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.

I’d do the same.

Ive seen some of those Restore Britain posts - truly awful and shocking.

It didn't though. It came with Trump who hates liberals.

And the poster knows nothing about visa rules for Ireland and the UK - and shouldn't have asked.

Amen. Thank you. I couldn’t have put it better myself and I’m British but the daughter of two economic migrants. It drives me mad when people use the term “racist” to shut down a conversation. There’s nothing racist about controlling illegal immigration. But I don’t unfriend left wing friends. I don’t need to agree with their opinions, just respect the fact they are entitled to them.

But then surely (I assume / hope) you wouldn't be friends with anyone who was anti-semitic? So that would also be not wanting to be friends with people with nasty views.

Perhaps you'd extend it to people who were racist against other minority groups too and not be friends with them?

There's a massive gulf between being a screeching moral harpy and just having some basic standards.

We live in a democracy where everyone is entitled to their opinion and the debate should be agree to disagree if you don't align with her politics. Labelling people racist so loosely as has been happening just waters down the entire meaning of it. If your friend supports Rupert and you support Keir, so what?

Depends where you live. I live in one of the most remain parts of the country (also very culturally mixed) and I don't think I can think of anyone who voted Brexit. One school dad I don't know much but his wife divorced him after because she's French.

I also don't know anyone IRL who's racist, even older family members.

So do you think the country which allows you to live and work in it, is not entitled to review and change their immigration rules and controls to benefit the actual citizens of the country?

Same. The people on Facebook who might be spouting racist opinions would probably be colleagues I'd kept in touch with. A former colleague who reposted a right wing rant about how terrible it is schools aren't allowed to celebrate st George's day any more unfriended me when I pointed out it was untrue because I had led a St George's day assembly that week and made flags in class. That's fine by me.

The word racist is used so much now and as you say, so loosely, that I skim past any comments that mention the word. It’s usually a pathetic attempt to shut down a conversation without an intelligent debate. And I know people of all colours and religions who are right-wing! Or as it’s now known… “far right”.

What do we do about the religions and cultural beliefs both of those and homophobia, believing in child marriage etc are built into?
We protect one bigoted group and protect another. Strange times.

Nobody is threatening to deport Irish, Indian, pakistani, wherever they are from, if they are settled here, working, speak English, not demanding special treatment above everyone else, but then you know that, dont you?
You know very well that those who need deporting are those who have entered the country illegally being put up in hotels, paid for by us , and allowed to roam around intimidating women and girls. We are seen as a soft touch for allowing these people in, backed up by the ECHR, we cant even deport rapists and murderers because their human rights supercede ours.
So crack on and just dont allow your daughters out alone, will you

I don’t consider the Irish to be immigrants.

We don't assume everyone in those groups believes in those things for a start. Laws in this country apply to everyone here.

There were once though. Not that long ago.

When? When all of Ireland was in the U.K.?

Lowe said this in a post on X earlier:

"We will discriminate. We will look at the facts, and then discriminate. Good."

Go for it .. I’m removing my left wing friends at pace .

In the 1950s and 60s certainly.

Because one's a bit of a useless twat and the other is engaged in actively stirring up hatred? It's not the same.

This!

The only intolerant people I have met are those on the left.

I've lost a few friends this way. To begin with, I tried to discuss with them. Keep the lines of communication open. But once they've drunk the Kool Aid, there is no coming back. I don't bother now. Block and move on.

@notthatoldchestnut , that exactly what these tiresome people are.

I think quite a lot of (racist) people would want to deport people who are settled and just don't have white skin. A few clicks on Facebook and you can see there are loads out there. They tend to be the ones that also like Stephen Yaxley-Lennon.

Ie: not all Yaxley-Lennon fans are racist, but all racists like him!