Anyone you know ever said anything to you that's made you change your opinion of them?

[TrustPenguins]

Kind of light-hearted but...

Two examples recently:

1. A friend admitted (rather sheepishly) that he voted Tory. He said it was because of Labour's intended VAT on private school fees (his children go to private school). That was his sole reason.

I feel this was selfish and he wasn't looking at the bigger picture. I've always been taught to vote with the most vulnerable person you know in mind and of what is in their best interests. I was also shocked that a good friend would vote Tory full stop!

1. Another friend said he was supporting Spain in the football last night. Apparently his Mum is Scottish and his Dad is Scouse so they've never supported England (friend is English). When England played Italy in the previous final, he was cheering on Italy. When Italy won, he was celebrating whilst his kids were crying (they were supporting England). Just seems strange to me.

Obviously anyone can vote for and support who they like but I just never expected these friends to say / do this, and rightly or wrongly, it has changed my opinion of them a bit.
Just when you think you know someone...! 🤣

Anyone got any other examples?

You are making a judgement as to who these vulnerable people are tho and what’s best for them. Other people will have a different opinion.

it’s fine to make that judgment but it’s not any more right or wrong or good or bad than anyone else’s opinion. There is no one right political choice.

My friend revealed she regularly uses sunbeds after thirty years of friendship. We didn't fall out or anything, but I've taken any advice from her with a pinch of salt ever since

I'm with the friend on this. As a grown adult I would not take kindly to my speech being corrected😡😡

Someone I always liked and got on well with but when time came to have her aged cat put to sleep, took her to the vets and just left her. Didn't stay with a pet she'd had for years.

Poor cat, no owner stroking her and talking her to her right to the end. Must have been so frightening.

Dropped like a stone in my estimation.

So you form your opinions about people based on who they vote for? You must live in a very boring, sheltered little world.

What happened to embracing peoples differences and overlooking prejudices? Decent people are decent people, regardless of who they vote for.

Sigh of relief from the brexit voters then 😆😆

Fleetheart · Today 17:43
not here for a fight- just saying what I feel and in my experience anyone who voted for Brexit I know I will not get on well with at anything but a superficial level

Do you ask everyone as soon as you meet them what they voted in the referendum?
Presumably you do if that’s how you judge if someone is worthy to be your friend. What do you do if they refuse to tell you what they voted? Give them the benefit of the doubt or decide they must have voted leave if they’re too embarrassed to tell you?

The first example reflects very poorly on you not them. We are privileged and extremely fortunate to live in a democracy and have the freedom to choose who to vote for and for the reasons which resonate most strongly.
This is actually how you judge your friends?

100%. I am disabled on a low income & working class and voted Tory, as did quite a few people I know in the same situation. The only ones voting Lab/ Liberal Dems are my more privileged friends. I really do wish they said they were voting for themselves and not the "vulnerable" 🙄

Only thing that as made me see a different side of people is their social media. It ranges from the hate and abusing strangers because they can't tolerate a difference of opinion and seeing a totally different life posted vs real life.

Another very important thing is; how people eat dinner without some form of sauce. How?! No gravy, sauce, condiments- it's weird 😂

Sure it defines you as a person with whom you decide to vote for.
People are so shallow.

Well, it’s more that I feel I’m voting for the party that will afford them dignify and not cut services to the bone. They may disagree. I was simply agreeing with earlier posters saying they grew up learning that it was important to use your vote to help those most vulnerable in society. That was what I grew up learning too.

I am fully embracing of the democratic process and as much as I would never vote Tory, I would vehemently defend anyone else’s right to do so. I’m not keen on extreme views whichever side they fall on but as long as such views are legal, people have a right to vote for them.

Are you thinking about James Corden and the story that he (allegedly) put his wife and kid in economy while he sat in business and then ignored them the whole flight?

I really do wish they said they were voting for themselves and not the "vulnerable" 🙄

With 3 kids in private school, it definitely does not suit me better to vote Labour. I voted based on what I thought the country needed and yes, what I thought the most vulnerable in our society needed. There’s nothing wrong with you choosing to vote Tory just like there’s nothing with me believing the Tories are bad for millions who find themselves without a voice.

But why? 😂

I don’t know why people are getting so funny. It’s very obvious that Tory benefits the wealthier in society and causes serious issues for those who are less wealthy. Let’s not pretend otherwise. 😂 And yes I am from a high income household.

I will always remember attending A&E with someone who had od’d and the Dr had exactly the same opinion.

Yep. People banging on any immigration. Arseholes.

No. But... wtf?!

It was someone in real life. Still can't remember. Been driving me crazy.

I couldn't hold the same level of respect for my aunt in law after discussing politics, she is, it turns out, a racist.

Everyone does have a vote though. If you are voting on the basis of what you think is good or best for someone else, it’s a bit much to criticize them because that person you’re supposed to be benefiting doesn’t agree with you. Your opinion on their life and what benefits them is not more valid than theirs.

No one is more virtuous because they vote a certain way. We all have our opinions and as long as we respect democracy and free speech that is ok.

of course. I do understand what you’re saying.

However, You say that you were brought up to “use your vote to help those most vulnerable” but that you would never vote Tory. It seems strange that you have decided in advance which party will “help the most vulnerable” for all time.

Maybe it would be more accurate to say you were brought up to support particular political parties and you plan to continue to support them? Which is fine but maybe leave “the most vulnerable” out of it.

Many labour supporters are wealthy middle class and extremely privileged whereas there are significant numbers of conservative voters from less privileged demographics. Each are entitled to their opinions. None is more virtuous.

as I said, I’m not a Tory or brexit voter. Never voted for either. But I object to people claiming that it’s evil or wrong to vote for these things. And I think it’s deplorable many on the left speak of those who have different opinions -dismissing them as gammons, racists, etc.

Liverpool fans (myself included) have notoriously anti-establishment views, politically. It stems from Thatcher's policies in the 80's to let Liverpool go into managed decline. This was further entrenched by the lack of government action to prosecute the West Yorkshire Police for negligence which led to the Hillsborough deaths. Over 30 years of seeking justice followed.

I don't think this view applies to all Liverpool supporters - I know some that are loyal England fans and some who aren't arsed about England. Scousers have a strong regional identity which supercedes being English in a lot of cases. Football is in the blood of Merseysiders too so it leads to strong opinions. As someone who is a very passionate follower of Liverpool FC, it sits oddly to support players who represent our rivals at club level. I love it all though - I just enjoy watching good football and thought it was just that Spain won as they were by far the best team in the tournament. I'm not anti-England but I don't feel the passion for England that I see elsewhere.

An ex who I was still madly in love with her her cat to a shelter when she went abroad to work for six months. When she came back she left the cat there and joked about it still being there, then shortly after got another cat. That sorted out my feelings very quickly. Couldn’t believe how callous she was.

Your "I'm alright, Jack" attitude is one of the reason the country is in the state it's in.

I had a friend who met a man with a previous young DC. They started out really well but ended up slowly cutting out this child after starting their own family and now she's a young adult they're NC with her for a seemingly silly reason. I can never look at her the same way.