How do people with right-wing views still have loads of friends?

[AmusedTaupePlayer]

Genuine question. There’s a guy at work who’s openly right-wing—thinks Brexit was great, doesn’t care about immigrants, women’s rights, gay or disabled people, constantly posts pro-Trump, Reform UK, and even likes Andrew and Tristan Tate. His dad’s the same, his mum is obsessed with “Britishness”. Basically, the full red-flag package.
Yet... he’s well-liked at work, always invited to drinks and group holidays. People act like he’s totally harmless. How?! I don’t get how someone with views that are basically hostile to entire groups of people can still be so socially accepted. Why don’t people care? He isn't actually shy about them... he openly declares them.

Me three!

because many people hold those views

have you not taken any notice of world politics

Did you not get the answers you want last week?

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5357270-colleague-with-disturbing-views-how-do-people-still-like-him?page=1

People are sick to death of the extreme left wing thought police and it is refreshing for someone to brazenly challenge the left wing hand wringers who presume to have gotten it all correct and everyone else is wrong (I don't share his views).

It absolutely amazes me how many people believe that the views promoted in the media (and that people feel able to express on social media) actually reflect what the majority of people think.

perhaps he is more fun to be with that someone who polices other people thoughts and speech and looks down their noses at people who do not conform?

He has right-wing friends, or befriends habitual underthinkers who think of politics as Hard Sums, and stand in voting booths doing ‘Eeny meeny miny mo’ with electoral candidates or referenda.

I'm sure people with left wing views have loads of friends too. Do you not wonder about that?

Belief in Brexit is not exclusively 'right wing'. Tony Benn was very anti EU, as is Corbyn, several prominent Labour MPs campaigned for Leave, including Gisela Stuart - who is German.

Me four! OP really, really doesn’t like him!

Voting for Brexit doesn't make you 'right-wing'. Plenty of left-wing people voted for it, and so did many centrists. I voted remain myself, but even I could see that there was a case to be made for leaving. I'm not sure what you mean by "not caring about immigrants." If I emigrated to Spain, I wouldn't expect everyone to 'care' about me.

Besides, some of the vilest human beings I have ever met have been left-wing. The left is a magnet for bitter, destructive, hate-filled people. You only have to look at their attitude to so-called 'nimbys'. It's perfectly natural to resent having the countryside destroyed around you, and to not want a massive housing estate built on your doorstep. In fact, it would be odd if you didn't resent it. But I know left-wing people get pleasure out of seeing middle-class lives ruined by developers. No one is more vicious or hate-filled than they are. Because their spite and hate is directed towards middle-class Daily Mail readers, however, somehow it's OK.

This right-wing label gets thrown around way too much. I actually saw someone who wanted a rapist deported described as 'right-wing'!! I'm not even sure what it means anymore. Most people hold a jumble of views, ranging right across the political spectrum. Personally, I support tighter borders and the deportation of illegal immigrants. Sorry, but I don't believe the young men pouring into Europe are all frightened refugees 'fleeing war and persecution'. The vast majority are economic migrants posing as refugees. I also dislike the way multiculturalism has been imposed on people. However, I'm a vegetarian, a republican, a feminist and a passionate supporter of the LGBTQ community. I'm against capital punishment and I support nuclear disarmament. Am I 'right-wing'? Plenty of immigrants despise women and gays and have zero care for animals. Are they 'right-wing'?

He doesn't sound 'right-wing'. He just sounds like an oaf. In general, I stay away from politics and judge people on how they treat those around them. I have often noticed that horrible, spiteful arseholes hide behind a left-wing identity. It becomes a sort of get out of jail free card. You know, 'I'm left-wing so I must be one of the goodies.'

I genuinely couldn't be friends with someone who tried to shove left wing wokeness down my throat at every meeting. I find people who are right leaning have their views and thoughts and don't give a shit if you agree with them or not. I find people of a left leaning persuasion like to ram home how wrong you are (in their opinion)
It's almost like the left think they are right and everyone else is wrong.... and that there should only be one way of thinking...their way... that doesn't make a great friend does it!

The current Labour Party dont seem to care about anyone apart from lining their own nest, why aren't they called 'right wing'?

Clearly they don’t care or they agree with him.

You sound like a very intolerant person who can't belive that people have the audacity to have differing views to you and that they should be ostracised as a result. If he's a friendly person, which I'm guessing he perhaps is if he has lots of friends, then it's not surprising why it's him that people gravitate towards

Two strange posts.
www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5360425-how-are-people-affording-this-lifestyle?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=app_share

Besides, some of the vilest human beings I have ever met have been left-wing

Yes, this has been my experience too.

Same answer as why are bullies/bitchy people have loads of friends, it’s less about views and more about how entertaining someone is to be around.

I’ve just seen that one. OP seems to really like noseying about other people.

I don't understand why he isn't actually doing his job instead of standing on a soap box.

Yes, this is key. I have some friends who are right of centre with their politics and we get on fine. If they were racist bigots, I would have nothing to do with them.

Perhaps people don't like your views, just because they are yours, it doesn't mean they are right.

Is he on Linkedin?

Maybe he & his friends don't talk politics, they talk football or curries or cricket. Maybe they agree with him.

Maybe he has a fast & witty sense of humour.

Maybe he has charm.

Lots of reasons.

One of my closest friends is further right than me, but she's still basically a lovely person, works her arse off as a parish volunteer helping others.

People are entitled to their opinions. Her experiences have been different to mine. Her view is valid. I'm not so arrogant as to believe I am always right.

I get called right wing all the time.
My friends are all similarly right wing.

We're not, we just know that a woman is an adult human female.