to really despise people who won't let others talk politics

[UnderHisEyeBall]

I have come across the phrase "it's turning into the House of Commons in here!", cue eyerolls, scoffing and lots of huffing about people daring to talk about politics. Usually by women sadly.

First, where did that godawful phrase come from? I didn't hear it until the EU referendum and then this election campaign, and secondly, why do the people who do this consider their position of political apathy politically superior? Yet also try to impose it on others? And are surprised when this doesn't go down well?

I find that people who love to talk politics actually prefer giving a ranty lecture instead.

A conversation is two way. It can’t flow properly if one person doesn’t want to discuss. If someone has expressed a desire to not talk politics then do not impose your diatribe on them. It’s rude and unpleasant

Well you must hate MN then because you certainly can’t talk Conservative policies.

It's surprising to me that someone would think that discussing politics is so unusual, that only someone who wants to give ranty lectures would do it. I honestly read mumsnet sometimes and think I must have grown up in, and still inhabit, a completely different planet. People I know DISCUSS, (and I mean discuss, as in a two way conversation) politics all the time. It would be a topic I discuss with every relative and the vast majority of friends, every time I speak to them. And before you ask, no, it isn't me who brings it up. Despite having a degree in the subject, a good number of my relatives and friends are more knowledgeable about it and more interested in it than I am, so they often bring it up, because they are genuinely interested.

It is very surprising to me, that so many people on here, not only don't want to discuss politics themselves, but also think that other people who do, are a bit weird.

Every day is a school day on here.

People are generally sick of two things: creeping ill will everywhere, and hearing what shitheads they are from people whose opinions they didn't ask for.

I mean, you know how important this is don't you? It will affect you and your family. To not really care enough to discuss it yourself is one thing, but to basically say that anyone who does must be some sort of weirdo?

As a pp said up thead, it does sometimes feel, when I read threads like this, a bit like we're at school.

I find people who insist on talking politics and causing aggravation and heated discussion rude and inconsiderate. Its not about being apathetic about politics - its about there is a time and place and a way of discussing it without having fall outs and shouting and stressful situations.

I had to ream out at least two people at my mothers funeral ffs, Dad had to get up and leave the table even though I had prewarned the people involved that it upset him

hearing what shitheads they are from people whose opinions they didn't ask for

What has that got to do with politics though? Rude or overly critical people will always find a way to be that way.

there is a time and place and a way of discussing it without having fall outs and shouting and stressful situations.

Yes, I agree! But I don't think the op was talking about people who rock up to funerals, or some other inappropriate event, and have a big rant about politics.

It's the night before the GE and we're on a public forum where all sorts of things are discussed. Yet, some people apparently go on to threads about politics and complain that there is a discussion on there about politics .

A lot of projection on here tbh.

It's fine to "talk" about politics, but it never stays as just talking, does it? Was on a day trip last weekend that involved a two hour coach trip. For the whole two hours some knob we at the back of the coach was loudly demanding to know who everyone was voting for then patronising everyone who answered with shouts of "You are WRONG!" It was immensely irritating.

Trying to talk politics never works as it's such a deeply personal choice and such a highly emotive topic, it almost feels like people are attacking the very morals of another person when they disagree.

@RB68

Bloody hell! So sorry you had to deal with that.

For "knob we" please read "knobber"

On a coach trip, shouting at the whole bus? Yes, that's very obviously inappropriate. But on an online forum, which has, I think, a whole section devoted to politics, in the run up to the GE? Do you think that might be ok? Apparently it isn't, because people keep whingeing that it's being discussed at all. Not that it is being discussed on a bus, at a funeral or any other inappropriate event / location.

I mean, anyone who would object to not being allowed to discuss Brexit, for example, at a funeral where the widower has explicitly asked people not to, would have to be unhinged.

I listen to radio 4 half the day when I work.
To me it’s pointless “ discussing” it because there is no way of checking other peoples “ facts”. Lots of dull point scoring dodgy arguments. People generally want to convert people, not discuss at all.

It is not impossible to check people's facts at all. It involves a small amount of reading up and, if someone does that, after a conversation, even a really bloody annoying one, isn't that good? I would never seek to convert anyone to my own views, but I do enjoy being asked to articulate my views and find it helpful as it sorts out my thoughts. I also love reading and hearing why people vote for other parties. I don't have any particular allegiance to any party, so it's genuinely interesting and helpful.

I don’t think OP is returning

So hopefully she won’t mind if I derail a bit and say.....I think a lot of us live our lives despite politics. And would rather keep away from it.

I can’t see how the mess of the last I don’t know how many years can be fixed. Essentially I could sing “we didn’t start the fire” all my life. It will still burn on and on.....

People I know DISCUSS, (and I mean discuss, as in a two way conversation) politics all the time. It would be a topic I discuss with every relative and the vast majority of friends, every time I speak to them.

By DISCUSSing, do you mean you critique rigourously and analyse the assertions of the political side you favour - as well as the assertions of the ones you don’t ? Or is it more like ‘it is self evident to any sane person that X Is wrong and Y is right and I can’t understand how anyone supports X and they must be deluded/need educating ‘

Because the second is not a discussion, it is bouncing off an echo chamber, no matter how many people are involved in it and is what seems to pass for discussing politics on here.

@JellyfishAndShells

Apologies for the slow reply, but I was asleep!

I mean I critique rigourously and analyse the assertions of the political side I favour - as well as the assertions of the ones I don’t. I also would say that I am glad to find positive aspects to the side I don't favour and, to a point, I do not have a side which I rigidly favour at all.

autumn, I completely understand that POV. But, personally, I couldn't sit in a burning house, without at least remarking that it was on fire and asking why someone decided to leave the stove on with a bottle of hairspray on top.

If you are shut down in an online forum discussing politics already or on your own fb, then those people are on the wrong medium and should scroll past. Same if it's a group discussion that everyone is having.

If you find a fair few people telling you bluntly they don't want to discuss, ignoring you, changing the subject or shutting you down then you need to look at the common denominator- you and your behaviour. You may be well be one who brow beats, insults, railroads rather then discuss and doesn't debate at all. Someone in an echo chamber who is convinced their own opinion is superior. Aka the issue is you.

Luckily, most people (excluding my own two relatives here) are the former type offline at least. I have seen a few of the latter online and avoided as they don't want to vote, just validation of their opinion and to insult.

Yes, I agree with that by christmascakelover^^.

There are rude and obnoxious people in most forums, who are rude and obnoxious about numerous subjects. Even on MN, it's often breastfeeding, MILs, WOHPs vs SAHPs which bring out the worst in people. But nobody says "I am banning all discussion of..." in those cases.

I personally think it is a shame that people feel they have to check out of the conversation entirely because of the few rude people. I am very lucky that, as I have already said, I know people from many different backgrounds, with many differing views on politics. Even in my own family we have widly differing views on things and we all manage to get along and discuss it without falling out, because it actually isn't that personal to us. It's a very public thing which affects the whole country and beyond, so I genuinely enjoy hearing or reading other people's perspectives. If the people I don't choose to vote for win an election, I'm interested to find out why that might have been. It is frankly bizarre to me that anyone would feel otherwise and bullishly say "ah you all voted wrong" or whatever. Talking about self preservation etc by avoiding the topic entirely, I personally think that ignoring when your party loses and saying it's because the electorate is a bunch of thickos is the opposite if self preservation. So, I think some people avoid the topic altogether to preserve themselves, while others DISCUSS, (AND I MEAN DISCUSS, ahem, scuse caps), to find out more. Knowledge is power yada yada.

You sound totally obsessed officerpetri.

Yes, I am a bit... I did a degree in it. It's probably my favourite subject .

Some people really like discussing politics and world affairs just as some people really like discussing sport; their diets; Game of Thrones; their sex lives. It's generally regarded as a bit rude and/or self-obsessed to barge into someone's conversation about any of the latter topics and demand they talk about something else because you are bored and want to talk about yourself a different subject.

Of course, if you are the one who wants to discuss politics and try to do so by bawling at other people that they are morons and need to stop talking about their DC's school play or comparing nail bars because POLITICS IS MORE IMPORTANT are not going to win any friends. But, for a while now, the political landscape has been such frightening, horrifying chaos that it can seem a bit surprising or annoying when people insist that it's 'boring' and 'nothing to do with me'.

Yes, I agree reanimated, but at the same time, I can sort of understand people's reasons for opting out when they really can't bear to hear any more. But what I do not understand is when people say "we must not discuss politics because that's the rule". It seems actually insane to me, to opt out of the conversation because a laydee never divulged 😂.