Unfriending right wing friends

[nondrinker1985]

One of my school mum friends of around 10 years has started sharing loads of Restore Britain/Rupert Lowe posts.

I’m actually really shocked as she’s an Irish immigrant herself.

I’ve unfriended her which is a shame as day to day she’s ok. Also another mum who has been liking and commenting on the Restore Britain posts, they’ll probably tell me they’re not racist but I can’t be arsed calling them out.

Good, so you should. As much as I believe we shouldn’t all have the same beliefs as our friends and live in an echo chamber, I cant distance myself enough from these racist, thuggish idiots.

Her poor kids.

I agree. It’s time to unfriend and disassociate with anyone sharing right wing propaganda.

I am a conservative and have been since 1979. I regarded school mum friends as acquaintances and didn't overshare. The self righteous lefties would never have become more than acquaintances. Kindred spirits became my friends.

Perhaps you should try to learn a bit more resilience OP. Are you really so arrogant as to think that your opinion is the only one that is correct?

This is why nobody knows where I sit as far as politics is concerned. Just caused too many problems.

I think it's a good idea not to be friends with bigots and racists.

Honestly, yanbu

terrifying what the people you say hello to might really think about those around them

best to just wish them well in their journey of delusion and destruction of our country, whilst being the best person you can be yourself

Maybe it's not so much a case of arrogance as not being willing to be an audience for offensive vitriol. Just a suggestion.

I have learned a lot of immigrants, especially those from Western countries, don't see themselves as immigrants.

Case in point: https://metro.co.uk/video/brits-benidorm-march-against-mass-migration-uk-3550757/

I recall years ago when I was in Canada, offending a British woman there because I referred to her as an immigrant. She responded that she had left the UK 30 years prior and moved to Canada but that does not make her an immigrant.

You just have to sigh.

Also there is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting am echo chamber circle. You are not required to be friends with people of different beliefs just because.

While I know I have friends who are right-wing / anti immigration at the current levels / Brexiters - strident racists are my cut off. I have cut off male friends who have shared, approvingly, misogynist manosphere sh*t without a second thought.

Are you saying your kindred spirits are racists and fascists?

Tha depends. Usually I’d agree our opinion isn’t always the right one. This is a moral issue but given that Rupert posted ‘we just create such an uncomfortable environment that they will deport themselves.he’s also mentioned deporting legal migrants. Anyone call fall in bad times ,maybe a woman was married to a British man and he was abusive she had to leave and needs housing or benefits just to get back on her feet, , or they have fallen sick,so they shouldn’t get benefits because they are foreign but also legally here ?. I agree with OP this is the red line now before it descents into what was Nazi Germany. People can be easily manipulated with politics and obsessed with races and cultures and it’s never ended well

Pretty typical self-righteous reaction by some left-wing supporters, who genuinely believe theirs is the only correct way to think. Just be glad that the OP did not feel she had to point out the error of their friend's ways as one of my acquaintances feels she has to.
It may give the lefties a feeling of smug superiority, but sadly it is exactly this attitude - don't engage, don't discuss, we are right and that's the end of it - which is paving Reform's path to Downing Street.
That'll show them.

No I think she is saying her friends are Conservatives.
Oh, hang on - are you saying Conservatives are racists and fascists? How very clever of you.

That's kind of in the nature of opinions, isn't it? I mean, if I didn't think my opinion was right I would change it.

I understand reconsidering friendships with people who are racist of course, but I do worry that we are all becoming increasingly tribal.

It’s not good to live in echo chambers and only speak to people who hold the same opinions and have the same life experience as us.

It leads to purity spirals where you aren’t allowed to disagree with anyone if they are on “your” side. Look at all the left leaning GC women who get called “right wing” as soon as they speak up for women’s rights.

One great thing about MN is that it gives me access to hearing from women who have widely different lives, opinions and experiences than I do.

It’s good to occasionally be made to stop and think. Having to defend your political opinions occasionally is a good thing.

Sometimes you learn something new that moves your position a bit and opens new perspectives.

At the very least, it’s worthwhile understanding the opposing viewpoints better to challenge them.

Certainly not but tend to share similar values which don't extend to rascism and fascism. As a woman of Jewish Heritage may I gently note the anti-semitism that pervades thw Labour Party. I am not supportive of any kind of fundamentalism.

I suspect OP is talking about far-right sensibilities rather than 'common or garden' Conservatism.

"Unfriending" a friend of ten years, over your assumptions based from her facebook likes says more about you than about her tbh

Surely you wouldn't want to be friends with anyone whose views you found repugnant? I wouldn't.

I block anyone posting racist shite.Anyone sharing Restore bollocks would be blocked

It's fine to have a difference of opinion, but if your friends suddenly start spouting racist or bigoted views, then it's definitely time to move on.

Isn’t the acceptance, diversity and freedom of expression liberal? I don’t follow these people
so don’t know what they are saying but unless it is racist / homophobic or hate fuelled I don’t see any harm in people holding different views

these debates and talking about these things actually help combat bigotry ? It’s the lack of debate, the ignorance that allow these parties to gain popularity

Band Wagon

I’ve done the same, one messaged me aghast that I’d unfriended her…. Silly woman!