To think that if you voted Conservative you won't admit to it?

[Jjcrackers]

My Facebook thread is chocca-block with 'anti Conservative'/country ruined/heath to the NHS' posts. Yet nobody has piped up to cheer that the Conservatives are winning.

AIBU to think that with such a majority, probabilities would suggest that a large proportion of my friends (in the loosest sense of the word)voted conservative but are sitting on their hands?

That is a brilliant article. It is so easy to see through the DM hating, tory hating posters etc. They dont come across as nice people, just far more judgy and bigoted than those they chose to accuse of being just that.

If asked, I say I voted pro-business.

Vocal lefties scored an own goal by making people ashamed to admit voting tory in the normal polls, leading everyone to think the results will be neck-to-neck thus making the silent Tories who might have stayed at home to come out in greater numbers to support their party on election day.

Autumn, one of the reasons I voted Tory is that I like that they are trying to rethink current problems. Eg, previous governments chose to keep throwing money at women's refuges, without looking at ways of stopping the abuse. Of course women's refuges are still an incredibly important resource, but if studies suggest that a significant number of men can be supported to prevent them abusing, is it such a terrible thing to divert some of the budget to doing that? The money is finite and I'd assumed lot of women would prefer a peaceful family to a room in a refuge?

I have always voted labour in the past but i didnt like their lack of clear vision in this election and there was a very uneasy relationship developing between labour and the SNP. I couldnt see it benefiting the UK in any way as Miliband seemed a very weak leader and the underlying messages from Stugeon/Salmond were that they had no real interest in the UK as a whole. The clue is in the name -Scots Nat. So for the first time in my life I voted tactically.

I cannot believe all the anti-conservative vitriol on mumsnet. I have not experienced this in real life. My labour (or green) voting friends are able to debate without calling me a heartless bitch!

Yes, it is horrible to be diverting money from women's shelters to support abusers. In principle, I am not against re-education, re-rehabilitation and giving people secure jobs so they don't go crazy from stress caused by financial insecurity. But if my husband is beating the shit out of me and my children, I want that refuge NOW and not a safe family with the same abuser in some distant future. Besides, children who grow up in abusive homes are much more likely to become abusers themselves. So diverting money from women's refuges is a seriously short-sighted policy both in short and long term.

I voted Conservative with a clear conscience and even dared to admit that on MN yesterday!

I was rewarded with nastiness from the 'caring' non-Tory, left leaning posters.

I stood my ground as I always do, but that is why some people are scared to be honest on here - it's shocking some of the vitriol I've seen.

I too was brought up to believe that you don't talk about who you vote for and that it's private. My younger sister (18 this week) has been all over FB shouting "woohooo Tories!" and I find myself cringing! I can't stand the arguing all over FB so have hidden most of the political debates. I voted for who I believe will run the country better and I'm happy that they happened to win.

Also, like CatThiefKeith I had to get rid of Mark Reckless as my MP! Was so embarrassing admitting my constituency was UKIP!

I've been itching to post that 'virtue signalling' article for a while It's MN to a T and also goes a long way to explaining the 'shy Tory' phenomenon.

Mia- fucking- ow.

There are some v spiteful and incredibly nasty Leftie posts and threads going on at the moment.

Seriously? Accept defeat graciously dahlings....

And these are meant to be the caring and kind party, all compassionate and what not.

Ahem ( splutters on coffee)

Reign it in. Please.

Tbh, I can only assume that people who voted conservative did so because they are lucky enough to not be affected by them. For those of us who NEEDED a labour victory it really is devastating.

Saying that, I'd never dream of attacking somebody based on who they voted for. I'd maybe question it why in gods name any woman would vote for UKIP for instance but that's where it would (and should) end. I really appreciate the fact that we live in a democracy. Conservatives got a majority vote, its terrible news for me and thousands like me, but obviously is great for the majority of everyone else who voted them in.

Magic - what a gracious and kind post.

I hope everything will be okay for you, I really do

I voted Tory. Always have and always will. I am so happy today.

Another nod for the virtue signalling.

I discovered this morning that I hate disabled people!

I don't really like discussing politics with friends which is what FB political statuses amounts to.
We're going round for dinner tonight to friends who are Labour supporters, very vocal about it and have posted FB rants today. DH and I both voted Conservative. I'm a bit scared so hoping it won't come up! Is it too much to expect that we can talk about something else?

Me too chandalier, I've got several friends who are labour voters but don't crucify them for it, unlike some charmers on here, especially last night! Can't they just accept that people are entitled to their opinions, doesn't make us conservative voters heartless bastards. Anyway I'm bloody glad Cameron won and doesn't have to pacify Cleggy now!

Virtue signalling! Yes! It has a name.

This has been annoying me for ages. Thanks for sharing the article.

As a possibly interesting aside on the topic of MN being a Labour echo chamber, I popped over just now to Netmums The Other Place to see what the tone of political debate was like over there. I was surprised to see that there seemed to be a good balance of Labour, Tory and even - gasp - UKIP supporters and that in the main they seemed to be debating quite nicely without resorting to adolescent hyperbole or insults. Now that might be NM's relatively draconian moderation policy or something else but I found it interesting. I think perhaps MN could do a bit more to support balanced and even-handed political debate.

They don't- they seem to assume we are labour too. As I say it's not something we talk about much. TBH politics doesn't really interest me. I am interested today as I did vote- I didn't in 1997 and always felt guilty even though my 1 blue vote wouldn't have stopped smarmy Tony getting in!
Good idea, as I say I'd rather not talk about it. I find it a little odd as we have lots of friends and I have no idea which way most of them vote, it's personal IMO.

I remember the last election fondly, where it seemed only smallwhitecat and me were willing to publicly admit to being a Tory voter. Had lots of great discussions amongst the vitriol.

Anger and outrage disguise your boastfulness

Great quote from that article which summarises the hysterical scaremongering and vitriolic invective I've seen on here.

I'm trying to work out how my Tory DH, who employs a dozen local people in his small business and has the grey hair to show for it, is in fact, a baby-killing benefit-removing hater of The Poor.

He's the kindest man I know, has been brought up to put others first, deep sense of civic duty, charity giver and all-round saint who has frequently gone without a salary so his team get paid.

He'd never ever say anything about any of the above. I really dislike the horrible more-caring-than-thou rhetoric of family members many labour voters who feel the need not only to vulgarly proclaim their politics but hector, insult and abuse anyone who does not agree.

I voted Conservative despite being from a very Labour-typical background and am not ashamed to admit this. However, due to 100% of posts on my social media being very outspoken concerning their anti-Tory stance, I certainly won't be advertising my vote publicly to be faced with ill-informed abuse judging by the factually incorrect posts concerning Tory policies I have seen today. If asked directly though, I would be truthful and defend my opinions (and rights to those opinions) if necessary.

Buriedsardine - we are married to the same man

I am disabled and voted conservative.

What does that make me?

Some form of masochist perhaps.