u/Ticklishchap

For those of you who live in republics (especially republics which were once monarchies): Have you ever voted for a monarchist party in an election and/or would you do so?

For those of us who live in monarchies: Does a pro- or anti-monarchist choice by a party or candidate influence your voting intentions?

To answer the question for myself: In the UK, all the main parties are monarchist by default, in that they accept the status quo of constitutional monarchy. They contain individuals who are republican, of course. (I think that many of the Green Party’s leaders are republicans, which I find baffling, because the King is so committed to the environment - but that’s another discussion. There is also a strong undercurrent of populist republicanism in Reform UK, but I would never consider voting for them anyway.)

It would be a deal-breaker for me, however, if a party adopted a republican stance or a candidate in my parliamentary constituency declared himself a republican.

The question really speaks for itself: which translation of the ‘Analects’ would you regard as most accurate, most in the spirit of the original Chinese and most readable?

Can any of you think of a word (or phrase) for the opposite or reverse of nominative determinism?

An example of the phenomenon I mean: Recently I came across a book called ‘Armed Struggle: A History of the IRA’, by Richard ENGLISH.

I live in a constitutional monarchy and, while our royal family are far from perfect, I support the retention of monarchy. This is because I prefer to have a head of state who is above the political fray and an institution that has strong historical roots. However I accept that republican systems in some European countries work well and that much depends on the country’s historical experience.

How about you? Do those of you who live in monarchies share my view or favour a change to a republic? And do those of you who are citizens of republics favour that system or want a restoration of monarchy?

I am interested in learning more about deities, from a range of cultures, associated with cold weather (including frost and snow) and/or rain (including storms). While I am not relying on Reddit for this research, I would like to gain inspiration - and information - from fellow Redditors. Thanks in advance.

I came across this article by political scientist Mitya Pearson in the Journal of Liberal History (2019) which provides many useful insights into the relationship between the Liberal Party (and later the Liberal Democrats) and the environmental movement, including the Ecology Party (and later the Green Party). The article highlights the strong ecological component of the Liberal tradition in Britain (although the focus is primarily on England) and offers evidence to support the argument that we should reach out even more to environmentally conscious voters.

I am thinking of following a new men’s team sport this autumn, but haven’t decided which one. I am boring friends with the question and so now I am throwing it open to Redditors!

I already follow Rugby (Union) and Cricket because I used to play them both when I was younger, and I half-heartedly follow Football. I would like a change - perhaps a men’s team sport that is not typically British, which is why I am posting here.

All (serious, lol) suggestions welcome.

I find increasingly (although I think it has always been the case) that my primary erotic attraction is towards masculine smells, far more than looks. Indeed, I even have a few kinks involving smells, which I might or might not reveal in due course. … For now, I would be interested to hear whether any of you share this olfactory obsession.

I find increasingly (although I think it has always been the case) that my primary erotic attraction is towards masculine smells, far more than looks. Indeed, I even have a few kinks involving smells, which I might or might not reveal in due course. … For now, I would be interested to hear whether any of you share this olfactory obsession.

Portugal has a strong naval tradition, like the UK. How is this viewed by most Portuguese today? Is it still a strong part of the culture of modern Portugal or is it seen as no longer relevant?

Obrigado.

Is the prevailing form of humour in your country heavy irony or sarcasm? Or is it more direct? Is it subtle or slapstick? Or satirical? Is fart-related humour acceptable? Essentially I am interested in the cultural variations in this area, at least as you see them.

I am interested to know what others think about this as my views are not ‘set in stone’: at this early stage, how could they be? However my initial response is that I would like the party to engage positively with the idea of ‘a more collaborative politics’ and try to make that work. The current adversarial point scoring is getting us nowhere - indeed worse than nowhere.

I also think we should engage positively with the devolution agenda, when it comes, but push for it to go further and work towards a more entrenched federal system. We can push harder on social care reform, electoral reform, the environment and public transport, co-operatives (including housing), closer links with Europe, etc., all from the standpoint of constructive engagement and constructive criticism rather than carping, cynicism and doomsaying.

To sum up: a positive but critically engaged approach would be preferable to opposition for its own sake: we should save the opposition for when it is really needed. If - big if, I know - Burnham manages to address the concerns of left behind voters and lance the hideous boils of right wing populism and Reform UK, that is to be welcomed unequivocally.

As I said, my views are not ‘fixed’ and I am interested in the thoughts of others.

This is something I have thought about for some time, but my post is prompted partly by Makerfield. Andy Burnham was elected as Labour & Co-Operative, joining 43 other Lab & Co-Op MPs. The Northwest of England was the crucible of the cooperative movement; the Rochdale Pioneers launched it in 1844, long before the Labour Party existed. There has been a strong tradition of Liberal involvement in the cooperative sector and I recall that as late as the 1980s the Liberal Party was interested in encouraging cooperatives and recently - I wish I could find it now - I saw a republished article from ‘The Liberator’ on Lib Dem voice suggesting that the Liberals make overtures to the Co-Operative Party and try to wrest it away from Labour!

However we hear very little about this now, although I would have thought that supporting cooperative businesses would be very positive for the party, appealing to both its ‘left’ and ‘right’ flanks and presenting a distinctive approach to economics, beyond market or statist dogmas and rooted in sustainability and localism. There is also a strong case for housing co-operatives as an alternative to private housing associations and properties managed directly by councils.

What do others think about this?

In your attraction to other guys - physical, emotional, erotic, or a combination of all of these - how important to you is smell? I find that it is increasingly central to my sense of attraction and that there are certain masculine smells that can arouse me more quickly than looks, voice or other more obvious characteristics. There’s probably a name for this - olfactophile or something? I wonder if this resonates with any of you.

A couple of weeks ago in conversation I mentioned that Labour has a ‘stonking great majority’ in Parliament. It’s a word I casually use sometimes and it is British slang for ‘big’, ‘impressive’ or ‘an impressive amount/number’. But where does the expression come from? My attempts to find out have so far been a stonking waste of time.

As far as I know, there is no verb ‘to stonk’. There is a noun (of sorts), ‘stonker’ (a Rugby match, for example, could be ‘a real stonker of a game’).

I don’t think that this word is used anywhere other than Britain, although I would be interested to know. Even here, it’s probably a bit old fashioned. Do any of you use the word or know anything about its origins?

Last week my mother passed away aged 90 after suffering from dementia for the past few years. I have had a great response from friends and work colleagues, as well as those who knew my mother: cards, flowers and other gifts, kind messages, offers of help, for which I am immensely grateful.

In another aspect of my life, I have over the past few months, discovered several cousins on my father’s side that I did not previously know existed (this is thanks to AncestryDNA!). I have kept in touch with them from time to time and had made tentative arrangements to meet a few of them who are visiting London in a few weeks. I told them about my mother in a WhatsApp last week.

Anyway, one of these ‘new cousins’ called me on the ‘phone yesterday morning at a busy time when I was awaiting a call from the funeral celebrant. She said nothing about my mother, didn’t ask how I was doing but just asked whether I was free on such and such a date to meet - it would have involved travel across town and an early start and was actually (she couldn’t have known this) very shortly after my mother’s funeral. I made polite excuses about work and funeral arrangements and said I would get back to her.

I am normally quite a laid back man and I don’t get angry or offended easily. However this time I am angry, offended and … amazed. I find it hard to believe that someone could behave like that and not open the conversation with condolences and polite questions. It makes me feel that I want nothing to do with this person. My husband agrees with me, but he was against contact from the start.

So, bros, am I being unreasonable or should I follow my instinct and dismiss this 'new cousin' as toxic and not someone I want in my life?

My question is self-explanatory, I hope. I am interested to know which non-European southern African language is easiest for an Anglophone to learn to basic or moderate levels?