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Brexit
Original poster

Do you actively try to change people's opinions on Brexit?

59 replies

Cybergenesis · 07/08/2019 19:14

If you meet someone (IRL or online) that disagrees with your opinions on Brexit, do you try to resolve it or do you just leave it?
I feel like the more friendly option is to just leave it but with so much overwelming evidence that Brexit will be bad I feel like I want to shout to the world that Leave is a bad idea just incase I can change one persons mind ready for any future referendums.
What do you think?

OP posts:
lonelyplanetmum · 08/08/2019 05:14

If I meet someone (IRL or online) that disagrees with my opinions on Brexit, I do try to discuss it, time permitting, They have brought it up after all.

I'm not very good at debate though! I believe it is important not to be afraid of saying something. Otherwise the propaganda battle is just won by the soundbites lifted straight from faragist sources, or from Cummings team or the Daily Vile etc.

There is an awful lot of money being put into propaganda in one direction and no concerted cohesive effort to counteract it.

The thing I find hardest is that my instinct is to back up what I am saying with facts. That doesn't work as it is about the feelings..So it's better to validate the others feelings " It's completely understandable and brave to take that stance..." etc .
However I then find it hard to progress with explaining the benefits (of unrestricted access to a market on our doorstep worth $18.8 trillion of 500 million consumers! Plus peace and the GFA) .

Because of all the nonsense that has gone for decades before it is very difficult to show the comparability with the emotional Britannia rules the waves type rationale.

I agree that if you can encourage just one person to look beyond the tabloids and do some proper fact finding ready for a GE or any future referendums then It is worth it.

I have had a few, only half a dozen people say they supported me in a FB debate with a leaver. One said she found a couple of my links useful. The links she particularly liked were to trade publications so things like farmer's weekly, transport monthly, pharmatimes etc etc She said she hadn't thought of reading sector specific publications which do counteract certain political rhetoric.

PortLouis1996 · 08/08/2019 06:16

On here , I try to get people to compromise. My lobbying for WA didn't work so now I lobby for a border in the sea/NI as a special economic area

Rejected too many times to be revisited I think. Difficult for the EU too as Scotland could argue they should be allowed to remain in the CU and SM too on basis that the overall vote was to remain in EU?

No Dealers can fuck off if they don't want to compromise

Well that is a compromise comment for sure!

No deal not best outcome, but always the most likely. UK is the 3rd largest donor to EU. So certain that the other 27 EU members would make it difficult for UK in hope they would change their mind and as a deterrent to others.

When T May was PM it seemed possible. However, now that Johnson is PM he will be out to prove that he is the top Oxford graduate and Eton pupil by doing what other Oxford and Etonians had failed to achieve.

Theworldisfullofgs · 08/08/2019 06:37

I have told someone my view. They were spouting untruths. I was told I was not optimistic enough.

Dh had a conversation with someone on Saturday that probably changed their mind. They thought they'd be richer. He explained the exchange rate to them.

SonEtLumiere · 08/08/2019 07:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

allthegins · 08/08/2019 07:20

No. Remainers live in their own echo chamber. No point.

Hotterthanahotthing · 08/08/2019 07:24

The most anyone talks about it here is in despair of the governments handling of it and all the new game playing going on.
I think people are resigned to no deal.

Podwoman888 · 08/08/2019 07:29

No, I haven't got time for it. People can make up their own minds without my imput.

I used to campaign for vegetarianism years ago and found out what a waste of time it was. Plus I got so much abuse it wasn't worth it.

Theworldisfullofgs · 08/08/2019 07:43

SonEtLumiere

Not a rich person at all but does work for a govt. Dept....

Theworldisfullofgs · 08/08/2019 07:44

allthegins

As opposed to the leavers that tell me we should return to imperial because it is what they learnt at school and bigger their kids

bellinisurge · 08/08/2019 08:16

@PortLouis1996 , if people in Scotland think their situation is like NI, they need to study harder.
As for my unwillingness to compromise with No Dealers. Why should I? I compromise with Leavers. Not No Dealers. Until someone who's opinion I value convinces me they are the same thing. Again, you probably need to study harder if you think they are.

Mistigri · 08/08/2019 08:18

No deal is the ultimate no compromise position. There is nothing to compromise with. Like Bellini I hope that no deal proponents rot in hell.

PortLouis1996 · 08/08/2019 08:27

if people in Scotland think their situation is like NI, they need to study harder

Some may not take previous history into account, but apply the logic;

"If NI is not being forced out of EU against their will, why should we not receive same privilege?. Remember Scotland also voted by majority to remain in the EU"

Not sure how EU would counter that?

bellinisurge · 08/08/2019 08:36

NI has the GFA ; Scotland has its own arguments. If you think they are the same, you don't know enough about the subject.

Violetparis · 08/08/2019 08:37

No, not in real life anyway, I used to give my opinion that there should be some sort of compromise deal but I got aggressive responses from both Leavers and Remainers so I don't bother any more.

bellinisurge · 08/08/2019 08:40

@Violetparis , if I knew you in real life and you said compromise was the way forward- and assuming you meant both sides compromise- I would hug you.

Violetparis · 08/08/2019 08:59

bellinisuge I do mean both sides. I voted Remain but now I am tired of those on both sides who refuse to compromise or who will only accept their first choice option. I lurk (posting occasionally) on the Westminsters threads and have seen your posts on there and agree with them. Maybe there is more of us that think this way than we think, though sadly it's probably too late for compromise now. Would hug you too Smile

SistemaAddict · 08/08/2019 09:09

We haven't got a choice though have we. This is totally out of our hands now. All we can do is prepare for no deal in the best way for us individually and lobby your MP if they are sensible. Mine is a twat and thinks the WA will solve everything so not to worry about the GFA but then voted for no deal.

I'm not sure why changing anyone's mind is of any benefit now? Unless we get a second referendum of course.

I've persuaded my mum and possibly a previous friend to gather a stash of food and essential items in the case of no deal.

We are at the mercy of a buffoon. I don't fancy our chances.

Theworldisfullofgs · 08/08/2019 09:21

I think a compromise would have got through if it had been done early.
Leavers refused and this hardened remainers views.
The other problem is the EEA people on twitter, come across as saintly and piss people off, even though there is sense in what they are saying. I think it's the fact that they are judging people for not compromising to the thing which takes no compromise from them whatsoever.

PortLouis1996 · 08/08/2019 09:30

NI has the GFA ; Scotland has its own arguments

Still does not explain how EU could justify different treatment to members.

Violetparis · 08/08/2019 09:34

What does EEA stand for ?

SistemaAddict · 08/08/2019 09:35

European economic area. I think.

Theworldisfullofgs · 08/08/2019 09:39

EEA/efta is more or less the Norway Option.

It's what Daniel Hannan argued for before he swallowed the pills.

Violetparis · 08/08/2019 09:40

Thanks Bercows

notjustanexpat · 08/08/2019 09:43

No. I am an EU national in Scotland, the few Leavers around here don't usually come out as such, hence no chance for any form of discussion.

The few English Leavers I have met - for better or worse - fit the stereotype of uneducated and/or rich twat. Asked them "so you want people like me out of the country?" - "yes" - "well, that settles that"

Honestly, I am too close to the issue. There are two options:
A) Leavers are okay with people like me having been - and often still being - at risk of losing their partner, friends, house, job. Additionally, the risk of (British) DH losing his job if he had to move with me and losing his family.
B) They don't want to subject anyone to these things but couldn't be arsed to think about the consequences of their vote for five damn seconds.

Either way, I have lost all respect for Leave voters and refuse to engage with them at this point.

Disclaimer: I can see advantages of leaving the EU for some countries, IF they know what they are doing. It was pretty obvious that these guys just had a drunken bet going that turned into a referendum.

BeyondMyWits · 08/08/2019 09:43

nope - do not try to change anyone's mind.

Mainly... I'm not sure what I think or want (I voted remain and that is the only option that seems to be "off the table"), I will have precisely NO say at all in how it all pans out, and I do that very unmumsnetty-to-admit-to thing of silently judging people on their opinion anyhow.

Playing it in your mind is much better than arguing out loud when you have to get along. Mind you - I have worked with the same 8 people for 10 years - you can tell what people's opinions will be, you can change them about as much as they can change you...

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