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An Interesting Bit of Fluff From You Gov - Public Perceptions of Fictional Characters' Politics
http://cdn.yougov.com/cumulus_uploads/d
So YouGov did a survey on which party people think various fictional characters would vote for. From the little I know, I would suspect most of them are correct, but I want to talk about the one I know is definitely false, and the one I think is probably wrong.
Firstly, Victor Meldrew is definitely a Labour voter. This is canonical, he talks about it in the show, he reads the Daily Mirror onscreen on a regular basis, and in one episode is shown roundly abusing a Tory canvassar, and in another episode castigating a Tory politician in a hospital. So why do the majority of people think of him as a Tory?
There's a definite stereotype effect going on; most of the Tories are characters people don't like, or love to hate, and most of the Labour characters are seen as good fun but a bit thick. The one Lib Dem is the Vicar of Dibley - worthy, does good works and makes people happier, but is ultimately pretty powerless and someone to feel sorry for. So I think people put Victor Meldrew as a Tory because he's so bloody grumpy, and people see him as selfishly grumpy - but he's totally not. He's a tireless crusader against injustice, not just for himself, but for others (see the episode set in the Old People's home), and he has the Labourite's unshakeable conviction that the government ought to sort things out.
The other one that I think is a bit off is the Doctor. The biggest result for him is "wouldn't vote", which is probably correct, because I think the timelord maxim of non interference still has SOME traction on him... But then the next biggest is Green LOL! The Doctor is a scientist. The Greens, despite their hearts being in the right place, are totally wedded to woo. Add to that their occasional authoritarian tendencies and... no, the Doctor is a Lib Dem. I shall stubbornly cling to that belief.
So YouGov did a survey on which party people think various fictional characters would vote for. From the little I know, I would suspect most of them are correct, but I want to talk about the one I know is definitely false, and the one I think is probably wrong.
Firstly, Victor Meldrew is definitely a Labour voter. This is canonical, he talks about it in the show, he reads the Daily Mirror onscreen on a regular basis, and in one episode is shown roundly abusing a Tory canvassar, and in another episode castigating a Tory politician in a hospital. So why do the majority of people think of him as a Tory?
There's a definite stereotype effect going on; most of the Tories are characters people don't like, or love to hate, and most of the Labour characters are seen as good fun but a bit thick. The one Lib Dem is the Vicar of Dibley - worthy, does good works and makes people happier, but is ultimately pretty powerless and someone to feel sorry for. So I think people put Victor Meldrew as a Tory because he's so bloody grumpy, and people see him as selfishly grumpy - but he's totally not. He's a tireless crusader against injustice, not just for himself, but for others (see the episode set in the Old People's home), and he has the Labourite's unshakeable conviction that the government ought to sort things out.
The other one that I think is a bit off is the Doctor. The biggest result for him is "wouldn't vote", which is probably correct, because I think the timelord maxim of non interference still has SOME traction on him... But then the next biggest is Green LOL! The Doctor is a scientist. The Greens, despite their hearts being in the right place, are totally wedded to woo. Add to that their occasional authoritarian tendencies and... no, the Doctor is a Lib Dem. I shall stubbornly cling to that belief.
no subject
And I know better than anyone that the position of a party's leadership and its members can be at massive odds, but that doesn't change the fact that this is a sentiment that seems to me common among Labour members. Perhaps you present differently to outsiders than you do to each other?
You can think I'm lying if you like, but I know I'm not. However, aware as I am that the plural of anecdote is not data, I fear there's little point in either of us trying to convince the other that our anedotes are better.
* shrug *
I also think I've responded remarkably calmly to your personal slurs so far, but if they continue I might stop doing so.
no subject
It's not a slur to challenge a blatant untruth.
I accept that you may think that it's your own personal experience - but all the
Labour Party? Really.
If I said something like "in my experience all Lib-Dem members are prone to twisting the truth to fitting the message they want to give - and they never, ever stick to their principles", you'd rightly be offended.
I'm not saying that, of course. I'm challenging your libellous assertations about all Labour party members. And I don't give tuppence - really, I don't - about you staying 'remarkably calm'. If this is being 'remarkably calm, I'd hate to see you being pettily and randomly rude, instead of just pretending to be so while staying 'remarkably calm'. No, I don't want to continue this discussion, either.