To think all those who judge who people vote for should go live under a dictatorship?

[MadisonMont]

We live in a bloody democracy. Why can't people just accept people think differently? Neither of the main two parties are exactly perfect.

Why should people be scared to say - I voted for x?!?

All these "I was shocked to learn my friend was a labour support!"

"All those who voted Tory are selfish!"

Are ridiculous!

Well I would judge anyone who is voting for a party which punishes disabled people and working poor. There is no way of making that sound ok...

Have a look on Tory fb page and you can see many examples of people telling disabled people to just get a job and why should they get free cars etc.

YABU it sounds like you are the one who should go and live under a dictatorship!!
People have every right to have and express political opinions and disagree with the opinions of others!
I have friends who are Tories and friends who vote labour. I vote Labour and i will happily say so and tell my friends who vote tory that i dont think they are right in doing so.
We are all still friends but im not going to shut up about something i feel strongly about and neither do i expect them to.

People can vote for who they like, but I might judge those who vote a certain way then complain vociferously about the consequences...

Maybe judge wasn't the right word to use looking back.

Rather I'm sick of the insults. If someone votes differently to me then I don't consider them to be a selfish ignorant cunt.

I think you find thats its only a minority of people who do that madison

At every election I unfollow a fair few of my friends on FB. Just can't be bothered with the constant belittling of anyone who votes the way I do.

Free speech tends to be taken the wrong way. People have the right to express their opinions. Other people have an equal right to disagree.
And yes I DO judge tory voters. If Tories want a strong NHS and state education system, why are they hellbent on destroying them? The NHS is getting more and more fucked. They have also seriously fucked around with education, all this shit with the new GCSE grades and so on, teaching is in a piss poor state right now.
That's without mentioning how they're screwing over the poor, the disabled, the unemployed...

Aren't i allowed to judge people who voted BNP in the 2010 election? What about people who voted for trump. Why can't i judge them?

Steady on OP. If judgey people had to move to a dictatorship North Korea would be stuffed full of Mumsnet users!

If you vote for a party that I strongly believe is screwing over vulnerable people who deserve better, I might reasonably conclude that you're selfish, ignorant, a cunt or all three. I've a good friend who votes Tory and tbh I do think she's ignorant of some important issues, borderline cuntish on others. She thinks I'm an idealistic twit for believing in a solid welfare system. We mostly don't talk politics when we hang out and we have enough else in common that the friendship works.

Voting for a political party isn't like choosing what you want for lunch off a menu. It's not just an opinion, like preferring cooler weather or the colour pink. It speaks to your core values, and it affects everyone, not just you. Of course people judge!

YANBU OP, and dont apologise for using the word judge either in your OP. Everyone is entitled to vote. Unimpeded, and however their concience chooses. Sadly, its a right thats clearly not being respected by this new breed of protesting, 'identity politics' spouting extremism. Theyre not protesting the vote, theyre protesting the voter.

"Why can't i judge them?"

Because, in a democracy, theyre as entitled as much to a vote as you are. You may not like it, but there it is. If a man/woman, groomed and abused from the age of 7, chooses to vote BNP as its the only party promising to place paedophiles on the sex register for life, who are you to spit in his face? If its a legal party, its a legitimate vote. Protest the BNP. Judge the BNP. But you have no right to judge a voter.

If someone votes differently to me then I don't consider them to be a selfish ignorant cunt.

Hmm, I kinda do, if they voted Brexit or Trump. Sorry.

Scrap that. I really do. I'm sure they don't care, though what with being ignorant and selfish 'n all.

But you have no right to judge a voter.

I don't think you understand how the human mind works.

People WILL judge.

That doesn't mean they're hurling abuse in the streets.

Of course i can judge people. That's what humans do. I judge people who read right wing media outlets and believe them, i judge people who vote for parties whose policies i consider to be abhorrent. (Usually the same people). Doesnt mean i say anything to them about it but i can think whatever i like.

I disagree about the judging, but I do agree about the abuse.

I'm on Facebook, and I'm slightly surprised, always, at the variety of views expressed by friends on there. And after a while I find it exhausting. People who think that if you support Corbyn, you must be a complete idiot. People who think that if you don't support Corbyn, you must be a Tory stooge. People who are vehemently pro- or vehemently anti-Brexit. Previously Labour-voting friends who have now joined the Lib Dems. Labour-voting friends who genuinely seem to think the election provides an opportunity for the populace to overthrow May and create a socialist paradise. They all seem to feel the urge to share their opinion about why they're right and everyone else is wrong.

And that's just my left-wing friends. The more right-wing ones must be keeping quiet (on my feed, anyway).

I agree, hackmum and Caroline's it's the rise of the tribalism that is such a freaking pain in the arse - and along with it the lack of tolerance and understanding of viewpoints different to your own.

All it does is stop debate and entrench everyone more firmly in their positions.

So I guess I judge that - anyone who abuses people who vote differently to them, and writes off their opinions as not being worth listening to, or debating with in a reasoned way - I judge them and think they're a bit of a knobber.

Not at all Moussemoose, we have freedom of speech. But much like voting, while we have the right to say what we like others also have the right to judge us on it.

"Just because you have the right to say something, doesn't mean the rest of us shouldn't question those who would insult others in the name of free speech." Obama

Their are many reasons people vote one way or another. These may not be the same reasons you chose not to vote for that person or party.
One persons see's Brexit as a vote by racists, another votes for Brexit as bureaucratic freedom.
Issues, rather than parties or personalities should be up for debate.

Politics, like religion and money, used to be one of those things that you didn't discuss in polite company.

Now, with the advent of social media and (often relative - or even complete) anonymity, people say whatever is on their minds.

We're not used to it. And I guess we're seeing a lot more of the thoughts that people used to keep to themselves.

So people are far more likely to express their thoughts now, and others are then quick to take umbrage.

Social media and the internet is changing things in so many different ways.