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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to be angry at this woman?

16 replies

Phosphene · 11/03/2013 09:46

I asked on Twitter if I can join a certain party despite not being British and a woman not connected with the party in an official way replied that as long as I am eligible to vote it should be fine. I replied that as a German citizen I am eligible to vote for certain elections but not all of them.

Her answer was that she doesn't agree with non-British citizens being able to vote but as long as I pay my tax I should have my say too. I looked her up and I am not being racist but she clearly has a migration background herself and should be more open-minded to other nationalities living in this country.

AIBU to be angry and upset at her comment?

OP posts:
Trills · 11/03/2013 09:48

YAB a bit U

You can disagree with the opinion "only citizens should be able to vote".

But it shouldn't make you angry or upset.

If the opinion was "only people born British should be able to vote" then that would be different.

SarkyPants · 11/03/2013 09:50

I am a non EU immigrant and I have no problem with the idea that I could only vote once my UK citizenship came through.

She was perhaps a bit rude in saying this out of the blue to you, but it is not an unreasonable view IMO.

WilsonFrickett · 11/03/2013 09:58

I'm completely open-minded to other people living in this country, and indeed any country. I think migration is a wonderful thing. However I don't think non-country citizens should be able to vote unless they've been in the country a certain number of years or have citizenship. If I went to Germany for a month's holiday, which just happened to co-incide with the general election, I don't think I should get a vote, personally.

MsVestibule · 11/03/2013 10:01

Why did you cross out the "not connected to the party in official way" bit? And if she isn't connected to the party, why was she answering your question on membership? Anyway, YABU. I've lived abroad (in a non-EU country) and it wouldn't have crossed my mind that I should be entitled to vote.

Why do you think you should be able to?

ThreeWheelsGood · 11/03/2013 10:02

YABU in thinking her "migration background"(?) should have anything to do with her opinions. Why have you looked into her background and made assumptions?

YANBU to say that as an EU citizen you should be able to be involved in EU politics (including the UK).

WorraLiberty · 11/03/2013 10:02

Why are you angry and upset though?

Trills · 11/03/2013 10:03

The OP hasn't said that she does think she should be able to vote, just that she was upset by what the woman said and/or the way she said it.

MsVestibule · 11/03/2013 10:21

Trills no, she doesn't day she thinks she should be able to vote, but as she's so angry and upset, I made the (probably erroneous) that she did.

TBH, I'm a bit baffled by the OP. I genuinely don't get why she's upset, and on AIBU, I can normally see why the poster is angry, even if I do think they're barking. She says the woman should be "more open minded to other nationalities living in this country" even though she didn't actually say they shouldn't be here Confused.

Perhaps it was all in the tone of her voice, which obviously doesn't come across very well on the Internet.

Trills · 11/03/2013 10:29

I think the OP (mis)interpreted "I think only citizens should be allowed to vote" as "I am anti-immigration".

LadyPessaryPam · 11/03/2013 10:30

OP yes you are unreasonable, in fact you are totally overreacting. What do you do when you have a real crisis in your life? Do your legs give way? Grin

OhDearieDearieMe · 11/03/2013 10:32

Can you say it again but without the meaningless strike through? Or perhaps explain the meaningless strikethrough? I can't quite see what you're upset about.

DeepRedBetty · 11/03/2013 10:33

Can't help thinking OP has an agenda here, and I fully expect a drip feed any moment now.

nutellalover · 11/03/2013 10:34

I am German as well....have lived in the Uk for more than 5 years, have worked (payed my fair share of tax), am married to a UK citizen, have given birth to two DC in this country....yet not entitled to vote (bar regional election). Hmm

WestieMamma · 11/03/2013 10:42

EU citizens are allowed to vote in local elections where they live, as it should be after all it's their community too. They are also allowed to vote in EU elections either where they live or in their home country (but not both). Most countries only allow citizens of that country (as opposed to residents) to vote in national elections. The UK is rather unusual, and in my opinion unreasonable, in that it takes the vote away from it's citizens when they live elsewhere.

WhereYouLeftIt · 11/03/2013 11:34

"she clearly has a migration background"
Doesn't mean she's not British. So I have to say, "I looked her up and I am not being racist" did come across a little bit racist to me.

Original poster
Phosphene · 11/03/2013 11:35

Thanks for all your replies. I guess I totally misinterpreted the situation. If I wasn't allowed to vote then i would be fine with it too. I actually haven't voted ever in my life (not here, not in Germany). I really did read it a bit as an 'anti-immigration' comment.

OP posts:
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