Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Count Binface

countbinface.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

161–170 of 317 posts

Re: Count Binface

#161

Post by oniony »

prohobo wrote: post #134

I don't understand why the mainstream is celebrating the total collapse of any meaningful political opposition to populists. This kind of fluffed-up 2010's style optimism campaign is exactly how the establishment lost control in 2016 in both the US and the UK. I think it's sad that Binface is the only one even attempting to engage in democracy at this point. He's a satire but he's also, seemingly, the only legitimate…

It's not a collapse of political opposition. The political opposition are simply not allowing Farrage to dictate the narrative here.

Whilst under investigation for undeclared funding, Farrage is trying to legitimise himself by resigning and having an electorate re-elect him at the expense of the tax payer. The mainstream parties have, understandably refused to play ball, leaving him to regain his existing position uncontested.

But, and this is the bit we are celebrating, Count Binface, a satirical figure, is standing against him, ridiculing him and highlighting in the media the whole selfish situation. This is a backfire for Farrage, as it has nationally pissed on his selfish legitimisation parade.

Re: Count Binface

#162

Post by mlnj »

blitzar wrote: post #80
whh wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I, for one, am ready for FFS1 & nationalising Adele.

Finally someone willing to stand up and make the tough decisions about the hand dryer in the gents' toilet at the Crown & Treaty, Uxbridge.

That hand dryer placement is absurd.

Re: Count Binface

#163

Post by JsonDemWitOster »

a_humean wrote: post #112
ayaros wrote: post #87

I have so many questions... I wonder how the legalities of this work. If people write in "Count Binface" or if that's the name on the ballot, then if he wins, does that mean Jonathan David Harvey (the actual name of the guy who plays him) is elected? Does Count Binface count as an alias? If not, he required to use that name while in office - or more precisely, is he not considered a member if he goes by his own name?…

The biggest practical obstacle, other than getting elected, is the dress code for the house of commons which disallows military uniform, disallows face covering (while voting), and requires smart business attire. You could argue that he might be in violation of all three! The name isn't really that much of a problem.

> The name isn't really that much of a problem.

I know you are explaining in earnest but the way you ended and formatted it is sooo (un?)intentionally funny. Like, of all the stunts Binface is pulling, the name is the least legitimate of concerns.

Kinda like what they say about the poor people of Clacton having to choose between a joke trash candidate and Count Binface.

What's this type of makes-you-do-double-take, got-me-in-the-first-half-ngl humor called other than just British?

Re: Count Binface

#164

Post by dofm »

prohobo wrote: post #159
johneth wrote: post #150

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The other parties aren't standing in this particular byelection because they (correctly) realise that it's just a media stunt by Farage, who is attempting to paint himself as a victim of establishment harassment (while being the epitome of 'the establishment' himself). By not standing, and forcing Farage to run against joke candidates, they've made a fool of him (which generally harms populists more than anything els…

This doesn't make a fool of Farage though! It clarifies to anyone already skeptical of the establishment that when pushed, they'd rather not play than risk losing. This is literally self-defeating! You claim that this kind of thing "generally harms populists more than anything else," but I can't think of a single time that it actually has at the scale that matters. What would harm populists would be a viable alternat…

> This doesn't make a fool of Farage though!

I sense that you are not British, but you can trust us when we say this has absolutely made a fool of him to the British public.

This is really a bespoke kind of humiliation.

Re: Count Binface

#165

Post by WJW »

starshadowx2 wrote: post #140
BLKNSLVR wrote: post #2

I wish Count Binface all the best for the Clacton by-election. Edited to add: Some of my favourite commentary around this by-election is along the lines of: A fundamentally un-serious candidate with no coherent policies or political experience running against Count Binface.

Vote Bin, not rubbish!

Time for Bindependence day!

Re: Count Binface

#166

Post by gadders »

MarcScott wrote: post #34
stavros wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't understand what this is, can someone explain? Clacton seems to be a town in the UK, are they campaigning for mayor? What's the relevance, why is Farage even involved?

Very briefly: Farage received a "gift" of £5M. He didn't tell parliament about the gift, which breaks the rules. MPs or campaigning MPs need to declare gifts and donations, as there are strict rules on who you can receive money from. The media found out about the "gift", and Farage was going to be investigated. He resigned as MP for Clacton, which stops the investigation and triggers an election. I think his plan was…

[flagged]

Re: Count Binface

#167

Post by phi0 »

logifail wrote: post #119

Neither Binface nor Farage have any answers for the problems the UK appears to be facing; this election feels like something specifically designed to create material for viewers of Have I Got News For You[0] to laugh at. From The Atlantic: "The [UK's] output per person is now only just above that of Mississippi, America’s poorest state - and that slight lead is only achieved thanks to London. Outside the capital, in…

> Outside the capital, in places where tourists do not visit, living standards fall well below Mississippi’s

The article appears to treat nominal GDP per capita as a measure of living standards, which is obviously nonsense. Rather than looking at things like the Human Development Index or World Happiness Report, in both of which the UK outranks the US (incl. all the non-Mississippi states).

Residents consistently reporting higher life satisfaction and happiness likely speaks more to their living standards than non-purchasing power parity adjusted GDP per capita.

It is baffling how a sentence this uninformed made it into the article.

Re: Count Binface

#168

Post by WJW »

mlnj wrote: post #162
blitzar wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Finally someone willing to stand up and make the tough decisions about the hand dryer in the gents' toilet at the Crown & Treaty, Uxbridge.

That hand dryer placement is absurd.

For real. I looked it up online to see if it's really as bad as Binface makes it out to be, but he's absolutely right. That hand dryer should be moved forthwith.

Re: Count Binface

#169

Post by [deleted] »

wizzwizz4 wrote: post #109
edent wrote: post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's no such thing as a "legal name" in the UK. For example, Boris Johnson's first name isnt actually Boris - that's just what he goes by.

The first name component of the name "Boris Johnson" is Boris. It's just as valid a name as any other name he goes by, for both social and legal purposes.

[deleted]

Re: Count Binface

#170

Post by einpoklum »

fauigerzigerk wrote: post #113
ayaros wrote: post #87

I have so many questions... I wonder how the legalities of this work. If people write in "Count Binface" or if that's the name on the ballot, then if he wins, does that mean Jonathan David Harvey (the actual name of the guy who plays him) is elected? Does Count Binface count as an alias? If not, he required to use that name while in office - or more precisely, is he not considered a member if he goes by his own name?…

Also, parliament has a rule against wearing costumes like this. But Count Binface called that rule "binist" and claimed there was some wiggle room in the way the rule was worded :) I think leaving the seat empty if he wins is the only possible choice, both legally and democratically. He should make it clear that this is what would happen if he gets elected so the people of Clacton know what they are voting for.

As described in one of the clips at the link, that rule says "in general", and one can well argue that this is the penultimate special case.
Post reply on HN