is FOH generally Left, Centrist or Right leaning in it's discourse?

[BrightonCorgi]

17 hours ago, Akela3rd said:

Crass were anarchists, saw themselves as outside political labels. The antithesis of Skrewdriver must be The Redskins...

And I saw this in a record shop today and, because of this thread, I had to get it. I blame @Bijan.
Sent by spooky action at a distance

I sold that record about a year ago. 

Start of Covid, I started selling records on Discogs.  I was in the Hardcore scene in the US in the mid 80's and had 100's of punk rock 7" and 12" records (along with fliers, shirts, etc).  Made a tidy profit on them.  Not so many punk albums left and started listing other genre's and cassettes too.    The oi and skinhead albums are toxic online.  Cannot sell so easily anywhere.  I get it, but the average rap album every teenager is listening to has way more harmful lyrics than anything those 80's oi bands said.

[rcarlson]

10 hours ago, Deezwho said:

As a theoretical construct taken outside of the newly established worldwide social and political norms of left and right, you would have to assume cigar smokers are generally older, whiter, and more conservative than the general populations of the countries they all live in. 

 

Doesn't match my experience. In fact, it's the exact opposite.  The majority in my smoking circles here in ATL are younger, male, black, urban, and politically left -- beyond the weight of the general demographic.  A surprisingly large number of sisters in the in the mix too.  Can't speak to other countries, I'm not that well-traveled, but the popularity of cigars in the U.S. has grown beyond the stereotype since I started smoking in the 90's.  My guess is that when it comes to cigars it's all tied more to profession/vocation, income level, social consumption preferences etc. than conformity to political stereotypes.  

As for CC versus NC though, I do see greater interest in CCs among white males than any other group, regardless of political leanings. 

Around here, guessing the make up is a fool's errand.  Whatever triggers comments that reveal political leanings can only be measured by those of us that are willing to engage. Nothing else.  And what constitutes right, left or centrist depends on too many subjective factors to be all that meaningful. I can tell you from personal experience that some here identify as more left or right leaning than they really are from a true ideological standpoint.         

[La_Tigre]

On 1/1/2022 at 2:55 AM, MrBirdman said:

Yes, I think 9/11 was the turning point.

Facebook into the mainstream…

 

22 hours ago, dominattorney said:

We will have to fact check this one. Hard to see how so many "countries" can fit on a flat earth. Especially suspicious of you blokes "down under."

Pretty sure this is fake news. The only countries are Europe, Mexico, Asia, China, Africa, N. Korea, Vietnam, Canada, Cuba, and the ones from WWII: Japan, Germany, England, Russia and there may be another one called Ireland with leprechauns…

[Monterey]

Post has been up for days and it has stayed peaceful.  Says a lot about the forum.

[anacostiakat]

On 12/30/2021 at 6:48 PM, El Presidente said:

There are always alternative facts 

I am reminded that when arguing with my wife I frequently use alternative facts.  

[Hammer Smokin']

this board sits in the middle of my highly left leaning music board and even further right leaning fishing board. 

it does a good job in the balance. 

but yes, it is still a right leaning board. 

[TBird55]

1 hour ago, Hammer Smokin' said:

this board sits in the middle of my highly left leaning music board and even further right leaning fishing board. 

it does a good job in the balance. 

but yes, it is still a right leaning board. 

Well i guess most people are right handed.😉

[Ken Gargett]

15 hours ago, Webbo said:

As a young man in 1984 starting my first job in Sheffield in the middle of the miners strike its impossible that this event would not colour my political and social views for the rest of my lifetime (for non UK members its difficult to explain just how important this event was in the shaping of this country). On my nervous first work day at 18 as a lab technician (I could not afford university and had to study after work for the next 8 bloody years) a slightly older surly guy asked in passing who was my favourite singer/group? "Springsteen" I replied and off he walked without comment, and the next day he brought in the first 2 Billy Bragg albums dropped them in front of me with the curt instruction "get these listened to, this bloke likes Bruce and Bob Dylan too" and walked off. Bragg was a few weeks later on a tour supporting the striking miners, the guy to my surprise then bought us both tickets and off we went. It was the start of a relationship with both men that continues to this day.

In 2019 just before the pandemic locked everything down Billy Bragg played the same small Sheffield venue as in 84 and after 35 years I repaid the favour by buying tickets for me and this guy to attend, we had become the closest of friends and had stayed in touch despite often living and working in different companies and indeed countries, our friendship had survived. The same old songs about politics performed that night could have been written the day before, as we left my mate turned to me with a tear in his eye and said "well not much has changed in the last 35 years has it mate". I am equally happy and sad that this was very true.

Footnote: If you have never heard Billy Bragg or have been put off by his left wing stance give him a go with the early songs about unrequited love, family and life. Tank Park Salute may be the most touching song ever about the loss of a father.

webbo, i moved across to the UK in Sept 85 to study and was often directed to billy bragg. was not quite necessary as he had made an impression downunder in a small way. i never got really into him but undoubtedly he is very much worth a listen. 

the other guy who was often compared to dylan at the time was rodriguez, though apparently not so much in the States. i remember being truly staggered when talking to americans and they had no idea who he was (especially as he was an american). brilliant guy. some amazing songs. 

if anyone still has no idea, try this - but first, one of the great music (or anything) docos, 'Searching for Sugarman'. incredible story. 

 

[Edicion]

10 minutes ago, Ken Gargett said:

webbo, i moved across to the UK in Sept 85 to study and was often directed to billy bragg. was not quite necessary as he had made an impression downunder in a small way. i never got really into him but undoubtedly he is very much worth a listen. 

the other guy who was often compared to dylan at the time was rodriguez, though apparently not so much in the States. i remember being truly staggered when talking to americans and they had no idea who he was (especially as he was an american). brilliant guy. some amazing songs. 

if anyone still has no idea, try this - but first, one of the great music (or anything) docos, 'Searching for Sugarman'. incredible story. 

 

Love Rodriguez. Truly amazing documentary/movie made by the late Malik Bendjelloul. Other works he did with the TV show Kobra are also outstanding. 

[porkchop]

18 hours ago, Webbo said:

(for non UK members its difficult to explain just how important this event was in the shaping of this country).

Do you mind trying to explain? Very interesting story and musician. 
 

 

[Bijan]

This thread's definitely leaning left 

[Webbo]

7 hours ago, Ken Gargett said:

webbo, i moved across to the UK in Sept 85 to study and was often directed to billy bragg. was not quite necessary as he had made an impression downunder in a small way. i never got really into him but undoubtedly he is very much worth a listen. 

the other guy who was often compared to dylan at the time was rodriguez, though apparently not so much in the States. i remember being truly staggered when talking to americans and they had no idea who he was (especially as he was an american). brilliant guy. some amazing songs. 

if anyone still has no idea, try this - but first, one of the great music (or anything) docos, 'Searching for Sugarman'. incredible story. 

 

I have never heard of him before  Ken, going to delve into his work today. Thanks

[99call]

40 minutes ago, Webbo said:

I have never heard of him before  Ken, going to delve into his work today. Thanks

Jane S. Piddy is a great track

[Webbo]

13 hours ago, porkchop said:

Do you mind trying to explain? Very interesting story and musician. 
 

 

It's difficult to find words that could reflect how truly grim and desperate that time was for many working class people in the UK, particularly in the North, Scotland and South Wales. Traditional heavy industries were decimated as Thatcher pursued an ideology that the UK would move from a manufacturing country to one based on financial and service industries. One that would have no union influence and be centered around the south east and London, this continues to this day.  The traditional industrial areas (who were not Thatcher voters) were left to rot, no work, no investment and crime, violence and drug use rocketed. Even now almost 40 years later many of these are places are still wrecked for generations with no opportunities or hope. A North/South divide that I cannot see changing in my lifetime.

One could argue from many sides the merits or otherwise of such a political strategy or the need to move away from un-profitable over manned industries but it could not be argued by anyone who sees these still broken communities that the way it was done was both brutal, tragic and wrong with the effects still felt and seen today.

Actually The Specials perfectly summed up and encapsulated the feeling and mood of many in the UK in the early 80s in this incredible piece of art from the summer of 1981..

 

 

[Cigar Surgeon]

10 hours ago, Bijan said:

This thread's definitely leaning left 

Bring up COVID vaccinations, taxes, or universal health care and watch it course correct reeeeeeal fast.