Why is it called the "live" register?

Whites Cross · 05-08-2011 9:45pm #1

I'm just curious. And a bit confused. What is its origin? To me, it doesn't really convey much meaning to someone who isn't already familiar with the phrase.

Killer Pigeon · 05-08-2011 9:46pm

"It's alive!!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xos2MnVxe-c

Beware of the LIVE register!!

stupidusername · 05-08-2011 9:48pm

a live version of something is one that's active, in use etc. I don't know why it needs to be thrown in there though.

The_Kew_Tour · 05-08-2011 9:50pm

because at this rate it will never die

Saila · 05-08-2011 9:50pm

stupidusername wrote: »

a live version of something is one that's active, in use etc.

/thread

Run_to_da_hills · 05-08-2011 9:52pm

Because at this rate the only time people will ever come off it is when they die.

W.Shakes-Beer · 05-08-2011 9:52pm

There's a TV channel for it, "Discovery: The Couch"

CreepingDeath · 05-08-2011 10:01pm

Unfortunately... not because they want to kill all the scroungers.

J K · 05-08-2011 10:03pm

There used to be another register for those out of work. It was really old though and unfortunately eventually passed on. RIP. Then came the new register.

To differentiate between them and avoid confusion remind people its the live one their talking about.

7sr2z3fely84g5 · 05-08-2011 10:09pm

CreepingDeath wrote: »

Unfortunately... not because they want to kill all the scroungers.

Funny you mention that,the old dole payments where called "unemployment benefit",now its called "jobseekers alllowance",yes i know,"jobseekers" the scroungers must be laughing.

CardBordWindow · 05-08-2011 10:11pm

You can't claim it if you're dead!!

4Sheets · 05-08-2011 10:17pm

I dont know..I goggled a bit..where did it come from..Its certainly ironic as most of the register consists of dead people (economically at least).Maybe started out life as the skive register then had to renamed

later12 · 05-08-2011 10:21pm

It is called the live register because it is frequently updated, unlike the official, more concrete, unemployment statistics (The QNHS) which come out more periodically.

So live refers to the frequency of updates, not to those who are actually on the register.

ascanbe · 05-08-2011 10:58pm

It should be re-named 'The growing at a steady, ever increasing and eventually exponential rate, unless we cop-on and decide to stop destroying our country by being cowed into attempting to pay off a ludicrous debt we are not culpable for, or it will soon be irrelevant given that the economic death-spiral our current policy is driving us towards will inevitably lead to complete collapse Register'.