# I'm not thinking what you are thinking! OK? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 26, 2005, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-thinking-what-you-are-thinking-ok/301206 "2005-04-26T18:19:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2005, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-thinking-what-you-are-thinking-ok/301206/1 "2005-04-26T18:19:55Z")
That conservative slogan is patronising to Left-leaning people. No we’re fucking _not_ thinking what you are thinking! We’re not tories! I’m sure right-leaning people find it patronizing too. It can’t be doing the party any good. I’m getting sick of being asked. And I’d just love it if Labour paid for a huge campain of billboards and ads with one word in big red letters across the road from all the tory ones… NO! ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2005, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-thinking-what-you-are-thinking-ok/301206/2 "2005-04-26T18:36:40Z")
I know for a _fact_ I’m not thinking what you’re thinking. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2005, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-thinking-what-you-are-thinking-ok/301206/3 "2005-04-26T18:43:13Z")
Sorry. The tories main slogan (for the UK election, May th 5th) “Are you thinking what we’re thinking?” Is plastered up all over Britain, and on TV. They have an advert parodying a future Britain where little kids smoke pot, trucks have signs saying how many immigrants on board etc… and then the slogan. From that adwert I’m forced to think “Actually, I’m not quite sure what you are thinking” ---
**Author:** ![RTA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b4bc9f/32.png) [@RTA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTA)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2005, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-thinking-what-you-are-thinking-ok/301206/4 "2005-04-26T18:44:44Z")
Oh so the letters have to be _RED_, eh comrade? ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2005, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-thinking-what-you-are-thinking-ok/301206/5 "2005-04-26T18:47:47Z")
“How hard is it to keep a hospital clean?” Too hard for Michael Howard, apparently: [http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=4463453](http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=4463453) ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2005, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-thinking-what-you-are-thinking-ok/301206/6 "2005-04-26T19:06:41Z")
How long before before someone tells a Torie, “I think so, but this time you wear the tutu.”? ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2005, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-thinking-what-you-are-thinking-ok/301206/7 "2005-04-26T19:39:38Z")
Wait a minute – did you guys not have “Pinky and the Brain” over there? ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_Wright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Steve\_Wright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_Wright)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2005, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-thinking-what-you-are-thinking-ok/301206/8 "2005-04-26T20:01:39Z")
Damn, **matt\_mcl** , you beat me to it … \*:: sulks :: \* ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2005, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-thinking-what-you-are-thinking-ok/301206/9 "2005-04-26T20:14:29Z")
Seriously–it sounds like the Tories are composed of little villainous rats who want to take over the world. As for the OP, that’s not a very good slogan. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2005, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-thinking-what-you-are-thinking-ok/301206/10 "2005-04-26T20:17:07Z")
> [@matt\_mcl](#): > > Wait a minute – did you guys not have “Pinky and the Brain” over there? I don’t think so. But I think we have to get it shown (on continuous loop) before May 5th. Given that the Tories’ and the Brain’s answer are pretty much the same. (Not that I want Pinky…er…Mr. Blair to win either…and the LibDems don’t stand a chance…wow, it’s just like voting in America!) ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2005, 8:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-thinking-what-you-are-thinking-ok/301206/11 "2005-04-27T08:44:31Z")
> [@Left Hand of Dorkness](#): > > Seriously–it sounds like the Tories are composed of little villainous rats who want to take over the world. However did you guess? That just about sums them up really. The Tories’ latest piece of bile is a poster with Blair’s face on it, asking the electorate to “Imagine five more years of him”. Now, I’m no huge fan of Blair, but I’d rather imagine five more years of a Labour government than even five moments of another Tory\* government. **Lobsang** , I assume you haven’t seen Unison’s (the national public service workers union) response to the Tories’ “How Hard is it to Keep a Hospital Clean?” ad – “How will spending £35billion less on public services improve them?” with the question, cleverly parodying the Tories’ ubiquitous question, “What are the Tories Thinking of?” [Link](http://www.unison.org.uk/news/news_view.asp?did=1971) \*And yes, I will keep on calling them Tories rather than Conservatives, because “Tories” pisses them right off. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Badger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/848f3c/32.png) [@Dead\_Badger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Badger)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2005, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-thinking-what-you-are-thinking-ok/301206/12 "2005-04-27T12:10:31Z")
> [@matt\_mcl](#): > > Wait a minute – did you guys not have “Pinky and the Brain” over there? Yep, we [did](http://www.b3ta.com/board/4426612). People have been defacing these posters all over the shop, like [these](http://www.toryscum.com/2005/04/14/conservative-graffiti/) (although those aren’t the most amusing examples). And they’re obviously having fun with them on [b3ta](http://www.b3ta.com/board/4426595)… ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2005, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-thinking-what-you-are-thinking-ok/301206/13 "2005-04-27T12:27:50Z")
> [@Angua](#): > > \*And yes, I will keep on calling them Tories rather than Conservatives, because “Tories” pisses them right off. bad news old girl - it doesn’t in the least. Whatever gave you that idea? (really what did? - it’s what we call ourselves). Owl - definitely thinking what they’re thinking. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2005, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-thinking-what-you-are-thinking-ok/301206/14 "2005-04-27T12:35:31Z")
> [@owlstretchingtime](#): > > bad news old girl - it doesn’t in the least. Whatever gave you that idea? (really what did? - it’s what we call ourselves). > > Owl - definitely thinking what they’re thinking. …although not necessarily thinking what their high command are thinking: [News | The Scotsman](http://news.scotsman.com/politics.cfm?id=338722005) ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2005, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-thinking-what-you-are-thinking-ok/301206/15 "2005-04-27T12:37:56Z")
> [@owlstretchingtime](#): > > bad news old girl - it doesn’t in the least. Whatever gave you that idea? (really what did? - it’s what we call ourselves). Apparantly the connotation between Tories and “toraidhe” – Irish cattle thieves was not liked by some. But I’d heard this a while ago, probably during a history class back in the depths of time, so you guys may have reclaimed it by now. 😉 And on preview, I see that **GorillaMan** has found the link I was looking for. ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2005, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-thinking-what-you-are-thinking-ok/301206/16 "2005-04-27T12:42:15Z")
Sorry for the double post, but to clarify, as a younger 'un doing A-level history, I’d heard the claim re tories and toraidhe made. However, with the recent usage of the word “tory”, I figured that it had lost such connotations. However, I saw the article **GorillaMan** linked to a few weeks ago, and realised that it hadn’t. Oh, and “old girl”? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2005, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-thinking-what-you-are-thinking-ok/301206/17 "2005-04-27T12:42:28Z")
I’ve never heard anyone object to it. I certainly don’t. I’d quite like to start calling Kennedy’s gang of chancers “Whigs” again though. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2005, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-thinking-what-you-are-thinking-ok/301206/18 "2005-04-27T12:45:04Z")
> [@owlstretchingtime](#): > > I’d quite like to start calling Kennedy’s gang of chancers “Whigs” again though. OK. And a rousing rendition of the Red Flag at Labour HQ on May 5th will complete the trilogy. Perhaps… ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2005, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-thinking-what-you-are-thinking-ok/301206/19 "2005-04-27T12:46:22Z")
> [@Angua](#): > > Sorry for the double post, but to clarify, as a younger 'un doing A-level history, I’d heard the claim re tories and toraidhe made. However, with the recent usage of the word “tory”, I figured that it had lost such connotations. However, I saw the article **GorillaMan** linked to a few weeks ago, and realised that it hadn’t. > > Oh, and “old girl”? :dubious: I believe that’s where it comes from - I think “whig” also means some sort of bandit. I think the point that head office was trying to make is that they wouldn’t refer to Blair’s lot as “trots” or “reds” so they shouldn’t refer to us by our nickname. Load of bollocks as far as most people are concerned I suspect. Don’t you worry your pretty little head aboout the “old girl” thing - it’s just that I am metamorphosising into BORIS with every day (sadly without the hair). toodle pip. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2005, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-thinking-what-you-are-thinking-ok/301206/20 "2005-04-27T12:48:00Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > OK. And a rousing rendition of the Red Flag at Labour HQ on May 5th will complete the trilogy. Perhaps… A true admission… When younger I thought they were singing a Christmas carol. I didn’t realise it had other words. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-thinking-what-you-are-thinking-ok/301206.md?page=2)