To be completely shocked about someone I used to know

[EWAB]

When my youngest was at primary school I really liked this woman who had kids either side of mine.

She was in the PTA equivalent and was just a nice woman. There was no drama around her.

I remember having a day off and went into the local cafe, and she invited me to sit with her friends. She was funny, warm and witty.

Significantly, she had friends of all ethnicities and her best friend was Asian.

Everybody will relate to being busy but I think if it was a different time in my life or we had kids in same year we would have been mates.

I am absolutely shocked that she is a member of a right wing political party and has a presence in that party, utterly and completely shocked.

I know it’s not illegal but God.

All three of my siblings are Tories, I’m not someone who thinks everyone has to think like me but I am stunned.

Mumsnet hates this, but I have had a physical reaction to the news. I am just Gobsmacked and weirdly let down and I do know that’s a stupid, irrational thing to say.

The trafficking issue is huge and going up each year I can’t see much more reason and credibility in Labour’s ‘smash the gangs’ as an option. It’s pie in the sky against what they are facing.

Reform probably want to look at laws I haven’t checked but assume so, which even if you don’t want that, would do more

To add my intention is not to vote for Reform but on that issue alone credibility is not there for the Labour approach

No, I choose the old adage of not arguing with stupid people. They drag you down to their level and beat you with experience. You on the other hand still want to engage, so you must think I have something of substance to add after all, despite your previous comment. What you think, whether I choose to avoid or not, whatever in your head makes sense and makes you feel better, go for it.

I work in the courts. I see a shocking number of people that are indeed immigrants. Not exclusively as I said.

Where do you live exactly? Why does this interest you? How does it impact you?

I live in England. This interests me because it directly impacts my family, children and I. I have lived internationally too.

Why don’t we start with the basics.

Absolutely this.

At least you are honest about your superiority complex.

Not really.

You came on to tell me that I was wrong to say that that poster knows nothing about British politics.

Their main premise appears to be that we are heading towards fascism. Albeit they won't answer the question of which mainstream UK party is fascist aligned.

Do you agree or was I right that they know notihing about British politics?

I’m realistic about my intellect - and some other people’s.

I didn't say 'thickos' and would not use such a term. I said 'people who don't understand how things actually work'. There are many of those. I do understand roughly how UK institutions work. I do not understand other things, this does not make me a thicko.

For example, a policy such as 'have zero waiting lists in the NHS in two years' can only be considered possible you have to have very limited understanding of how a health service operates.

So either someone is supporting a policy they know to be impossible, which I would say is irrational, or they think it is possible, which is misguided because it is not possible, or they are not voting for the policies at all but for another reason, in which case the policies themselves are not relevant.

you will find there are groups within Labour who never learn and are a gift to other parties

those that believe they are morally superior because they vote Labour (it’s been admitted on here) and have alienated many core Labour voters and those on the left of the party that have done the same their views are only worth discussions

my friend who isn’t English pointed out that the left in the UK seem intolerant of listening to other peoples views. It’s not new just it’s amplified by social media

thankfully there is the moderate Labour supporter too who don’t scream that every Tory is scum or feel that peoples opinions on certain topics, immigration being the most hotly debated is wrong if immigration and the impact on society and their lives is felt as being more negative than positive

they don’t wish to listen to peoples everyday experiences

Maybe they are supporting the focus on that area while realising the policy is an overambitious target?

So you mean they know the party is talking bollocks but want to vote for it anyway?

Yes, really. Read my comment again. I make no mention of facism. My comment was addressing the general dismissal of a non-British national's input on politics as being clueless. If you got any other impression then you are mistaken. And no one owes you an answer. If you've asked it and haven't been given one, learn ot let it go, as I have with this pointless discussion.

I agree with blossom, her posts her spectacularly mediocre as years of posts confirm.

Yes. I’m pointing out your typical conspiracy theorist behaviour. I am quite aware you’re the kind of person who will struggle to comprehend the written word, so don’t worry about it.

Your ad hominem attacks are soooooo predictable sweetie pie. Educating oneself can be onerous but oh so worth it. Give it a try!

All this idiotic back and forth “You’re thick”, “You’re a Nazi”, “You’re a conspiracy theorist” crap gets us nowhere does it? If you’ve got a real argument please don’t be shy. Tell me why your political ideas are so great and then I’ll take a turn and let’s see how that goes.

😂

Good grief. Can you actually hear yourself?

Not really. As a similar example, I believe the Labour party have pledged to halve VWAG if elected, which I think is a great target, I am very sceptical that they'll achieve it, but if they could convince they could get close to that it might make me more likely to vote for them.

100% this! Politically, I tend to hover around the centre but I hands down have found those more right-leaning to be more kind, considerate, tolerant and open-minded than those on the left.

Yup, I'd definitely avoid this woman OP. Sounds like she already has enough funny, warm and witty friends around her.

And this! At this point, I strongly believe it's the left that is turning people towards the right!

For anyone saying it's more extreme or bad voting right wing than left wing, the new Green party councillor for Leeds, Mothin Ali, was posting on 7 October in approval of the Hamas terrorist attacks.

Reading through this thread I 100 percent agree with you.

OP - Have you thought about having a discussion with this lady to find out the reasons why she supports this party?

I know conversation is a somewhat radical suggestion but it's worth a shot!

Godwin's law struck early here. Possibly Poe's law too, though nobody can know for sure.

@EWAB - politics and human goodness are funny bedfellows. It is ok to feel surprised that you expected to align more with this woman, but in life you need to accept that people will hold a range of theories about what is "best" politically. I don't think I've ever heard of people's views being changed by avoiding conversation and resorting to ad hominem attacks, even if your advisers and attackers here seem to believe the opposite.

I have a relative who thought it reasonable not to support close family at a funeral because of her political intolerance. When causing actual harm to others "on principle", the ground becomes very rocky. How can anyone trust someone again who is able to place political theory above actual humans they pretend to care for? Be careful not to fall into a similar trap. If she has always seemed like a decent person, then you might do better to reset your tolerance levels.