AIBU to think my husband was too aggressive with a canvasser?

[Avocoffee]

We’ve had a few door knockers recently with local elections approaching. These are usually during late afternoon/early evening before DH is back from work.

Today, someone knocked slightly later and DH answered. He ranted at this person about various gripes with the country today (it was someone supporting a Labour candidate), not letting them get a word in and then said who he’d be voting for and ‘unless you change to that party, don’t fucking come back’.

He has some genuine gripes with Labour, he’s a business owner who has not been helped. But I think he was too strong.

His view is that if people want to knock on random doors, they should be prepared to face some strong words.

Restore are just Reform Lite - more or less.

You’ve never heard of Elon musk?

Not until I googled him earlier. I know Tesla/Twitter though. He sounds a very successful (and wealthy!) man.

Blimey.

What if their a local councillor asking for your vote in the local elections? Honestly, it's so hard to get anyone decent to run as councillors these days, and this kind of nastiness is part of the problem. If you really don't like the party they're representing, then there's no need to engage - just cast your vote elsewhere.

It won't be their jobs, it'll be something they're doing in a voluntary capacity.

People like you are why people don't volunteer their time to canvass or run in local elections. If you don't like Labour, or any party, just don't vote for them.

It would be terrible to live in a world where the only people willing to get involved in the democratic process are those willing to be verbally abused, but sadly this is becoming more and more the case.

I’ve done canvassing before.

First of all - they aren’t there to try to change your mind, they just want to collect information. Depending where you are in the electoral cycle it might be about issues of concern (for example lots of people on the doorstep told us about concerns about traffic so our MP conducted some work on this). Around elections it’ll be voting intention - it’s “get out the vote” - you find people who are likely to vote for you and come election day you can door knock again and check whether they have voted (especially in local elections turn out is important!)

I don’t mind if people have strong opinions - I’ve spoken to people who have have personally been badly affected by particular policies and I am happy to hear them out.

But ranting and swearing at volunteers is totally unnecessary. It’s vital to our democracy that people can go out and canvass and campaign.

Couldn't agree with this more. If you're genuinely undecided about how to vote, and think a response from a canvasser might help you make up your mind, then fair enough, but if you just want to be abusive, keep it to yourself.

People complain politicians are 'out of touch', but most of them knock on doors regularly and listen to a huge range of views from the public.

I've been in countries where canvassing for an opposition party would put you at risk of violence or harassment, and others where no such parties exist. Our levels of democratic openness and engagement are, while far from perfect, really precious and valuable, and I've got more admiration for people who choose to get involved in it than with people who just complain from the sidelines.

Seriously? Maybe you might want to start reading a serious newspaper and engage with what is going on in the world…

This has to be a joke? 🙄

It is very difficult to manage our anger towards Labour, but people are just sinking to their level by being aggressive with their supporters.

You haven’t mentioned the canvasser’s sex. Male or female?

Regardless, your husband is a dickhead. But especially if it was a woman, as she is less likely to retaliate and he knows it.

I agree it’s not good behaviour, but knocking on peoples doors representing Labour after everything they’ve done to people is really asking for trouble.

I'd have been totally mortified if my husband had acted like that. You can have a reasonable discussion without being a dick, it's not hard.

I'm very anti reform/restore/re whatever else they come up with but I'd never swear or be abusive. A polite no thank you is enough.

Better not to open the door than swear at them.

I had someone knock a few weeks ago regarding the local elections and I thought a parcel was being delivered so opened the door. I just said "sorry too busy" and closed the door. I don't even know which party it was.

I think representing any political party is asking for trouble! Is there a party who's actually not been a disaster in one way or other?

I’m all for political discourse and conveying a difference of opinion. I’m also a fan of manners.

Your husband sounds like a rude and unnecessarily aggressive twat. Is he always so basic?

Not really I guess, but the others unintentionally mess up people’s lives. .. it’s deliberate with Labour. It makes a difference.

No, they won't. I used to canvas and I don't remember EVER getting sworn at. Some people banged the door in my face, but telling me to eff off after a long conversation, never.
If he doesn't want to talk in a civil manner he can either choose not to open the door or say 'not today, thank you'.

There's a difference between wanting help and not liking the active sabotage labour is throwing at businesses

Oh I can assure you PLENTY of people whinge that nobody's come round. They call the parties to complain! Might be older people with more time on their hands than parents of young children, but they definitely exist.

I think the business gripes are exactly the type of things that these canvassers need to be told

They'll ask who you voted for because they collect data.
Sometimes these days that's given more importance than trying to convince people.