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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Sometimes I feel like this is George Orwell’s 1984

299 replies

Namechangeforobv · 20/05/2021 14:36

Name change as my last thread attracted a lot of attention.
Anyway, am I the only one that feels like freedom of speech is slowly dying?!
If my opinion or views differ from the ‘woke’ then it is clearly not valid!

For example I voted to leave the EU, I chose this because leaving benefitted me more than staying. My personal circumstances, my personal choice.
Conversation starts at work about it, I was asked what I voted and immediately discussion closed because it was so “wrong” that I had voted this.

YABU for “no your wrong”
YANBU for “yes I agree”

OP posts:
Original poster
Namechangeforobv · 20/05/2021 17:11

@supermoonrising

*I’m referring to things such as:
  • censoring history
  • trans women participation in Olympics
  • Facebook censorship
  • propaganda in the news
  • vaccine or no vaccine*
  1. What history is being censored?
  2. It’s a thorny issue, but I agree it’s got out of hand.
  3. Facebook is owned by its shareholders, same as any media group. They can do what they want.
  4. There’s always been propaganda in the news. News is mostly just propaganda of one kind or another.
  5. Not sure that’s being censored as such.
These are issues that people tread on eggshells around. Rather than all related to censorship.

I think history is being censored in the fact that children are taught a very rigid curriculum.

OP posts:
Original poster
Namechangeforobv · 20/05/2021 17:14

@Chanjer

Isn't it kind of a good thing your colleagues didn't want to carry on talking about Brexit considering you don't want to talk about it?
I was happy to discuss my reasons, they just weren’t prepared to listen.
OP posts:
KrisAkabusi · 20/05/2021 17:16

What actually prompted by post was me being silenced (post deleted) for having different views to others. Surely this shouldn’t be allowed to happen? Especially as there was no malice. It was simply a different view that was not shared

You have the right to say what you want. Mumsnet has the right not to let you say it on their platform. It's a private company, not the government. Their platform, their rules.

LakieLady · 20/05/2021 17:17

I feel that everyone should vote for what feels right for them.

Whereas I feel that everyone should vote for what they feel is best for society as a whole, not just best for themselves.

3Britnee · 20/05/2021 17:18

@Namechangeforobv

Name change as my last thread attracted a lot of attention. Anyway, am I the only one that feels like freedom of speech is slowly dying?! If my opinion or views differ from the ‘woke’ then it is clearly not valid!

For example I voted to leave the EU, I chose this because leaving benefitted me more than staying. My personal circumstances, my personal choice.
Conversation starts at work about it, I was asked what I voted and immediately discussion closed because it was so “wrong” that I had voted this.

YABU for “no your wrong”
YANBU for “yes I agree”

Yanbu!!
DreamingNow · 20/05/2021 17:20

@Namechangeforobv.
1984 is about the GOVERNMENT expecting everyone to toe the line and do as they are told/believe in what the government tod them rather than what it is actually happening.

Your exmple has nothing to do with that.
Are you telling us you think the curent Tory government is slowly but surely destroying the freedom of speech?

Original poster
Namechangeforobv · 20/05/2021 17:21

@KrisAkabusi

What actually prompted by post was me being silenced (post deleted) for having different views to others. Surely this shouldn’t be allowed to happen? Especially as there was no malice. It was simply a different view that was not shared

You have the right to say what you want. Mumsnet has the right not to let you say it on their platform. It's a private company, not the government. Their platform, their rules.

Of course, completely agree. They decided to get rid of my opinion as it wasn’t something they wanted on their platform. Doesn’t mean it’s right/wrong to be happening.
OP posts:
echt · 20/05/2021 17:21

@Namechangeforobv

Name change as my last thread attracted a lot of attention. Anyway, am I the only one that feels like freedom of speech is slowly dying?! If my opinion or views differ from the ‘woke’ then it is clearly not valid!

For example I voted to leave the EU, I chose this because leaving benefitted me more than staying. My personal circumstances, my personal choice.
Conversation starts at work about it, I was asked what I voted and immediately discussion closed because it was so “wrong” that I had voted this.

YABU for “no your wrong”
YANBU for “yes I agree”

You haven't read Nineteen Eighty-Four, have you?
Original poster
Namechangeforobv · 20/05/2021 17:22

[quote DreamingNow]@Namechangeforobv.
1984 is about the GOVERNMENT expecting everyone to toe the line and do as they are told/believe in what the government tod them rather than what it is actually happening.

Your exmple has nothing to do with that.
Are you telling us you think the curent Tory government is slowly but surely destroying the freedom of speech?[/quote]
My reference to nineteen eighty-four was the Thought Police. Nothing deeper than that.

OP posts:
Original poster
Namechangeforobv · 20/05/2021 17:23

Read and studied.

OP posts:
AntiSocialDistancer · 20/05/2021 17:23

Yanbu, I am regularly called right wing for my leftist pro brexit views Grin

DreamingNow · 20/05/2021 17:23

I feel that everyone should vote for what feels right for them.

That also includes accepting that other people have different opinions and that it is also OK for them to refuse to have anything to do with you because of your views.
Basically it works both ways.

Eg Brexit has had a huge impact o me and my fsmilky, in a very negative way.
I accept you vote to protect yourself. But I also expect you to accept I am not happy and cba to engage in any converstaion with you around that subject.

newnortherner111 · 20/05/2021 17:24

I think you are doing George Orwell a disservice to compare his writing to what we face today.

BoredatHome321 · 20/05/2021 17:24

the use of "woke" sums up everything you need to know about this thread 🙂

ludothedog · 20/05/2021 17:24

@Orf1abc

If my opinion or views differ from the ‘woke’ then it is clearly not valid!

When you use the term woke as a means of offence, it's no wonder that people don't wish to engage with you. If you can't be respectful to others, you shouldn't be surprised when people don't pay you the same courtesy.

I came on to say the same. If you begin a conversation by being rude and deliberately choosing words knowing they will cause offence, how can you be surprised when people don't want to engage with you?
JeanneDoe · 20/05/2021 17:24

I agree 100% with the first poster after the OP.

What happened to JK Rowling has made my blood run cold.

Original poster
Namechangeforobv · 20/05/2021 17:26

@DreamingNow

I feel that everyone should vote for what feels right for them.

That also includes accepting that other people have different opinions and that it is also OK for them to refuse to have anything to do with you because of your views.
Basically it works both ways.

Eg Brexit has had a huge impact o me and my fsmilky, in a very negative way.
I accept you vote to protect yourself. But I also expect you to accept I am not happy and cba to engage in any converstaion with you around that subject.

Completely agree, but to be horrible to me after finding this out is surely wrong.
OP posts:
DreamingNow · 20/05/2021 17:26

My reference to nineteen eighty-four was the Thought Police. Nothing deeper than that.

Yep. That's wat I am saying. the Thought Police was a government institution. We don't have that.
However, individuals can think whatever they want or like. They are also totally free to refuse to engage wioth people who hold ideas they don't agree with.
I know I refusing to talk to PIL and brexit because she is a leaver. I am not. And if we start talking about it, we fall out (and so does DH btw, and the dcs....).
So I would ignore any attempt to talk about that.

DreamingNow · 20/05/2021 17:28

xpost.

Well... do you have any idea about how horrible things are for them due to Brexit?
Because I can tell you that things are much more horrible for me than a simple 'I felt a bit hurt and uncomfortable'....

Chanjer · 20/05/2021 17:28

1984 is most importantly I think about the erosion of language to negate the possibility of dissenting thought and ideas

Which is a far leap from what you're talking about

Brave New World is a much better example of how things might turn out yet imo

IreallydontknowImtired · 20/05/2021 17:28

Had I voted remain I am sure my opinion would of been valid

I largely agree with what you're saying but i don't think this is about your opinion being valid (what do you actually mean by valid?) but more about them not liking it or you because you voted leave. I think they have the right to not like what they think you stand for and not include you in their conversation. It just has to work both ways.

As for the dirty looks and not asking you further questions to understand why, instead assuming the worst of you, well I see your point there and I agree.

EngTech · 20/05/2021 17:30

1984 was a warning not a blue print 😳😎😎

Jimmynicholsbridie · 20/05/2021 17:31

  1. History has always been censored, the narrative is set by the society teaching it. The history of the British empire taught in the UK, for example, is wildly different than that taught in say India or Nigeria. Who's history do you suggest should be used as "THE" history? The one you like?

  2. As others have said free speech isn't what you seem to think it is.

  3. If you can't defend your views on a subject then you either don't really believe them or know they're unpalatable.

  4. You've flipped from saying your reasons are private to saying you're happy to discuss them, so discuss away. Please tell us what they were.

Original poster
Namechangeforobv · 20/05/2021 17:31

@DreamingNow

xpost.

Well... do you have any idea about how horrible things are for them due to Brexit?
Because I can tell you that things are much more horrible for me than a simple 'I felt a bit hurt and uncomfortable'....

I am not going to oppose your views on something I couldn’t possibly relate to being someone that did not vote the same as you. When I say she was horrible to me, I meant bullied me in the workplace afterwards over things not related to politics at all.
OP posts:
Original poster
Namechangeforobv · 20/05/2021 17:34

@Jimmynicholsbridie

1) History has always been censored, the narrative is set by the society teaching it. The history of the British empire taught in the UK, for example, is wildly different than that taught in say India or Nigeria. Who's history do you suggest should be used as "THE" history? The one you like?

  1. As others have said free speech isn't what you seem to think it is.

  2. If you can't defend your views on a subject then you either don't really believe them or know they're unpalatable.

  3. You've flipped from saying your reasons are private to saying you're happy to discuss them, so discuss away. Please tell us what they were.

  • I’m saying history should be more detailed and diverse.

  • I said I was happy to discuss at work with others who were having the discussion. Definitely don’t remember saying I’m happy to discuss on mums net to then be jumped on by people that don’t hold the same opinion.

    • I haven’t belittled anyone’s point of view here.

    OP posts:
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