Hobbycraft employee badge - no terfs, no Tories

Exactly. If Reform gets in - and the swing to the right across much of the western world now makes that a realistic prospect - it's the left I shan't forgive.

The left was traditionally the ground on which the battle for equality was fought. Instead of this we've found a looparound of the horseshoe effect and a mirroring of the two. The 'left' has comandeered certain ground as progressive, and in doing so enabled a censorious, 'cancel' culture of violence and threats against those who dared to speak against it. They should have paid far more attention to their Marxist and Foucauldian overlords (but who can read critically when their energy is taken up in chanting slogans)?

Marx got it right. You can shut people up and oppress them for so long - in modern times by aggressors taking a DARVO approach and making themselves out to be victims whilst moderates with legitimate questions are labelled 'fascist' and far right. But you can only keep the lid on the pressure cooker for so long. Sooner or later they'll revolt, and that's what we see happening here.

Ironic that the left has made itself into everything it purportedly hated just to bring people into line with its view. It's a cynical, exploitative move and one I find unforgiveable.

I didn't leave the left. The left, left me.

Behold the broad church tolerance of “the left”

Does it hurt that tempest is right?

If you’re making the point that this country is inundated with proto-fascists then you won’t see any disagreement from me.

So it’s wrong to have women leaders? Wrong to have black or brown leaders?

"Hated" - and yet were democratically voted in to run the country for 14 of the last 15 years.

You really do live in a bubble, don't you?

But they'll be thinking the exact same thing about the left, no? Would you be happy if they said everyone on the left was vermin?

Whether they have the "right" opinions or not (who decides what's right or wrong?), there's no justification for using dehumanising language against them. That's what fascists do.

I agree with you. That poster called Tories "parasitic vermin". Are they aware of who else used that term pretty often back in the 1930s? To dehumanise a group and create an "other"?

What have the ‘right’ ever got right about anything? They pretty much are the epitome of having the wrong opinions on everything. Hence why they are hated.

In Glasgow, never mind football scarves, people are cautious about wearing certain shades of blue, or green, for fear of stirring up sectarian anger.

The pub I worked in was very carefully neutral, and decorated in red tones only, to avoid this issue. A football scarf to work would be insane in that context.

I misread the song title as 'don't lick my bum'

I mean... seems just as likely!

What has become of the BBC (I know, i know).

I'm somewhere to the left of Corbyn on most issues, but calling Tories vermin is disgusting. Dehumanising people never leads to anything good. What's more, it's that kind of attitude that's pushing people even further right.

I despair of the modern left as a group. They seem to think they're the only ones who are ever right, and that makes it fine to bully, abuse, and generally be vile to anyone with a different opinion.

It is this utter fuckwittery that will let Reform in, so good luck with that Right Side Of History Self Congratulatory All People Not As Good As Me Are Vermin people. You will reap what you sow you utter planks.

The authoritarian left are frightening. It gets easier and easier to understand how the evils done in the name of communism came about.

'No Tories' is alright because they're 'vermin'? Really?

What if I felt similarly about another group? Can I wear a No Labourites badge to my customer-facing job? No Greens? No Reform? No SNP?

If your answer is no to the parties you approve of, but yes to those you dislike, you really need to reflect on what actual diversity means and why you're against it.

I was served by that employee. Ha! If only they'd known my views 🙄

It's absolutely ridiculous. The badge thing. Surely it's being worn to be goady. A customer isn't going to think "Oh dear, I better go elsewhere" and scuttle off. They'll do as I did (there were no badges as far as I saw that day) and shop like a normal person, try not to cringe too obviously at the employee's gloating at their not very amazing abilities when it comes to measuring, pay and get out.
Or they'll do as Bex did and ask the employee in question about the badge. If it's not to be a discussion point, don't fucking wear it. Or is it only fawning discussions that are allowed? It really is rather pathetic.

I remember a young workmate being told not to wear a football scarf to work. All such emblems being verboten. They worried about riots breaking out in the office 😂

Who decides who the fascists are? You right?
Your post says more about you and your blinkered black and white absolutist world view than it does about the people you condemn.
You understand that during WW2 they dehumanised Jews just like you are doing to anyone who doesn't share your political views. It didn't go well for the human race. When you believe that people should be denied basic service and dignity because they have different political views to you, then you are no better than the name you call people to denigrate them.

The rule of law is an interesting one. Twenty years ago my rather superficial introduction to law required a literal interpretation at first resort, otherwise a purposive interpretation.
When the application of law (if afforded) relies on judicial interpretation it can be interesting to see how that interpretation happens and the ramifications of it.

When you misuse the word 'fascist' like this, you change the meaning. It means that we no longer have the word when we need it.

Fascism is a real thing, it has a coherent definition, and it is serious.

Calling the Conservative party 'fascist' makes you look like an idiot, and that doesnt matter much, but what does matter is that when real fascism turns up, nobody will take warnings seriously.

Is anyone else here getting the same Rik from 'The Young Ones' vibe as I am?

Witness his loud cries of 'FASCIST' to anyone whose views he dislikes (and every one of them is out of the context of actual fascism).

I know he's a parody, but it's quite entertaining how Sociology has since died on its feet as an academic discipline.

Boomshanka.

That's nice, dear.

NB. Look up the accurate definition of 'fascist'.

When I worked in Tesco many years ago, I had my hair in the obligatory ponytail with a little bit of tinsel wrapped round the scrunchie. I was told to take it off as it was too festive. It was Christmas eve! 😂

😂

Saying feminists aren't welcome is pretty evil. They're basically saying they disagree with women having rights.

I would suggest that Swift then time-travels to East Germany, but I have a feeling that the Stasi and the Socialist Unity Party of Germany would be their natural home.