howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
courtesy of the independent.
Towards the end of taking 101 questions on his statement on the European Council, David Cameron noticed that Ed Miliband, Douglas Alexander and Ed Balls on the front bench opposite appeared not to be paying full attention to his statesmanlike words:
They're tweeting, blogging and poking for all they're worth, but they still haven't got a policy.*
It was idle knockabout, but raises again the problem of phones and iPads in the Chamber of the House of Commons. It is rude, in real life, when people look at their smartphones during a conversation. The Commons is a bit different, because MPs often chat to each other or do their correspondence during debates, either because they are waiting to be called or because they are required by protocol to occupy their front bench. Such disrespect to the member addressing the Chamber is routine. But technology somehow takes it to a new level.
During Home Office Questions yesterday, Claire Perry. the Conservative MP, said of two of her Labour opponents:
It might be more appropriate for Ms Creasy and Ms De Piero to stop tweeting on the Labour frontbench and start paying attention.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
Good for Claire Perry.
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,883
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
how about this one about 5 years ago i was being interviewed for a job, about halfway through i noticed that the interviewer was saying some strange things that bore no relation to what i was saying.
it transpired she had one of those hands free things and was carrying on a conversation with someone else.
the job description asked for someone with "good people skills".
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,883
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Interviewers can be a nightmare. I was interviewed by a similarly skilled guy a while back, he kept looking behind me at the office through the glass partition. I eventually asked him if I could help him find whoever it was he was looking for so we could get on with the interview.
No, I didn't get the job - I withdrew, since you ask!!!
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
much the same with me bern, i waited until the job was offered accepted it then never turned up for work - serves them right, two can play at being rude.
i had two other job offers anyway so it didn't really bother me.