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To be completely shocked about someone I used to know

721 replies

EWAB · 03/05/2024 10:21

When my youngest was at primary school I really liked this woman who had kids either side of mine.

She was in the PTA equivalent and was just a nice woman. There was no drama around her.

I remember having a day off and went into the local cafe, and she invited me to sit with her friends. She was funny, warm and witty.

Significantly, she had friends of all ethnicities and her best friend was Asian.

Everybody will relate to being busy but I think if it was a different time in my life or we had kids in same year we would have been mates.

I am absolutely shocked that she is a member of a right wing political party and has a presence in that party, utterly and completely shocked.

I know it’s not illegal but God.

All three of my siblings are Tories, I’m not someone who thinks everyone has to think like me but I am stunned.

Mumsnet hates this, but I have had a physical reaction to the news. I am just Gobsmacked and weirdly let down and I do know that’s a stupid, irrational thing to say.

OP posts:
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5
belovedandpureones · 03/05/2024 19:12

blablasmthsmth · 03/05/2024 19:02

Aaaaannd Hitler has entered the chat. It was only a matter of time.

🤣🤣👍🏻

Hugosmaid · 03/05/2024 19:10

LordPercyPercy · 03/05/2024 19:05

This seems about the right time to post this.

😂😂😂

StMarieforme · 03/05/2024 19:09

BadBarry · 03/05/2024 13:49

I would not judge someone on their political leanings, I would judge them on their actual conduct.
I probably would judge them also if they were judge other people for which political parties they support.

So when a Tory says that disabled people should be sterilised, and your friend votes for them, you would not change your opinion of that friend?

Hugosmaid · 03/05/2024 19:09

StMarieforme · 03/05/2024 19:07

You don't have to be white British to be racist.

Yeah Ben Habib is just not the ‘right kind’ of Packistani man .. 🙄🙄🙄

Laidbackguy · 03/05/2024 19:09

Given that all the major parties have essentially the same manifesto its hard to draw inference on a person from their political leanings.

SabreIsMyFave · 03/05/2024 19:08

@LordPercyPercy Shock

😂

StMarieforme · 03/05/2024 19:07

Hugosmaid · 03/05/2024 13:09

Ben Habib is a Pakistani man and is co chair of Reclaim. How do you square that off OP. Are you having a visceral reaction?

You don't have to be white British to be racist.

belovedandpureones · 03/05/2024 19:05

StMarieforme · 03/05/2024 19:01

Would you say that about Hitler?

Hitler was a madman and could have belonged to any political party. Irrelevant

LordPercyPercy · 03/05/2024 19:05

This seems about the right time to post this.

To be completely shocked about someone I used to know
Springchickenonion · 03/05/2024 19:04

This thread has been eye opening

StMarieforme · 03/05/2024 19:03

DrJoanAllenby · 03/05/2024 10:49

I'm right wing and I do not support Labour (obviously) or the conservatives.

I'm currently at sea with who to financially support but vote tactically (against Labour).

I don't support extremist groups and would like to know what you deem as being a right wing extremist group!

You're right wing.

You're a disgrace.

blablasmthsmth · 03/05/2024 19:02

Aaaaannd Hitler has entered the chat. It was only a matter of time.

LordPercyPercy · 03/05/2024 19:02

Would you say that about Hitler?

Are you comparing poor old Richard Tice to Hitler now?

blablasmthsmth · 03/05/2024 19:01

"This thread is a perfect advert for the sanctity of the secret ballot, though!"

This is so true @MrRydersParlourGame

I remember as a child asking my dad who he was voting for and he actually told me off 😅 he told me it's private and personal and to mind my own business! I wish we'd just go back to that tbh.

StMarieforme · 03/05/2024 19:01

Springchickenonion · 03/05/2024 10:25

I'm not a Conservative supporter.

But someone's political viewpoint doesn't define them as a good or bad person OP.

Would you say that about Hitler?

StMarieforme · 03/05/2024 19:01

workshy46 · 03/05/2024 10:24

She has different politics to you, big deal. You said yourself she was lovely , friendly and had friends for all ethnicities so clearly not racist. I loath the left, they have become the new far right with their group think and identity politics and their absolute intolerance of anyone who doesn't think like them

"The new far right"?!!

Good grief.

ClaudiaWankleman · 03/05/2024 18:59

InShockHusbandLeaving · 03/05/2024 18:44

You’re not exactly a political sophisticate are you? And whilst you may find your naïveté endearing, I’m afraid I find it rather sad 😢

It’s not classic conspiracy theorist behaviour to call someone naive, out of touch, blind, misunderstanding, is it? Of course not. It’s completely sane behaviour.

EasternStandard · 03/05/2024 18:59

I’m not up on what reform are entirely so there may be more wording etc but the other country I know well has policies that are very hardline in terms of immigration

But under a Labor gov.

Imo we’re in a period of change wrt migration and we’ll see shifts here and in EU and US

Hayliebells · 03/05/2024 18:58

Is it really boomers people are talking about when they talk about the British stiff upper lip? I thought that was more the silent generation. A stiff upper lip isn't exactly what I'd identify the boomers with. Do the ageing hippies and yuppies have a stuff upper lip?

belovedandpureones · 03/05/2024 18:57

Sugarcoatedalmonds · 03/05/2024 18:46

Thats a nice opinion.

It’s a honest one and I stand by it! At least I am not judgmental

Otterly2 · 03/05/2024 18:56

Sorry Percy x-post.

Xtraincome · 03/05/2024 18:54

This thread is informative. It may have backfired slightly OP, as it made me look at Reform for the first time. I have added to their website views.

Sadly, I am aware of how incredibly judgemental people are, so unapologetically so because they are left-wing. The irony is lost I assume?

As a generation we need to channel the boomers stiff upper lip a bit with politics. How people vote does not define them as people in the way some are arguing it does. There are extreme examples but this Reform Mum who OP knows is far from it!

Otterly2 · 03/05/2024 18:53

Usernameisnotavailable0 · 03/05/2024 18:50

Is Reform very right wing? Or right of Conservative?

Or too far right from the left?

I'm ignorant to Reform polices, so not sure how bad they are.

Rather than asking people to place a label on things, read about them yourself and make your own mind up:

https://www.reformparty.uk/

Reform UK

Reform UK national political party offering common sense policies on immigration, the cost of living, energy & national sovereignty. Accountability for those holding public office. If you want Reform, vote Reform UK

https://www.reformparty.uk

NonPlayerCharacter · 03/05/2024 18:53

Delawear · 03/05/2024 18:49

Right wing people aren’t necessarily bad. But they are usually boring and sometimes annoying. Weirdly they seem to like me because on the surface I’m polite and easy going. I say, ‘yes it would be lovely to have a coffee with you some time’ and then I never contact them.

I truly can't tell if this is a parody or not.

MrRydersParlourGame · 03/05/2024 18:53

blablasmthsmth · 03/05/2024 18:43

This only works if you think you are right 100% of the time and people who have different beliefs to you are always wrong.
Believing left= good and right= bad is ridiculously childish.

As someone who is pretty much at the centre (probably left leaning most of the time) I see a hell of a lot of nasty viscous behaviour coming from people from "the far left" with absolutely zero self reflection. I have been accused of being "far right" and even a fckin NAZI just because my beliefs don't align with the extreme left.

As for being upset at "othering" people because it makes society worse, I think you need a little self reflection too. You've done a great job at othering swathes of people just because they're right wingers. Even calling them RABID and being "utterly utterly shocked". Jeez, it's all so pathetic and hypocritical.

Just mind your own business, you get one vote. You're not entitled to anybody else's vote and vice versa. The fact that someone votes differently to you does not entitle you to call them fascists, bigots, Nazis or accuse them of being immoral. (I mean "you" in a general sense. I'm not saying that you've done this. I'm just sick of the toxic, polarised politics and the lack of self awareness).

The hypocrisy re "othering" also struck me in the post you quote. Goodness me!

This thread is a perfect advert for the sanctity of the secret ballot, though!