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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be completely horrified at my neighbour's nonchalance?

96 replies

ILoveDrKarl · 05/05/2011 13:25

So I'm heading down the street this morning and bump into one of my neighbours...

She asks if I'm off to the park with the kids. I reply that I'm actually just heading out to vote.

AIBU to be completely horrified that her response was "oh right! Bit of a pain with all the kids isn't it? (I had my 3 pre-schoolers with me) It'd be easier not to bother!"

I replied that it was no different to going to the shops or doing the school run or nipping down to the post office - and obviously much more important!

She then said "Do you think? Well I'll not be bothering anyway - kids are off school today so we'll enjoy it rather than doing pointless errands" Shock

I was in such shock I just smiled and walked on, but now I'm thinking I should go round and speak to her about why it's so much more than a "pointless errand"!!!!

OP posts:
SueSylvesterforPM · 05/05/2011 14:42

but now I'm thinking I should go round and speak to her about why it's so much more than a "pointless errand"!!!!

I wouldn't its her choice in the end,
I'm not voting today coz i dont have time lol well maybe later on tonight.

Scholes34 · 05/05/2011 14:45

EvenLess - he's not in a polling station, but that's the rule. The tellers should be kept out, unless a Presiding Officer is feeling particularly kind if it's pouring and there's somewhere for them to stand just inside the building. I never take my polling card with me. It's not needed if you wish to vote, so you have the perfect excuse not to give them your number.

EvenLessNarkyPuffin · 05/05/2011 14:46

I take mine just to taunt them Grin. Besides, today I actually want some Lib Dems to play with.

FreudianSlipOnACrown · 05/05/2011 14:50

I agree that voting in normal elections is pointless sometimes. I still do it though (and I refuse to vote tactically on principle)

But if this person was only refusing to vote because of this, then surely this is the one time they should seriously be getting their butt to the polling station? It is a referendum for electoral reform FFS!

Insomnia11 · 05/05/2011 14:53

Everyone should be taught about the Chartists and the women's movement at school. Almost everyone would vote then.

Scholes34 · 05/05/2011 14:54

EvenLess - you're such a tease!

FreudianSlipOnACrown · 05/05/2011 14:54

(sorry posted too soon what I meant was that I really doubt the person in the OP was 'making a point' - just lazy IMO)

LoopyLoopsBettyBoops · 05/05/2011 15:02

Euphemia could you ask your DH the following questions please?:

What about a particularly stupid soldier? Or a soldier who is in it for other reasons than patriotism? And how are we measuring intelligence?

LindyHemming · 05/05/2011 15:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SlightlyJaded · 05/05/2011 15:07

I am surpised that you were suprised. Apathy is everywhere

gkys · 05/05/2011 15:09

how much do you want to bet OP that at somke point she will be moaning about politics?

gkys · 05/05/2011 15:09

some Blush

blindmelon · 05/05/2011 15:15

YANBU. It really annoys me - people died for our right to vote, and still do in other countries.

I went to the polling station quite late in the day for the general election and when he crossed my name off the list I saw that me and DH were the only people in our street who had turned up to vote. Really pissed me off as a tory who had been embroiled in the whole expenses scandal got re-elected by the tiniest of margins - my neighbours could have swung it!

If you don't agree with any of the political parties then just spoil your ballot paper and write 'none of the above'. They still have to record the number of spoilt ballot papers.

And ignorance is no excuse - we all watch telly and there has been loads of political stuff on recently.

kw1986 · 05/05/2011 15:24

NarkyPuffin - I don't have any particular feeling towards the AV vote either. So I'm not going to vote for it.

I could vote until I'm blue in the face and the country will still probably just see-saw between Labour and the Tories.

The only referendum I will ever vote in is when its something I think will actually make a change. I'd like to vote in a referendum for Scotlands independance - and I will if I'm alive!! lol

Why do you passionate voters get so annoyed when people don't see the same as you? What does it matter?

JanMorrow · 05/05/2011 15:28

all of those saying they don't vote because they don't like the parties or their vote doesn't count because it's a safe seat- that's the POINT of today's vote surely?! GRRRRR!!!

LoopyLoopsBettyBoops · 05/05/2011 15:29

Exactly Jan.

blindmelon · 05/05/2011 15:30

because it's a fundamental part of being a democratic country - and we are very privileged to be able to vote, lots of people don't have that choice. By all means turn up and spoil your vote, but apathy is just laziness imo.

I think we should adopt the Australian system where it is compulsory to vote. If you don't agree with any party you can just put a blank voting card in the box and it still gets counted.

DuplicitousBitch · 05/05/2011 15:33

i had to ram my ballot into the box as it was so full which i took as a good sign

LadyClariceCannockMonty · 05/05/2011 15:34

I vote because
a) I believe that if you don't vote you can't complain about the results
more importantly, b) people have agitated and fought and DIED to give me, as a woman, the right to vote. I take that privilege very seriously.

I don't care if anyone thinks this sounds over the top/smug/sanctimonious/whatever.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 05/05/2011 15:42

No, it's absolutely none of your business whether your neighbour votes or not. Would you really do that or were you just making a point here? Why do you feel you have the right to judge somebody for their viewpoint? Hmm

I vote but think it's pointless... it doesn't stop me doing it but I don't believe in the system and wish to goodness we had a system where you vote for the issue and not a politician.

People talk about the sacrifices made to allow women to vote, sure, but there are a lot of other sacrifices that have been made that people don't give a hoot for.

gawdblimey · 05/05/2011 15:47

I went to the polling station quite late in the day for the general election and when he crossed my name off the list I saw that me and DH were the only people in our street who had turned up to vote.

really? blimey ours were queuing out the door most of the day. In fact I said I had never seen so many people voting

LeroyJethroGibbs · 05/05/2011 15:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster
ILoveDrKarl · 05/05/2011 16:16

smug polishing halo for voting???? Are you serious???

I'm not smug at all - I really do believe that it's important and definitely not a "pointless errand".

As other folk have said - if you don't agree with any of the parties, go anyway and spoil your paper - that way your voice is still being heard as they have to count the spoiled papers.

It was her nonchalant, "can't be bothered" attitude that bothered me more than anything else - too lazy to walk 5 minutes to the polling station because the kids were off school and she fancied a day to relax!!!

Our seat is a split seat - either Lib Dem or SNP - I voted for neither so yeah, my vote probably won't count towards the final result, but the point is that I made the most of the opportunity afforded me. I also voted "Yes" in the referendum so that in the future my vote (and my kids' votes) would have more chance of counting even if they live in a "safe" or "split" seat.

OP posts:
LoveLeonardCohen · 05/05/2011 16:18

YAB a bit unreasonable...as it's none of your business whether people vote or not

LoveLeonardCohen · 05/05/2011 16:19

I'm with LeroyJethroGibbs as I don't understand it either