The referendum in pictures
In quieter moments recently we’ve been working away on early drafts of our next opinion poll (schedule TBA). We’ve got some interesting questions lined up for it, but it dawned on us earlier that with polls now coming out every other day, it might be fun to do something a bit original and different.
One of the hardest things about writing a poll is wording questions in a way that’s both fair and concise, because a confusingly-phrased one can really mess up the responses. (We actually lost one in our last poll because we hadn’t made it quite clear enough and the results that came back were muddled-up and useless.)
And we thought, what if we did away with words entirely?
The simple reality.
Pick a leader (Level 1 – Easy).
Pick a leader (Level 2 – Difficult).
Spending choices.
Actors who don’t have a vote.
Battle Of The Boyles.
Democracy or feudalism?
Who chooses your government?
Thumbs-aloft double-acts.
Well, you get the idea. Anyone think of any more?
I still think Susan Boyle was set up – couldn’t you use Jim Davidson?
2,000,000 Iraqi and Afghan children in one box, none in the other
Jim Davidson (Offensive English comedian) & Ian Davidson (Offensive Scottish politician)
Food Banks or Blood Banks
Blair McDougall or Blair Jenkins
Wind farms or fracking
Sheer genius, Rev.
Despite the humour of the article, there is an underlying serious point which is well made; that when we’re in the polling booth we have to choose between supporting those who would put Scotland’s interests first and those who may not.
Without wishing to pass comment on the personalities of those pictured I find them all rather telling, and the political ones most especially so.
Super idea!
Highland dancing or Morris Dancing.
Nicola or Gideon.
National instruments.
The Bagpipes or the Bell…
Bottom up or top down. Gives plenty of scope pictorially.
The city/shit on shoe.
Saltire + Oil + £BN’s
London + Oil + £BN’s
Saffron Dickson or (Young) Willie Hague
A bit of a Hobson’s Choice, Cameron ,or Lamont.
REV,your losing the plot,that last ballot paper, in the intrest,s of equality & fairness, there should be two picture,s of Mundell
Whisky or gin
Irn Bru or Vimpto
England- Student loan arrears, final demand, courts summons, for decades…
Scotland-
England- Supersonic rail travel all over south of England
Scotland-
John Swinney or George Osborne
Shipbuilding on the Clyde or Shipbuilding on the Clyde
Rats
or
Gnats
@Jamie Arriere –
Saffron/Hague – brilliant!
Nicola or Nick
T-in the Park / Trooping the Guard
Revised Barnett Formula or 3 Trillion Oil
How about a welcome to England sign and one of those failte gu alba wecome to Scotland blue signs you get on the motorway.
How can I choose between Lamont and Cameron? If that was the choice, I would have to abstain, go to the pub and cry.
Fiddlers (musicians) or Fiddlers (Bankers/MPs/Tabloid editors et al)
Hope vs Fear, Vision vs Screaming, Europe vs Isolation, Responsible Adulthood vs Pocket-moneyed Pubescence. Or, if we want to be kind to Labour, Johann Lamont vs Nigel Farage?
St Mirren
or
???
I never thought I would vote No, but that ballot paper with Lamont and Cameron has me swithering…
pick a leader level 2 may be too difficult,if i’m pushed I’ll have to choose the one who lives in a bubble and sees the world through union jack shades and who will end up in ermine,or the other one…
O/T
Just had a phone call re- R B S survey, key pad reply,s
if any body gets one, please post up on the question,s I
was to quik in cutting it of.
Ahh, now this really stimulates my creative side!
Hang on, I need to call them up and find out if we can get the ballot papers increased to poster size though…
Scotland or north Britain?
Wallace monument / Nelson’s column
Isle of Islay or Isle of Dogs?
Gov. William J. LePetomaine or PM David Cameron
Sovereignty
People
Monarch
link to i1168.photobucket.com
Glasgow Ice cream van / London routemaster
Tennents / London Pride
That was unfair having to make a choice between Lamont or Cameron. I will answer that one when they have both expired. Does that make me an evil Cybernat?
“That was unfair having to make a choice between Lamont or Cameron.”
That one’s for Labour voters, obviously.
Triage or Trident?
Cockroach or William Roache
Stop me if I’m being obtuse here.
A poll could not really be conducted like that, could it,because it would only be open to people being polled online? That would skew it towards we cybernats and would quite rightly cause it to be dismissed.
I love the idea, though, and would be delighted to hear how it could work in practice.
link to i1168.photobucket.com
This is fun!
This is of course perfectly doable with panelbase…
“This is of course perfectly doable with panelbase…”
I am aware of that fact
Arrest Warrant / Royal Warrant
Land of Hope and Glory
or
Let Alba Shine
I like the idea of actually presenting respondents with a ballot paper, however if they were presented with two flags and were asked to choose we don’t know the criteria which each person would use to reach a decision. Similarly, is Trident v. hospitals a valid choice?
Of course, I may be taking this a tad too seriously . . .
How about £1.5 Trillion debt or NO debt!
or
West coast of Scotland oil or NO West coast of Scotland oil
Forth Bridge or Tower Bridge.
Arbroath smokies or jellied eels.
Burns or Kipling.
‘Flower Of Scotland’ or ‘Land Of Hope and Glory’
Dick Gaughan or Roger Whittaker.
But most importantly of all:
‘Sovereignty of the People’ or ‘Sovereignty of Parliament’.
@ scottish_skier
How do they work it S.S.?
Alex
Aly Bain v Wullie Bain
Elaine C. Smith v Walter Smith
Alex Salmond v Alex Ferguson
Blair J. v Blair M. (incl. bogof T. Blair)
James Kelly (Scot Goes Pop) v. James Kelly MSP (incl.bogtf Terry Kelly & Michael Kelly)
I realise I’ve gone a bit ‘namesakey’ there.
nicola sturgeon or margaret curran
Throw in a ‘don’t know’ option and I think you’ll get a really good representation of how many people actually sit in that grouping.
The pictures make everything very ‘black and white’ if you’ll pardon the mixed metaphor and force the respondent to choose
Great idea Stu
Yes yes yes
Weir or Whicker
link to i1168.photobucket.com
Brilliant Rev.
Someone who is good with the dark arts needs to put this into a viral Jpeg format quick smart.
Ah thought submission,s were closed
Golden Eagle V Wee Cock Sparra ( dont furget the barra)
Caperchallie V Jackie Bailie ( twa big burd,s )
( Macavoy you,ve been telt already fek aff )
I am aware of that fact
Ha – I imagined you were, but figured some readers might not appreciate that. TNS door to door can do it too as they use computer video prompting. MORI telephone nope…
Important to formulate a good question to go with the picture so as people are not stumped by what’s being asked (which flag has three colours? Who is the most good looking?). Would be interesting to see the results without any written question associated with the pic but to really get a grip of peoples responses you’d need a written Q. I suppose you could run a split sample one just pics one with written Q and pics…
Perhaps one for Greg Moodie
Bagpipes / Tuba
Some golden oldies
link to i51.photobucket.com
link to i51.photobucket.com
link to i51.photobucket.com
link to i1168.photobucket.com
I fear someone may have to come round and take away my computer!
Food banks or Oil
Trident, Glasgow or Southampton
Battle of the English cartoonists.
Martin Rowson: link to theguardian.com
vs
Steve Bell:
link to theguardian.com
Rev. I think the Lamont vs. Cameron option illustrates the dilemma that many in the middle might actually be facing. If they DO vote YES, there is a chance that Lamont might become First Minister.
That would certainly put the fear of God into me, and I’m an atheist!
Whisky
or
Cider
Tom & Jerry or Road Runner & Will E. Coyote versus Mickey & Donald? Loony tunes = more radical, try something new (YES?). Disney. safe & conservative (NO voter, fearty?)
Daily Mail or Wings Over Scotland
Alex Salmond/White Feather
SoS for Portsmouth/Blank Space
“If they DO vote YES, there is a chance that Lamont might become First Minister.”
A dilemma for many, including Labour supporters.
If such an event did occur, would it be unique in history that the first, democratically elected, leader of a newly independent nation was someone who had fought against it ever actually existing?
The answer to that may help lower the fear.
Highland Spring or Peckham Spring?
IMHO I think it is great idea. Language has a tendency to lead the respondee, intentionally or not. Human thinking is believed to be symbolic language (above & beyond language & words) so cut away any langage components physcologists have devised non-verbal thinking tests. Also very useful if the test subject is unable to respond in language, such as new born babies, people with strokes & non-human animals capable of thought.
Therefore, leaving language behind might uncover some interesting results.
I suggest changing the picture pair for nuclear trident & conventional forces picture (involved in humanitarian duties (UN soldiers?)
Scotland fans & the last night of the proms (waving Union jacks)
Franky Boyle versus a pro-union comedian (Eddy Izzard??)
Stuart Black
Feel free to use it guys.
link to norrie.wordpress.com
Cankert Callan
link to i1168.photobucket.com
Great choice. Like the united sentiment behind the combined shinty/hurling image.
link to i51.photobucket.com
@ robert urquhart – Peckham Spring? Is there such a place?
Helpmaboab
Dick Gaughan or Roger Whittaker.
I’m scratchin ma heid tryin tae figure out whether tae be flattered or insultit
Oh dear, just banged my head against the wall watching the One show talk about the referendum. Including calling Alex Salmond the “head of Yes Scotland”.
Sigh.
Only problem with this format is the naysayers will feel able to ignore it ,just like they did the first one.
If we do not do it exactly as they do it will be dismissed as less than useless.
Therefore it depends on what you want to achieve.
Ben Nevis or Big Ben?
Tommy Sheridan or George Galloway.
@ Major Bloodnock
Gordons Beefeater Gin
or
@ ronnie anderson’s squeezed and fermented tattie hooch oot in the back shed.(with mooth organ entertainment)
Nice one, Norrie, thanks!
Dick Gaughan,
Mr. Whittaker is probably a very likeable man. But, to my taste, he’s also a thoroughly wet, dreary and peely-wally excuse for a musician.
I hope I’m not being too rude to towards him.
Peckham Spring was one of dodgy del boy triggers scams.
Golden Eagle or Trafalgar Square Pigeon?
The wee Welsh girl on The one Show ( unbelievable ! She would be livid if she lived outside Wales and couldn’t vote ) Shitty show / Joan Macalpine on Politics show , Grrrrrrrrrrr !!
Elaine C Smith/Katie Hopkins
Del boy trotter….grr predictive text
@Dick Gaughan
Can you whistle?
Helpmaboab says:
Mr. Whittaker is probably a very likeable man. But, to my taste, he’s also a thoroughly wet, dreary and peely-wally excuse for a musician.
Always seemed a bit right-wing for my taste. Decent voice, though.
Wasn’t Roger Whittaker South African?
How about Dick Gaughan v Flanders and Swann? That’s a no brainer
@Dick Gaughan says:
28 January, 2014 at 7:10 pm
Helpmaboab
Dick Gaughan or Roger Whittaker.
I’m scratchin ma heid tryin tae figure out whether tae be flattered or insultit
Both Sides of the Tweed
or
London Calling
Conan_the_Librarian says:
Can you whistle?
Only when I was a wannabe referee
Aly Bain & Phil C.
Sam & Dave?
Lock or Loch
(geddit?)
Chic McGregor says:
Wasn’t Roger Whittaker South African?
I think he was from Zimbabwe when it was called Rhodesia.
How about Dick Gaughan v Flanders and Swann? That’s a no brainer
No brainer for me – I have an irrational soft spot for Flanders and Swann which would make me vote for them.
“I’m a gnu, a gnother gnu”
And I can almost laugh at the fake irony of “The English are best”
I couldn’t do level 2 leader
Help!
Sorry o/t
The British Gov are not wanting to take in many Syrian asylum seekers after the hell that they’ve been through . Germany taking THOUSANDS we might take a few HUNDRED !!! We could have them up here in Scotland ! YES ?
Heilan coo or Margaret Thatcher?
Oh hell. I’ve been surrounded by a pack of folk musicians and their after my blood.
For the record my original post was trying to compare Mr. Gaughan favourably to Mr. Whittaker. Hopefully that’s clear in the context. If I inadvertently made fun of the whistling Englishman, then I’m very sorry.
As for Flanders and Swann, that’s another matter.
Saffron Dickson or Saffron Walden?
@ronnie 7.36, its no the triple lock then,an the five lever
locks nae chance lol
Wings over Scotland or The Scotsman
Nicola Benedetti versus Nigel Kennedy
With all due respect, Rev, I shall refrain from suggesting ‘Bath or Bathgate’.
“How about Dick Gaughan v Flanders and Swann?”
See, here it gets tricky. Love Dick and saw him a couple of months back in Stirling Tolbooth (if you’re reading Dick, thanks for the show) and he was great.
But just ’cause it’s English does not automatically mean it’s rubbish and I’ve always had a soft spot for Flanders and Swann.
Alex
“But just ’cause it’s English does not automatically mean it’s rubbish and I’ve always had a soft spot for Flanders and Swann.
Alex”
Alex, if you don’t stop signing your comments I’m going to put your name in the spam filter. WE KNOW IT’S YOU. IT SAYS “ALEX TAYLOR” BESIDE ALL YOUR POSTS. WE DON’T NEED TELLING AGAIN AT THE END.
Thatcher and a bastard
Sydney Devine or … or …
A’ll get ma coat.
NewsNetScotland or The Scotland
I put my previous post on so as not to upset you Rev
Mini (real one) or Hillman Imp…..
@ helpmaboab, whistlein Englishman, thats no the Singing
Postman perchance,aww rite boyy,I ah am that auld,ah seen
im in Biggleswade WM club
@dmw42
Satan or Margaret Thatcher?
Hail Satan.
@ Dick Gaughan
You posted while I was writing, Dick, but I’m glad you feel the same about F&S. It’s no jist me then!
Alex
deep fried mars bar / jellied eels
@Derek
The Hillman Imp was made in Scotland…
Kind of OT…..
2 Unionist posters from Mr ‘British Unity’ which one is the dumbest?
This one which would actually extended Scotland territory ?
link to twitter.com
Or this one, the classic illustration of British Nationalism (GOOD) vs Scottish Nationalism (BAD)
link to twitter.com
The Unionists truly do have some epically stupid folk fighting their cause online.
Freedom of fiefdom?
Alex Taylor says:
@ Dick Gaughan
You posted while I was writing, Dick, but I’m glad you feel the same about F&S. It’s no jist me then!
Nope! But I suspect there now several people of (cough) lesser vintage who weren’t raised on the BBC Light Programme asking “who the hell are/were Flanders and Swann?”
BBC or Thought Police
This could be done with a long horizontal questionaire with about ten choices and a totaliser at the end to indicate that you should be voting YES (or not)
Golden eagle or Carlaw’s robin!
When we had all that fuss about the referendum question I liked Rab McNeil’s suggestion: Do you want to govern your own country,or are you some kind of nutter?
A pissing wet day on Ardnamurchan or a sunny day in Picadilly Circus.
O/T is that the Shetlander,s,giveing Carmichiel a send off
at UpHELLYAH, A VIKING FUNERAL,could ha geid us a invite.
Corrie or The Corries
George Osborne or Fagan? (it’s a trick question)
O/T: Following on from last night, I apologise for interjecting in the fun with a quick tour of the dark underbelly of the Unionist Interweb with So who are British Unity:
link to logicsrock.blogspot.co.uk
You may need to rinse your eyeballs afterwards.
ave hud the shits awe day,just hud a couple of bile,d eggs
you,s ur no helpin ma condition lol
Deficit or a surplus.
John Barrowman and a lead balloon (or even just a balloon)
Dick Gaughan, Alex Taylor and the rest,
I’m no’that young. Michael Flanders and Donald Swann were both pillars of the British establishment. Nevertheless they wrote some clever, witty comic songs that even a man in his forties can still enjoy.
‘The Song Of Patriotic Prejudice’ is a fine portrait of BritNat prejudices that still has a meaning today.
Kezia Dugdale or a wet fart
@Croompenstein
I’m sure Barrowman goes down better than a lead balloon.
Margo MacDonald v Queenie
Hmmm, awkward to put that particular name in the spam filter, methinks. Just saying….
Salt and sauce or mushy peas.
David Cameron and an Italian war hero
BBC or R.T.
Daily Mail or Beano
Burns or Shakespeare
Daily Hate or Oor Wullie
Al, it’s salt and vinegar pal…..
Great concept BUT…seems quite a few folk don’t know and so will fail to recognise Jolo Lamont for example. Roger Whittaker I don’t remember other than the name. Dick Gaughan comes into my head each time I play Westlin Winds so a bit specialist perhaps. I wouldn’t use the Susan Boyle clip- its nice to be nice…to most folk, which brings me to Murphy. Pairing him with a public toilet might offer a pragmatic choice for voters.
HS2 London to Birmingham £50bn
With financial losses to Aberdeenshire, Aberdeen City & Moray of £220 and Dundee & Angus of £96m
or
Senior citizens Free bus pass & £28 rail pass
Not casting aspersions, or indeed slinging mud, gloriously or otherwise, at Flanders and Swan’s ability at all. I enjoyed their act as well.
Rev. Stuart Campbell says –
“Alex, if you don’t stop signing your comments I’m going to put your name in the spam filter. WE KNOW IT’S YOU. IT SAYS “ALEX TAYLOR” BESIDE ALL YOUR POSTS. WE DON’T NEED TELLING AGAIN AT THE END. ”
Rev
I’ll get ma coat
A difficult one – Harry Mount or a fluffy bunny
@heraldnomore
Glasgow’s miles better or Edinburgh’s slighty superior.
Just whizzed down to the end of the thread – paradise murder stuff on – love the idea.
Monarch of the Glen or Dixon of Dock Green
Ream or reamed…?
Chicken Tikka Masala or Edwina Currie.
Hugh Grant / Student Grant
Potato Crisp / Quentin Crisp
Control of our own sea borders:
Rockall or Fuck all
Oor Wullie or Andy Capp
@Helpmabob
Here, I think Gaughan and Whittaker would be a pretty good double act as long as Whittaker did the guitar tuning between songs. (Sorry dick)
I once bought Rodger Whittaker live at the Lansdowne in a charity shop being all ironic like but it’s actually really good , not least cos of the stunning backing band. It’s both fiesty and fun.
Royal Mail in private hands or in oor hands (and call it something else):
link to archive.is
Bathgate / The Home Counties
Greyfriars Bobby / Margaret Thatcher
Schiehallion / The White Cliffs of Dover
@ twenty14 & Rev
Me too!
@GP Walrus
That has to be the best i’ve read tonight.
Inspired by Kev.
Royal Mail or Royal male
A government we didn’t elect or one we did – hey are you telling me that democracy is an option?
Red pill/Blue pill. In this version, take the red pill & your back in the matrix. Take the bluey, ah promise it’s no a valli !
The Proclaimers
Or
Chas & Dave.
Great idea for the hard of reading, cognitavely impaired.
“The Proclaimers
Or
Chas & Dave.”
Ooh, that would have been a good one
“Alex, if you don’t stop signing your comments I’m going to put your name in the spam filter. WE KNOW IT’S YOU. IT SAYS “ALEX TAYLOR” BESIDE ALL YOUR POSTS. WE DON’T NEED TELLING AGAIN AT THE END. ”
Roger that Stu. I didn’t know it was a foul, though.
A picture of the 2013 Calton Hill Rally v EDL/BNP march
Who do you trust with Scotland’s finances:
link to scottcreighton.co.uk
@Ronnie,
Caperchallie V Jackie Bailie ( twa big burd,s )
haha Brilliant
Calton Hill rally or wee Dougie Alexander’s ‘rally’
Paw Broon or Gordon Broon
I like the idea of deliberate toughies, e.g.s:
John Barrowman v The Krankies
Jackie Baillie v Katy Hopkins
Kaye Adams v Kirsty Wark
Susan Calman v Fred McCauley
Make the respondents work.
Karen Dunbar or Miranda Hart
A better match for Flanders & Swann would be Scotland the What
Derek Bateman OR James Naughtie
Peter Mundell OR Ian Davidson
And although my initial reaction for Level 2 was I need a NONE of the Above box. On reflection I hope that most readers here would know that this is the real test in our belief in voting #Yes.
Between a Scot in HR or a Bullington Boy in WM then it becomes very simple: I accept the soverign wishes of Scots – and work like mad to get her out at the next election
Tattie scones or hash browns?
@Conan – and the Mini was made at Longbridge.
(also:- “Glasgow’s Miles Away”)
And, regarding Flanders & Swann….. humour transcends boundaries.
@Murray McCallum
Murray, I understand the concept but I spent 22 years living in Ealing and London Pride helped me stay sane. It’s still one of my favourites.
How about this?
link to imageshack.com
One Nation Britain, after all…
A bonnie, wee, white Scottie wi a tartan collar or an ugly, bruisin’, toothy bulldog wearing a union jack jaikit.
Doh! Having read further down, I now realise that my comparison of Aly Bain & Phil C with SAM and Dave does not make any sense. It should, of course, have read Chas & Dave.
Apologies, it’s just that I’m an idiot. (wee embarrassed smiley thing)
Glen Michael or Alastair Carmichael
and 2 I’m willing to take a hit for
Captain Darling or Alastair Darling
Tony Adams or Kaye Adams
Kilt or Kill’t ( scene of war/conflict)
Carry-On vs Carry-Out
This reminds me of the old Glasgow Rhyming Slang –
Shereen Nanjiani or Jim Delahunt?
Elaine C Smith or Katie Hopkins
Caankert Callan: Actually, mine’s Irn-Bru or R. White’s.
Saffron Dickson vs. Kezia Dugdale?