Things you always wanted to know the answer to [Vol. 5]

[captain_cynic]

Pitre said:

But that's exactly why I said you could vote for 'none of the above' which is effectively not voting.
A lot of people simply cannot be arsed to go and vote.

Not really.

I don't see the benefit. You're just saying I've voted for my vote to be ignored. If that's what you want why not just stay home?

Plus it does not address the issue of donkey votes.

[AstonZagato]

Clockwork Cupcake said:

Pitre said:

It's about time some bright spark came up with a solution to online voting in the upcoming general election.

I believe everyone should be obliged to vote, with 'none of the above' being an option. And I get that some vulnerable people could face coercion, but surely this could be overcome in some way.

I don't think people should be forced to vote, because abstaining is as much a right as voting is. What I think we instead need is more of effort to engage voters such that they *want* to vote and feel that their vote counts and that it means something. So, encourage rather than force.

Forcing people to vote when they don't think it will make a blind bit of difference is the kind of solution more in keeping with Russia or North Korea, in my opinion. Which is just my opinion and you are free to disagree.

I agree that we should make people feel their vote counts.

I think there should always be a "None of the above" option and if that garners the largest amount of votes, there should be another election and none of the candidates can stand again.

[captain_cynic]

AstonZagato said:

I agree that we should make people feel their vote counts.

I think there should always be a "None of the above" option and if that garners the largest amount of votes, there should be another election and none of the candidates can stand again.

I imagine people will get pretty sick of elections and vote to change that back in short order.

It'll just end up with the parties having a whole bunch of disposable candidates that will just follow orders. If anything that will further entrench tentwo party system.

[AstonZagato]

captain_cynic said:

AstonZagato said:

I agree that we should make people feel their vote counts.

I think there should always be a "None of the above" option and if that garners the largest amount of votes, there should be another election and none of the candidates can stand again.

I imagine people will get pretty sick of elections and vote to change that back in short order.

It'll just end up with the parties having a whole bunch of disposable candidates that will just follow orders. If anything that will further entrench tentwo party system.

Or it might encourage candidates actually to engage with their constituents and local issues rather than being party drones. Or start the rise of local independent candidates with their ear to the ground

[captain_cynic]

AstonZagato said:

Or it might encourage candidates actually to engage with their constituents and local issues rather than being party drones. Or start the rise of local independent candidates with their ear to the ground

My unicorn might also be delivered. You never know.

[hidetheelephants]

captain_cynic said:

Pitre said:

But that's exactly why I said you could vote for 'none of the above' which is effectively not voting.
A lot of people simply cannot be arsed to go and vote.

Not really.

I don't see the benefit. You're just saying I've voted for my vote to be ignored. If that's what you want why not just stay home?

Plus it does not address the issue of donkey votes.

Donkey votes can be addressed by electronic voting machines like those used in the US; the positions could be randomised so there's a different candidate at the top every time.

[captain_cynic]

hidetheelephants said:

captain_cynic said:

Pitre said:

But that's exactly why I said you could vote for 'none of the above' which is effectively not voting.
A lot of people simply cannot be arsed to go and vote.

Not really.

I don't see the benefit. You're just saying I've voted for my vote to be ignored. If that's what you want why not just stay home?

Plus it does not address the issue of donkey votes.

Donkey votes can be addressed by electronic voting machines like those used in the US; the positions could be randomised so there's a different candidate at the top every time.

That just randomises the response, it doesn't address the problem. You're never going to get a perfect distribution.

Will solve the issue with preference deals.

Introduces a new problem with people who memorise the voting form due to reading problems (dyslexia, poor vision, never learned to read).

I think we're developing rube-goldberg type solution where the simpler answer is just not to try to force people to vote if they don't want to.

[StevieBee]

boyse7en said:

StevieBee said:

Gladers01 said:

Most counties in this country seem to end in Shire and named after the county town such as Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire etc with a few exceptions like Wiltshire and Hampshire, why is this and why do we not have a Kentshire or Surreyshire for example?

Any non-metropolitan county is a shire county. The word (sort of) means 'self governing'.

Some counties existed or were named before the idea of 'shire' came about so never adopted it as part of their name. For example, Essex was a region before it was a county, its name morphing from 'Kingdom of East Saxons'. County Councils as regions of defined political governance only came into being in the late 19th century. Where no pre-existing name for the region existed, they adopted the same of the main town, followed by 'shire'.

How does that work for Devon? It's historic name was Devonshire, but there has never been a town called Devon

At some point, the 'shire' was either lost through the natural evolution of common parlance or Devon(shire) County Council decided to drop it. Or a bit of both.

[Clockwork Cupcake]

captain_cynic said:

I think we're developing rube-goldberg type solution where the simpler answer is just not to try to force people to vote if they don't want to.

Well, quite. As I said already, the better solution would be to improve things such that those people would then want to vote.

Of course, that is a complex solution to a complex problem. But there are seldom simple solutions to complex problems, and forcing people to vote isn't one of them.

[CivicDuties]

Doofus said:

CivicDuties said:

Doofus said:

See also Berkshire, Wiltshire, Cheshire, Shropshire.

Berkshire is named after a tree. True story.

It's actually named after a woodland.

I recall reading a local history book back in the 80s which stated there was an oak tree called the "Barroc", which is where the local elders gathered to discuss governance matters, and it came from that. The tree in question being the one on the modern day county flag.

I expect there are other histories, it's probably all best guesses.

[Doofus]

CivicDuties said:

Doofus said:

CivicDuties said:

Doofus said:

See also Berkshire, Wiltshire, Cheshire, Shropshire.

Berkshire is named after a tree. True story.

It's actually named after a woodland.

I recall reading a local history book back in the 80s which stated there was an oak tree called the "Barroc", which is where the local elders gathered to discuss governance matters, and it came from that. The tree in question being the one on the modern day county flag.

I expect there are other histories, it's probably all best guesses.

Bearroc is a Celtic word for 'hill' and this particular hill had upon it a woodland of box trees. It was near Yattendon.

[mickythefish]

If I had unlimited 2 pence coins and superglue could I build a massive platform into space?

[Rusty Old-Banger]

mickythefish said:

If I had unlimited 2 pence coins and superglue could I build a massive platform into space?

Yes, but platform is a bit of a stretch. A stack, maybe. But you'd have a hell of a time finding a stool tall enough to stand on to stick the last 99.9% on with.

[Clockwork Cupcake]

mickythefish said:

If I had unlimited 2 pence coins and superglue could I build a massive platform into space?

It would probably collapse under its own weight.

Also, were it possible then we wouldn't need all the incredible engineering that goes into building the world's tallest buildings.

See also
https://what-if.xkcd.com/94/

Edited by Clockwork Cupcake on Tuesday 18th June 18:01

[mickythefish]

Rusty Old-Banger said:

Yes, but platform is a bit of a stretch. A stack, maybe. But you'd have a hell of a time finding a stool tall enough to stand on to stick the last 99.9% on with.

I think the fact it would be large enough to put two feet on. A helicopter at night would feed me . I would probably build two next to each other jumping between in stages.

[audi321]

Rusty Old-Banger said:

mickythefish said:

If I had unlimited 2 pence coins and superglue could I build a massive platform into space?

Yes, but platform is a bit of a stretch. A stack, maybe. But you'd have a hell of a time finding a stool tall enough to stand on to stick the last 99.9% on with.

I challenge you to try and build that ‘platform’ more than 3 metres high before it toppled. Superglue ain’t gonna work as it is too brittle. Sticks like st might

[bigpriest]

Doofus said:

See also Berkshire, Wiltshire, Cheshire, Shropshire.

I think Chestershire was a thing once, like Lancastershire but the people from the North West are too busy being cool to mess around with overly-long names.

[Pitre]

captain_cynic said:

AstonZagato said:

Or it might encourage candidates actually to engage with their constituents and local issues rather than being party drones. Or start the rise of local independent candidates with their ear to the ground

My unicorn might also be delivered. You never know.

Username checks out

[Doofus]

bigpriest said:

Doofus said:

See also Berkshire, Wiltshire, Cheshire, Shropshire.

I think Chestershire was a thing once, like Lancastershire but the people from the North West are too busy being cool to mess around with overly-long names.

Can't spell long words, more like.

And can't pronounce hard syllables because they have no teeth.

[Stan the Bat]

Saw a vehicle parked up today in a lay- by which had sign on the back saying" DVLA tax checker."

It was an estate with battenburg type markings.

Do they have ANPR on board or not ?