Eurovision and Israel

[guest3732]

Royal Assent
A Bill passed by the Australian Parliament does not become an Act until it is formally accepted by the Governor-General. This particular process for making laws is referred to as Royal Assent.

Via legislation.gov.au

[Melbourne Cobbler]

Royal Assent
A Bill passed by the Australian Parliament does not become an Act until it is formally accepted by the Governor-General. This particular process for making laws is referred to as Royal Assent.

Via legislation.gov.au

Makes no difference to me. Have you noticed how the flag on my avatar is horizontal yet there isn’t any wind?

[Tabasco Kid]

Makes no difference to me. Have you noticed how the flag on my avatar is horizontal yet there isn’t any wind?

Thats nearly as good as furniture on the side of barges! 

[Manwork04]

Makes no difference to me. Have you noticed how the flag on my avatar is horizontal yet there isn’t any wind?

There’s a business plan for you, you could supply the wind to extend it, you’ve got more than enough air in you.

[Melbourne Cobbler]

There’s a business plan for you, you could supply the wind to extend it, you’ve got more than enough air in you.

You’ve heard of Hurricane Higgins, you’ve heard of Whirlwind White? Well they call me Mild Southwesterly Melly mate.

[guest3732]

The Delapre depression 😉

[Manwork04]

You’ve heard of Hurricane Higgins, you’ve heard of Whirlwind White? Well they call me Mild Southwesterly Melly mate.

[WasRambo]

On the upside, I drew Austria in Paddy Powers Eurovision sweepstake, so a free £5 bet is heading my way

The music is awful, it's a showcase for every type of weird and the voting is as bent as a nine Bob note. I know, I'm an old fuddy duddy but give me Abba every time. Hell, I'll even take Bucks Fizz!

[The Hask]

Eurovision is quite a thing in our house because my son is obsessed by it. Personally I've no interest in the music but I do quite like watching the voting because, despite the oft quoted mantra about it not being political, the voting is at least 70% politically and ideologically motivated.

A case in point was last night where Israel were polling badly from the juries (with every point they were given soundly booed by the audience) but surged to the top when their public votes were revealed.

This caused much consternation in our living room with an outraged rant from my son that it's because most people are bigots who want to see Muslims killed (along with some bizarre conspiracy theory about Israel giving out free SIM cards in other countries in return for votes, but to be fair he'd had a few by then)

It's easy to account for the jury voting; they are mostly comprised of artsy fartsy Guardianista types who will always lean in one way.

The public voting is more interesting though and I'm intrigued by what the real motivations were.

Of course, it could have been apolitical and people just liked the song. (I can't comment on this as I was watching the Dongs get humiliated in the other room until the voting started. My son said it was rubbish but I suspect there were some blinkers on there as he's also one of the aforementioned Guardianista types)

It's also possible it was a political decision to show approval for Israel's actions in Gaza (I can't see it, but it's possible)

It could have been sympathy for a young girl who was clearly in a very difficult and unpleasant position.

Or it might have been a reflexive kickback to all the furore and protests in the build up. People don't like being told what they should think and reacted as a two finger salute to the political hijacking of a music competition.

It's likely to be a bit of all these, but personally I think it's predominantly a mixture of the last two.

So am I just overly optimistic about what motivates people or are there lots of bigots out there? Or has everyone been given a free SIM card...?

What do you guys think?

Whatever the reason was it was emulated in the final as well with Israel nearly winning it  -  (they won the public vote again in the same manner as the Semi final.)

I clearly know nothing about music as I had the Austrian winner in my bottom 5!

[Tabasco Kid]

Compulsive viewing for our eastern European workmates. The hot topic on site tomorrow would be "did you vatch Eurowision"?
That and the "Vorlds strongest man" they are partial to both.  Not for me Im afraid.

[singcobb]

I'd rather gouge my eyes out with a rusty corkscrew than watch eurovision.

[therealpattcobb]

Eurovision is a freak show, the start of social breakdown much like what happened in the last days of the Roman Empire.

Or maybe it's just a load of people (mostly lgbtqia+) having fun.

Gosh how do you sleep at night?

[therealpattcobb]

To sum it up.
It's a show of two halves isn't it?

The glitz glamour and general weirdness of the performances are  as far removed from politics as you can get.

And the public voting is as near to politics as you can get, without actually deciding on government itself.
It's probably time to remove the public vote from proceedings. The panels vote on strict criteria and adhere to all the rules. The public do not have ALL the facts to hand but can just push a button (20 times if they want!) and decide it.
Can anyone remember a vote involving European matters where the public were not given details of consequences or even FACTS before they voted..?

[Melbourne Cobbler]

To win that competition you have to come last, it’s the only way a nation can retain any musical credibility.

[DavCobb]

The public do not have ALL the facts to hand but can just push a button (20 times if they want!) and decide it.

To quote Millwall "No-one likes us, we don't care."

[guest3734]

…………………….
Can anyone remember a vote involving European matters where the public were not given details of consequences or even FACTS before they voted..?

I think Jonathan Pie’s rant sums this one up -

To paraphrase

17 million of you twats voted for something where you didn’t understand any of the many negative outcomes
16 million of you twats voted to stay in a controlling right wing organisation where the very few benefited from the very many
……& the rest of you lazy twat clearly don’t believe in democracy by failing to vote

[Shoemender]

To sum it up.
It's a show of two halves isn't it?

The glitz glamour and general weirdness of the performances are  as far removed from politics as you can get.

And the public voting is as near to politics as you can get, without actually deciding on government itself.
It's probably time to remove the public vote from proceedings. The panels vote on strict criteria and adhere to all the rules. The public do not have ALL the facts to hand but can just push a button (20 times if they want!) and decide it.
Can anyone remember a vote involving European matters where the public were not given details of consequences or even FACTS before they voted..?

Yes but despite all that, it's still shít!!

[therealpattcobb]

Yes but despite all that, it's still shít!!

If you go around saying it's sh!t, then I'm afraid you just don't get it.
It's always pretty sh!t but it's not to be taken seriously
However this year there were too many earnest ballads and not enough of this...

[Tabasco Kid]

If you go around saying it's sh!t, then I'm afraid you just don't get it.
It's always pretty sh!t but it's not to be taken seriously

I have the same problem, trying to explain the merits of WWE to people. But then nobody ever listens to a middle aged bloke wearing a ripped Goldberg Tshirt.  I guess your spangly gear and feather boa has the same effect?

[DavCobb]

I have the same problem, trying to explain the merits of WWE to people.

I used to love WWF, Wrestlemania. Macho man, Hacksaw Jim Duggan, Andre the Giant and co. It was an age where one of your rich mates had pay per view and you wasn't sure if the action was staged or not*, probably more down to our age! Mind you, not a patch on Dickie Davies with Big Daddy on a Saturday afternoon. I properly bought that!

*apologies if I burst any bubbles. 

I bet Eurovision is proper bitchy.