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Original poster

To ask what ‘far right’ means to you?

482 replies

Rainbowsponge · 01/08/2024 18:52

Let’s not make this a Southport thread, just a political one. I consider myself a centrist and voted Lib Dem (to get us back in EU but that’s another story).

There’s been a lot of talk of ‘far right’ on here over the last few days, but very few observations on what far right actually means. To me it means things like capital punishment, enforced religion, open state misogyny, a blanket ban on abortion, homosexuality being outlawed, that sort of thing.

To me, having justified concerns about immigration, having views on new house building, voting Conservative or disapproving of Just Stop Oil protestors doesn’t make you ‘far right’. Centre or right of centre perhaps, but not far right.

What do you think?

OP posts:
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Original poster
Rainbowsponge · 01/08/2024 19:57

paperrockscissors · 01/08/2024 19:56

I think a lot of people on mumsnet think anyone who doesn’t vote Labour, Green or Lib Dem are far right. And notice how the term far left is never mentioned on here.

I think ‘far left’ is overused in a similar way by people who are very right wing - they apply to to ideas that are left of centre, but not far left. To me far left is outright communism/Marxism, not having a generous welfare state.

OP posts:
CassieMaddox · 01/08/2024 19:56

Twototwo15 · 01/08/2024 19:54

On MN it seems to mean anyone who is not Jeremy Corbyn.

This is the sort of fatuous comment that enables the far right to stealthily send their pernicious roots into a society.

The far right is dangerous. If people are genuinely saying something is far right, you shouldn't just glibly dismiss that.

paperrockscissors · 01/08/2024 19:56

I think a lot of people on mumsnet think anyone who doesn’t vote Labour, Green or Lib Dem are far right. And notice how the term far left is never mentioned on here.

Begsthequestion · 01/08/2024 19:56

Yay now will you go read that book? Could have saved yourself some embarrassment.

Rainbowsponge · 01/08/2024 19:56

This reply has been deleted

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Original poster
Rainbowsponge · 01/08/2024 19:55

zaffa · 01/08/2024 19:52

As i grew up in an ultra far right conservative country, I can answer what it means to me.

To me, it means racism, advocating segregation, encouraging othering and scapegoating minorities. It means strict conservative values, no reproductive rights, limited women's rights, 'traditional' nuclear family values and shut down of any sort of homosexuality.

It means sending the army in, armed with live weapons, if there is peaceful protest because peaceful protest is unlawful.

It is not the concerns over immigration, it is the othering of immigrants that is right wing, the othering of homosexuality, of women's rights, the promotion of religion and enforcement of it into daily life.

I agree with your post and think it wins the thread.

OP posts:
Begsthequestion · 01/08/2024 19:55

Rainbowsponge · 01/08/2024 19:54

In your sheer desperation to pin something, ANYTHING, on me and look very clever and perceptive you’ve accused me of picking on Saudi Arabia by ‘enforcing my definitions on them’ 😂😂 you’ve totally lost it

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Oh dear, you've really shown your intelligence here op...

Begsthequestion · 01/08/2024 19:54

Rainbowsponge · 01/08/2024 19:53

Yes that was the dictionary definition. You may want to complain to Merriam-Webster rather than me.

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I think you need to go read an actual book.

AmusedMaker · 01/08/2024 19:54

I don’t know that much about politics, but I guess the far right are the same as the far left.
control freaks.

Original poster
Rainbowsponge · 01/08/2024 19:54

Izzymoon · 01/08/2024 19:53

Where have I defended Saudi Arabia?

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In your sheer desperation to pin something, ANYTHING, on me and look very clever and perceptive you’ve accused me of picking on Saudi Arabia by ‘enforcing my definitions on them’ 😂😂 you’ve totally lost it

OP posts:
Twototwo15 · 01/08/2024 19:54

On MN it seems to mean anyone who is not Jeremy Corbyn.

CassieMaddox · 01/08/2024 19:54

zaffa · 01/08/2024 19:53

Apologies I don't know how to edit, that should say the othering is far right, not right wing.

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Your post was amazing 👏

Original poster
Rainbowsponge · 01/08/2024 19:53

Begsthequestion · 01/08/2024 19:50

Jeez it was only half an hour ago that you posted it. Are YOU ok?

Rainbowsponge · Today 19:14

Flibflobflibflob · Today 19:10

I wonder if death penalty is more about authoritarian states rather than just far right states. Singapore has the death penalty.
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According to the dictionary far right just means the extreme end of right wing. Right wing is defined as:

the section of a political party or system that advocates free enterprise and private ownership, and typically favours socially traditional ideas; the conservative group or section.

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Yes that was the dictionary definition. You may want to complain to Merriam-Webster rather than me.

OP posts:
zaffa · 01/08/2024 19:53

zaffa · 01/08/2024 19:52

As i grew up in an ultra far right conservative country, I can answer what it means to me.

To me, it means racism, advocating segregation, encouraging othering and scapegoating minorities. It means strict conservative values, no reproductive rights, limited women's rights, 'traditional' nuclear family values and shut down of any sort of homosexuality.

It means sending the army in, armed with live weapons, if there is peaceful protest because peaceful protest is unlawful.

It is not the concerns over immigration, it is the othering of immigrants that is right wing, the othering of homosexuality, of women's rights, the promotion of religion and enforcement of it into daily life.

Apologies I don't know how to edit, that should say the othering is far right, not right wing.

Izzymoon · 01/08/2024 19:53

Rainbowsponge · 01/08/2024 19:51

You have actually lost the plot 😂😂😂 I’ve wound you up so much you’ll defend Saudi Arabia! Haha

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Where have I defended Saudi Arabia?

zaffa · 01/08/2024 19:52

As i grew up in an ultra far right conservative country, I can answer what it means to me.

To me, it means racism, advocating segregation, encouraging othering and scapegoating minorities. It means strict conservative values, no reproductive rights, limited women's rights, 'traditional' nuclear family values and shut down of any sort of homosexuality.

It means sending the army in, armed with live weapons, if there is peaceful protest because peaceful protest is unlawful.

It is not the concerns over immigration, it is the othering of immigrants that is right wing, the othering of homosexuality, of women's rights, the promotion of religion and enforcement of it into daily life.

CassieMaddox · 01/08/2024 19:52

I mean fascism

https://www.faena.com/aleph/umberto-eco-a-practical-list-for-identifying-fascists

But in summary:

  1. instilling fear of "the other" and the feeling a "strong leader" is the only way to protect ourselves.
  2. spreading lies and misinformation so people learn to mistrust themselves and become dependent on outside "approved" sources to draw their conclusions.
  3. constant talking about "elites" and that they need to be removed. Conspiracy theories etc.
  4. harking back to a fictional "golden age" of national identity/prosperity so people feel dissatisfied with what they have now
  5. undermining public systems as a way of taking control so the particular far right values can be instilled.

A lot of this goes with racism, patriarchy, death penalty etc but those are symptoms rather than cause.

Umberto Eco: A Practical List for Identifying Fascists

Fascism is present even in the most progressive democracies; some points for identifying its component parts.

https://www.faena.com/aleph/umberto-eco-a-practical-list-for-identifying-fascists

Original poster
Rainbowsponge · 01/08/2024 19:51

Izzymoon · 01/08/2024 19:49

It’s pretty ironic that you think other countries and cultures should succumb to your view and definition of the far right rather than having their own agenda, ideals and political landscape.

How dare the right side of the political spectrum look different in Saudi compared to here in the UK? That whole thought process is rooted in nationalism.

You have actually lost the plot 😂😂😂 I’ve wound you up so much you’ll defend Saudi Arabia! Haha

OP posts:
letsjustdothis · 01/08/2024 19:50

"To me, having justified concerns about immigration, having views on new house building, voting Conservative or disapproving of Just Stop Oil protestors doesn’t make you ‘far right’. Centre or right of centre perhaps, but not far right."

Those are right wing things, not far right or centre or right of centre.

Begsthequestion · 01/08/2024 19:50

Rainbowsponge · 01/08/2024 19:43

Your last paragraph is pure fantasy, where on earth did you get that from? 😂😂😂

Are you ok?

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Jeez it was only half an hour ago that you posted it. Are YOU ok?

Rainbowsponge · Today 19:14

Flibflobflibflob · Today 19:10

I wonder if death penalty is more about authoritarian states rather than just far right states. Singapore has the death penalty.
Show quote history

According to the dictionary far right just means the extreme end of right wing. Right wing is defined as:

the section of a political party or system that advocates free enterprise and private ownership, and typically favours socially traditional ideas; the conservative group or section.

Izzymoon · 01/08/2024 19:49

It’s pretty ironic that you think other countries and cultures should succumb to your view and definition of the far right rather than having their own agenda, ideals and political landscape.

How dare the right side of the political spectrum look different in Saudi compared to here in the UK? That whole thought process is rooted in nationalism.

froidIci · 01/08/2024 19:49

Flibflobflibflob · 01/08/2024 19:09

Yeah I think it can be anywhere, I consider Modi to be far right (I know some people won’t agree with me but he’s an ethno-nationalist imo).

Oh Modi is absolutely far right.

The OP's faux naïveté is funny. It's almost like they don't know that the far right is not one thing and there is a spectrum of right with political small c conservatism and centre of right leading up to, say, the Nazi party. It's almost like they don't understand that just because someone is not behaving precisely like Goebbels that they cannot be far right.

Original poster
Rainbowsponge · 01/08/2024 19:48

Elbone · 01/08/2024 19:46

Not allowing differences of opinions or freedom of expression under the threat of violence or death.

Is how I’d define it.

Like some on this thread Wink

OP posts:
Uricon2 · 01/08/2024 19:48

States like Saudi can't be quantified in terms of European Right or Left. They oppress women so that tells you a lot about them but it is a different (equally horrible) thing.

I'll define the extreme Right for you. People who turn up at a vigil for dead small girls and start dismanteling walls to hurl at the police and a mosque, because someone on Twitter/X has falsely told them that the assailant was Muslim. Pure, irrational, sheeplike uninformed hate, like the Blackshirts who marched down Cable Street into a community of Jews. On that occasion, their non Jewish neighbours rose in their defence, recognising them as people as impoverished as themselves.

Would that it were ever so.

Elbone · 01/08/2024 19:46

Not allowing differences of opinions or freedom of expression under the threat of violence or death.

Is how I’d define it.

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