To all of you toryphobic but lovely mumsnetters...

[catus]

I found the tory-dating thread quite interesting. Clearly some people have very strong and deep-seated political views. I couldn't help but wonder: what would you do if your offsprings became conservatives? Would you be disappointed? Would you try to change their opinions at every opportunity? Would you buy them the complete Ken Loach collection? Would you dare admit it to your friends?
And what about their future partners, wouldn't you at least try to love them a little even if they were tories?
For me, I have right wing tendencies but it would probably be fun if DS ended up politically minded and on the left. At least it wouldn't be dull!

Clever people generally like a bit of sparring, so having someone in the family with different views is no biggie. All part of the fun.

When I read some of the right wing opinions on here , I would be gutted if any of my children thought like that

I'd find it very difficult. I hope I've tried to explain compassion and that's pretty incompatible with being a tory. The teen does come home with views that she's picked up from her friends (parents, of course) She often feels them to be wrong but has a need to discuss them so she can learn how to articulate how she thinks they are worng. So, she's showing promise Als0, we are helped by having ludicrous caricature of a DM-reading right-wing relative who acts as a permanent example of the type of adult you'd never want to be

We're in Scotland. More giant pandas in Scotland than Tories so low risk. Unless they move south. In which case I'll give them a stern talking too.

A warning to you all it can and it does happen!

I am one of 7 children bought up in a highly political house by avid Labour voters.

At least two of my siblings voted conservative at the last election and have very strong anti socialist views.

We have some fabulously heated debates!

It is quite shocking how much their views and political opinions have changed since they were in there early twenties and it really saddens me how they no longer have any empathy for the most vulnerable in society.

They do look suitably sheepish and ashamed though whenever I point out how much the coalition/tories are damaging my life and limiting the furtures of the dcs.

So many spelling mistakes, so little time. sorry

I would be bitterly disappointed that I'd raised someone with so little sense of social responsibility.

I was still a Labour supporter when I met and married DH. We used to have some "lively" discussions. We still do - about the Labour party

I don't know how being slightly right-wing means having no compassion for fellow human beings. That does not make any sense to me. People who vote Tory are not fascists.

I'm a Tory. I give just over 12% of my net income to various charities (I don't earn a lot, so don't get excited, it's just over £70 per month)), but there are plenty of supposed "morally superior left-wingers" out there who don't do that.

How does that make me less compassionate?

My little DB is a Tory. He is a lovely man and, obviously, I love him, but I cannot understand how he's had the same childhood, upbringing, education and, essentially, life as me, and turned out a Tory. The mind boggles.

It makes for good debates or big arguments depending on much gin we've consumed!

I would good-humouredly rip the piss as often as I could

But to be right wing in outlook I would define as having an essential lack of compassion for one's fellow human being.
What a load of utter crap!

I'd be very proud, as long as they had empathy and caring for their fellow man as I have, yes as a Tory, being right wing doesn't make you a racist, a nimby, a facist or uncaring, pragmatic perhaps and seeing a way to the future that is brighter for everyone involved, it's a difference of ideology how we get to the future we want nothing more. And tbh honest those gaps are closing, it's also hard to agree with any one parties policies in totality.

Anyway it's up to them absolutely, the only time I would disown them would be if they're voted BNP, UKIP etc. But I find it highly unlikely they'd be allowed being mixed race and all....

I wouldn't care what their politics were particularly, but I would care if they turned out to be a sanctimonious idiot.

If my dss got together with Tory gals I can imagine a fair amount of gentle family teasing.

But in the end I think pure common sense, empathy, logic and humanity will help the DiLs see the error of their ways.

Actually, you've reminded me that my younger brother votes tory. But, though sentimental, he lacks genuine compassion/empathy for those less fortunate them himself. My mum was certainly disappointed at the way he's turned out.

I'd be disappointed, as I would if they took a job squirting shampoo into rabbits' eyes, say. I'd see it that I hadn't managed to instill much compassion into them.

Jaqueline - as one of 6 raised by socialists I also know it can happen as one of my siblings was a tory voter throughout the eighties and nineties - now I am not so sure as she retrained as a teacher and it may have changed her views somewhat.

My youngest sister helped balance the books by joining the SWP (even my Dad dismissed them as a Trotsky-ist cult!).

If my children become adult Tories I will still try to love them, but I will feel I have failed them in some way.

I must say I am a bit surprised at some of the responses. Some of you would clearly be sad and disappointed at their DC becoming conservatives. I hope for you they stay on the left!
At the same time, though, I'm sure you would still be able to appreciate them and love them for who they would be, because if not it would be a bit sad for them, surely?

I'm a Socialist. My sister and her husband are to the right of Maggie, but thankfully don't vote. I still love my sister, we just have spectacular arguments.

If any of my children voted Tory I'd consider myself a failure for not instilling compassion in them.

Is anyone actually going to actually answer me?

In what way(s) am I less compassionate than a left-winger?

Or do you all give 15% of your salaries to charity, compared with my meagre 12%?

I'd be disappointed and I'd feel I'd done something horribly wrong. I don't expect it'll happen. DS1 shows strong green tendencies, which I'm happy to encourage.

Less compassionate because the Tories like to make my disabled mother prove repeatedly that she can't walk, resulting in her screaming in pain.

I think some parents are in for disappointment because ramming liberal opinion down childrens throats tends to turn out right wing grown ups, especially those born today who are going to be paying for the excesses of the left of their parents and grandparents generation.

I don't think the statement stands up on an individual basis diablo, bit like saying all left wingers are raving Commies/Trots/Children of Stalin.

However as a Political mass, it does seem that people to the right have less compassion and empathy for other people. But individuals are just that so that leaves room for nuance and difference.

We give 10% (more a religious obligation by dh).

I don't ram it down their throats , they just know I'm always right about everything