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Original poster

To worry about the right wing?

335 replies

Swingstotheleftslidetotheright · 08/05/2023 16:14

I'm politically homeless at the moment in terms of who to vote for but morally I sit firmly centre/centre left. I'm very British with that it would seem.

I've seen over the last few years a very hard push left across social media and among the "chattering" classes which has seemingly come with a desire to shut down discussion, debate and conversation if it involves even the mildest of challenge to their way of thinking. What seems to be happening as a result of this shutting down and refusal to engage in a debate is a rise in harder line opposition, whereas before the two sides would have a somewhat heated and healthy discourse about an issue and come away mindful of each others views and with a solution in sight.

I'm noticing the louder the left shout the harder the, previously moderate, right push back and vice versa. Both sides appear to be getting more vocal and more extreme. I'm seeing this a lot around migration, feminism, the economy and crime. I'm now worried that this continued closure of conversation is going to lead us down a path of extremism - from one or both sides - and lead us to a dramatic and unwelcome rise from the far right.

Are we at a point of no return? Can we ever go back to being moderate and tolerant?

OP posts:
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Dillya · 08/05/2023 17:04

LadyWithLapdog · 08/05/2023 16:40

OP I think there’s some confirmation bias going on there. Do you really not see the right wing bias in the media?

If only!

roarfeckingroarr · 08/05/2023 17:02

The Tories are right of centre but hardly further right when compared to the rest of the world - US and Europe.

roarfeckingroarr · 08/05/2023 16:58

TheKeatingFive · 08/05/2023 16:24

I'm as worried about the far left as I am about the far right.

Likewise

LadyWithLapdog · 08/05/2023 16:58

I’ll leave you to your mental gymnastics @Swingstotheleftslidetotheright There’s always the risk of terrorism. So? We gag people? How do you square the right to free speech and expression with pre-emptively rounding up people and gagging them. Cos Charlie boy might get upset.

Createausername1970 · 08/05/2023 16:56

Swingstotheleftslidetotheright · 08/05/2023 16:40

Far left and far right are more alike than either would like to admit to

Agreed.

I sit right of centre. But I vote based on what is happening at the time. I just voted labour in our local elections, but mainly to oust the Greens who have run the Council into massive debt with ill-thought through schemes. I also like our Labour MP, as he has got involved with constituency issues. But I despised the previous labour MP who never set foot in our area. I voted Tory to get rid of him.

I think most people are reasonably flexible. But the extremeists at either end of the scale are worrying to me.

Original poster
Swingstotheleftslidetotheright · 08/05/2023 16:55

LadyWithLapdog · 08/05/2023 16:54

Sorry to see you’re uncomfortable with the Tories being called right wing. But that’s the reality in the UK.

They are right wing by British standards but on a global stage are anything but. I'm sorry reality makes you uncomfortable.

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Original poster
Swingstotheleftslidetotheright · 08/05/2023 16:55

But they aren't shutting it down. Their own words. If you're referring to the policing of protests at the coronation that's a matter of public order and public safety. Or are you forgetting we are in a time where we are at high risk from terrorism?

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LadyWithLapdog · 08/05/2023 16:54

Sorry to see you’re uncomfortable with the Tories being called right wing. But that’s the reality in the UK.

LadyWithLapdog · 08/05/2023 16:53

The right wing Tory government is shutting down the right to protest. What do you say about that @Swingstotheleftslidetotheright

Original poster
Swingstotheleftslidetotheright · 08/05/2023 16:52

Endlesssummer2022 · 08/05/2023 16:49

Exactly but on here there are people more worried about the ‘woke agenda’ whatever that is. I feel myself becoming poorer with less rights but the left haven’t been in power for some time now.

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Because "woke" shuts down free speech and free thinking, which is extremely dangerous

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LadyWithLapdog · 08/05/2023 16:52

@Endlesssummer2022 all this hand wringing for what might happen when things are actually happening under our noses and they are ignored. Yes, I refer to the curtailing of the right to protest.

Original poster
Swingstotheleftslidetotheright · 08/05/2023 16:50

LadyWithLapdog · 08/05/2023 16:49

The Tories are of course right wing. Don’t be daft.

Globally? They aren't. They're centrist/right of centre.

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Clementineorsatsuma · 08/05/2023 16:50

If you watch Who Dares Wins from the early 80s you will see a pretty accurate portrayal of how the upper echelons of society manipulate extreme politics for their own ends.

LadyWithLapdog · 08/05/2023 16:49

The Tories are of course right wing. Don’t be daft.

Endlesssummer2022 · 08/05/2023 16:49

LadyWithLapdog · 08/05/2023 16:46

I find rounding up protesters as Charles & entourage might be upset also to be draconian. Yet this is done by the current right wing government.

Exactly but on here there are people more worried about the ‘woke agenda’ whatever that is. I feel myself becoming poorer with less rights but the left haven’t been in power for some time now.

Original poster
Swingstotheleftslidetotheright · 08/05/2023 16:48

LadyWithLapdog · 08/05/2023 16:46

I find rounding up protesters as Charles & entourage might be upset also to be draconian. Yet this is done by the current right wing government.

The Tories are not right wing. Americans would consider them further left then their Democrat party

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Original poster
Swingstotheleftslidetotheright · 08/05/2023 16:48

ILikePizzas · 08/05/2023 16:41

I think you are using loaded terms - "the right rising".

I'd perhaps observe that, as you take away people's freedoms, people will start fighting back. Many probably are not even especially "right wing". They just don't want draconian laws. I think that is fair enough and not an example of "the right rising". Whatever you try to label it as, I'd say that opposing draconian laws is a good thing.

Anyway, the whole left/right paradigm is a bit simplistic and reductive - and completely beside the point.

But it starts as polite disagreement. Then they are shut down, their voices ignored, laws passed policing their views and speech. People argue back. Ignored again. People get argumentative. Ignored again. Someone presents a radical idea, people latch onto it and run with it...

It doesn't take much and needs addressing before it becomes a problem. Authoritarian thinking is dangerous. We just happen to be in an era of authoritative left thinking

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TheKeatingFive · 08/05/2023 16:47

Anyway, the whole left/right paradigm is a bit simplistic and reductive - and completely beside the point.

I agree. The desire to control and curb freedoms is coming from both sides in various ways. All very worrying.

maddening · 08/05/2023 16:47

Tbh I am centre left (although I am pro women so that is not left currently and often described as "far right" - however "right wing" appears to have become a slur and seems to be also mixed up as "far right" -.People don't seem to have to say much to suddenly be slandered as "far right"

LadyWithLapdog · 08/05/2023 16:46

I find rounding up protesters as Charles & entourage might be upset also to be draconian. Yet this is done by the current right wing government.

Swrigh1234 · 08/05/2023 16:46

This is the ‘basket of deplorables’ syndrome. You see it all the time. If people object to the lockdowns or immigration across the channel, they instantly branded far right. It’s a way to discredit people’s opinion. All it does it push them away from the mainstream. Then there is all this shock and awe that people vote Brexit.

There is a fingers in ears la la la la la attitude from the left where everyone whom isn’t left wing is instantly far right and is an extremist. It simply does not tally with the reality. 17 million voted for Brexit, 13 million voted conservative at the last GE, the daily mail has the largest online readership in the country. Are the all far right?

TheKeatingFive · 08/05/2023 16:45

*What do the far left advocate that could harm society so much?

The urge to control debate, shut down 'wrong think' worries me greatly personally. In Ireland they're introducing anti 'hate speech' laws without actually defining what that is. I find that very concerning, along with all the things you mention.

Original poster
Swingstotheleftslidetotheright · 08/05/2023 16:45

LadyWithLapdog · 08/05/2023 16:40

OP I think there’s some confirmation bias going on there. Do you really not see the right wing bias in the media?

I see as much right as I do left. Channel 4 is televisual Grauniad for example

OP posts:
ILikePizzas · 08/05/2023 16:41

I think you are using loaded terms - "the right rising".

I'd perhaps observe that, as you take away people's freedoms, people will start fighting back. Many probably are not even especially "right wing". They just don't want draconian laws. I think that is fair enough and not an example of "the right rising". Whatever you try to label it as, I'd say that opposing draconian laws is a good thing.

Anyway, the whole left/right paradigm is a bit simplistic and reductive - and completely beside the point.

LadyWithLapdog · 08/05/2023 16:40

OP I think there’s some confirmation bias going on there. Do you really not see the right wing bias in the media?