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[TD1]

Trying to force your culture on people is moronic. It'd be like if someone came from America and DEMANDED you tip staff 20%.

Yes, I just realised what you meant so removed that bit from my comment before you posted. I don't know why, but my mind leaped at first to the thought that being moronic leads to hostilities, and I was almost certain I'd misinterpreted. Then I realised I had 

[notquitethere]

Th4DwArfY1

Of course. Why did you put my name in bold? I admit, politically, Northern Ireland is a wreck. If I were to choose, though, it would be TUV.

I put everyone's name in bold when I address them: it makes it easier for people to see who's talking to them in busy threads.

Uh, on topic: what, policy-wise, do the TUV support that UUP or DUP don't? Also, what's with all the acronyms in Northern Irish politics?

[Sheb]

Actually, acronyms are pretty standard outside of the US/UK. I wonder why... Is it something with the English language?

[notquitethere]

I think there's just a tendency for political parties to have long multi-part names that lend themselves to acronymisation. They have these long names to distinguish themselves from other, similar, parties in multi-party system. Britain has mostly had a two-party system, with parties representing broad ideological coalitions (this is the same in the US as well), which lend themselves to broad single-names. As such, the major parties (conservatives, labour, liberals) aren't made into acronyms, whereas many of the smaller regional or nationalist parties are (SNP, UKIP, BNP, DUP, TUV, DDP etc etc.).

[Darvi]

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/initialism

[notquitethere]

Not all the acronym party names are initialisms: well, UKIP isn't (being pronounced you-kip).

[Il Palazzo]

Not all the acronym party names are initialisms: well, UKIP isn't (being pronounced you-kip).

The point is, an initialism is not an acronym. The terms are mutually exclusive.

[notquitethere]

Not mutually exclusive, surely: aren't all initialisms also acronyms?

[Sheb]

No, initialisms are pronounced letters by letter (Exemple: BBC), acronyms are pronounced as a word.

[RedKing]

Err, no. An acronym is simply an abbreviation formed from the initials (or initial portions) of the full name.

BBC is both an acronym and an initialism.
Laser is an acronym but not an initialism.

More importantly, this is kind of a pointless semantic argument.

[smjjames]

More importantly, this is kind of a pointless semantic argument.

Yep.... and a circular discussion.

[Sheb]

Err, no. An acronym is simply an abbreviation formed from the initials (or initial portions) of the full name.

BBC is both an acronym and an initialism.
Laser is an acronym but not an initialism.

More importantly, this is kind of a pointless semantic argument.

Oh, seems to depend on the dictionary you use. I concede your point.

[Il Palazzo]

Err, no. An acronym is simply an abbreviation formed from the initials (or initial portions) of the full name.

BBC is both an acronym and an initialism.
Laser is an acronym but not an initialism.

More importantly, this is kind of a pointless semantic argument.

Oh, seems to depend on the dictionary you use. I concede your point.

I don't. I will stand by the definitions I know and will oppose any and all dissenting views with all the might of anonymous internet argumentativeness I posses, until there's just one left among the gory bodies of misappropriated meanings. Damn you all who disagree and damn those who diss pointless semantic arguments, for it is them who maintain the foggy status quo of this linguistic quagmire. With my flanks secured by the stalwart Oxford Dictionaries and the indomitable Cambridge Dictionary Online, with cunning English Etymology Online securing the rear, I shall not budge in the face of terrible odds. Not even OED's wishy-washy definition to the contrary can damage my resolve. These feeble descriptivist traitors will be purged once the Cause of Prescription triumphs.

[RedKing]

Spoiler: Relevant comic is relevant. (click to show/hide)

[Sinistar]

So on topic of immigration:

Dutch lap up Wilders' hardline message

So, anyone from Netherlands wishes to share his thoughts on that article?