To think telling people to “unfriend” you on social media because of the way you’re voting is immature?

[Retpark101]

This is kind of another election one, but I don’t want to thread to be hijacked into discussing politics, in fact I actually just want people to respect that everyone has their own minds and opinions, they have a right to vote for whoever they want to.

There’s so many political posts on Facebook right now but I’ve seen a couple of people on my friends list post things like “if you’re voting Conservative/Labour/etc tomorrow, please unfriend me” or “delete my number and don’t speak to me again”
AIBU to think this is bloody childish and if you’re a mature adult you accept that people are all different and have the right to their own thoughts? I hate how this election is making people gate each other.

Unless somebody has extreme views then is it really worth breaking friendships for the sake of someone voting the opposite of you?

I wouldn't lose a friend over how they voted.

I would however happily lose one for being a self righteous twunt who thinks their way to vote is the only way.

Anyone who posted that on my FB news feed would be saved a job and I'd unfriend them myself.

Agree with all those who’ve said that politics has become polarised. It almost worries me more than Brexit - it’s so unhealthy. We should be able to discuss our differences and find common ground, not just yell at each other.

To be honest it’s a lot of my younger friends who are the most vocal, it’s as if they can’t vote unless the let EVERYBODY know who they voted for and why.
Much like when people are unable to go to the gym without letting Facebook know

I think it's pretty infantile but it does have one good outcome - who wants to be friends with someone so narrow minded?

Well,this is social media for you. it brings up all sorts of idiocy.

I think it depends though. The parties at the moment are so polarising and some parties have brought certain views into the mainstream that are completely horrific, in my opinion.

If someone voted for the BNP, for example, then I don’t want to be friends with racist fuckwits so I’d drop them and wonder why I hadn’t seen it before.

If someone votes for one of the other major parties then a quick conversation will be needed to gauge just how much they agree with the more polarising stuff - do they idolise Jeremy Corbyn and gloss over his faults or do they acknowledge that he is a flawed leader? Do they deny that antisemitism is clearly an issue in the Labour Party? Do they agree with the acceptability of outright lying to the British public, as Boris Johnson represents? Do they think there is a problem with Islamophobia? Do they think people on benefits are all a bunch of lazy scrounges or do they accept it’s more of a complex issue?

I myself am voting today with gritted teeth for a Party I don’t agree with a lot of policies or the party culture, however they are the “least worst” option for me. I’d hate for people to write me off as a “Stereotypical X voter”; so I wouldn’t write off someone voting for another main party as a “Stereotypical Y voter” As long as I can have a sensible conversation why.

The outright racist parties, however, can fuck right off; no conversation needed.

To be honest it’s a lot of my younger friends who are the most vocal, it’s as if they can’t vote unless the let EVERYBODY know who they voted for and why.
Much like when people are unable to go to the gym without letting Facebook know

Yes, because it's all a part of virtue signalling which is so very prevalent in social media. In my social sphere those who have posted messages like the one you mention in your OP are either from a younger age group OR are older but engage enthusiastically with Social Media and the surrounding image culture.

I haven’t said it openly but I do dislike my Tory friends. I think it says far too much about who they are and that’s someone I don’t want to be around.

I think the desire to exist in an echo-chamber is a bad thing for the country as a whole.

YANBU it's pathetic. As another poster said if they were voting for someone like the BNP then I would distance myself from that person but generally it is possible for people to have different political views and still be friends. Life is all about handling relationships with those who have different views to yourself. If you can't do this in a sensible and mature manner then I think you need to look at yourself.

That does seem a bit silly and excessive but if someone has been posting a lot of stuff in support of policies or particular positions which seem (to you) to illustrate that their values are horrible and profoundly unethical, is it really so unreasonable to want to drop them or at least keep them at arms' length?
And, thinking of all the threads along these lines popping up lately, is it really so difficult to understand why some people are so very angry and so very frightened, even if you yourself generally believe that it's' all kind of going to come out OK somehow and isn't that big a deal...

I have dropped a friend due to their political beliefs. I didn't make a song and dance about it, but when they shared how they voted I realised our fundamental core ethics and beliefs were incompatible. To be honest, I would wonder why/how they could be friends with me at all now I know their values.

I wouldn't over brexit, as I think that's less clear cut, especially at the time.

No-one really knows who I vote for (it tends to be different every time anyway).

My best friend runs the local Labour Party fb Page and is a staunch Momentum member.

I also have a good friend who is a Tory MP and often on TV.

The only abuse I've ever had was from my labour bf. She didn't speak to me for 3 weeks because I dared say in 2017 that I didn't like Corbyn. We agreed after that to never discuss politics. Ever.

90% of my peers and colleagues are very Left leaning and are currently ranting on Twitter that all people who even contemplate the Tories are utter SCUM and vile sub-human beings.

Hmmm it's not a great way to engage people is it?

I've voted in plenty of elections in my life and I don't ever remember it being quite so hysterical and rabid.

It definitely feels like 'wrong think' and it's frankly frightening.

@Retpark101

YANBU.

But it is only the LABOUR/CORBYN supporters doing this, not anyone else. And to a lesser extent Lib-dem and Green supporters. In short, the far left.

I don't see Tory or Brexit Party supporters doing it. Judging and berating anyone who doesn't think like them, and personally attacking them.

It's only the far-left who act bratty, immature, and pathetic. Not anyone else.

Not wanting to turn it into a political spat, but I'm not having anyone imply Tory/Brexit party supporters do this, because they don't.

Wait til Labour fail dismally today (again!) Best to stay off the internet for a few days. Let the sore losers get it out of their system.

@TheClausSeason YES! You are completely correct. People want to engineer a tightly vetted and guarded social media 'bubble' which is an echo chamber and reinforces to them that their own opinions are the correct ones, and thus make them feel validated. It is creating people, generations possibly, who are convinced that they are absolutely correct AND represent the majority as 'nobody on my friend list votes X' additionally it is damaging people ability, willingness and openess to reasonable debate, which in turn harms individuals ability to think critically.

@Milicentbystander72

Cross posted with you!

Thank you.

Pretty much saying what I said. (About the far left.) The vitriol and hate and irrational childish behaviour comes only from them.

I think it comes down to fundamental compatibility. Voting Tory says a lot about your morals and your world view, and I just don't need that sort of selfish bullshit in my life.

I have two cousins, one agrees with me, his brother votes the opposite way, and we're always arguing on Facebook. I'd be really upset if he said that to me!

I ask people who use social media to unfriend me in real life.

I agree with Spudlet It all depends on the Party they are voting for and why. Who you vote for does reflect who you are and what you believe.

It's the kind of over simplistic, black and white thinking that has got us in this mess.

@MistyCloud
I totally agree just didn’t dare put it myself! It does seem to generally be Labour voters saying that.

It’ll be funny if they lose purely to see some of my friends list go absolutely wild and be outraged

I didn’t vote conservative either, voted Green so I’m not a “labour hater” I dislike both main parties for different reasons

To correct a few things Misty Lib Dems and Green are not far left, most of Labour is not far left.

On our local groups and people I know, as a left leaning Lib Dem, I've had it from both sides. Tories and especially Brexit party accusing me of being a traitor, telling me to leave if I don't like it. I get blamed for the ills of the world. I've unfriended those people but I still see them on facebook groups attacking others.

I've also got over keen Labour supporters who are accusing me of being a yellow Tory. Those I've not unfriended, I've just told them to stop with that.

If people's political beliefs come from a good place (or fear), then even if I think they are wrong, they of course remain my friend. I will not be friends whose beliefs come from hatred.

don't see Tory or Brexit Party supporters doing it.
I do in fact most of the hate and intolerance I have seen has come from those very Parties!