this post was submitted on 19 Jul 2023
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[–] [email protected] 18 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

It's actually a spectrum of disavowal of responsibility:

  • It's not happening.
  • Even if it is happening, it's not our fault.
  • Even if it is our fault, there is nothing we can do.
  • Even if there is something we can do, it's too late to do anything.

It's just that the first stage (denialism) is starting to become untenable.

[–] Syd 4 points 1 year ago
  • Even if it isn't too late to do something it's the others that should do it
  • Even if we are the ones that should do something, it's down to everyone individually so no job for the politicians
  • Even if it is down to the state, sorry it's too expensive.
[–] donnachaidh 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Ah yes, the standard Foreign Office response in a time of crisis. The tactic does not get old.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

THANK YOU! I was trying to remember where my brain dug this up from and I couldn't pinpoint it.

  • Bernard Woolley : What if the Prime Minister insists we help them?
  • Sir Humphrey Appleby : Then we follow the four-stage strategy.
  • Bernard Woolley : What's that?
  • Sir Richard Wharton : Standard Foreign Office response in a time of crisis.
  • Sir Richard Wharton : In stage one we say nothing is going to happen.
  • Sir Humphrey Appleby : Stage two, we say something may be about to happen, but we should do nothing about it.
  • Sir Richard Wharton : In stage three, we say that maybe we should do something about it, but there's nothing we can do.
  • Sir Humphrey Appleby : Stage four, we say maybe there was something we could have done, but it's too late now.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0751831/characters/nm0001329