Neowin.net - Word is out: MPs can't talk the talk

Word is out: MPs can't talk the talk

Posted by TheFamousGeoff on 07 July 2003 - 16:13 · 40 comments & 1649 views

Selling politics to today's youth is no easy task. But while Iain Duncan Smith, the Conservative leader, flails in a search for youth- orientated policies, it seems Tom Watson, Labour MP for West Bromwich East, is trying to talk to the kids in language they understand.

Mr Watson uses his "blog", or online diary, to make a direct appeal, telling teenagers that "politics is cool, m'kay?" and they should "cut it with the bling bling and do something for the community, man".

He illustrates his idea of how the young feel, saying: "Nobody ever seems to do anything for The Kids! All the decisions are made by suits, man. That's so lame!!!"

View: The Blog

News source: FT

But it looks like he is missing the mark. "He's trying to be hip, but failing miserably," says James Towers, 16. "He's mixing up what seems to be Gangsta rap with text messaging and internet abbreviations. He even uses the word 'dude', nobody's said that since the 1980s."

Mr Watson, 36, said the posting was ironic. "Not many teens read the site . . but those that do know it's a big joke." This may be borne out by a note at the bottom: "WARNING: Getting involved in politics may cause premature ageing and a sudden loss of friends." www.tom-watson.co.uk/teens

And for the record, here's the entire text...

Teens!

We know that you're too busy fighting off your biological urges and being l33t hax0rs to Get Involved, but politics is cool, m'kay?

Nobody ever seems to do anything for The Kids! All the decisions are made by suits, man. That's so lame!!! We know you think of yourselves as responsible citizens, but what you wanna do is turn that thought into an action, dudes.

Get involved - to the extreme!

The BBC politics for kids/teens site is, like, totally wacked! Ditto for the Parliament education site, which even has a section for younger yoof. Fanta-stick!

YoungGov is totally the business for having your say, and there are even wicked Youth Parliament sites for the UK, Scotland and Europe.

(Hey, chill with the anti-Europe vibes already! You totally won't be able to wear the word 'fcuk' on your shirt anymore if we break our connection with France, y'dig? ROFFLE!)

So, cut it with the bling bling and do something for the community, man. Join in and take action with any of the groovy sites we've listed, or just drop Tom a line for a quiet rap by the electronic e-mail. Tom's well-up on the Interwebnet, and he won't harsh your buzz or dis you down the line.

WARNING: Getting involved in politics may cause premature ageing and a sudden loss of friends.

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(1 reply) #1 Posted by xpablo on 07 Jul 2003 - 16:23: like wow man ! far out dude, what a chill.
What the heck is this doing on Neowin ????

#2 Posted by Arkos Reed on 07 Jul 2003 - 16:23: ooh my

#3 Posted by Neobond on 07 Jul 2003 - 16:24: I think its funny, bit of OT UK news LOLOLOLOLO

Far out man... I mean like, have a cow

#4 Posted by Smeg on 07 Jul 2003 - 16:33: OMFG d00dz, like WTF, it like starts off mm'kay but then getz like totally f0x0red and lam3r to the end, like you know what im saying? like to the extreme!!!! lets piss on france while we're at it too! y'dig interwebnet bling bling? ROFFLE!

#5 Posted by netizen on 07 Jul 2003 - 16:59: He HAS to be writng ironically, right? Sureley there isn't any human alive that stupid? No wait, he works for Tony Blair, I could be wrong!

#6 Posted by epple on 07 Jul 2003 - 17:05: god, i hate this kind of crap. who the **** cares anyway...

(1 reply) #7 Posted by rob.derosa on 07 Jul 2003 - 17:07: Politics is supposed to be serious.

And I think scraping tuition fees is a youth oriented policy

(10 replies) #8 Posted by Mr. Black on 07 Jul 2003 - 17:13: Sounds like another one of those from the older generation trying to talk in our generations language, and it's usually a laugh and a half to see them try. I thought that just seeing the quote "Quit it with the Bling Bling and do something for the Community, man!" Bling Bling is silver jewlery. What a m0ron...

(1 reply) #9 Posted by DaNIsH on 07 Jul 2003 - 17:36: http://search.ft.com/search/article.html?id=030705000198&query=watson&vsc_appId=totalSearch&state=Form

Mr Watson, 36, said the posting was ironic. "Not many teens read the site . . but those that do know it's a big joke." This may be borne out by a note at the bottom: "WARNING: Getting involved in politics may cause premature ageing and a sudden loss of friends." www.tom-watson.co.uk/teens

#10 Posted by madjo on 07 Jul 2003 - 17:41: euh ROFFLE??? hmmmm standing to close to teh drummer? (ba dum bum)

#11 Posted by Daffy_Duck on 07 Jul 2003 - 18:05: He left out the 1 at the end of his !!!.

Here's how it's done:

"Nobody ever seems to do anything for The Kids! All the decisions are made by suits, man. That's so lame!!!!!!!!1"

#12 Posted by sputnik on 07 Jul 2003 - 18:10: someone been watching too much ALI G

#13 Posted by WishX on 07 Jul 2003 - 18:15: Can someone run that whole thing through a "grown up" filter for me?

#14 Posted by unique on 07 Jul 2003 - 18:25

QUOTE

or just drop Tom a line for a quiet rap by the electronic e-mail.

Electronic email? um...as opposed to the non-electronic electronic mail?

#15 Posted by tiddlie on 07 Jul 2003 - 19:00: Shouldnt ROFFLE actually be ROFL (Rolling On the Floor Laughing)????

I think this guy is a bit of a tit really

(2 replies) #16 Posted by rusonjitsu on 07 Jul 2003 - 19:15: what eva happnd 2 talking properly?

burberry sux

(2 replies) #17 Posted by McFly on 07 Jul 2003 - 19:56: I'm 35 and this is frightening...just frightening Next he needs to start talking like ol' Snoop! Shizzle televizzle and all that

#18 Posted by hao2lian on 07 Jul 2003 - 21:23: He seems to be involved in politics but he still does drugs, hmm?

#19 Posted by daveoc64 on 07 Jul 2003 - 21:37: What next politics websites discussing technology?

#20 Posted by philmcneal on 07 Jul 2003 - 22:46: drugs are bad m kay?

#21 Posted by Jugalator on 07 Jul 2003 - 23:30: "The BBC politics for kids/teens site is, like, totally wacked! Ditto for the Parliament education site, which even has a section for younger yoof. Fanta-stick!"

ROFL...

"Fanta-stick"? haha... oh my

#22 Posted by awinn233 on 08 Jul 2003 - 04:17: oh my

#23 Posted by deadmonkey on 08 Jul 2003 - 06:31: I hate to break it to this guy but most teenagers will just think he is an idiot, not being who you are is not going to gain anybodys attention or respect, and that is what an MP needs. Today's youth (I guess I am still kinda in that area) just want to be spoken to on the level, it doesn't matter what terminology you use as long as you understand there problems and actually do something about them they will respect you.

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