The upcoming EU vote is a national issue, but not necessarily a national interest. Not everyone is as mad for it as the guy down your local yelling at the TV or the most sanctimonious person on your uni course.
There's no problem with that. It's natural to dislike something that's harassing your daily life. We're still not even three months from the referendum and the sheer amount of arguments, counter-arguments, op-eds and tweets are already making some want to move to an Amish commune.
Even so, you should be getting ready to vote. I'm just saying you shouldn't have to get caught up in the Euro-drama. There are ways to avoid it while still making your voice heard. Register for a postal vote, and get yourself to these summer events.
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GLASTONBURY: JUNE 22 - 26
Yep, if you don't fancy hanging around your home town or city during the referendum, there's always a big field in Somerset waiting for you. That is, if you've got a ticket for Glastonbury, which you haven't, because who can be arsed? Unless you're an art history student with a trust fund, or one of those bores who bought a ticket for 2016 two minutes after Kanye walked off the Pyramid stage in 2015, then you're probably not going to Glasto.
Which is bad news for you, because Brexit blowhards on Facebook are bad, and they'll be even worse on June 23rd. But are they worse than spending £228 on a ticket before trudging through knee-deep mud to go see Muse? Or Coldplay? And, if the rumours are true, Adele?
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Amazingly, they probably are. Sure, girls in festival-chic and guys in morph suits pretending to enjoy folk music might make you want to Brexit from earth, but spending a summer weekend refreshing FB to see if we're now the nation formerly known as the 'EU member' is probably even more pathetic.
Cough up. Go to Glasto. Buy a ticket off a mate for ten times the price. If WWIII breaks out while you're there, you'll already be used to a life without personal hygiene or toilet paper. Alternatively, head to...
EURO 2016: JUNE 10 - JULY 10
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Credit: PA
For the less pretentious punter, who likes continental beer, continental trips, and continental banning orders, Euro 2016 is the place to be during the referendum.
The Euros clientele is the polar opposite of Glastonbury. Completely unhinged and completely authentic, for good or for worse. No flower headbands, no veterans telling you how the competition was better in the 90s. In fact, football consistently revamps itself and gets better - if a lot more expensive.
The thing with the Euros, though, is that they begin just under two weeks before the referendum. By the vote, on June 23rd, England will either be in the last 16 or they won't. This could play a part in swinging those on the fence.
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Say Slovakia stop us from getting to the 2nd round, will that persuade Brits to vote 'Out'? Why trade with Slovakia when they beat us on penalties? Fuck those guys.
HOLIDAY
Credit: PA
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You could just go on holiday. Whisk yourself off to Ibiza, or Bulgaria, or wherever.
You could go find yourself in Thailand. You could go volunteer in Africa and get a smug group picture for your cover photo.
You could just leave and never come back. But before you do, consider this: An 'Out' vote could have an effect on your future trips to European football tournaments, as well as your future Holidays. Or it might open up the free market and make us all rich, meaning you can go to whatever festival you want. anywhere in the world.
However you decide to get away from the referendum this summer, don't forget to register for the postal vote I mentioned earlier.
You've got not reason to complain if you didn't even cast a ballot.
Words by Josh Teal
Featured Image Credit:Topics: Euro 2016, glastonbury, EU, Voting, EU referendum