With the news from the high court today, it looks as though the Mackems are finally going to Europe - allbeit kicking and screaming as they go. :-)

http://www.metricmartyrs.sageweb.co.uk/

Monday, 18 February, 2002, 12:24 GMT 'Metric martyrs' lose court battle

Mr Thoburn was fined for selling bananas by the pound

Five market traders have lost their High Court battle for the legal right to trade in pounds and ounces.
Lord Justices John Laws and Peter Crane gave their decision on Monday to the traders - dubbed "metric martyrs" - who are from London, Surrey, Wearside and Cornwall.

Their lawyers argued in the High Court that making it "a criminal offence to sell a pound of bananas in order to please Brussels" threatened to cause a "deep constitutional crisis".

Neil Herron, spokesman for the five traders, said defeat meant "the death of democracy" but pledged that the fight would continue

The report does not mention who the customer was for these bananas ...

-- Anonymous, February 18, 2002

Answers

LoL Jonno. Great spot. Was that "five traders" or Ffyffe traders?

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2002

And where did the Brussels come into it? Sprouting nonsense from Europe again, eh.

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2002

However Jonno does not care enough to rubbish other teams or its fans????????????????????

I would call you 2 faced but if you had 2 faces you would defo NOT use that one!

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2002

Glad you find this amusing. What was the last point of principle a mag was arrested for? Whether to have 13 pints or stick on 10?

I dismissed the Peyter Reed [sic] joke as protocol.

ML3

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2002

sk and ML4, other than the title and the compulsory connection between the mentioned items what is your problem?

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2002

My problem, sir, is the unclean ridiculing fellow mackems and my team. It's my duty to defend them.:op

ML3

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2002

ML4? Who he?

I totally agree with ML3 in the fact that we need to defend ourselves against the infidels of the tyne. Well the few that actually reside there anyway!

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2002

I do not have a problem with that however where is the ridicule?

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2002

My main problem with this is that the almighty Jonno,king of the dictionary,posted on Sunday that he does not care enough to ridicule other teams or its fans.

Now if the mackems into europe does NOT apply to Sunderland football club then I apologise.

Hypocritical Jonno? Surely not.

Alan Robsons celebrity double? You never know.

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2002

"With the news from the high court today, it looks as though the Mackems are finally going to Europe - allbeit kicking and screaming as they go. :-)"

No ridicule in that whatsoever, no siree...!

ML3

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2002

SK - Can I just ask what your problem with Geordies who no longer live in Newcastle is ? You may have had this "discussion" before but I might have missed it.

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2002

Besides which, according to the Sunday papers, in terms of local support, the Makems only have one percent more local supporters than us..(54% as opposed to 53%).

I have to say that SK and ML get what they deserve if they come on here in the same way as anyone from here who goes on to a Makem site deserves every thing they get.

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2002

Kats,just a cheap shot really along the lines of Sunderland and Europe,monkeys heeed,bananas,etc etc etc.

Dougal: divent be like that man,I mean woman. I come in peace yet I am often offered war.

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2002

We interrupt this thread to warn you that you may be offended or feel ridiculed by the following if you are a Mackem with absolutely no sense of humour. Otherwise it's perfectly harmless.

1. This is not about Sunderland Football Club or it's fans but about a Sunderland market trader.
2. I'm not ridiculing him. In fact I have a good deal of sympathy for his cause, without necessarily disagreeing with the court ruling.
3. It's a light-hearted joke. I don't expect to be called two-faced or a hypocrite on the basis of that. Where is the ridicule?

Come on Mackems develop a sense of humour. How could Sunderland in Europe be about Football? :-) (Oh - and that too is a joke by the way and should not be regarded as ridicule. )

My problem, sir, is the unclean ridiculing fellow mackems

Well beneath your normal standards there ML3. A light hearted joke about a news item - ridicule? And I've just come out the bath. Every February - whether I need it or not! :-)

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2002

Although I hesitate in anything supporting makems, I happen to sympathise with the Imperial measurements brigade. It really is pathetic nit picking by their local authority to prosecute greengrocers for selling goods by a long established system. Eventually we may all speak and 'do' metric but I will always drink pints, ask for a pound of apples, weigh myself by the stone and height in feet and inches.

I thought there was a get-out whereby loose produce (i.e. not packaged) was exempt? Which is why we all ask for a pint of (and not 568ml) of Exhibition.

If you don't know your cwt from your kiloton check this

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2002

If a mag came onto RTG and posted light hearted banter and reasoned argument in defence of his or her team under a single, readily identifiable name (such as Kats, Paully or Jay) they would have my respect.

This is simply what soops and I are doing. If we don't have your respect, that's tough. Would you prefer the likes of FTM and the barbarian on your board?

ML3

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2002

If you carry on with this subversive nonsense Bobby you'll have Scotland Metre down on you like a tonne of bricks.

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2002

Oh yes Jonno ,I feel you may be learning a valuable lesson here today.

Whats good for the goose is good for the gnder( or something)

You see,I posted an article from a MAN CITY fanzine and you got on your high-horse,or was it rocking horse?

And as you see yourself as the gaurdian of the bbs' moral welfare you proceeded to attack all 'outsiders'

Now when the shoe is on the other foot you attempt to play it down.

What is the next step?

Are you going to play your" I was being ironic card?"

Or will you be using bigger words than me ?

I consider myself to be a fairminded soul and in my view on here there are some intelligent people who are that way without trying.You are NOT one of them.ML3 is.And some of your black and white mates are as well.

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2002

Eeee...ML5 you don't half bite down hard on the bait, do you lad? :-)

Anyway, that link should have (like this) that can translate measures more bizarre and romantic than Imperial. BTW, did you know that the description of one 'inch' was originally 'three barley corns laid in a row'.

Imperial measurements are part of the very fabric of English culture - cricket pitches are 22 yds long, or 1 chain (coincidentally, the same length and width as a Saxon ploughed furrow before enclosure). For more interestless facts...yawn...

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2002

If a mag came onto RTG and posted light hearted banter and reasoned argument in defence of his or her team under a single, readily identifiable name (such as Kats, Paully or Jay) they would have my respect

They would I'm sure have YOUR respect ML3 as you have proved yourself an OK character in this forum before. (Funnily enough I was just wondering yesterday where you'd got to as we hadn't seen you in a while). However, from my limited knowledge of RTG (one visit - one nausea attack - no posts) I don't think they would get a reception as civil as the one accorded yourself and SK. That's SK who claims to come in peace but is happy to post in this forum an abusive anti- Geordie rant from a Man City fanzine. Yet still he is treated with civility here despite asking for trouble. (To test that hypothesis I challenge someone to post the Man City rant on RTG and change Mags to Mackems - what would the response be?)

Have standards risen at all on RTG lately? I hope you guys aren't going to steal our "vicars" tag. :-)

May the Lord be with you ML3. You are welcome in our humble parish.

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2002

More tea?

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2002

I haven't yet recovered from being a "caption competion" on RTG !!! ;-)

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2002

I'm only funning about in a pastoral sort of way Bobby. Dougal's a Consett lass (or should that be a Consett-ina?) so she is automatically absolved of any sins of the flesh (even supporting the Toon) as far as I'm concerned. A thousand Hail Murrays should do it...

I've been taking advantage of the mid-season break (AKA FA Cup round 4+) to take a winter holiday but I'm back and ready for banter. Don't think for one minute us being sh*te will stop me from posting to the contrary.;o)

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2002

To answer ML#3's question - no, I don't want FTM or Barbarian (probably one and the same) on here with their abusive filth, whereas you and soops are very welcome. The difference being you have something to say.

I certainly expect you to defend your corner, indeed I'd be disappointed if you didn't. Handled properly this can, and has, lead to some enjoyable banter.

Regarding RTG, I only stumbled on their once, tried the olive branch thing, and got hung, drawn and bloody quartered for my trouble - principally, but not exclusively, from that ameobic moron, Myers/Krist (possibly aka Barbarian) - to the extent I haven't been back since - and frankly wouldn't waste my time. I would like to think ML#3 & soops have received a better welcome on here than I got on RTG.

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2002

Oh yes Jonno ,I feel you may be learning a valuable lesson here today.

Indeed I am SK. I had no idea just how thick you really are. :-)

(To be honest I had my suspicions.)

Now here's a tip from the "King of the dictionary". Look up "light", "hearted" and "banter". Now tell me what you don't understand about the three of them together.

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2002

I imagine it will be exactly the same bit that you struggle to understand.

And as for being *thick-please step over to RTG and then I will make you look *thick with back-up from my collegues.

*Thick: Being outnumbered by rivals and not getting any credit even if you make a good point.

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2002

Clarky,I have been made "welcome" from you amoungst others.

You were actually one of the intelligent ones that I was refering to.

It seems that you can develop a point where as others seek to disect all I say.(Step forward Alan Robson)

AS I have put above at times I am quite simply outnumbered. It happens in the boozer as well and to be honest I take it as a tribute because at times people will not "take me on" one to one.

Often their only comfort is to throw in an insult and sink back behind the well-stcked black and white lines. Yes step forward Alan......

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2002

Clarky,I have been made "welcome" from you amoungst others.

You were actually one of the intelligent ones that I was refering to.

It seems that you can develop a point where as others seek to disect all I say.(Step forward Alan Robson)

AS I have put above at times I am quite simply outnumbered. It happens in the boozer as well and to be honest I take it as a tribute because at times people will not "take me on" one to one.

Often their only comfort is to throw in an insult and sink back behind the well-stacked black and white lines. Yes step forward Alan......

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2002

SK - you don't like being called thick. Well don't call me a hypocrite. It's a charge that will not stand as I demonstrated to you last time you took me on with the same slur.

I have no further time for you and your pathetic and erroneous prejudices about Newcastle fans.

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2002

If I am to be tried in the court of Jonno then you can expect to be tried in my court.

I wish I could be so high and mighty like you so I am above critisism.

Sadly I am not.But I DO realise this.You ,it appears,do not realise this.

Sitting in your cyber-ivory tower you obviously believe you word is gospel.Well I can see that there is no way to change your mind.

Enjoy your lonely zenith of humanity and knowledge and keep reading that dictionary!

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2002

I was quite enjoying this soap opera until it turned into "Moonlighting"...

The definition of a "hypocrite" on www.dictionary.com as follows:

hypocrite

\Hyp"o*crite\, n. [F., fr. L. hypocrita, Gr. ? one who plays a part on the stage, a dissembler, feigner. See Hypocrisy.] One who plays a part; especially, one who, for the purpose of winning approbation of favor, puts on a fair outside seeming; one who feigns to be other and better than he is; a false pretender to virtue or piety; one who simulates virtue or piety.

Seeing as we are all posting under aliases and trying to create a cyber persona, which is inevitably different to our real one, we are all hypocrites. It's better to be someone who aspires to standards and fails than have no standards at all and IMHO Jonno aspires to very high standards indeed.

From my various discussions with soops under our hypocritical alter- egos I have ascertained he is a well built lad and is therefore "thick", as am I.

Now less it the pair o'yers.

Yours

Thick, hypocritical ML3

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2002

God, I hate the week before derbies: polite exchanges are, at heart, no different from the Makems practising their verses about YBR's incontinency and us warming up for a chorus of "SuperKev's on his way to Tottenham, Ratboy's on his way to Spurs".

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2002

Dear thick ML4,

Why do our persona have to be inevitably different from our real selves? I do not use my real name on here because with an earlier version I was bombarded with foul email from supporters of your team, my then 12 yo daughter used the same email system.

I am known away from here as gus also. If anyone wants my email address I will forward it to them. This is all over a piece of nonsense that I read and took as a couple of light hearted references to the football team in the same town as one of the defendants. I did not see any personal attacks or offensive invictive. Maybe I am too thick skinned?

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2002

Ooh I hadn't looked on here for a day or so and it's all kicked off....I do wish you'd tell me before you start arguing :)

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2002

But what is a "real self"? How I perceive myself could be totally different from how you might perceive me? In any society or group, humans subconciously aspire towards acceptable behaviour for that group. It is therefore fair to say that people are always aspiring to be something they are not under other circumstances.

Or a meringue.

ML3

PS Now can we get back to talking about how sh*te the mags are?;O)

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2002

But if individuals act in a certain way within group settings it is also fair to say they are acting as themselves, since the 'act' is part of their psychological makeup.

Point in case. I know a GP in west London who was a caustic and opinionated little s**t. Arrogant and condescending. On one occasion there was a little show at a new health centre for Tony Blair, his missus and Frank Dobson (when Health Secretary). We all stood around, shook hands and smiled when introduced - Dr X gushed like a VIth form schoolgirl desperate to impress the new head of department. Made me want to vomit. But that was her all over - two-faced, and twatful.

Back to the BBS, but. I don't hide behind anything (except min if it kicks off). I usually call myself Rob, but I've also been called Bob and Bobby. I also use a proper email address 'cos I don't mind a bit of online agro :-) Once got an abusive mail from a 5th form lad - daft get sent it from his school mail, so I contacted his head teacher. Brown was not only his name but the colour of his pants, I understand.

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2002

Giving the impression of being a bit thick also works quite well, Gus.:-{E}

Must admit, I just cannot be arsed to get into this name calling crap, however personal it might get. Demeans both parties IMHO.

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2002

I use my correct name, my email address as shown IS my email address, and I've got nowt to hide from anyone. I love it when we get people other than Toon supporters on here (BTW, where IS LR?)and divven't mind what you say.

I won't get involved though. I refuse to have a battle of wits with an unarmed man.

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2002