Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

AIBU to think that there are a huge amount of paid political posters on this forum?

261 replies

deeedeee · 15/05/2017 15:42

50p army indeed? en.wikipedia.org/wiki/50_Cent_Party

It's obvious, but remember to check the parties manifestos and make sure you are voting for the policies you agree with, and not just being influenced by the opinions of others and the politics of inevitability.

OP posts:
hackmum · 16/05/2017 14:26

Agreed, 53rdWay.

I'm on the left, but obviously I realise that there are lots of Conservative voters out there, and that the Conservatives are almost certainly going to win the election. So I realise that the Conservatives must have plenty of support amongst Mumsnetters.

But I still think there are paid (or possibly voluntary) supporters from Conservative Central Office posting on here. Why? Because, well, why wouldn't there be? We know it's something that political parties do, so of course they're going to try and start debate on one of the biggest discussion platforms in the country.

The other reason is that some posts just don't seem to be very likely to reflect the thought processes of real people. AIBU to think that Theresa May is a terrific prime minister who will do a great job of leading this country through the Brexit process? AIBU to think that the Labour Party are a bunch of hypocritical metropolitan elitist bastards?

I exaggerate slightly, but you get my drift.

noblegiraffe · 16/05/2017 14:28

Piglet where on earth from "lots of teachers vote Tory" did you get "to think they only vote Labour is naive"? Did I mention Labour?

Swinging onto a thread talking about school funding cuts or shitty education policy to comment "lots of teachers vote Tory" is weird.

53rdWay · 16/05/2017 14:29

If you have evidence of that happening in the UK then lets see it.

We crossposted - couple of links just below the post you're replying to.

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 16/05/2017 14:30

It maybe weird but some teachers may agree with cuts etc or conditions as they voted for them.

Not all teachers may think the cuts are bad or wrong.

If it's their first post then yes it could be where'd. If it's part of a discussion then no I don't think it is.

noblegiraffe · 16/05/2017 14:32

Oh, and we definitely had DfE stooges posting on here a few years back when Gove was in charge. Dominic Cummings was one of his advisors then, and was also campaign director for Vote Leave. He's definitely into influencing people through social media.

noblegiraffe · 16/05/2017 14:33

piglet I wouldn't have commented on it if it hadn't rang alarm bells in the manner in which it has been posted.

Capricorn76 · 16/05/2017 14:33

A tech billionaire paid people to bombard social media with anti-Clinton memes during the US election.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/technology/2016/sep/23/oculus-palmer-luckey-funding-trump-reddit-trolls

I would be surprised if people were not being paid to influence people on here as well. If it's directed by a private individual rather than the official party there would be no need to declare it.

citroenpresse · 16/05/2017 15:42

hackmum re unrealistic sounding AIBUs, exactly like the most fawning (plants) questions in PMQs. It's slightly scary reading posts from people who think Nigel Farage was a UK MP or who make up stories about Europe. I've often wondered about those...the need to create chaos.

CardinalSin · 16/05/2017 16:11

There were some very obvious ones during the Brexit referendum (a few names Spring to mind). They repeatedly posted links to Daily Heil and Express articles about immigrants etc., or just repeated blatant lies. If anyone called them on it, they ignored them - or got them banned - and moved on to the next lie. Repeat ad nauseam. The worst bit of it is that Mumsnet were patently complicit with it.

Anyone who thinks that the likes of Aaron Banks would even hesitate to spend a bit of his pocket change to get people to do this to further his agenda, is living in a rather nicer world than the real one.

citroenpresse · 16/05/2017 16:28

CardinalSin couldn't agree more re Banks. Those who bleat about fake news are the ones who are probably most complicit in creating and spreading it. See also electoral fraud, draining the swamp, that Russian thing,, corruption of FBI etc etc etc

BMW6 · 16/05/2017 16:48

Vote Conservative on 8th June

Can I have my 50p now Smile

MNHQ
KatherineMumsnet · 16/05/2017 17:20

Hi all,

We just wanted to hop on to say that it's not really on to accuse folk of posting with an ulterior motive or hidden agenda. If you think that someone is not posting with genuine intentions, please do report it to us rather than airing your doubts on the thread, as it just derails things. It also comes across as troll hunting and that's not really what we're about.

We know this is a fraught subject, and one that evokes strong feelings on all sides - but if there's one thing we could all do with in this political climate; it's a bit of peace and love.

Thanks Flowers

BeyondStrongAndStable · 16/05/2017 17:23

Do you think I could get 50p for my name?

Orlantina · 16/05/2017 18:46

We just wanted to hop on to say that it's not really on to accuse folk of posting with an ulterior motive or hidden agenda

Please.

There are plenty of people posting on MN with an agenda. It's usually not hidden - but the ulterior motive is to change minds and influence a debate.

Pretty much anyone who posts on 'controversial' threads is trying to persuade people of their POV and to change people's minds and influence opinion.

Lweji · 16/05/2017 20:00

I'm pretty sure I reported claig at some point.

sparkso · 16/05/2017 20:06

I presume all those paid astroturfers from the EU referendum who were on here 24/7 ("we need to LEAVE!") need another job now, so, yep.

I was a pro-leave poster and got accused of posting for money. I'd never even heard of anyone doing that! I'm an ordinary MN-er and joined long before then, but didn't want to use the same username on the EU board.

So OP I'm not convinced people are paid just because they're opinionated Grin haveacupoftea has hit the nail on the head.

I liked claig's posts, they were a refreshing change Grin It doesn't bother me if someone doesn't disclose their age/location/sex, as I'm interested in what they say rather than those details.

teawamutu · 16/05/2017 21:47

NotDavidTennant: The fact that people can't agree on which side it is that is behind the "paid" posts is quite telling. If your Facebook page is full of mainly pro-Corbyn or pro-May posts and then you come on Mumsnet and find a lot of people are very anti-Corbyn or anti-May then it can be instinctive to think that something fishy is going on at Mumsnet, rather than that most of us mainly exist in bubbles of like-minded people.

Grin you're so right!

For the record, though I'd love to be paid for whinging on Mumsnet, I am receiving not one shiny penny for posting my intention, as a lifelong Labour voter, not to vote for Corbyn because he's (imo) shit, Labour are going to get pasted regardless and I want him out post-Election.

I see a few posters who I suspect have been encouraged to post their opposing view, in much the same way they'd hand out leaflets or put posters in their window, but I do them the courtesy of assuming it's possible to have a sincerely held view that's different to mine wrong, obviously, but sincere. Would be rather nice if they could extend a similar level of respect.

BelleTheSheepdog · 16/05/2017 22:16

Being paid to whinge on Mumsnet would be brilliant teawamutu!

I've bored myself writing that I usually vote Labour but don't like or trust Corbyn AND McDonnell. It's NOT such a way out position to hold! On the other hand I know a young family member who has been inspired by Corbyn to join the Labour Party. I see that Corbyn is more inspiring than Ed Milliband for example.

Dianneabbottsmathsteacher · 16/05/2017 22:22

Thanks Katherine hopefully it will stop now and we can all debate properly

Dianneabbottsmathsteacher · 16/05/2017 22:25

orlantina

There's a world of difference between a good debate between mumsnetters and being accused of being paid by a political party to post.

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 16/05/2017 22:34

Thanks Katherine hopefully it will stop now and we can all debate properly

I agree.

caroldecker · 17/05/2017 01:00

Belle He inspires a certain, small, group. Somehow he has become a cult leader, with followers who defend him regardless of the facts and the remainder who see him as ridiculous, even those who are generally supportive of his aims.

Atenco · 17/05/2017 03:25

I would say that obviously there are party activists who devote their time to posting in places like here and other social media sites, they would be fools not to.

AvaCrowder2 · 17/05/2017 03:49

You vote for your mp. Not for the leader.

Vote for the mp who will serve you best. No need to share how you vote; its between you and the ballot box.

JanetBrown2015 · 17/05/2017 07:56

Interestingly Labour is saying Vote Labour on slogans and the Tories are saying "Vote May" as that works best for each respective party. However it is correct you vote for your candidate. However it has an impact which party they are voting for obviously in terms of the Government which is then in power.

One of my sons was saying until yesterday 100% of his teachers if they have given a view have been anti Tory which is not surprising for teachers given relatively lower pay etc. Yesterday he felt one class of 6 and the teacher except for him were too denigratory of Labour politicians (he is sitting on the fence with his vote and fed up with other boys at school (he's 18) who are just copying their parents and voting Tory. He knows I vote Conservative and I'm glad all my children make up their own minds.