To wonder why there’s so much talk on politics on mumsnet?

[Chloefairydust]

Don’t get me wrong, I know it’s important to know what’s going on in the world and I’m as angry at the government as the next woman…

But sometimes it’s nice to come on mumsnet for a bit of escapism, and the lighter hearted topics…

Am I alone here?

Ought we to stick to kittens and knitting? 😁

Of course if you try and suggest that Nicola Sturgeon is less than ideal... tumbleweed

It’s a bit I like a discussion with a range of views - different opinion - troll, stupid, bot

er ok..

Whilst I understand your view - I've got a son (luckily not still at home) who talks it 24/7 which can get tedious -I actually feel far too many people over the years had become completely unpolitical- particularly women and that's one of the reasons the country has sleepwalked into the situation it's in now. Politics affects absolutely everything --job opportunities, business viability, supply chain, options for your family , mortgages, housing. It's not some kind of peripheral interest. For instance if anyone posts about cost of living crisis or mortgage rates, that hasn't come out of nowhere, it's policy and politics that create the situation

I know what you mean. When I go to the library I’m overwhelmed with the amount of books focussed on topics I’m not interested in. /s

Honestly OP, the internet is what you make it, there’s room for everything and you don’t have to read anything you don’t want to. If the discussions on here don’t float your boat start one that does, you’re not a passive entity on the forum.

And baby names.

OP try Netmums, I think you'll like it. They are often lighthearted and have tickers.

I think I would have more interest reading the threads that are obviously started by political activists if they actually educated me on what the Labour Party actually stands for nowadays instead of just Tory bashing posts … people need to know what else there is to vote for ( we are mostly already aware that the conservative government is a bit shit)

You can do that yourself, though?!

@Chloefairydust but that attitude is that you want to be passively educated. If there is a specific discussion you want with specific aims then the onus is on you to start and nurture the conversation. mumsnet doesn’t have an forum editor.

Nothing to stop you doing some research yourself.

Be part of the solution, not the problem then.

Ask questions. Engage. Pin down. Point out the propaganda techniques over substance.

Hold to account.

Well if that's what the OP is thinking, I have to say it isn't dissimilar to the attitudes of the majority of the electorate.

People will think about how their vote will affect them and their family first and foremost. Why wouldn't you.

and yes quite frankly politicians are all pretty much the same. There have always been scandals and behavioural aberrations across all parties. There are MPs who are the salt of the earth (especially at local grass roots level) who really do their best to make an impact and represent their constituency's best interests and whose voting record is credible and consistent, and there are the "feather their own nest" career types who you know are in it for the power and status and the subsidised HoC bar

😂

People thinking about how their vote will affect themselves and their families is not the problem. People not understanding what they are voting for, or not voting at all because "what difference does it make", is.

Basically paid for political shilling/trolling.

They would stay on the politics thread, but they get no traffic on there so they come to the place with the most traffic instead.

My favourites :

"I'm not an X supporter" when they clearly are an X supporter.

"Please explain to me why you vote for X" when they clearly don't want to accept that any reason why you vote for X is a perfectly valid reason, and so they just mob you with abuse.

We are in a bit of a political wasteland at the moment where all the opposition can do is attack the government. They can't propose any policies of their own, because if they did they would probably get stolen by the government and implemented.

So expect the political trolling/abuse of the government to run for some years yet.

These are the exact posts I’m talking about. I didn’t realise people were actually paid to make the threads, how bizarre 😮

Some of them seem quite aggressive too, like I know everyone’s got their own opinion on stuff and that’s ok, but when people start getting abusive to someone who doesn’t have the same opinion, it’s just a bit much…

Some days they seem to completely take over the AIBU board especially…

I just don’t get the actual point of it … Like there’s no point bashing the Tory’s all the time if there’s no effort being put into developing good opposition. Like I think most people are unhappy with how the government is handling situations right now, but what other options are there? I hope when it comes time to vote labours main argument isn’t just saying how shit conservatives are 🙄 … Like we are aware of that, we don’t live under a rock. What positive changes are Labour going to make? Give people a reason to vote for them ya know …

And also people representing Labour who are trolling and abusive and bullying to other people is really, really not a good representation of Labour is it now?

I avoid politics like the plague whenever possible, but I occasionally get the urge to vent my spleen, and I do it on here. If I think a particular politician is a useless, incompetent windbag (and let's face it, most of them are), or that a particular party couldn't organise a piss-up in a brewery, then I like to take the opportunity to say so.

I post to the politics threads a lot because it’s a topic that really interests me. It’s inevitable that there will be a lot of discussion currently because this is the most politically volatile period I can ever remember in the 51 years since I first voted - ironically in the first EU referendum. It would be lovely to have a period of political stability and common sense so people didn’t feel the need for so much discussion. I yearn to be bored by it.

The Labour Party has put forward some clear policies. With a bit of research anyone can find them.

@Chloefairydust Did you watch the Labour Party conference and the summaries of things they plan to bring in? Just to say I'm pretty much a centreist- sometimes I vote Lib Dem, sometimes labour depending where I live and the likely result.

I think a lot of people who aren't Tory's feel a need to comment because there are a fair share on here who play the 'labour would be worse' card. Which is a bit rich given the Tory's have been in power 12 years and it's changed world. How can they possibly be so sure of that- I certainly think the Blair era was far better governed than the current bunch if it comes to doing its best 'for all'.

I really like some of labours policies and potential plans. - and I'm definitely not paid to say that!!!!

@Chloefairydust

Unfortunately rent-a-mob is more about aggression and "proving you are right" quickly to achieve the applause (and hopefully backing) of the crowd, rather that actually taking time to understand someone elses position and realise that although you may not agree with their view of the world, it's perfectly valid.
Quick wins and soundbites are the order of the day. Influence per word/post count are what's important.

A lot of people are frankly unwilling to accept that there is any alternative to their ideology which they are heavily invested in. The great irony being that there is normally only a piece of paper between them and the ideology they oppose - it's just by an accident of birth they end up on one side or the other.

Despite that for me sometimes the debate is worth watching or participating in, because now and then someone might actually say something that makes you think in a different way, or provides new insight into the way the world works.
Some of my favorite political commentators are ones I disagree with on ideology. There's always stuff to be learnt from both sides if you dig deep enough and are willing to listen.

Well here’s hoping conservatives are voted out in the next election 🤞🏻

I used to live in a town were majority of people prided themselves on voting conservatives, I used to actually work as a beauty therapist. I always found it so bizarre how my clients (usually while having their nails done) would complain about how services are getting worse like nhs dentists etc, and so I would ask them who they voted for and they would always say conservatives lol … I think people are creatures of habit when it comes to voting. I also think Labour loses lots of votes as parts of the UK like Scotland now usually vote for Nicola Sturgeon, which is fair enough. I don’t know a lot about the Scottish party in all fairness, but have family in Scotland and they don’t think too highly of Nicola.

However I do think a lot of people are sick of the BS from conservatives. If Labour can offer a good alternative then it shouldn’t in theory be too hard to win votes.

I am interested in politics and am always on the lookout for a good thread here. Generally learn something new and occasionally have scales peeled from my eyes. Most of the regular political posters, even those I disagree with, can debate arguments without name calling -- which is an enriching experience.

And also people representing Labour who are trolling and abusive and bullying to other people is really, really not a good representation of Labour is it now?

I think it’s a mistake to take anyone declaring an allegiance or voting intention as representing anyone tbh. It turns it into ‘my teams better than yours’ and ignores the details. The important bits.

challenging policies with policies is often about balance but I wouldn’t deny that for me personally defending certain policies is repugnant. Politics affects so much it’s almost impossible for it to be completely unaffected by emotion.

I have to admire the messaging discipline being exhibited by Labour. And the robustness of their case quite often. I am and remain quite a One Nation tory, but I'm also sceptical of Tory fiscal policy. We are all in this together, and if we are not, then I don't want to see disabled people and children sacrificed on the altar of get rich quick merchants, oligarchs and hedge fund capitalists. I stand for the small and family businesses, who work hard to provide services like plumbing and building services, who train an apprentice every five years, and the female small businesses like my lovely beautician who took the plunge 20 months ago, signed the lease, took the risk and has self=employed younger technicians renting chairs while they establish their own client base. It's never going to redesign capitalism but it does enable people to take control of their own destiny.