Strong Facebook comments pro and anti political parties

[Iwanttovoteukip]

My personal political views mean I want to vote for UKIP. I am also anti the Green party due to the cockup they have made in Brighton. This is my view. I realise that other people have different views but we live in a democracy so we should all vote for who we want.

On Facebook there have been half a dozen people who have been spouting strong views that are very anti UKIP. Lots of smearing a few times a day. The said same people have been actively pro Green over the last few days.

I would never put negative comments on their comments as I don't think it is the correct medium for a political debate. However, I'm feeling 'bullied' (this is perhaps the wrong explanation) by all their rhetoric. Are they being unreasonable?

You want to stop people posting political opinions on Facebook on the day of a European election?

No - it's their wall and completely up to them if they want to share their views. You can block their posts or unfriend if you don't want to see them. Facebook is a medium for whatever debate people see fit to have there on their own page.

No, they aren't. They are entitled to express their views. You are entitled to block their posts. Simples. I have blocked posts from several of my friends for posting right wing religious homophobic crap. They may have blocked me for posting left wing atheist gay-supporting crap. Who knows? We all still get along most of the time.

It's an election day. It is GOOD that people are politically engaged!

Scroll by if you want to avoid.

hide their posts then ...it's election day - you can't stop people being political!

I just defriended anyone who posted 'Britain First/ UKIP' style bollox

No they are not being unreasonable

I have "don't be stupid, say no to ukip" as my profile picture today.

Have you actually read up on ukip? you know what you are potentially voting for?

What cockup have the greens made in brighton?

I agree Maid if it were only today, but their anti UKIP slurs have been going on for weeks now. The pro Green has only been in the last day or two.

Part of me wants to add to my Facebook wall that I will be voting UKIP but I fear the backlash in my location. I would never dream of being bitchy to people with different views to my own but I know that view is not reciprocal.

It is almost as though it is cool to be anti UKIP.

Sorry, what are they doing? Have you posted something pro-UKIP & others have commented negatively on your post? Or have people posted an anti-UKIP status on their own FB?

I think that is the strength of their comments that is making me feel so uncomfortable. It does feel like bullying.

Ah, x-post.

Your friends are just as entitled to their opinions as you are to yours. Sorry.

I can't see how it is bullying when they are not aiming the comments at you & do not know you plan to vote UKIP?

Unless I am missing something.

It isn't cool to be anti-UKIP, it's just sensible. But that is of course only my opinion.

I don't think the Greens have been better or worse than most councils, they've just got more publicity about the things they have got wrong because they are not one of the Lib/Lab/Con trio.

it's not 'cool' to be anti UKIP - it's sane

So you are voting UKIP yet are embarrassed to admit it?

OP people have strong feelings against UKIP. I do. I also know that people have strong feelings against the party that I actively support but I don't take it personally. It's quite ridiculous to feel "bullied" by people expressing their personal political views and one of the reasons that we struggle with proper political debate in this country.

YabVu- for wanting to vote ukip!

I'm more strongly against UKIP than other parties because I don't want the law repealed that says non-consensual sex between a husband and wife is rape. The immigration waffle is just noise by comparison.

I haven't posted anti-UKIP material on FB though, only exhortations to get out and vote.

Yabu, it's their own views. It's great to see people passionate about politics!

I wouldn't for example, vote BNP, but if someone wanted to, for their own reasons (no matter how crazy I think they are), I respect their right to vote for whoever they want. So think the, my god what a bloody fool you are, here are xyz reasons why you're wrong posts are wrong.

Since from what you say none of their comments are directly aimed at you I can't see how they are bullying you? Your friends are entitled to their own political views as much as you are. I have some (relatively light-hearted) anti-UKIP stuff on my Facebook page, whereas I have friends who have pro-UKIP things on their pages, but I don't feel 'bullied' by them.

What gordy said...

Why do you feel bullied? Has anyone made any direct threats against you, or threats against other people that they have discovered to be UKIP voters? Have any other offences such as libel been committed?

Disagreeing with your political opinion, and legitimate campaigning for or against a political party, do not constitute bullying.

What are the comments? Given the comments that UKIP politicians have actually made, it would be perfectly legitimate to describe them as a party which promotes racial and sexual discrimination, with members who aim to eradicate women's maternity rights . It's entirely fair to point out that the majority of taxpayers will end up worse off under their proposed taxation regime , with the poorest suffering most.

Repeating and criticising UKIP policies is not bullying. Having to live through them would be bullying.

Yabu. And you're probably not putting pro UKIP bollocks because you're ashamed. As you should be.

Of course they're not being unreasonable, it's an election! People always campaign during an election. Facebook is a perfectly good place for campaigning, why do you think it isn't? It's like saying that you should never discuss politics over the telephone. FB is a medium of communication and people can use it to communicate whatever they want.

Why don't you put strong pro-UKIP statuses up then? If you support them you should be looking to put your message out there too. :)