What I’m saying is that whilst actual Tankies did, and still do, exist you do not have to be one to be called one. It’s now become a catch-all slur applied well outside of its original target.

Another classic example of a technically correct answer missing nuance and context.

You genuinely have never heard it used in a pejorative way against any red? I never said all commies were tankies. I explained the words etymology and then its subsequent broad (mis)application in current online parlance. Hope you’re not reading theory with those comprehension skills, comrade.

Tankies were originally members of the Communist Party of Great Britain who were in favour of Soviet tanks mowing down first Hungarian and secondly Czechoslovakian ( as they were then ) protesters. These days it’s used as a pejorative towards anyone who has a good thing to say about communism / socialism etc.

I have zero intention of blocking any .ml but, hilariously, I see they’ve deleted one of my comments. I “think” it was because I had the absolute audacity to suggest that there might be one or two bad apples in Hamas. I’ll still pop by their instances though… I’m secure enough to read things I don’t agree with without having a meltdown and trying to erase it from existence. Having said that I do realise why a lot of people would prefer to sidestep the ml area of the fediverse.

The fact that raping animals is illegal is not the reason I don’t rape animals. If the only thing stopping you from committing horrific crimes is a belief in the sky man then I suggest you remove yourself from the general population (become a hermit) so us normal people don’t have to worry about you losing faith in your invisible friend and going berserk at a petting zoo.

“poorly designed” is perhaps the weirdest complaint I’ve ever heard about London - those pesky Romans should’ve had a better vision for the city rather than the jumbled mess we have 2,000 years later.

Unfortunately illegal is illegal so, yes, they probably would be prosecuted. It’s the “crime” bit that matters. I think there was a German (lol) cannibal who consensually ate some bits of people. Prosecuted.

Here’s the thing: the Zionist movement (as opposed to Jews, generally) has the stated aim of “removing” the current population of Palestine and refilling it with people of a different ethnoculture. The only thing that all Palestinians can currently agree on is that the Zionist policy of Lebensraum (yeah - I said it) must be stopped. Some people only have the clothes on their back and the rubble under their feet. At that point you’ll join with anybody to remove the genocidal apartheid yoke of the oppressor. The inevitable infighting can wait until the external aggressor is defeated. A complete human tragedy for millions is the result. Both sets of lunatic religious extremists making misery for the people in the middle.

That looks very much like the classic totally unverifiable headline that has bought modern news media a terrible name… btw you’ve got a fantastic user name for this topic.

Justify? Probably not. Explain? Most definitely. The state of Israel is the only thing that benefits from Hamas.

Am I twelve? No. I’m nearly fifty and for almost thirty years have lost friends and colleagues to Hamas scum… not sure why you’d ever think I’d support genocidal religious extremists. My original point still stands - because that is the general consensus amongst all the refugees I’ve dealt with. Maybe you’ve dealt with different parts of the strip where attitudes might be different?

Imagine being bullied and humiliated every single day of your life… then somebody gives that bully a black eye. That person would be your hero.

Speaking of optics: Did Israel mention why he was in battle fatigues? I was given the impression that he’d be dressed as a doctor / ambulance driver / UN worker etc but he looks suspiciously like a soldier.

I really miss the flashing LED from my BlackBerry Z30 - so long ago.

I’m not a fan either. Rewatched Trainspotting a year or two ago - much better than I remembered. Enjoyed Shallow Grave and 28 Days at the time. The rest I ain’t seen. Tried to watch the Beach but bailed after 20 minutes. Absolute junk.

I personally don’t think Danny Boyle is struggling for attention; one of his films won eight Oscars. I think people in film world know who he is.

Because of the camera they used? Really?

Exactly. He may well be rich relative to a poor person but in the scheme of overall wealth hoarding he’s not even a blip on the radar. The reason he got the sentence he got is nothing to do with his assets. It would be glib to suggest otherwise.

Huw Edwards may - or may not - be many things but rich is not one of them. He was a television news anchor on the BBC. A bang-average Premier League footballer could easily out earn him.