AIBU for thinking hating people for their political leanings is perfectly normal?

[VelvetChairGirl]

I have been reading a brexit thread on here and lots of brexit voters in it seem horrified that they are hated and families have stopped talking to each other, and cut each other off over it.

but its politics nothing affects us more then politics, we have people who cut off others for believing in conspiracy theories and things. Brexit is the biggest shake up in this country in my life time, its taken away our freedom of movement for work and education, needlessly introduced a tonne of red tape, made our rights and standards extremely vulnerable to being destroyed (tories dont like food standards and workers rights this is well documented and they are in charge right now), reduced our standing in the world and will very likely lead us to being the poor man of Europe again, not to mention the fact its cut off vital EU funding to science research, regeneration and education projects up and down the county.

it affects everyone, of course people are perfectly entitled to hate those who voted to hurt them financially, prospects wise etc as much as they would hate someone who physically stole from them, theres very little difference is there?

In our house we all vote for different parties. My friends are from a wide variety of voters, from people who voted for Brexit and Scottish Independence to people who voted the opposite. It doesn't bother me. Hate is a destructive emotion and I don't think it is normal to hate anyone for their political beliefs. There are groups I do avoid, extreme right-wing racists, homophobic groups, extreme religious groups and extreme SNP supporters. I don't like extremists of any sort. People who voted for Brexit or Scottish Independence had to vote on the information they had been given or researched themselves. I prefer to try and listen to another person's point of view and agree to disagree. There is enough hate in this world for me and I don't want anymore of it.

Am I supposed not to hate regimes that legitimise raping and murdering women and children
I think you're supposed not to mix up genocidal maniacs with people who, for example, would like controlled immigration and the bins emptied every Wednesday.

I’m never entirely sure why labour voters think they have the moral high ground?

@Youseethethingis

Am I supposed not to hate regimes that legitimise raping and murdering women and children I think you're supposed not to mix up genocidal maniacs with people who, for example, would like controlled immigration and the bins emptied every Wednesday.

They’re both political beliefs. 🤷‍♀️

@lljkk

I suppose I admire OP for having no doubts in their political convictions. That most be a very comfortable position.

It might be comfortable to just hate but I think it’s lazy and not admirable.

Maybe if it led to something good - but hatred isn’t that.

@Angrymum22

Respecting other people’s point of view and beliefs is a sign of tolerance and intelligence. You are never going to change someone’s mind by ridicule or rudeness.

I agree, AngryMum. The best way to change someone's mind is to present valid arguments against their position, it's called informed debate.

I have family members here in the US who voted for the previous president. They're not horrible people, I think they made that decision because the other party ignored many voters' genuine concerns about the economy, taxation, etc.

Those middle-of-the-road voters whom the OP seems to despise can swing an election/referendum. Ignore them and there's a good chance of losing. IMHO.

I disagree that it is normal to hare people with different political views.

I also disagree that politics are the most important thing in people’s lives. For many people religion is more important. And most religious people don’t hate people of other religions.

As a pluralistic democracy we should be encouraging people to be tolerant of each other.

“Those middle-of-the-road voters whom the OP seems to despise can swing an election/referendum. Ignore them and there's a good chance of losing. IMHO.”

Yes I agree. The silent majority who keep their cards close to their chest. Ignore them or ridicule them at your peril because often they make up the largest proportion of the vote, not those who shout loudest on social media!

Great post @RandomLondoner. You've said what I felt much more eloquently than I could have done.

I also agree with a pp that more intelligent and educated people have the self awareness to know that they're not automatically right about various matters and therefore are more moderate in their expressions, and willing to listen to others as they know they might learn something!

I am thinking more and more that people's politics might be affected a great deal by when they were born, whether they live - in town or countryside.

I was reading about that fantastic Scottish company, Tunnocks, and their history - they make those amazing teacakes - so wonderful, I learn, because made with Italian mereignes, and also caramel wafers and snowballs. The company was started at the end of the 19th century by a worker who saved £80 and set up a bakery. First they delivered bread and took the payment on Saturday; then they went into wedding cakes, then confectionery. Local boys delivered the produce and the local community benefitted. That history is a world away from the conglomerates which operate today: big companies are taken over by absolutely huge companies and merged.

Somebody of eighty years old who says they believe in free enterprise and business is going to have a different view to a person aged 25, who has learnt of the callous attitude towards tax and the environment of many big organisations - and who is appalled by the industrial scale waste of past-sell-by-date ready meals, that goes on today.

Capitalism is something different to different people, depending on their knowledge base, and Brexit could just be the result of 60 years of newspaper headlines about banning British bent bananas.

I try not to judge people for their politics and I'd rather be influenced by literature by Charles Dickens and others, into how I shape my views. Personally I think socialism is needed more than ever today, but if capitalism got less giant, perhaps we'd all see its merits.

Am I supposed not to hate regimes that legitimise raping and murdering women and children?

If your strong emotions actively motivate you to do something that would protect people, great, but few people can sustain on hate alone and even fewer can do that well and without doing harm to themselves.

I've heard before that malicious motivations can pull you through when you're drained, spite and hate can be powerful motivators but generally it's not good for our wellbeing over the long-term. It was something like if you're using it more than 10-15% of the time, you're probably either on the road to burn out or the road to the ends justify the means.

If the hate just has someone chatting shite online as it can seem for some people, it's even more of a 'you can if you want, but what's the point?'

Also, I can be against things and support action against systemic corruption & violence and not have a visceral emotional reaction like hate. I've seen hate in another person's eyes, I've had someone who loudly thought the world would be better without me and tried to make that reality. I just don't have that kind of reaction towards people for voting - I don't even feel that way towards the person who did that 99% of the time. I have my rage moments, but it's never going to harm them and it doesn't feel that good to me and doesn't motivate me to act so what's the point of not just letting such flickers pass?

And by the same token I disagree that centrist voters are fence sitters. I know lots of Conservative votes that voted Labour in 1997 as they thought the country needed fresh thinking and a different direction - despite being conservative in their political opinions.

Surely considering the options before you and voting for the party that bet fits what you think the country needs is better than tribal voting for a party regardless of how good or bad their policies and manifestos are?

We in UK used to tolerate all views, we still should.

Hate is a very strong emotion and should not be tolerated.
Their can be Friendship Nonfriendship and Hate. Why hate someone for their differentness?
Jews suffered hate in Europe, here many people chose not to be friends with Jews that is acceptable.
In Ireland especially in NI there is Hate. Look what happens in both the above instances.
Is that good for either side?
With Brexit, on a practical level we won't really know for another 5 years if it has been beneficial. It depends on us and it depends on the EU, how will that change? Will it go deeper as the hierarchy say currently? That would not suit most of us. If they row back from that then then maybe we should have been there to help.

Hating another person for their opinions is certainly not normal and akin to the far right of politics who I'm guessing is the type you despise

@Angrymum22

Respecting other people’s point of view and beliefs is a sign of tolerance and intelligence. You are never going to change someone’s mind by ridicule or rudeness.

Superficially that sounds reasonable enough- but it breaks down pretty quickly.

If my neighbour is a racist xenophobe, is "respecting" his beliefs a sign of my tolerance and intelligence? I doubt it.
Of course I respect his right to hold any belief, but surely uncritical "respect" for the substance of those beliefs is not a good thing?

I notice that many people on this thread do in fact consider that it is fine to "hate" those with certain extreme views (racists, misogynists) so perhaps in truth we are simply quibbling about which beliefs deserve such a response?

Hate is ok for Brexiters.

Hate is a very strong word.
I might used disgusted, perplexed, horrified, embarrassed or shocked as reactions to someone's political leanings though.

No, it’s not acceptable. You can disagree with someone on the political views they have in a perfectly reasonable manner & not hate them. I have friends who I disagree with on a plethora of issues. I don’t hate them. They’re as entitled to their opinion as I am to mine.

There’s no need for hate & hysteria. Get on with your life.

Hatred I would reserve for very extreme views. A difference of political opinion, no.

Most people have good intentions, but everyone's view is coloured by their own experiences. I was anti brexit. But I'm a london based professional who largely benefitted from EU memberships. If I lived in a small town and had watched wages and working conditions diminish due to oversupply of cheap EU labour, I can imagine I would feel differently.

@Saboteur

Hate is ok for Brexiters.

It really isnt, it does s however make you appear intolerant and ignorant that others can have different views to yourself.

@AnneElliott

And by the same token I disagree that centrist voters are fence sitters. I know lots of Conservative votes that voted Labour in 1997 as they thought the country needed fresh thinking and a different direction - despite being conservative in their political opinions.

Surely considering the options before you and voting for the party that bet fits what you think the country needs is better than tribal voting for a party regardless of how good or bad their policies and manifestos are?

Totally agree.

I've never really understood why someone would vote a certain way, just because that's how they've always voted.

I've always voted for whose polices I thought were best at that time. And as I've got older and got more experiences to relate to my voting has changed.

I think that many people are not 100% in favour of everything that their vote stands for. They could be on the fence and one or two things sway it. We're often faced with two poor choices and have to pick the best of a bad pair.

Social media fuels this by people publishing sweeping statements and unproven 'facts'.

You need to get over yourself, and accept democracy.

Whining and barring people you know are merely childish reactions.

@Daphnise

You need to get over yourself, and accept democracy.

Whining and barring people you know are merely childish reactions.

Like the Brexiteers did when we joined the EU?

Oh no they continued to campaign to leave. So those of us in favour of being part of the EU are equally entitled to campaign to rejoin.

@Mysterian

To hate over 50% of the population is pretty bad.

Agree! And exhausting!