"THE IMPERIAL GUARD: It's guerrila warfare on Brum's canalside!"

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Yet again, ARM captures the headlines with a half-page feature on its recent work in Birmingham (see separate thread). Page 27 of today's Midlands-based paper 'The Sunday Mercury' carries a lengthy report and a 6" x 4" photo of a highly-professionally amended canalside distance bollard, on which is posted the notice, in small letters: "This sign has been changed into British measurements by Active Resistance to Metrication: Tel: 01480 435837 or 01279 635789".

The article, with an 'Exclusive' tag, was written because Mercury journalist Adam Aspinall spotted the amended signs whilst walking the canals near his home one evening and contacted ARM.

The British Waterways Board (BWB) is quoted as saying: "We have spoken to representatives of the organisation concerned in the past. We are now in consultation with our legal department".

The BWB said that the signs had been built at the request of and with funding from Birmingham City Council. The BWB and the Council told the Mercury that metric measurements were "better understood by visitors from European countries who walked the canals" and whom they wanted to welcome to the area *


[NOTE by A.R.M.: ...who constitute around 0.001% of all those who walk Birmingham's canals. Clearly the arrogant powers-that-be didn't think about, let alone consult, the people who actually paid for these ridiculous metric bollards - the people of Birmingham themselves]

<<[NOTE by A.R.M.: ...who constitute around 0.001% of all those who walk Birmingham's canals. Clearly the arrogant powers-that-be didn't think about, let alone consult, the people who actually paid for these ridiculous metric bollards - the people of Birmingham themselves] >>

ARM of course did consult them and recieved expressed permission for their actions.

Come off it matey!!

re (Stan): "ARM of course did consult them and received expressed permission for their actions..."

REPLY: ARM, unlike Birmingham Council and the British Waterways Board, noted the independent survey carried out by ICM in April 2002, which found that 86 out of every 100 people preferred miles & yards etc. on British roads and footpaths, as against only 8 out of every 100 preferring kilometres and metres (6 out of 100 didn't know).

A survey which the U.K. Metric Association has never even mentioned - because it shows how unpopular their zealous views are

Since when are Birmingham City Council bound by some survey asking loaded questions about signage.

The dubious survey results may have indicated a preference in a general sense but it is arrogant to take that as meaning they would object to metric signs if they saw them. Clearly no one did except some non local tax paying bunch of zealots calling themselves ARM came along.

<<
A survey which the U.K. Metric Association has never even mentioned - because it shows how unpopular their zealous views are
>>

Why should they? Why should they give free publicity to cranks like you?

UKMA make no pretense about the popularity or otherwise of their views. They are a campaigning group with clearly stated objectives. They rely entirely on the coherence of their arguments which people will judge for themselves.

re (Stan): "UKMA make no pretence about the popularity or otherwise of their views. They are a campaigning group with clearly stated objectives. They rely entirely on the coherence of their arguments which people will judge for themselves"

REPLY: Some good news about the U.K. Metric Association at last! No wonder those favouring Imperial road signs outnumber those favouring metric by around 11 to 1!

A POINT BY POINT REPLY TO STAN

Since when are Birmingham City Council bound...

REPLY: Birmingham City Council are entirely funded by the public. So they are bound to take the public's view into account. Aren't they, Stan?

...by some survey asking loaded questions about signage.

REPLY: The question was plain and simple and neither a loaded question nor a leading one

The dubious survey results

REPLY: 1005 people in a wholly independent survey by one of the most reputable polling organisations around - ICM. Try telling ICM directly that their survey results are 'dubious'

may have indicated a preference in a general sense

REPLY: No. It was very specific, *not* general. Miles or kilometres? - that was the question

but it is arrogant to take that as meaning they would object to metric signs if they saw them

REPLY: I don't take it as that and have never said so. I take it as meaning that 86% prefer miles. You are trying to put words into my mouth

Clearly no one did except some non local tax paying bunch of zealots calling themselves ARM came along

REPLY: Zealots are not those who cater for the preferences of 86% of the population. Rather, zealots are those who wish to obliterate all traces of the measurements preferred by 86% of the population

Why should [the U.K. Metric Association] give free publicity to cranks like you?

REPLY: Ah yes! 86% of British people are 'cranks' for wanting to keep miles on British roads. That makes around 40 million cranks, then, according to you, Stan

<<
REPLY: No. It was very specific, *not* general. Miles or kilometres? - that was the question

but it is arrogant to take that as meaning they would object to metric signs if they saw them

REPLY: I don't take it as that and have never said so. I take it as meaning that 86% prefer miles. You are trying to put words into my mouth
>>

But you ARE taking it as that when you go around vandalising signs just because you and your mates hate them and then claim popular support for your actions.

You are much better than me at twisting words.

"[NOTE by A.R.M.: ...who constitute around 0.001% of all those who walk Birmingham's canals. Clearly the arrogant powers-that-be didn't think about, let alone consult, the people who actually paid for these ridiculous metric bollards - the people of Birmingham themselves]"


The arrogant members of ARM don't think either. The people who paid for those signs are the European tourists who spend their tourist-euros in the region.

Danial, what do you know of Birmingham? Explain to me the hotspots of tourists who take their euros there (is the euro a currency of the USA too now?).

To be honest - Stan and Tony appear to be having an argument. You post (and mine) will, in context, be ignored.

I note that the same happens to most of your posts too - even when they are in-context.

Have you noticed that? Take a look at your posts on other threads and see who answers them.

<<
Have you noticed that? Take a look at your posts on other threads and see who answers them.
>>

Well let's see there's Stimpy, kilobee, SteveH, ...

I frequently get responses to my posts. I can't comment on anyone else (except Danial, clearly).

Thanks for the apparent rudeness though, considering the context was one of "Stan and Tony are having an argument, let them too it, don't post claptrap that shows ignorance to the situation, etc, etc")

"Well let's see there's Stimpy, kilobee, SteveH, ..."


All one in the same person. Note, you don't see a stimpy nor a kilobee posting to the new forum? Want to guess why?

Watch! You will not see any denial of this claim.

Daniel wrote
""Well let's see there's Stimpy, kilobee, SteveH, ..."
All one in the same person. Note, you don't see a stimpy nor a kilobee posting to the new forum? Want to guess why?
Watch! You will not see any denial of this claim. "

I know that SteveH and Stimpy are one and the same person, or at least they have the same email address. Maybe Steve has a split personality or shares his email with a person called Stimpy?

Stimpy = nickname.

Or is it 'SteveH'?

I blame it on the "Christmas Cheer" ;-)