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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder what is so bad about being a 'lefty'?

202 replies

imwithspud · 15/09/2016 19:49

I see it all the time during political discussions on social media. That if you hold certain views you are branded a 'lefty' or 'loony left' like its some sort of insult. I've noticed that it tends to be a stock response by some people when they can't think of something more intelligent to say.

Aibu to wonder what is so 'loony' about holding left wing views, and that actually the world would be a better place if people were more tolerant?

OP posts:
Ego147 · 15/09/2016 21:14

I'm just wondering what the 'equivalent name is for extreme right wing people when people label others 'Loony Left'?

I would say I'm a bit left wing. I have been called 'loony left' on here because I dare to think society should look out for everyone and we should act as a group, not as individuals.

allsfairinlove · 15/09/2016 21:18

Haha I thought, from your title, that this was going to be a thread about left handedness Grin

Leftie (both politically and handed) and proud

Original poster
imwithspud · 15/09/2016 21:18

I would say I'm a bit left wing. I have been called 'loony left' on here because I dare to think society should look out for everyone and we should act as a group, not as individuals.

That's what I mean, how is that in any way loony? It's baffling.

OP posts:
Ego147 · 15/09/2016 21:21

That's what I mean, how is that in any way loony

I know. I would love to be at PMQs just asking May 6 questions. I think that Corbyn this week finally showed up Teresa May for the fact that she only cares about the few, not the many.

ItsJustNotRight · 15/09/2016 21:22

I don't really think I would class as looney either but the fact that I'm in favour of a more just society rather than a "your problem mate" response seems to make me one.

allsfairinlove · 15/09/2016 21:23

Thing is, what does "leftie" mean in this day and age?

GreatFuckability · 15/09/2016 21:24

backforgood and ninnypoo I was going to say fountain pens.

Runny · 15/09/2016 21:26

If having a social conscience and actually caring about people other that myself makes me a 'loony lefty' then im happy with that. Far better than being a hateful DM reading, UKIP voting, racist homophobic twat.

OrangeFluff · 15/09/2016 21:49

Another who thought this was about left-handedness! Trying to write on the whiteboard at work Sad

allsfairinlove · 15/09/2016 21:55

Bahahaha. Ahum. Sorry to guffaw at your trying to write on a whiteboard orange
It's just nice to feel solidarity in these situations. You know what I mean.

Original poster
imwithspud · 15/09/2016 21:59
OP posts:
MumiTravels · 15/09/2016 22:02

I was expecting a post about the hand you write with and I was going to say you smudge pen over your hand from the paper

I'll get my coat

MetalPetal86 · 15/09/2016 22:43

pleasemother: do you mean NHS nationalised? Surely privatisation is a right wing agenda??

allsfairinlove · 15/09/2016 22:44

Don't worry spud the thread's fine

anotherschoolquestion · 15/09/2016 22:48

To me, lefty means smug, intolerant virtue signalling, hating the Tories and anyone who doesn't hold the Guardian accepted view - my Fbk has been full of it for ages and it makes me sick

maninawomansworld01 · 15/09/2016 23:08

anotherschoolquestion I could have written your post... Agree , agree, agree.

There is absolutely. I thing wrong at all with having a left wing view of politics but what pees me off is that the 'lefties' generally assume the moral high ground and decide that anyone who doesn't agree with them is automatically wrong.
Words like 'racist, fascist, Tory scum are commonplace'.
loo,what happened after the election was won by the Tories - a load of left wing activists went and caused trouble in London and desecrated a war memorial while they're at it.

Yet , if you dare to say anything the disagree with they label you a intolerant bigot ( or whatever insult they can think of).

At the same time they LOVE to tell you how tolerant they are, how accepting of everyone they are, how we should all be happy and live together in harmony while being accepting of each other's differences.

Unless you disagree with them that is... Then you're evil.

They preach tolerance yet are some of the least to,errant people in society and that makes them fucking massive hypocrites.

ABloodyDifficultWoman · 15/09/2016 23:15

Polly Tuscany Toynbee Grin Grin

That right there. That's your very definition of the Loony Left. Her and her like. And Diane "No Substance' Abbot.

Buglife · 15/09/2016 23:21

I'm lefty in my political leanings. I even worked for the Labour Party 10 years ago (although I suppose actual lefties would see working for Blair as some kind of evil) and now I still vote labour. But when people say 'lefty' to me I suppose I think of those people who pity the poor working classes that they so desperately want to help and enlighten, but who will persist in their dreadful racist and sexist and homophobic views but if they had only read politics at Uni they would UNDERSTAND like they do. It's the talking down to people, and the deep seated belief that they are more virtuous and better than other people.

EnthusiasmDisturbed · 15/09/2016 23:53

I am left leaning in my politics and have always voted labour and i am a member of the party

I loath the hand wringing lefty socialists dogooders that are so often condescending and smug and whatever cause is needing support they will show support and be empathic unless you are white working class and voted to leave

I will never vote for labour while Corbyn is in charge or McDonnell is in the shadow cabinet

KondoLisaNice · 16/09/2016 05:34

Most people are more lefty than they realise. Most people don't want the NHS privatised. Most people know it would be sensible to re-nationalise the railways. Most parents know that there's better ways of running the school system than turning them all into academies or free schools.

Polly Toynbee she is one of the wealthiest people in our country and stood as a Social Democratic against Labour. So not a normal lefty.

puglife15 · 16/09/2016 05:49

I reckon left handed people are more likely to be left wing.

Right-brain proclivities definitely lend themselves to more liberal political leanings...

Prove me right, left handers!

FruitCider · 16/09/2016 05:50

I think the problem is that people's view of left leaning politics is so warped as labour was always the left leaning bench marker. Until recently labour was more central, almost central right actually, and so that somehow became the new normal for left. The gap between where the Labour Party sat on the political compass and the far left increased, and a lot of people just assumed labour were still left leaning, meaning that anyone with views further left than the Labour Party were seen as "extreme leftie loonies".

engineersthumb · 16/09/2016 05:57

I consider myself a socialist because I believe that whilst an individual has a responsibility to the society they live in, the society also has a responsibility to them. I also believe that running all public services as bussinesses is not correct as "sudo competition" actually creates inefficiencies such as fracturrd supply/procurement lines. That said I've not only been called a member of the looney left but also applied the term to others! As said above though left of centre I could not vote for Cornyn / McDonald. I stil think that there was a lot too be said for what the Blair years achieved too, whilst admitting the failures.

NotNob · 16/09/2016 06:01

To me it has more sinister connotations. Israel-hating, anti Semitic, Islamist apologists; helping to chip away at free speech.

winkywinkola · 16/09/2016 06:40

It's a lame insult "loony left".

I'm not particularly left wing but there are nutters on both sides of the political spectrum.

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