provocative phrases

When politicians use the words "our friends" when their other words and actions have never indicated friendliness.

Similarly, "with the greatest respect".

"bleeding hearts" when discussing subjects such as penal reform.

PECS

Suziewoozie I think I feel that type of poster is the kid who is sweetness and delight in the classroom gaining the approval of the teacher but is sly and spiteful in the corridor and toilets!

Unlike the sort of kid who is sly and spiteful in every area of the school perhaps?

Eloethan I agree with you on ‘bleeding hearts’ it’s just a put down.
I think it used to be called ‘bleeding heart liberals’ it’s a phrase that’s been around a long time ( from the US I think.)

To the right wing populists in the USA, there is no difference between the terms "liberal", "socialist" and "communist". They are all terms of abuse.

Whereas we talk about our National Health Service, which is not just accepted, but highly regarded, even loved, right across the political spectrum, in the USA they use the term "socialised medicine" to decry the very concept of access to healthcare for all, free at the point of use.

There are also perfectly acceptable phrases which are misused by populists to the extent that they become dog whistles.

"Common sense" means "our opinion" because "people like us" all agree.

Another one is "People are saying" or "People are thinking" or "People want.." Which people say or think or want the policy you are promoting? What is the evidence?

Sometimes it is just a case of repeating unsubstantiated claims or even outright lies enough times in the hope that eventually people believe it to be true.

Sadly this tactic can be successful, as we saw when Cummings instructed his army of brexit phone canvassers to keep repeating "£350 million and Turkey"

varian indeed that is the issue.. we read headlines, take in the SPADs soundbites but we rarely read up on the evidence /sources of the 'claims'.
The skill of a good debater is to have evidence, not opinion, to hand so when challenged can defend a position with hard facts.
Some conversations can be based on opinion.. e.g. do you like Chinese food or did you enjoy your holiday? but others need proper knowledge and facts ..otherwise it is just a "yeah but..." argument.

PECS I think it is virtue signalling not “virtual signalling” which would be something else altogether.
But I too despair of the poverty of our language - the memes, the linguistic shortcuts which are often appalling generalisations and the laziness of those in public life who may think they are saying what they mean, but often don’t even mean what they say.
It is a case of “A word means what I want it to mean” ?
Certain phrases and words automatically identify political attitudes and consequently because battle lines are drawn up, rational discussion flies out of the window.

When an acquaintance told me that someone else was a "lefty" it wasn't hard to guess that his position would be right of centre.

Interestingly I've never heard anyone described as "righty" perhaps because that might imply correctness.

That’s because the ‘lefty’ thing comes from the US , as many things and words do, like ‘pinko’ as well.
It was adopted into use here at some point.

lemongrove

That’s because the ‘lefty’ thing comes from the US , as many things and words do, like ‘pinko’ as well.
It was adopted into use here at some point.

I always understood that it came from the French Revolution?

MawB Virtual signalling bloody predictive text!

Johnson has apparently said that young Rashford was 'virtue signalling' - says it all, no?

Where did you read that Biba?

nobody vould say that about Johnson..he does nothing virtuous

biba70

Johnson has apparently said that young Rashford was 'virtue signalling' - says it all, no?

I have attempted to Google this assertion and can find no sign of it.
If you can link to it Biba I apologise, but if it cannot be substantiated I think you should be more careful of quoting unsubstantiated anecdotal sources, however much they may suit your agenda.
Chinese Whispers do not exist only in China.

biba70

Johnson has apparently said that young Rashford was 'virtue signalling' - says it all, no?

How dare BoJo say that about Marcus Rashford? MR has done more positive acts as a footballer than BoJo has a PM. Where and when was that reported biba? Was it today?

Chewbacca

biba70

Johnson has apparently said that young Rashford was 'virtue signalling' - says it all, no?

How dare BoJo say that about Marcus Rashford? MR has done more positive acts as a footballer than BoJo has a PM. Where and when was that reported biba? Was it today?

I don’t think he did say that - an MP during the FSM debate referred sneeringly to virtue signalling celebrities and we all know he meant MR but BJ hasn’t

Brendan Clarke-Smith, MP for Bassetlaw, said he did not believe in “nationalising children” and asked: “Where is the slick PR campaign encouraging absent parents to take some responsibility for their children?
He added: “Instead, we need to get back to the idea of taking responsibility, and this means less celebrity virtue-signalling on Twitter by proxy and more action to tackle the real causes of child poverty.

Tory David Simmonds (Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner) also said: “”What does it say about the Opposition’s priorities that all of their interests are simply swept aside in favour of currying favour with wealth and power and celebrity status.

Now I have no doubt that Mr Rashford is an expert in his own experience, but we should not forget that the experiences he so movingly described took place under a Labour government then supposedly at the peak of its powers in tackling child poverty in this country.

However, I can't find a report of Johson passing such a comment.

^Devon MP Neil Parish has been accused of “virtue signalling” for calling on the government to change its policy on free school meals - despite abstaining from Wednesday's vote. Neil Parish, Conservative MP for The Tiverton and Honiton, Devon, is calling for ministers to change their policy on offering children free school meals during the holidays.
However, Mr Parish was the only Devon MP to not vote on the Labour Party's motion on Wednesday evening.^

He said abstained to demonstrate his dissatisfaction with the government position.

I think my MP should have abstained.

Chewbacca

biba70

Johnson has apparently said that young Rashford was 'virtue signalling' - says it all, no?

How dare BoJo say that about Marcus Rashford? MR has done more positive acts as a footballer than BoJo has a PM. Where and when was that reported biba? Was it today?

Chewie - he didn’t, that was my point.
I would never volunteer as a BoJo apologist but yet again an unsubstantiated anecdote has started a hare running - or a Chinese Whisper.

Oh! Well thanks for putting the correct facts up Suziewoozie and Maw, my apologies.

So when biba70 said Johnson has apparently said that young Rashford was 'virtue signalling' - says it all, no? The answer would be..... No?

That’s right - No.

Thank you for puting me right and giving the facts, Callistemon. I did use the word 'apparently' has I did not have actual evidence. I am however fairly sure, that Brendan Clarke-Smith's words were quite representative of a section of the Conservative party- including Johnson.

So apologies- and yet, not an 'anecdote' as this Conservative MP did clearly, say this- quite disgustingly.

As Lord Griffiths so wonderfully said in the House of Lords 'Boys attending Eton probably cannot understand this' describing how his single mother dreaded the holidays, as her benefits could not feed both the boys and herself- and how he and Rashford can still remember those days so lividly.

Oh how you disappoint Biba! Not only were you wrong, which is bad enough given your intellect and education, you can’t even apologise properly!

As to your second post, Marcus Rashford’s primary school years were under a labour government- will you blame them?

biba70

As Lord Griffiths so wonderfully said in the House of Lords 'Boys attending Eton probably cannot understand this' describing how his single mother dreaded the holidays, as her benefits could not feed both the boys and herself- and how he and Rashford can still remember those days so lividly.

That's very sad biba70 but what does it have to do with your incorrect post @ 10.24? I honestly believed that what you'd posted was a fact and was outraged on Marcus Rashford's behalf. Until 3 others posters pointed out that it wasn't true at all. Just a simple "I'm sorry, I got that wrong", would be better than deflection.