Labour friend awful about tories

[tabicae]

NC as probably outing. I have a very close friend who is there for me though everything really and I am for them. We have always avoided politics and have had very different backgrounds. Given what’s been going on recently I’m politics, it’s been hard to avoid the topic.

Whilst I personally have no massive political leaning and can see both sides without coming down massively on either one, she knows that I was brought up in a Tory household and although I have never disclosed who I would vote for, she knows I am on the fence about things and like some Tory polices and some labour. A lot of my childhood was based around things she seems to strongly dislike and is open about...private schools, inheritance, private health, second homes etc.

Anyway..getting to the point. She has become VERY vocal about these things. Slagging off private education and people who went to them (always careful to say ‘there are exceptions’). Being critical of second homes yet happily staying in my parents second homes free of charge for a holiday. And it goes on like that.

She has recently become quite vulgar about tories, calling them and Boris c*nts, etc. I know I feel defensive about this as my dad is a very generous, caring man and he voted for Boris. It feels quite personal.

I’ve noticed that it seems ok on social media and in conversation to being vulgar about tories/anyone who aligns themselves with any Tory policies, yet it is unacceptable to ever do the same if you are a Tory talking about a labour supporter. In fact I am yet to hear a Tory speak so awfully about someone who votes for another party. I feel like her comments are getting in between our friendship and whilst I always knew we differed on this topic it has never ever been an issue between us.

I’m not sure what to say really...maybe she’s always had this view of me and my family and is only now vocalising it? Would you address it?

Tories may not speak awfully about people who vote for other parties, but their policies have quite literally killed people during this pandemic.

People who vote for Johnson are not "nice".

I didn’t vote Labour. I’m saying you either agree with the party policies or you don’t. You’re put off by who they choose to fuck over, not by the language of their supporters.

How arrogant of you to assume you know who I voted for.

She doesn't sound like someone I would want in my life. Typical nasty Labour supporter really!! The people who work damn hard for their luxuries and second homes pay an awful lot of tax to keep this country running, while the Snowflakes demand handouts and everything without bothering to work!! Be proud of your upbringing!

Your friend is right.
The Tories are cunts.

Well, I was quite concerned at who Labour were fucking over, under Corbyn.
Any lack of tolerance of difference is a slippery slope. That is part of the mess of the last few years.. Hopefully it’s on the way out.

There's no point engaging with some people. The militant aggression and very black and white thinking is what turns people away but they'll just keep on at it regardless.

@Mendocino

Well, I was quite concerned at who Labour were fucking over, under Corbyn. Any lack of tolerance of difference is a slippery slope. That is part of the mess of the last few years.. Hopefully it’s on the way out.

A slippery slope to what? People keep saying that because it sounds vaguely like a spooky prediction but it’s meaningless without a final destination. Why is labour being anti-semetic worse than conservative being anti-Muslim, anti-immigration and anti-poor?

@SheepandCow

There's no point engaging with some people. The militant aggression and very black and white thinking is what turns people away but they'll just keep on at it regardless.

Again, you keep saying that without any further analysis. Why would it? Why be put off by someone you don’t know calling a Tory MP a cunt if you don’t agree with Tory policy? It’s illogical.

@Mendocino

Well, I was quite concerned at who Labour were fucking over, under Corbyn. Any lack of tolerance of difference is a slippery slope. That is part of the mess of the last few years.. Hopefully it’s on the way out.

I hope so.

The people who work damn hard for their luxuries and second homes pay an awful lot of tax to keep this country running

While standing on the backs of others who are paid measly wages.

Has she recently got a Twitter account? I say this because honestly I have seen so many people get a twitter account and suddenly get ridiculously vocal about their political likes and dislikes. Whatever happened to live and let live? I grew up in a council house in Stratford, east london. My family were working class tories, as many people were where I lived. It was an aspirational thing (when my parents bought their council house, due to the tories, they were ecstatic - I still remember the velebbrations vividly. But I have many friends now, who lived a different life, and view tories as 'the posh party'. To be honest OP, everyone has different upbringings and this impacts their political choices in life. I have friends both left and right, and I can honestly say neither have ever said 'c*nts' about the other. Not to me anyway! That's why I asked about twitter. Because the stuff you could get into on there. I'm sorry your friend is wrong to be so vocal, it is almost designed to wind you up, which is pretty nasty. Perhaps you should make new friends..,, x

Ok I'll bite.
Presumably you want Labour to win an election Pumperthepumper? (Or do you want a different third party?).

What do you think is the best way to get people to vote Labour instead of Conservative? Calling voters cunts isn't a winning tactic. How about, instead, focusing on some constructive actions that might actually make the party appeal to voters? That includes looking at why voters didn't vote for Labour.

@MrsMomoa

Your friend is right. The Tories are cunts.

I'm Jewish - any views on Labour too? I've reported your post, you nasty piece of work.

@SheepandCow

Ok I'll bite. Presumably you want Labour to win an election Pumperthepumper? (Or do you want a different third party?).

What do you think is the best way to get people to vote Labour instead of Conservative? Calling voters cunts isn't a winning tactic. How about, instead, focusing on some constructive actions that might actually make the party appeal to voters? That includes looking at why voters didn't vote for Labour.

It absolutely does, as I said, there are huge problems in the Labour Party, which has all but died in Scotland.

What I disagree with is the idea that there’s a secret pocket of Tory voters who would have voted labour, had it not been for a handful of people calling Tory voters cunts.

It was taken to quite another level. A level that warranted investigation due to its systematic nature. MPs were leaving in protest including long standing members such as Frank Field. The results of the slippery slope of lack of tolerance of difference of opinion were clear to see within the party and their treatment of Luciana Berger among others. When we see others as less worthy because they are not like us it opens the gates to really nasty behaviour. This is an element in the Conservative party too. The fact that people don’t see this problem in their own behaviour and attitudes and yet claim a moral high ground is the problem. The truth is that the centre represents most people and that centre can be found in both parties and amongst both sets of supporters. Recent history shows that that will win elections.

I do agree with you @tabicae

I am a Labour voter but equally don't slate others for the way they vote.

I am often surprised by how openly people talk about politics and just assume everyone around them feels the same way. Especially so when the party/policy they are supporting wasn't the winner so it's safe to assume that many people in earshot probably voted a different way.

This was made especially clear after the Brexit vote, where many people in my workplace openly slated Brexit voters and I remember thinking then....the result was pretty much 50/50 so loads of people around you will have voted for it! Even our CEO sent round an email essentially expressing sympathy and sadness about the result, almost as if he thought everyone in the company would have been a Remainer, when clearly that is very unlikely to have been the case.

@Mendocino

It was taken to quite another level. A level that warranted investigation due to its systematic nature. MPs were leaving in protest including long standing members such as Frank Field. The results of the slippery slope of lack of tolerance of difference of opinion were clear to see within the party and their treatment of Luciana Berger among others. When we see others as less worthy because they are not like us it opens the gates to really nasty behaviour. This is an element in the Conservative party too. The fact that people don’t see this problem in their own behaviour and attitudes and yet claim a moral high ground is the problem. The truth is that the centre represents most people and that centre can be found in both parties and amongst both sets of supporters. Recent history shows that that will win elections.

I agree with you, the Labour Party should have dealt with anti-semitism within the party a really long time ago.

What I don’t agree with is your idea that now, even with Corbyn gone, you won’t vote for Starmer even though you like him and agree with his politics, because of the behaviour of some of his supporters.

Which means you’re then happy to turn a blind eye to the anti-Muslim, anti-immigration, anti-poor, anti-disabled policies of the Tory government as way of saying ‘ah ha, gotcha! If only you’d been kinder to Tory voters, this wouldn’t have happened!’

It’s nonsense.

@Bibidy

I do agree with you *@tabicae*

I am a Labour voter but equally don't slate others for the way they vote.

I am often surprised by how openly people talk about politics and just assume everyone around them feels the same way. Especially so when the party/policy they are supporting wasn't the winner so it's safe to assume that many people in earshot probably voted a different way.

This was made especially clear after the Brexit vote, where many people in my workplace openly slated Brexit voters and I remember thinking then....the result was pretty much 50/50 so loads of people around you will have voted for it! Even our CEO sent round an email essentially expressing sympathy and sadness about the result, almost as if he thought everyone in the company would have been a Remainer, when clearly that is very unlikely to have been the case.

I think probably the Brexit vote was a special case though. It was glaringly obvious to remain voters that leavers were never, ever going to get all the things they were promised. I was really surprised by the outcome of that referendum, I absolutely never thought people would go for it. I don’t even think Boris Johnson did - remember his pale, sweaty face on the day the results were announced?

What he really wanted was a close enough call that he could take to David Cameron and say, look, things need to change. Unfortunately he over promised and it just appealed to too many people. And here we are - worse off in every single way, yet refusing to back down.

@nicky7654 I vote Labour and I work. You realise the irony of your post?

@somelemons

Forget party politics for a moment. Whatever happened to "If you can't say anything nice, then don't say anything at all."?

Do you really want a friend who is so intolerant and contemptuous of the views and lifestyles of others, including you?

That.

I quite likely will vote for Starmer. People don’t like being patronised, talked down to and being called cunts though. It’s not going to help is it? Back to the original question, all kinds of motives were ascribed to the Op and her dad even down to his charity work. We all have a vote and can use it and shouldn’t expect to be called a cunt for doing so. As I said originally, I have friends who vote both ways. That’s fine by me. Their choice. I am from a working class and ethnic background. I was the first person in my family to attend university and was helped on my way by the assisted places scheme that placed me in a local private school. My children attend Catholic schools that have high aspirations for working class children and outperform all other schools in the area. Social mobility and class are complex issues and no party has all the answers. I may be wrong and I accept that but when I hear Tory Cunt, I hear middle class white voices talking down to the’ less enlightened ‘. Like I say, I may be wrong but that is how it feels and it’s not a vote winner because it closes down alternate voices and people with concerns.

Funny that the torys are in power but everyone on here hates them, well someone voted them in.
Your right though people call others names for who they voted when it is actually none of their business.
We all have a vote and can use it how we like
Anyone who thinks any party is going to fix everything and not screw someone over is disillusioned.
Re : 2nd homes i would have to say oh you won't want to be staying at my parents again etc
.

@tinierclanger then maybe people should of turned up for the vote to change the voting system , but they didn't and people always use this excuse , we had a chance to change it

@pumperthepumper you are aware there are other parties other than labour as well aren't you

Im a floating voter and not one of these that says i would never vote this way or that as things change.
But the worst off i have ever been was under a labour govt ,young baby sahm and dh worked , tax credits were not much and after all essential bills we had £40 a week for food , dc nappies & any leisure etc ,haircuts .food banks never exsisted ,if they had of done I would of been a regular user , family had to help with food parcels and I had to leave my job when I had my ds as the child care help then wasn't enough, we would of been £10 a week better off but then i would of had to run a car.
Recently I lost my job due to covid & someone told me to apply for universal credit , dh earns what I think is a good wage , but dropping a wage is still hard. I thought we wouldn't get anything but we do , its a small amount but helps
Good thing about it is i am doing some temping now so won't get any uc this month but if the temp work dries up I will be able to get ot again
The old tax credit system was awful with getting accidental overpayments so uc has some benenfits , the waiting time is the worst bit
But would i say i would never vote labour,no I wouldn't but they were dark days for us and it was tough for a few years but things change.
But one thing I would never do is call people names or imply they were leaser than me for voting a different way as I respect other peoples choices and i was put off voting labour GE before last by local facebook labour supporters who were vile to others , the people voting green or lib dems were not behaving like that and it really helped make my choice sway elsewhere