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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think if you run a business, you ought not to be contentious about politics on social media?

63 replies

ThisTurkeysNot4Christmas · 14/12/2019 10:56

I don't use social media much, but I do use Twitter mainly as PR and research for my small business (I'm freelance.) I'm always shocked how some of my contacts are very open about their political leanings, mainly through Twitter posts, seemingly unaware of how their clients or customers might not agree with their views (and damage their business.)

AIBU to think that if you are self-employed and reliant on certain core clients, you ought to be more careful about voicing strong political opinions? I say nothing about who I vote(d) for simply because I don't want to alienate clients I work with if they have different views.

OP posts:
Dazedandconfused10 · 14/12/2019 11:02

It depends. If the potential client was a racist or homophobic or kicked children I wouldn't want their business.

burritofan · 14/12/2019 11:05

Nope. I'm freelance and very very open on social media that the Tories should get fucked. Hasn't harmed my income or employment rate at all. Would always rather work with, buy from and support businesses that are openly anti-fascist than the "Ooh, don't get involved in politics, look at my lovely cushions for sale" crowd. People are dying and will die. Fuck the Tories. Say so openly, forever.

CuriousaboutSamphire · 14/12/2019 11:06

I know what you mean. I am on a few networking sites and 2 of them I have had extended political discussion and couldn't tell you how the others would have voted. All very civilised, based on a wide range of issues.

Others I have left it hidden... I am speechless at some of the content!!

ethelfleda · 14/12/2019 11:07

People are dying and will die. Fuck the Tories. Say so openly, forever

I love this sentence Smile

bellinisurge · 14/12/2019 11:08

I have made retail and service choices based on shit people have said. This has been stuff they have said in real life.

OhGrrrreat · 14/12/2019 11:08

Yanbu. I recently declined subscription to a locally sourced product after looking at the company's fb page and seeing then endorse a political figure I don't see eye to eye with. Judging from the hundreds of comments many I wasn't alone with many customers outraged and threatening to end their subscription.

BonnyConnie · 14/12/2019 11:11

My husband is a business owner, I don’t think any of his clients care. At any rate they’re all aware of his political leanings because he used to be a politician.

PineappleDanish · 14/12/2019 11:11

Totally agree. I'm freelance and several clients follow me on Twitter or similar. I don't know their political views, they don't know mine.

It's really unprofessional to rant and potentially alienate the people paying your bills.

GetUpAgain · 14/12/2019 11:13

On twitter, fine. On Instagram, fine if accompanied by a good image. On LinkedIn, you are just embarrassing yourself!

BertrandRussell · 14/12/2019 11:15

I have both lost and gained customers because I am open about my views on SM. Fine by me I have also stopped using a favourite cafe because of theirs. It wasn’t fine by them- they were extraordinarily abusive in their response. Their choice. Also fine by me.

emilybrontescorsett · 14/12/2019 11:18

I think people often post total garbage on social media.
I have distanced myself from certain people one of them being on outspoken Tommy Robinson supported who posts regularly about how we should 'make Britain great again.'

bellinisurge · 14/12/2019 11:20

If you can afford to alienate customers by going public with your views, fine. If you can't? Don't.
I am in a public sector job and am forbidden from sharing my political views with the public. If anyone I deal with starts off on one and tries to elicit a political opinion from me, I always say "Let's not go there".

AlunWynsKnee · 14/12/2019 11:23

It's good to be able to identify the 'Britain First' types and choose not to give them my money.

LoungeLizardLhama · 14/12/2019 11:25

@burritofan I think I love you 👊🏻❤️💔🌹

scarbados · 14/12/2019 11:32

If I know the politics of a business, it will affect my chance of using them. I don't think alienating customers is the only possibility - I'm more likely to be attracted to a business if they are Labour or Green supporters.

Tory run local business - whater they provide, I'll go elsewhere or do without, thanks.

Original poster
ThisTurkeysNot4Christmas · 14/12/2019 11:32

@burritofan So if anyone who might buy from you was a Tory and felt equally strongly, like 'Fuck Labour they are all Marxists and only care about feathering their own nests at the expense of the poor'' [for example, only] how would that affect you?

OP posts:
ForalltheSaints · 14/12/2019 11:33

Only 45% of people who voted supported the Tories, About 30% never voted.

So there are a lot of your potential customers who do not share your political views whatever they are, and some who do may think that your personal politics should not your own business only.

Original poster
ThisTurkeysNot4Christmas · 14/12/2019 11:36

It's interesting. I work for one company as a consultant, and they make it very clear they vote Labour, through their Twitter feed, yet they are making quite a lot of money out of me by taking their percentage from the clients. It somehow doesn't seem to fit with their political rantings! Bit confusing.

OP posts:
Barnseyboyo · 14/12/2019 11:38

I saw on twitter that a comedy place has released a statement saying if you’ve voted Tory, you’re not welcome. Absolute disgrace and shows the state of Labour voters now

AutumnRose1 · 14/12/2019 11:39

Yes, it’s become a thing now. I really dislike it. It’s more that I want business to be neutral, as if politics invaded everything. The next step is people at work wanting to know how you voted.

It can be intimidating and stressful for everyone.

CharityConundrum · 14/12/2019 11:39

In many ways, I think it's admirable when people state their views regardless of the potential to lose money. If you hold views that matter to you, then surely posting openly is just 'putting your money where your mouth is'? It's a bit patronising to think that they don't know that it could have an impact on their business - wouldn't it be more realistic to assume that they are prepared to stand by their principles even if that loses them clients?

MidnightCircus · 14/12/2019 11:40

I think it's best you don't bring politics, religion etc into business. Sure, you might not want to deal with people you disagree with but are you going to vet every single person you are ever going to talk to just in case? Again though, depends how it's done. Overly emotive, vitriolic hyperbole is a total turn-off for me, of any flavour. I will stop using businesses who do that. I just don't get why you would want to insult/offend potential customers, seems slightly daft in my view

AutumnRose1 · 14/12/2019 11:40

Plus, when an organisation has a particular political view, it can often be staff on the front line who are asked to defend it.

Barnseyboyo · 14/12/2019 11:42

ethelfleda

You are everything that’s wrong with Labour right now. You should be ashamed. I take it you won’t be accepting any benefits that’ll come your way seeing as there from the Tories?

Leighhalfpennysthigh · 14/12/2019 11:43

People are dying and will die. Fuck the Tories. Say so openly, forever

This.

I have a business and most of my clients have known me long enough now to know that I'm a gobby old leftie with occasional champagne socialist leanings. I'm also in the rather fortunate position where I can turn down business from those I know to be Tory arseholes.