Keeping political views private

[Coffeeneedednowplease]

Where do you stand on this?

I was brought up to believe that you don't discuss your political opinions with people you don't know very well. In terms of which party you're citing for.

Same, I also probably wouldn’t judge if they did share who they were voting for. I’m more curious than anything

Don't have any party loyalty, I have always voted for the MP I feel will work hardest to do their best for my region. I don't feel that's anything anyone should hide.

Whether their party views represent mine fully or not (no party ever does) Last three elections I voted for the same MP twice so same party twice. This vote will be different again.

Just happens that it has never been a Tory candidate.

agreed - I am interested in opposing views to mine that have been well thought through. I wouldn't judge someone for coming to a different conclusion than me (assuming we are talking mainstream / non-radical / non-fascist views).

I think with FIL it's a different story OP - with close family I think it's natural to discuss things that you wouldn't with say colleagues or acquaintances.

Growing up I knew who my parents voted for, but I knew it was something 'private'. Not discussed outside of our family & it was the same for other families.

I'm happy these days to discuss it with anyone really, but I'd only ask close friends what they've decided to do, as we've already discussed various choices, tactical voting, our various options for the best locally v nationally etc

i'll listen to other points of view and the reasoning, but if it gets too heated I'll just remind the other person I'm not looking for their permission or approval & it's MY vote.

change of topic...

I don't IRL

Same. I'd never ask but I am honest about my own views.

I would readily discuss before but not now after the Scottish independence and then Brexit. It's been a shit show here.

I discuss it in broad strokes today I even defended the local conservative MP but I've never voted for him he just did his job for me which is more than labour did when I asked them infact he told me he was in a similar situation once and he worked it out for himself and so should I.....yeah thanks for that anyway he isnt running this time

My Grandad always told us not to talk about politics, religion or money.
Not never, but in most circumstances where it's not vital to discuss those topics etc

I don't think anyone should ask what you will be voting unless you know someone well, but I don't mind if someone tells me, and I am happy to share with anyone at the drop of a hat.

It's not that hard to navigate - someone at work told me they would never vote Labour and would like to vote Reform, and from that I knew that while I like her as a person we wouldn't agree on anything politically: I told her I had only ever voted Labour, and we left it at that.

I was brought up like this too - that you shouldn’t talk about who you vote for, and I’m not really sure why. I think now that discussing political views is a good thing, I don’t mind sharing who I support and I like hearing other people’s views as sometimes you learn something or someone makes you think.

The reason people are so bad at political discussion is because its seen as crass to discuss it.

But language like that isn't helpful. People are free to vote for whatever party they want.

Do you dislike him because you find his views objectionable?

Or is it more that you dislike the fact that he discusses them at all?

I think it's entirely normal to discuss this kind of thing within families, but I would definitely struggle if I had family members who were racist Reform types or similar. Thankfully I don't!

It's easy to go from just asking to some people's opinion being unacceptable. And not far from there to countries where only one opinion is allowed, if everyone just keeps it private it can't go downhill.

Do please link to anyone who has suggested we'll be living in Utopia from Friday onwards. I think I must have missed it.

I agree. We need more debate and discussion, not less. The fact that some people don't really engage in this kind of discussion and debate probably helps to explain why some are so ignorant about what they're voting for. You learn a lot by talking to others and being challenged on your views.

However, I think there is a time and a place. Positive to discuss with friends and family. Needs to be handled much more carefully in the workplace and/or with people you don't know very well.

Do you only talk to people who share your beliefs? I think it is much more beneficial to talk to people from a variety of political spectrum. You never know, you may learn something new, question your own assumptions, have an interesting discussion. Personally, I am not interested in eco-chambers.

I was brought up by political activist and becaa as me one myself so everyone knew and knows my politics.
But each to their own

If you can be confident the other party is willing to be tolerant of views that do not co-incide with their own, then discussion is OK.

But a lot of people aren't. And there is little way of telling in advance.

Hence the internet. It is easy to discuss here, because there is no relationship risk in having discussions.

@Catza I guess I just don't have any desire to discuss politics with some people. There is enough information available to form an opinion without debating with friends and family.

Some people don't want to hear another pov they just want everyone to hear theirs.

@AllProperTeaIsTheft I suppose just because it can be quite heated and cause conflict. I was always told your vote is private and between you and your ballot paper. Obvs this is not including people in your own household.

Politics seems a very normal and natural topic of conversation to me! I was brought up in a family where lively debate was common though. How do children and teenagers learn to think about these things and work out what's important if they never get to talk about it and hear people's views? It seems odd to me that it should be taboo, as if it's something shameful.

Yes this absolutely

I don’t mind people talking politics to me but I don’t think it’s right to ask people who they are voting for. I am only ever asked this question by the kind of people who will start an argument with me if I give the wrong answer (in their view). And I can’t be arsed with the aggro.