As the BBC’s live independence referendum debate between Alistair Darling and Alex Salmond took-off millions of people sat down in their living rooms hoping it would help them make a more informed decision on September 18th.
Both politicians had their opening minutes, things looked hopeful. But it didn’t last long.
By the time the pair were given the opportunity to enter the cross-examination phase it had descended into ‘who could shout the loudest’.
And it didn’t take long for the world of social media to shout even louder… Making it clear just how infuriating it was for the public to watch either man unable to finish a sentence before the other would interrupt.
Here’s what you said on Twitter:
This cross-examination shows the worst of adversarial, male politicians not engaging in substance or listening to each other. #bbcindyref
— Gerry Hassan (@GerryHassan) August 25, 2014
Zander needs his knees skelped and sent to his bed. Let the man speak for goodness sake!!#rude #nomanners #listentome #bbcindyref
— GiddyBiddy (@McBainEmma) August 25, 2014
Oh dear, this is now just a rammy. Endless repartition. I want answers, not endless oneupmanship. #bbcindyref
— Jennifer Watson (@jenniferjwatson) August 25, 2014
Really disappointed in moderator. Prime time tv, huge stakes. Can't blame them for being heated but he needs to calm them doon. #bbcindyref
— Jonathan Rowson (@Jonathan_Rowson) August 25, 2014
#bbcindyref Needs a new Ref. Give David Dimbleby a call for cripes sake. #stopthebickering
— Jesse Crosse (@JesseCrosse) August 25, 2014
This has just descended into a volume contest #bbcindyref @ConversationUK
— ProfessorPaulCairney (@CairneyPaul) August 25, 2014
Yawn, bad tampered and shouty. No wonder people aren't interested in politics #indyref #bbcindyref
— Rachel (@AGCC_Rachel) August 25, 2014
This is a horrible watch. And I'm a self-confessed political anorak. Goodness knows how this is playing with undecideds at home. #bbcindyref
— Jason Keen (@Jason_Keen) August 25, 2014
I assume that man at the end is suppose to be controlling this debate or is he just waiting for a bus? #useless #bbcindyref
— Duke of Preston (@DOPreston) August 25, 2014
It's like having 2 tellys on, both on different channels with the volume up loud. One at a time please gents. #bbcindyref
— Martin Ingram (@martiningram) August 25, 2014
Not sure if it's the venue – which looks stunning – or just the pressure. But it's all a bit shouty. #bbcindyref
— Ruth Davidson (@RuthDavidsonMSP) August 25, 2014
They need tae stoap talkin like this. Um abooot tae smash the TV in. #bbcindyref
— GARY MCLINTOCH (@GARYTANK) August 25, 2014