18 hours ago, CharonY said:

My guess would be on tinted glasses. There is a lot of local history in many places to astonishing detail. However, the vast majority doesn't make it into interesting books. But you could go and find local historians (quite a few of them are e.g. school teachers, and pastors perhaps unsurprisingly) and talk to them. Quite a few of them do publish articles or monographs, but they are often mostly hosted by local academic institutions and/or have a very limited print. They tend to be on the dry side and rarely make a broader circulation. But there is a ton of such documented knowledge out there.

I think perhaps he was referring to our influence on the world, at the top of our game; at a time and place, when industrial printing came of age.

23 hours ago, MigL said:

Would Linkey feel 'at home' in 1940 Germany ?
( and, would quite a few Republicans ? )

His motivation is probably the same, but he's got a smartphone now...

I tried Gemini today with an inane conversation, mostly on painting the skirting boards and ending with "is Nigel Farage a racist?". At no point did Gemini answer without a possitive assertion in the answer, we don't even need to seek out our personal echo chamber.

Gemini can't afford to piss off it's client's... 😉

23 hours ago, geordief said:

Was watching Dan Snow's account of the establishment of Christianity in Ireland and onwards to Iona and Northumberland (Lindisfarne) in the 7th(?) century.

Astonished at the detail of intrigue and politicking that has been documented in these isles over this long period.

I know all countries have their own history but I wonder whether the British Isles have a more complete documented history than other political and geographic regions or have I just got tinted glasses?

They say that the Victors make history.Will it all turn to dust when Britain returns to a backwater (or subservient) status as the wheel spins around inexorably?

Ozymandias had something to say...

On 8/28/2026 at 6:36 PM, sethoflagos said:

I quote from The Migration Observatory (University of Oxford)

The only group housed for any length of time in ''big hotels at taxpayers expense" are individuals with pending asylum claims who are unable to support themselves financially. These people have an entirely legal right to remain until their application has been rejected and all rights of appeal exhausted. You are clearly very confused. Which group exactly are you complaining about?

In passing The Migration Observatory also has clear data on taxpayer cost:

Since the new Labour goverment has dramatically reversed the long term (deliberate?) neglect of this issue, and promised to close all asylum hotels by the end of this parliament, I imagine they must have your wholehearted support.

And who exactly has presided over the decline of your town over the bulk of the last twenty years? And encouraged you to blame it on the immigrants rather than the greed of their financial backers? (A bait you seem to have swallowed hook, line, and sinker)

You have absolutely no clue what you are talking about and are ignorant to what is REALLY happening. If you can demonstrate to me that you are actually in a town like mine and living it then what you say is based on the narrative you are given not on real life experience.

On 8/28/2026 at 5:41 PM, CharonY said:

This does seem like a policy decision and it is somewhat curious that in your mind it is the fault of the immigrants, who, needless to say, have no power to change policy. Also, it is not a zero-sum game. Typically, asylum seekers are paid for by the government, not by municipalities. Also note that the UK has banned asylum seekers to work while waiting for a decision (usually a 12 month frame). Assuming that asylum seekers intend to live for free is also a stereotypical claim. The overall employment rate of asylum seekers with status is 45-50%, which is lower than the general population >70%. However there are likely barriers (policy, economic or otherwise). In the US, labor participation among asylum seeker was higher than the US average (72% vs 62% in 2025) and in Canada it is likewise pretty close. IOW if the issue is indeed an economic one (which is doubtful, to be honest) then there are likely structural and policy changes to improve that.

But I would argue that that asylum seekers actually play a critical role here. If they are all gone and the infrastructure remains crappy, who is left to blame? Having a group to scapegoat is a time-honored tradition to avoid accountability and you wouldn't want to lose that.

After all, NHS was fixed by Brexit, right?

Maybe ate a shawarma?

The point people seem to be missing is there are different types of asylum seekers -

1. Those who are genuinely seeking refuge, escaping war or oppression

2. Those who want to start a new life in a new country, integrate and contribute to the system they benefit from (some of the above)

3. Those who are looking for an easy life, where they can leach off a generous system with no intention of integrating or contributing (legally)

4. Those who don't want to integrate, but change the country to suit their beliefs and culture

   Numbers 1&2 - I, along with most people have no issue with, numbers 3&4 - we do take issue, they exist and are growing rapidly in numbers, pose a real problem in real towns and cities across the UK

On 8/28/2026 at 3:40 PM, TheVat said:

Who is keeping you from your heritage?

What fanatical beliefs have been imposed on you? Were you forced to attend a mosque? Marry a 13 year old? Sacrifice a goat during Eid Al-Adha? Join a jihad?

You keep making the claim you have personal experience of cultural imposition - what are examples?

The Pakistani Asian community in my town have gangs which run drugs, child grooming... They are now in positions of power the local council is now run by them. No money is spent on looking after the town, plenty of money spent on building mosques. Many shops are now drug and money laundering outlets disguised as "barber" shops and "take aways". Our children are often approached by grown Pakistani men, propositioned or threatened. This isn't fantasy tv, its real and its happening and its getting worse. The police do nothing of any note, why? Guess what, the local police are headed up by? yep. Exactly my point, its a systematic slow take over that people are ignoring. I hope my children choose to seek asylum from this country to another where they can integrate, contribute and start a new life.

You don't live it, but you criticise my concern as though I'm deluded.

On 8/28/2026 at 4:15 PM, StringJunky said:

What is 'heritage' when societies are a kaleidoscope of constant change. Modern societies are not like the much slower changing societies pre-industrial revolution.

Interesting, however one could argue that the American constitution forms the basis of the heritage of many Americans today. Yes America was built on immigration, great this is healthy and welcoming. But a society was soon formed and a culture born. Many Americans are patriots and like to defend their culture and constitution, Is that ok? Yet I'm criticised for doing the same of my society and culture??

All nations (well the vast majority) are born from historic immigration, but they eventually settle into a cultural system that has moulded their society. People born of that society want to protect their "heritage" what is personal to themselves or to their long standing community and society. this doesn't mean that change is unacceptable, it means that change needs to be slow, consistent and for the better of a society as a whole, not just for one group who happen to believe their culture is superior.

2 hours ago, Intoscience said:

The point people seem to be missing is there are different types of asylum seekers -

1. Those who are genuinely seeking refuge, escaping war or oppression

2. Those who want to start a new life in a new country, integrate and contribute to the system they benefit from (some of the above)

3. Those who are looking for an easy life, where they can leach off a generous system with no intention of integrating or contributing (legally)

4. Those who don't want to integrate, but change the country to suit their beliefs and culture

   Numbers 1&2 - I, along with most people have no issue with, numbers 3&4 - we do take issue, they exist and are growing rapidly in numbers, pose a real problem in real towns and cities across the UK

How many asylum seekers have you interviewed?

Seriously though, if you believe 3 and 4 you're dancing to someone else's tune. The narative is designed to play on your primate sense of fairness and your fear of losing your current level of comfort.

Ironically, a truly poverty stricken culture tends to be generous to stranger's, especially when they're in such obvious trouble.

Edited Friday at 11:15 AM5 days by dimreepr

3 hours ago, Intoscience said:

You have absolutely no clue what you are talking about and are ignorant to what is REALLY happening. If you can demonstrate to me that you are actually in a town like mine and living it then what you say is based on the narrative you are given not on real life experience.

I live in a city with a Muslim population around 50%.

Before that, I lived for 20 years in Huddersfield that currently has a Muslim population of 22.9%, one of the highest in the UK.

So please don't tell me what it's like to have Islamic neighbours, sunshine. You're insulting both me and my neighbours.

4 hours ago, Intoscience said:

You don't live it, but you criticise my concern as though I'm deluded.

Just mistaken. What actually turned your town into a shithole? Was it really the immigrants? Or was it deindustrialisation and long term neglect, lowered value properties with many left vacant for years. Somewhere very few native Brits would care to move to?

4 hours ago, Intoscience said:

People born of that society want to protect their "heritage" what is personal to themselves or to their long standing community and society. this doesn't mean that change is unacceptable, it means that change needs to be slow, consistent and for the better of a society as a whole, not just for one group who happen to believe their culture is superior.

Almost everyday I hear, here on the BBC, that some British institution, or other, is 'the best in the world', does that mean that I'm automatically superior, due to my privileged culture???

Edited Friday at 12:55 PM5 days by dimreepr

7 hours ago, Intoscience said:

No money is spent on looking after the town, plenty of money spent on building mosques

Really? This is quite a serious charge, that public funds are being spent on private religious facilities. Do you have documentation for this, along with what percent of taxes go to mosques v public infrastructure and services? Have you contacted a national law enforcement group?

7 hours ago, Intoscience said:

Many shops are now drug and money laundering outlets disguised as "barber" shops and "take aways".

Which shops? What percent of retail merchants? How much of this is due to general economic downturn and poverty, as opposed to being due to immigrants with some agenda? Where are these money laundering places documented, such that they came to your attention?

7 hours ago, Intoscience said:

Our children are often approached by grown Pakistani men, propositioned or threatened.

Where did you see, or hear of this? Has this happened to your children? How often is "often" and what kinds of propositions or threats are made? Is the rate of such incidents higher than in largely native-born areas with comparable income levels? What is the average age of the child, in such encounters? Are we talking more about sixteen year old girls getting wolf whistles or 9 year old boys being recruited for pedophile rings? Such details matter, in terms of level of police response. And again, where might we access documentation of your claims?

3 hours ago, sethoflagos said:

So please don't tell me what it's like to have Islamic neighbours, sunshine. You're insulting both me and my neighbours.

Not to mention insulting the scientific method which sees personal anecdotes and rumours as not constitutive of evidence. This being a science forum, this might be something Sunshine wants to amend.

19 hours ago, Intoscience said:

Those who don't want to integrate, but change the country to suit their beliefs and culture

I wonder if native Americans since the 16th century could relate to that happening?