Will UK election threads cause international tensions?

May 15, 2001 2:41 PM

The question (raised here) is one of tensions, etiquette and policy on Election posts. The Uk is currently going through an election, and much like the US is fairly well represented on Metafilter. But we all know how many posts were about the US election and how frustrating both the US contingent, but more specifically the UK contingent, were with them. Will UK election threads cause international tensions? Is this a bad thing? Is there a 'right to post' issue here, or are we going to be having a fully international vs UScentric discussion at any moment?
posted by barbelith to Etiquette/Policy at 2:41 PM (12 comments total)

I think I speak for all Americans when I say that not only am I not sure of what form of government Britain has, I'm fairly sure that America's is better. That being said, I'm going to ignore all election discussions, and instead look for mainly abortion debates, and posts about teenage boys hurting themselves.
posted by Doug at 8:48 PM on May 15, 2001

I think it should be banned. Banned, I tell you.
posted by rodii at 8:53 PM on May 15, 2001

Yes, anything that is not mainstream American must be banned.
posted by lagado at 10:04 PM on May 15, 2001

Long live MetaCensorAdolf!
posted by Doug at 10:39 PM on May 15, 2001

Ah come on, kids - you know what I mean, EVERYONE got a little tired of the US election threads, but those of us who weren't directly connected with it got even MORE frustrated. I was just wondering what the reaction was going to be like if similar levels of UK election posting started to happen. Would the (presumed) American majority get arsy?
posted by barbelith at 3:07 AM on May 16, 2001

Well, we only have three more weeks of spin, and a guaranteed single evening of counting, so I doubt that the same kind of election fatigue will set in. Or rather, I think most Brits are sick of the blanket coverage on the mainstream media, so will be glad of something a little more heterogeneous.

And my guess is that posts to MeFi will reflect the presentation more than the policies, which makes it slightly more inclusive. The pollsters say that the UK campaign changes only a small number of people's minds -- and my guess is that most Brits here don't really want to talk party politics, given its depressing state -- so there's greater interest in the mechanics of campaigning, especially in the wake of the US electoral juggernaut.
posted by holgate at 3:07 AM on May 16, 2001

Plus, the proportion of UK members is much smaller, so I'd imagine the number of posts on the election will be proportionally lower too.
posted by Markb at 5:40 AM on May 16, 2001

I'd say post away as long as the link is informative. As long as I am learning something about what's going on across the pond, I'll read it.
posted by trox at 6:40 AM on May 16, 2001

[sincere part] I think it's interesting. I look forward to it. [jokey part] Of course, it's puny compared to our SUPER BIG IMPORTANT election, but you Brits deserve your little discussion too.
posted by rodii at 9:30 AM on May 17, 2001

The UK election - indeed, the UK government - fascinates me. I'm all for more posts on the matter.
posted by aaron at 11:52 AM on May 17, 2001

As long as British pols keep clocking people, I'll keep reading.
posted by frykitty at 11:10 PM on May 19, 2001

The UK elections are as unimportant to most of us in the UK as to those of you world-wide. Of course, it's great to hear funny stories about John Prescott, but that's about it.

Of course, I think UK politics should be discussed here. After all, there's 101 posts about even more boring topics each week. It's a public forum.

That said, the UK elections are considerably less important than the US ones. I enjoyed the whole US episode, and since US politics is important to Western society as a whole (hey, you nearly created WW3 a few weeks ago) it's all good.
posted by wackybrit at 12:10 PM on May 20, 2001