Talks to Watch

Yes Minister explains the EEC (EU)

3.5M views · Jun 27, 2016 · 4:00 · 0 HN recommenders · 3 mentions · discussed 2018–2023

A short clip from the British sitcom Yes Minister in which Sir Humphrey cynically explains to Jim Hacker why European nations joined the common market.

Why Hacker News points people here: HN quotes it in threads about the EU as a satirical explanation of how Brussels bureaucracy came about.

“the legendary British sitcom "Yes, Minister" (~early 80s) where the civil servant Humphrey explains, in the most cynical manner possible, how the EU”HN comment, 2021

What Hacker News said 3

Cites itxamuelJun 2018

“I fell in love with wallpaper from watching "Yes Minister”

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Is wallpaper really as hated as the opening paragraph makes it out to be? I fell in love with wallpaper from watching "Yes Minister" which mostly takes place in government offices with beautiful wallpaper. this video

in “The Great Wallpaper Rebellion: Defending Flamboyance in a World of White Walls” · view on HN
Cites itnot_knuthJan 2021

“the legendary British sitcom "Yes, Minister" (~early 80s) where the civil servant Humphrey explains, in the most cynical manner possible, how the EU”

Humphrey cynically explains how the EEC came to be.

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I don't think everyone here is familiar with "Yes, Minister", so it would probably be best if you quote it. For anyone else interested, the parent paraphrased a scene [0] from the legendary British sitcom "Yes, Minister" (~early 80s) where the civil servant Humphrey explains, in the most cynical manner possible, how the EU (at the time EEC) came to be. [0] this video

in “Europe’s telcos want ‘open’ 5G networks” · view on HN
JokescrlkFeb 2023

“To quote "Yes Minister" (British political satire from the 1980s)”

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To quote "Yes Minister" (British political satire from the 1980s): "You know what they say about the average Common Market official. He has the organising ability of the Italians, the flexibility of the Germans, and the modesty of the French. And that's topped up by the imagination of the Belgians, the generosity of the Dutch and the intelligence of the Irish." this video

in “IRIS²: The EU’s Response to Musk’s Starlink” · view on HN