...they would be the same if they were reported in the Telegraph, the guardian or the (spits) sun.

[Northern Monkey]

Have you spoke to everyone?... I've read there are many feeling more than a little remorseful

You just gave me an idea for a great April fools Bregret thread.Too late now :fist:

[Marsh.]

Dawkins is an idiot. I have no problem believing he is an ignoramus to boot.

[Livia]

"I can prove anything by statistics except the truth."
George Canning

[jaxie]

"I can prove anything by statistics except the truth."
George Canning

Great quote!

[jaxie]

It's ignorant to think that most voters knew what they were voting for but I do think a higher percentage of Remainers knew what they were voting for given that the two cornerstones of the Leave campaign were the '£350 million for the NHS' lie and immigration which won't likely be affected by Brexit in any meaningful way.

The fact that 'Leaver's Remorse' is a thing only reaffirms it.

Are you calling yourself ignorant? :shrug:

[Tom4784]

Are you calling yourself ignorant? :shrug:

Have you got anything useful to add or contradict what I'm saying or is your only response a jibe?

[Kizzy]

Great quote!

Hey I have a quote for every day of the week, except as stated earlier in the thread, a quote is but one persons opinion....

[Brillopad]

Have you got anything useful to add or contradict what I'm saying or is your only response a jibe?

It's very relevant. Your words were, as usual, personal opinion - not fact. You accuse people who voted to leave as 'scared' of change due to immigration when others could equally accuse remainers of being 'scared' of change in other ways - fear of the unknown for example.

No one knows what will happen. Some 'experts' imply it is doomed to disaster and we will all suffer the consequences, despite the lack of any real evidence for that, whilst others say that such independence could be good for our economy in the long run. Some agree with the former and some agree with the latter. It is all supposition at this point and no one, try as they might, is better informed than the other.

And as for the term 'leavers remorse' - that came from the remoaners, no motive there then! A good dose of both manipulation tactics and wishful thinking. I'm not sure exactly who they are trying the hardest to convince - the leavers or themselves.

The reality is that in this we are all ignorant. Some are also ignorant of their ignorance.