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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 19:34

Begsthequestion · 01/08/2024 19:33

It appears that the OP is trying to remove the racist/white nationalist element of the definition of "far right" as it is defined in the UK.

Why is that OP?

See my post where I confirmed white BNP types are indeed far right.

OP posts:
Original poster
Rainbowsponge · 01/08/2024 19:34

Izzymoon · 01/08/2024 19:33

No, why would the political scale in different political systems look the same? I feel like you’re just arguing in bad faith and being purposely obtuse?

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Because the political systems aren’t different are they? The death penalty in one country has much the same effect as in another.

OP posts:
Izzymoon · 01/08/2024 19:33

Rainbowsponge · 01/08/2024 19:22

Why does it look different? Are the basic premises not the same?

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No, why would the political scale in different political systems look the same? I feel like you’re just arguing in bad faith and being purposely obtuse?

Begsthequestion · 01/08/2024 19:33

It appears that the OP is trying to remove the racist/white nationalist element of the definition of "far right" as it is defined in the UK.

Why is that OP?

S0livagant · 01/08/2024 19:31

cupcaske123 · 01/08/2024 19:01

Authoritarian, ultranationalist, no freedom of press, ethnocentrism, no freedom of speech etc are far right.

Authoritarianism, no freedom of press or speech are also far left I thought?

Begsthequestion · 01/08/2024 19:30

PattyDuckface · 01/08/2024 19:21

"Far right" means nothing to me now, a bit like Nazi. I often think what they really want to say is the "native white working classes".

Who is "they"?

As a white working class person born in the UK (who loves wearing DMs) I have never, ever felt affiliated to, or been accused of being far right.

Because they're not the same thing. And we all know that.

Flibflobflibflob · 01/08/2024 19:27

Izzymoon · 01/08/2024 19:19

There are two things, far right of the political spectrum which will differ country to country. So of course people of colour can be right leaning and even far right, although usually in less numbers as right wing generally means anti immigration. Then there is what is referred to as ‘the far right’ which generally refers to the far right of the political west, so typically white, anti immigration, anti cultural mixing, traditional gender stereotypes, anti gay and on the extreme end neonazi sympathising.

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I don’t know, Pakistan is busy deporting huge numbers of afghans, Myanmar was just awful to the Rohyinga. There were riots in South Africa against people from Zimbabwe and Nigeria. People who move to spain and then complain about immigrants in the UK. Also religious extremism/ violence against women etc etc are pretty high.

I think people can be really anti-migration into their own countries but see themselves as worthy exports to a different country. I’m not convinced that there are fewer far right people in these countries. I actually think there are fewer far right people in the west tbh.

TomDaleysShavedBalls · 01/08/2024 19:27

RedPoster · 01/08/2024 19:26

Hey! You leave DMs out of this! They’re my favourite boot! I grew up on punk and DMs were a sign of anti-racism. Shame the idiots took the look.

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I’m a fan of DMs - the only footwear that are comfortable for my wide feet.

cupcaske123 · 01/08/2024 19:26

Rainbowsponge · 01/08/2024 19:22

Why does it look different? Are the basic premises not the same?

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The basic premises are the same. Authoritarian, ultranationalist, lack of rights, ethnonationalist etc There's no difference. The far right love the Taliban for example.

TooBigForMyBoots · 01/08/2024 19:26

kirbykirby · 01/08/2024 19:18

It's now used as a smear to tar all of the white working class and try and shut them up.

Bollocks. I'm white working class and no one has ever accused me of being far right or a racist because I'm neither of those things.

FayeGreener · 01/08/2024 19:26

cardibach · 01/08/2024 19:20

Well this is nonsense. Nobody disagreeing with, for eg, Corbyn woukd call him far right.

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Good point! The term for Corbyn would be the (equally meaningless) “far left”!

RedPoster · 01/08/2024 19:26

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Hey! You leave DMs out of this! They’re my favourite boot! I grew up on punk and DMs were a sign of anti-racism. Shame the idiots took the look.

Original poster
Rainbowsponge · 01/08/2024 19:25

FayeGreener · 01/08/2024 19:24

It’s a catch-all term designed to shut down debate and signal the virtue of the person uttering it.

Don’t particularly like drag queens? Far right!

Roll your eyes a bit at the huge fuck off pride flag emblazoned on your bank? Far right!

I’m gender critical and have noted it’s considered ‘far right’ by some

OP posts:
cardibach · 01/08/2024 19:25

SpinyNorma · 01/08/2024 19:14

Honestly I am not sure it really means anything anymore. It used to but now it's just one of those words that gets thrown around arbitrarily. See also - far left, woke, socialist, liberal, fascist et al.

It being used inappropriately sometimes doesn’t mean it means nothing. It has a definite meaning, as pointed out by PPs. And some current politicians in the U.K. meet it.

Izzymoon · 01/08/2024 19:25

kirbykirby · 01/08/2024 19:18

It's now used as a smear to tar all of the white working class and try and shut them up.

As a someone from a very traditional white working class background in one of the poorest parts of the country I can’t say this resonates with me at all. I have never felt tarred by the term ‘the far right’.

Twoheliumballoons · 01/08/2024 19:24

Rainbowsponge · 01/08/2024 19:17

I haven’t mentioned them at all. I want to hear what constitutes far right in the minds of posters here. To me it’s far wider than ‘white and BNP’ (although yes that fits as well). It’s just interesting seeing the mental gymnastics done to avoid discussing the potential of far right in one of the many other much more conservative countries than the UK.

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Yes, far right views exist in other countries but you are on a UK website talking to a predominantly UK audience. Of course the general feeling will be white, frothing-at-the-mouth, uneducated racists. As we've witnessed in Southport. I hope this post isn't intended to stir up more animosity.

Lentilweaver · 01/08/2024 19:24

TomDaleysShavedBalls · 01/08/2024 19:13

I really want to know if only white people can be far right. Anyone?

Of course not. People of all races can be far right. Though they might use different terms like Hindutva, nationalist, extreme conservative and so on.

FayeGreener · 01/08/2024 19:24

It’s a catch-all term designed to shut down debate and signal the virtue of the person uttering it.

Don’t particularly like drag queens? Far right!

Roll your eyes a bit at the huge fuck off pride flag emblazoned on your bank? Far right!

MUCHtodoAboutSomething · 01/08/2024 19:24

Trump

TomDaleysShavedBalls · 01/08/2024 19:24

Izzymoon · 01/08/2024 19:19

There are two things, far right of the political spectrum which will differ country to country. So of course people of colour can be right leaning and even far right, although usually in less numbers as right wing generally means anti immigration. Then there is what is referred to as ‘the far right’ which generally refers to the far right of the political west, so typically white, anti immigration, anti cultural mixing, traditional gender stereotypes, anti gay and on the extreme end neonazi sympathising.

Show quote history

of course people of colour can be right leaning and even far right, although usually in less numbers as right wing generally means anti immigration.

I thought the Japanese are incredibly anti-immigration, or maybe they aren’t considered to be ‘of colour’.

itsmylife7 · 01/08/2024 19:23

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Yep and hating gay men.

mathanxiety · 01/08/2024 19:23

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?

Justified is very much in the mind of the believer, isn't it.

Every single ghastly act of domestic violence or genocide or oppression has its "justification" -
She made me do it.
They are untermenschen.
Blah blah...

FYI, no understanding of the ideology of the far right is possible without including its deep seated racism.

Original poster
Rainbowsponge · 01/08/2024 19:22

Izzymoon · 01/08/2024 19:22

What mental gymnastics are you specifically referring to though?
The far right will look different in different political systems, do you really need that explaining to you? Of course there is a right wing side of politics in the Middle East, that will look very different to the right wing side of politics in the west and specifically the UK. What is your point?

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Why does it look different? Are the basic premises not the same?

OP posts:
Original poster
Rainbowsponge · 01/08/2024 19:22

PattyDuckface · 01/08/2024 19:21

"Far right" means nothing to me now, a bit like Nazi. I often think what they really want to say is the "native white working classes".

Yet on other threads they say they care about poverty and elitism? Why give such awful people more power and opportunity for influence?

OP posts:
Izzymoon · 01/08/2024 19:22

Rainbowsponge · 01/08/2024 19:17

I haven’t mentioned them at all. I want to hear what constitutes far right in the minds of posters here. To me it’s far wider than ‘white and BNP’ (although yes that fits as well). It’s just interesting seeing the mental gymnastics done to avoid discussing the potential of far right in one of the many other much more conservative countries than the UK.

Show quote history

What mental gymnastics are you specifically referring to though?
The far right will look different in different political systems, do you really need that explaining to you? Of course there is a right wing side of politics in the Middle East, that will look very different to the right wing side of politics in the west and specifically the UK. What is your point?

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