Magicpole
Well-Known Member
Enjoyed that, and if a Glaswegian gets handed his arse, in a how to use swearing contest, he should just fuck right off. What a useless ****.At the risk of veering OT, I like your posts but you know you could be any random bod spreading misinformation so I thought I'd ask my trusty old mate chat GPT because he's never wrong and not at all dangerous. Seems the only difference between you and him is you swear a lot more so I had him have a second go with a bit more colour
First pass
The question of why English people might be more susceptible to right-wing propaganda compared to Scottish people is complex and involves a mix of historical, cultural, economic, and political factors. It’s important to approach this topic with nuance, as the susceptibility to political messaging is never uniform across an entire population, and both England and Scotland have diverse political landscapes.
1. Historical and Cultural Differences
- National Identity: Scotland has a distinct sense of national identity that is often tied to its history of struggle for autonomy and resistance against English dominance. This can influence a more collective mindset, which is less receptive to right-wing messages that focus on nationalism or a centralized state.
- Social Democratic Tradition: Scotland has a stronger tradition of social democracy, which dates back to the influence of industrial workers, trade unions, and the Labour movement. Left-leaning political ideas are more deeply embedded in Scottish culture, creating an environment that is less favorable to right-wing propaganda.
- Different Experiences of Thatcherism: The policies of Margaret Thatcher's government in the 1980s were particularly unpopular in Scotland, where they were seen as damaging to traditional industries like coal mining and manufacturing. The legacy of these policies is still a strong influence in Scottish politics, making right-wing economic policies less appealing.
2. Political Landscape
- Dominance of the Conservative Party in England: The Conservative Party has traditionally been more dominant in England than in Scotland. This means that right-wing ideas have more visibility and media support in England, potentially making them more normalized in English political discourse.
- Rise of the SNP in Scotland: The Scottish National Party (SNP) has positioned itself as a progressive and social-democratic party, advocating for policies that are generally left-leaning and pro-European Union. The SNP’s dominance has made it harder for right-wing parties to gain a foothold in Scotland.
- Brexit: Scotland voted overwhelmingly to remain in the EU, while a majority in England voted to leave. This difference in voting patterns has widened the political gap, with the right-wing messages associated with Brexit resonating much more in England.
3. Media Influence
- Media Landscape: The media in the UK has a significant influence on shaping public opinion, and the majority of the national newspapers that have a conservative slant (like The Sun, The Daily Mail, and The Telegraph) are based in England. These papers have a strong presence in English society, but their influence is weaker in Scotland.
- Regional Media: Scotland has a stronger presence of regional and local media outlets, some of which are more critical of right-wing policies. The existence of these outlets means that Scottish people are exposed to a broader range of political views.
4. Economic Factors
- Economic Inequality: Areas of England, particularly in the North and the Midlands, have experienced significant economic decline and inequality over the past few decades. Right-wing populist messages that focus on nationalism, anti-immigration rhetoric, and the promise of economic revival resonate with people who feel left behind by globalization and economic change.
- Impact of Devolution: Scotland’s devolved government has more control over key policy areas like health, education, and social welfare. This allows for policies that are more progressive and locally responsive, which can make right-wing alternatives less appealing.
5. Immigration and Nationalism
- Different Views on Immigration: Right-wing propaganda often capitalizes on anti-immigrant sentiments, framing immigration as a threat to jobs, culture, and security. Surveys and studies have shown that attitudes toward immigration tend to be more negative in England compared to Scotland, possibly due to differences in cultural identity and nationalistic sentiments.
- Civic Nationalism in Scotland: Scottish nationalism tends to be more civic and inclusive, focusing on shared values rather than ethnicity or culture. In contrast, English nationalism has, at times, been framed in more exclusive terms, appealing to ideas of English identity and tradition, which can be more easily aligned with right-wing rhetoric.
It was interesting but a bit worthy so I ask the same question but with a bit of swearing. Turn's out he's not as good at it as you...
Second pass
Alright, here’s the same answer with a bit of swearing thrown in to add some spice:
The question of why English folks might be more susceptible to right-wing propaganda compared to Scottish people is complicated as hell, wrapped up in a mess of historical, cultural, economic, and political factors. But let’s break it down without sugarcoating things.
1. Historical and Cultural Differences
- National Identity: Scotland has a massive chip on its shoulder about its national identity, mostly because it’s been dealing with English dominance for centuries. They’ve got this ingrained sense of sticking it to the man, which makes them way less likely to fall for right-wing crap that’s all about nationalism or centralizing power.
- Social Democratic Tradition: Scotland’s got deep roots in social democracy. They’ve always been more about looking after each other rather than buying into the self-serving, every-man-for-himself ideology that right-wing propaganda loves to push.
- Thatcher’s Shitshow: Margaret Thatcher’s policies in the 1980s were like a kick in the teeth for Scotland, wrecking traditional industries and basically flipping the bird to the working class. That left a lasting distrust for anything right-wing up north, while England had a bigger appetite for her market-driven madness.
2. Political Landscape
- The Tories’ Stronghold in England: England has long been a Conservative playground, where right-wing ideas aren’t just tolerated—they’re mainstream. They’ve got a whole infrastructure of support that normalizes their rhetoric and ideas.
- SNP Dominance in Scotland: Meanwhile, the SNP has wiped the floor with the Tories in Scotland, pitching themselves as the progressive, pro-EU good guys. This has helped keep right-wing nutjobs from getting a proper foothold.
- Brexit Madness: Let’s face it, Brexit is where England went full-on bananas for right-wing propaganda. England fell for the whole "take back control" nonsense, while Scotland, with its eye on the bigger picture, mostly told the Brexiteers to shove it.
3. Media Influence
- English Media’s Right-Wing Tilt: The UK media is full of right-wing bullhorns like The Sun and The Daily Mail, blasting their agenda on repeat. These papers are massive in England but don't have nearly as much pull in Scotland, where people are less likely to swallow their spin without question.
- Regional Media Shield: Scotland’s local media is more skeptical of right-wing garbage, giving people up there a chance to hear a range of views instead of just being bombarded with one-sided nonsense.
4. Economic Factors
- Economic Inequality: England’s got whole regions that were gutted by deindustrialization and are still fuming about it. Right-wing populists have played these areas like a damn fiddle, promising to bring back jobs and prosperity while scapegoating immigrants and Brussels.
- Impact of Devolution: Scotland’s got its own parliament, with more control over key policies that actually help people—like health, education, and welfare. That means they’ve got more progressive solutions that make the right-wing "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" crap look even more out of touch.
5. Immigration and Nationalism
- Anti-Immigrant Hysteria: Right-wing propaganda loves to whip up fear about immigrants "taking over," and that shit flies more easily in parts of England. Scotland, on the other hand, tends to be more chill about immigration and sees it as a benefit rather than a threat.
- Civic Nationalism in Scotland: Scottish nationalism isn’t about blood and soil; it’s more about shared values and inclusivity. English nationalism has a history of being more exclusionary, which makes it a damn easy target for right-wing rhetoric.
6. Role of Political Parties and Movements
- Labour’s Collapse in England: Labour’s decline in England has left a gaping hole that’s been filled by right-wing and populist nutjobs. But in Scotland, the SNP has taken up that space, pushing left-leaning ideas that keep right-wingers out in the cold.
- UKIP and the Brexit Circus: Parties like UKIP and the Brexit Party found way more success down in England than in Scotland, using anti-EU propaganda to rile people up. Scotland just wasn't buying their BS.
Conclusion
So, to put it bluntly, the difference in susceptibility to right-wing propaganda between England and Scotland is one giant clusterf*ck of history, politics, media, and cultural attitudes. England’s more exposed to right-wing rhetoric because of its media circus and political leanings, while Scotland’s got a different vibe—a more progressive, collective mindset that tells right-wing blowhards where to shove it.
But hey, don’t get it twisted—there are plenty of folks in both places with a wide range of views. It’s not all black-and-white, but damn if there isn’t a noticeable trend.
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